2nd Ed. Advanced Character Creation Guide

[Pedantry INC]

Seems like a few folks like the info I pulled up on the 'how to rp consitution' thread so I thought I'd put the rest here. It's a lot of 'dramatic' information that has since been weened out of D&D as the focus has become more and more around the general numerics and less about the specific nuances.

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This is source information from Forgotten Realms AD&D: Player's Option - Skills and Powers book.

The purpose of this book was to help players flush out their characters, make them more rounded by providing breakdowns of skills and a series of background ideas.

Note that because this is 2nd edition, as well as PNP some terms might not apply, and some skills might not exist but can be represented through RP.


Please remember that this is just a guide, not a set of rules.

[Pedantry INC]

Backgound Events

The player's option book introduces several elements to developing characters' histories and personalities. Two of these elements, traits, and disadvantages, are detailed in chapter six. Briefly, traits are minor benefits or advantages that players can purchase with character points. These include: internal compass, keen eyesight, light sleeper, lucky, and precise memory.

Disadvantages are minor hindrances or inconveniences that yield bonus character points. Some disadvantages are: allergies, clumsy, colorblind, greedy, lazy, unlucky, and a number of phobias. Players might want to look ahead to the traits and disadvantages section of chapter six to get an idea of which traits and disadvantages they want to work into a character's background.

( I will add the traits and disadvantages section in a later post. Since we obviously don't have character points, the way I balance my selection is to make sure the point cost of my traits is not higher than the points I earn with my disadvantages. )


Another aspect of character creation is determining the events that turned a player's character into an adventurer. Below is a list of 20 sample events that might have sent a character on a life of adventure. After all, every character needs some reason to live such a dangerous life. The list can be expanded, and details can be added about each event. Recommended non-weapon proficiencies that could fit with the listed background event are included for reference and inspiration.

Roll a 1d20 to randomly determine a background, or choose one that suits the character.


1 : Accused of a crime
2 : Apprenticeship
3 : Enslaved
4 : Exiled
5 : Failed business venture
6 : Fell in love
7 : Fled a disaster
8 : Found or stole a valuable item
9 : Homeless
10 : Ideological differences
11 : Joined the circus
12 : Kidnapped
13 : Killed someone
14 : Made a powerful enemy
15 : Orphaned
16 : Ran away from home
17 : Reformed
18 : Touched by magic
19 : Went to sea
20 : Witnessed a crime.

Accused of a Crime: The character is publicly accused of a crime he did not commit. It might be a case of mistaken identity, or the character could have been framed for a crime. The character was forced to flee and become an adventurer rather than face certain punishment. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Apprenticeship: The character entered into an apprenticeship - an arrangement where a practiced craftsman taught him a skill in exchange for money or services. Apprenticeships need not be limited to mundane trades; characters can enter into apprenticeships with other adventurers. Many a fighter began his career as a mere squire, and more than one young person with a talent for the Art signed with the local hedge wizard. Suggested NWPS: vocational skills such as animal handling, animal training, blacksmithing, cobbling, engineering, gem cutting, sculpting, weaving and so on. Adventuring skills such as blind-fighting or spellcraft might also be learned.

Enslaved: The character was a slave or indentured servant. The details of the character's escape are left to the player and the DM. It is likely such a character will carry a grudge against those who owned him or will strive fervently to free other slaves. Suggested NWP: Survival, hunting, fishing, foraging, bowyer/fletcher, and weaponsmithing.

Exiled: For some reason - bad behavior, an unacceptable profession, an incompatible alignment, shady associates, etc - the character is banished from his family. Or perhaps the character is cast out from the society in which he was raised. The offense could be a breach of some tribal or community law or religious taboo. With nowhere to turn, the character is forced to live by his wits. The PC might develop many skills, including thieving abilities. Suggested NWPs: Fire-building, fishing, tracking hunting, healing, herbalism, set snares and survival.

Failed Business Venture: Perhaps the character was a cobbler and opened a shoe store. Maybe he owned a tavern, was a brewer, or made a living painting portraits. No matter the character's profession, his business venture failed and he had to pursue another line of work - as an adventurer. Suggested NWPs: Any appropriate to the character's previous profession.

Fell in love: The character becomes attracted to someone and their relationship propels the character toward an adventuring career. Perhaps the love interest is an adventurer, whom the character accompanies on a quest. The love interest might be outside the character's social class, and either or both families could protest or attempt to end the courtship. The outcome of the romance is left to the player and the DM. Questing to find a lost love or to avenge the loss of one can make for powerful role-playing and exciting adventures. Suggested NWPs: Dancing, etiquette, gaming, musical instrument, and so on.

Fled a disaster: The character's homeland suffered a tremendous disaster - an earthquake, flood, plague, or war. The character managed to escape, perhaps just barely. Without a home to return to, the character becomes an adventurer, maybe with the goal of preventing the spread or future occurrences of the disaster that cost his home. Or it could be he searches for loved ones lost when the disaster struck. Suggested NWPs: Hunting, fishing, set snares, fire-building, and survival.

Found or stole a valuable item: The character uncovered or stole something of value or interest to others. It could be gold; jewelry or gems; a minor magical item; a map to a dungeon, lost city, or treasure hoard; a prized horse and carriage; or a glass slipper. Whatever the item, someone wants it back. The previous owner might believe the character stole the item - whether the PC actually did. Or the owner might try to reward the observant character for recovering the item. Either way, this item can be the cause of a long-term relationship between the character and the owner. This background event also helps explain how a 1st-level rogue gained his abilities. Suggested NWPs: Appraising, forgery, gem cutting, heraldry, and other skills that allow the character to notice the item's true worth.

Homeless: The character has no place to live. Perhaps he sold the homestead to raise money for an adventuring career. Maybe his property was seized by unscrupulous means. The landlord could have foreclosed, or the land could have been confiscated by the crown for back taxes. With nothing to hold the character in one place, he sets out on a life of adventure - and perhaps, revenge. Suggested NWPs: Agriculture, mining, carpentry, and local history.


Ideological differences: The character wasn't comfortable in the society in which he was raised. The character could be religious in an agnostic culture, lawfully-inclined in a chaotic society, or disgusted by his homeland's evil practices. One example of the latter is Drizzt Do'Urden and his loathing of the drow culture from which he game. The character leaves his society behind to find one that suits him better. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Joined the circus: Many are fascinated by the color, excitement, and romance of a traveling troupe of performers. The character was one such person, and he left home and hearth behind to take up a life with entertainers. Suggested NWPs: Juggling, jumping, musical instrument, tightrope walking, throwing, singing, dancing, tumbling and ventriloquism.

Kidnapped: The character was kidnapped as a young child. The kidnappers could be evil relatives, people wandering through the character's homeland, monsters, or simply strangers who want to raise a family and can't have children of their own. The details are left to the player and DM. As many kidnappers might not make effective parents, the character likely would become self-sufficient. Perhaps the character is obsessed with finding his natural parents or discovering where he is from and who he really is. Suggested NWPs: Survival, hunting, fishing, foraging, bowyer/fletcher, and weaponsmithing.

Killed someone: Either through intent or accident, someone dies and the character is accused. The authorities and the victim's relatives are after the character, and if caught, the character will likely face death. Suggested NWPs: Skills such as disguise, survival, and forgery would be useful in evading capture.

Made an enemy: The character has an eternal foe. This foe could be a business competitor, a rival for a lover, a relative overcome by jealousy, or a villain the character defeated but did not kill. Whatever the case, this enemy caused the character to flee and take up the adventuring life. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Orphaned: The character's parents died when the character was young. Causes include: sickness, war, assassination, accident, or mysterious disappearance. Parents who mysteriously vanish might be alive, but they've been gone so long that everyone, including the character, believes them lost forever. Perhaps the character was raised in a group home or in a state or religious institution. Maybe the character became a street urchin with budding thief skills. The particulars are left for the player and the DM. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Ran away from home: The character fled home early in life. Possible reasons include: boredom, wanting to see the world, breaking free from an unhappy home life, and wanderlust. Perhaps someone searches for the character, and the character believes someone is hounding him. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Reformed: The character was a criminal who decided to change his lifestyle. Perhaps he saw how his villainous acts hurt others, or maybe he became a victim, too, and decided it was time to change professions. Because the character is likely wanted in one or more communities, he had to take on the adventuring life, traveling from place to place with no plans to settle down. Such an individual might go out of his way to help those victimized by crimes or to prevent young people from pursuing criminal careers. Suggested NWPs: Appraising, forgery, disguise, gaming, and gem cutting.

Touched by magic: The character became an adventurer because something magical happened in his life. Perhaps he was ripped from his home world or plane because he unknowingly triggered a portal. Maybe he was an animal who became a man because of a wizard's experiment. Or he could have been a priest killed in a disaster and reincarnated into a new form - and he must start a career from scratch. The possibilities are endless. NWPs: Any.

Went to sea: The character is from an ocean-going community or culture and decides to seek his fortune on the waves. The many lands and peoples he encounters open his eyes to the diversity in the world. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Witnessed a crime: The character saw, heard, or has evidence that a terrible crime took place. However, turning in the culprits is not possible. The culprits might be powerful in local politics, they could be foreign spies or saboteurs, or the crime may be so out of character for them that simply no one would believe the character's outrageous accusation against them. In any case, the culprits would not be made to pay for their crimes and thus would be free to take vengeance against the witness. Perhaps the player character's family sent him away to avoid retribution. Or maybe the character fled on his own to protect others. Suggested NWPs: To flee the criminals the character might need to learn disguise, reading lips, running, endurance, ventriloquism, navigation, boat piloting, charioteering, and seamanship.

[Pedantry INC]

Ability Scores

Once a player character's six ability scores have been established, it's time to introduce the Player's Option concept of sub-abilities. Each standard ability score - Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Wisdom, Intelligence, and Charisma - is divided into two sub-abilities. These are more specific definitions of what makes up a character. For example, a character's Strength score is divided into the sub-abilities of Stamina, which reflects being able to physically exert oneself over a period of time, and Muscle, which measures the raw power needed to force open locked doors or overturn banquet tables.

To determine a character's sub-abilities, simply double the score of the parent ability and divide that total between the sub-abilities. The scores for the two sub-abilities must be within four points of each other. Only whole numbers are allowed, no sub-ability score can be lower than 3, and with the exception of strength - no sub-ability score can be higher than 18. Racial modifiers to ability scores are also exceptions to this rule.


+ Strength

The sub-abilities derived from a character's Strength score are Stamina and Muscle, and these are the only sub-abilities that can have scores higher than 18 - provided the character is a fighter. Such characters can have exceptional sub-ability scores, just as they can have exceptional Strength scores.

- Stamina

The stamina sub-ability score determines muscle efficiency. A character with a Stamina score higher than his Muscle score may not have masses of huge muscles, but the muscles he has will be rock hard. Characters like these may surprise others - not because they can lift four hay bales at once, but because they can lift one or two at a time for 10 hours straight.

Contributes to: Weight Allowance. Sprinting. Resisting Fatigue.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Blacksmithing, swimming, carpentry, stonemasrony.
When rolled: This sub-ability is used to ascertain a character's physical exertion over a period of time. Sample opportunities to call for Stamina checks include a character holding a heavy weight or propping up a collapsing ceiling. When a charterer is in pursuit of an NPC or monster that has the same movement rate, the Stamina check determines who will tire first. Other checks could involve long-term physical exertion such as swimming vast distances, defending the castle walls from attackers over the course of hours or days, or staying awake long enough to memorize spells for the next day after a long day of adventuring.

- Muscle

The Muscle sub-ability measures the sheer power a character can exert at a moment's notice. A character with a Muscle score higher than his Stamina score will look quite strong. Males will have buldging biceps, broad chests, and wide shoulders. While females don't generate the muscle mass of males, they will have well-defined, strongly toned forms.

Contributes to: Attack adjustment. Damage Adjustment. Maximum Press (weight lifted over head). Open doors (forcing open stuck/locked doors). Bend bars/lift gates.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Jumping.
When rolled: Times to call for Muscle checks include when characters try to pick up heavy objects, leap chasms, arm wrestle, and display feats of strength.


+ Dexterity

This ability score is divided into the sub-abilities of Aim, which represents hand-eye coordination and manual acuity, and Balance, which denotes reflexes and overall agility.

- Aim

A character with a high Aim score might be an expert marksman or a slight-of-hand artist.

Contributes to: Missle Adjustment. Pick pockets. Open locks.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Juggling, cobbling, pottery, rope use, seamstress/tailor, musical instrument, forgery, and gemcutting.
When Rolled: Potential times to use Aim checks include when characters enter games of skill such as darts; when they try sleight-of-hand maneuvers; and when they try to catch things thrown at them such as balls, coins, or books.

- Balance

A character possessing a high Balance score may be an acrobat or a tightrope walker.

Contributes to: Reaction adjustment (when a character is surprised). Defensive adjustment (reflex saves). Move silently. Climb walls.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Tumbling, dancing, seamanship, tightrope walking, charioteering.
When rolled: Balance checks can be called for when a character walks along a narrow ledge to reach a window, when he flees across a rope bridge, while trying to avoid attackers' missile weapons, and when he catches a hand-hold after an enemy damages that rope bridge and causes it to collapse.


+ Constitution

Constitution is divided into the sub-abilities of Health, which is a measurement of a character's ability to resist diseases and other hardships, and Fitness, which indicates overall physical condition and the character's ability to endure punishment.


- Health

A character with a high Health score would seldom get sick and be little affected by allgeries and other ailments.

Contributes to: System Shock (surviving severe shock like petrification, magical aging, etc). Poison saves.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Running.
When rolled: Health checks can be used to determine a character's resistance to a disease, and to find out if a character catches the flue going around the kingdom. They also determine a character's resistance to intoxicants, drugs, or poisons.

- Fitness

A character with a high Fitness score has great endurance and can suffer more damage than other characters while continuing to function.

Contributes to: Hit point adjustment. Resurrection chance.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Endurance.
When rolled: Fitness checks can be used to gauge an adventurer's resistance to longer-term hardships such as forced marches, food or water deprivation, and non-lethal torture.


+ Intelligence

This becomes the sub-abilities of Reason, which measures a character's capacity for learning and deduction, and Knowledge, which shows a general level of education, experience, and the ability to remember information.

- Reason

This ability defines how well a character handles new information. A character with a high Reason score would be good at solving riddles and puzzles, and would be talented at using deductive, logical thinking.

Contributes to: Spell Level. Max # of spells. Spell immunity (resistance to illusions).
Related skills/proficiency examples: engineering, navigation, armorer, weaponsmithing, spellcraft, and astrology.
When rolled: Good times to call for Reason checks include when a character is searching for clues at the scene of a crime, when someone is trying to learn new information, or when a character is attempting to read a code or decipher a cryptic message.

- Knowledge

This score is a measurement of the character's educational experiences - whether in a school or on the streets. His grasp of languages and his memory capacity. A charterer with a high Knowledge score can speak many languages, knows something about several subjects, and can remember the slightest detail of a past event.

Contributes to: Bonus # proficiencies. % to learn new spells (how easily they learn new spells).
Related skills/proficiency examples: ancient and local history, languages, reading/writing.
When rolled: Knowledge checks can be used when characters try to understand a strange language or recall bits of information they have seemingly forgotten.


+ Wisdom

Wisdom is divided into the sub-abilities of Intuition - which determines the character's awareness of his surroundings, grasp of a situation, and understanding of other people, and Willpower - which measures the character's strength of will and commitment.

- Intuition

A character with a high intuition score likely would be very perceptive and good at making educated guesses, and would be difficult to fool or lie to effectively.

Contributes to: Bonus spells. % Spell failure.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Tracking, artistic ability, healing, direction sense, weather sense, religion, and hunting.
When rolled: These checks are called for when adventurers think they are being followed, that their NPC friend is acting strangely, or when someone attempts to con them.

- Willpower

This score gauges a character's strength of will, ability to resist magical forces, and sense of commitment to a cause. A character with a high Willpower would be difficult to harm with mind-affecting magic spells, could be quite stubborn, and would resist interrogation.

Contributes to: Magic defense adjustment. Spell immunity (resiting mind effecting spells).
Related skills/proficiency examples: Animal handling, animal training, riding. Sense motive.
Rolled when: Willpower checks are needed when a character's force of will is challenged, such as when he is offered a bribe, is interrogated, or is blackmailed. Other possibilities include when a character tries to persuade an NPC about an important issue or point, or when a character is tortured to surrender valuable information.


+ Charisma

Charisma is split into the sub-abilities of Leadership, which measures forcefulness of personality and how willing others are to follow the character's lead, and Appearance, which gauges physical attractiveness, presence, and poise.

- Leadership

A character with a high Leadership often may be a group's leader, or at least its spokesman. Generals and those who can calm or incite a mob with a few words all have good Leadership scores.

Contributes to: Loyalty base. Max # of henchmen.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Gaming and etiquette.
When rolled: Situations calling for Leadership checks include when an adventurer leads NPCs into battle, when one adventurer asks a favor of another, or when a character attempts to instill a belief or attitude into a crowd or mob.

- Appearance

This determines the physical presence and attractiveness of the character. A character with a high Appearance score would be handsome or beautiful, perhaps even famous for outstanding looks (such as Helen of Troy).

Contributes to: Reaction adjustment.
Related skills/proficiency examples: Singing, dancing, disguise.
Rolled when: Appearance checks can be used in social circumstances where the involved character has no established reputation. Or the checks might determine if an NPC becomes romantically interested in the character.

[Pedantry INC]

Traits

I will forward this section by saying that Traits and Disadvantages have to be looked at quite different in the NWN setting over the more personal PNP environment. Most traits and disadvantages come with mechanical bonuses that deal with NPCs which cannot be properly represented in NWN unless the module has been modified to include them.

Firstly, in nwn we have no character points. One has to thus decide 'how many traits can I take?'. I usually select disadvantages first which gives me a pool of 'points' to spend on advantages. This keeps things relatively balanced. Oftentimes, I do not 'buy' as many advantages as I could. I will also mention that this list of advantages and disadvantages is not the end all be all. Using these examples one can come up with their own traits of flaws and balance them relatively.

:: My method of implementing traits and disadvantages is to make them strictly RP that mostly affects my characters attitude and behavior and allow others to respond to those aspects as they wish. ::



Acquiring Character Traits

Not everything an individual does is a matter of training, practice, and education. Certain things, such as artistic talent or naturally keen senses, are inherent. These inherited characteristics might be combined with skills to provide a high level of mastery, but the talents themselves cannot be learned - characters have them or they don't. The greatest masters in any field of endeavor, of course, combine a high level of natural talent with extensive training. A combination of a trait with a high level of nonweapon proficiency can allow a character to simulate this level of accomplishment. The greatest minstrels of the realm, for example, possess the trait of musical ability, probably both vocal and instrumental. Additionally, they have gained through practice and learning, a high proficiency in playing musical instruments.

In the Skills and Powers rules, talents and other inherent abilities are represented as traits. These traits can confer significant game advantages on a character and can often amplify the effects of related nonweapon proficiencies. Since they are significant enhancements, they are also relatively difficult to acquire.

Character points must be spent at the time of character creation if players want to select traits. Once a trait is assigned to a character, it is regarded as permanent. Unlike proficiencies, traits cannot be improved as a character develops. For the most part additional traits cannot be gained by a character who already has been involved in adventuring (though if the judge deems it appropriate, a rationale can be devised to explain why a character suddenly discovers a hitherto unknown trait).

Trait	C.P Cost
Allure	4
Alertness	6
Ambidexterity	4
Animal Empathy	4
Artistic Ability	4
Climate Sense	4
Double-jointed	4
Empathy	4
Fast Healer	6
Glibness	4
Impersonation	5
Inherent Immunity/Poison	6
Inerent Immunity/Disease	5
Inherent Immunity/Cold	4
Inherent Immunity/Heat	5
Internal Compass	5
Keen Eyesight	5
Keen Hearing	5
Keen Smell Sense	6
Keen Taste Sense	4
Keen Touch Sense	4
Light Sleeper	5
Lucky	6
Music/Singing	5
Music/Instrument	4
Obscure Knowledge	4
Precise Memory	4

Trait Descriptions:

Allure: This trait allows a character to attract romantic attention from NPCs, at the player's option. The character can conceal the trait at any time, but when it is in effect it can modify the reaction rolls of NPCs who might be affected - perhaps by as much as +3. The trait is only effective if there is a reasonable chance of the PC drawing romantic attention from the NPC - at the very least the NPC must be of the opposite sex and of at least young adult age.

A character with the allure trait can receive one henchman above the normal maximum - if at least one of the henchmen has a romantic interest, however unrequited and hopeless, with the player character. Elves can purchase this trait for 1 less character point than the listed amount.

Alertness: These characters are blessed with a combination of peripheral vision, good hearing, and mental stamina that makes them very resistant to surprise. Such characters receive a +1 bonus when the DM determines if the alert character and their party must roll for surprise.

Ambidexterity: This character is equally skilled with the use of either hand. This trait carries over into training, so that the PC can use weapons, bear a shield, and perform acts of strength equally well with the right or left hand. The character is good at two weapon fighting style.

-- Best represented by taking the feat!

Animal Empathy: The character possesses an inherent ability to relate to animals. The character will generally receive a positive reaction from domesticated animals, and can soothe the fears of captive wild animals with remarkable consistency. For example, with a successful wisdom/willpower check, the character can encourage a domesticated animal to approach, or silence a barking watchdog. The character, as a rule, cannot persuade wild animals to lose their fear of humans. Also, the trait is useless if the character attempts to deceive an animal into approaching for the cause of harming it - i.e - the cow won't be persuaded to walk over to the fence so the character can butcher it.

Artistic Ability: The character has talent with the use of brushes and paint, charcoal sketching, and the sculptor's knife. Even without any related proficiency the character can render realistic maps and mold simple objects from clay. When this trait is coupled with training, the character can create works of real artistic merit. Whether these have worth in monetary terms or as relating to the character's status in the campaign world are circumstances that must be adjudicated by the DM. As a general rule, the character's work as a potter, tailor, weaver, painter, blacksmith, leatherworker, or sculptor will fetch 1-50% more than the typical cost of such products.

Climate Sense: This trait provides a character with an innate sense of impending changes in the weather. The DM might require a successful roll or a wisdom/intuition check before the character can make the determination. Other circumstances may be obvious enough that the character will know with certainty that the temperature will fall drastically, or that a tremendous rainstorm is about to begin.

Double-jointed: The character has a unique ability to wriggle out of ropes, manacles, brackets, chains, and other bonds. The bound character can make a Dexterity/Agility check when attempting to twist free of the bonds. Such an escape requires 1d6 rounds for each limb that is bound. If the character is secured by metal brackets or chains the check is made at 1/2 the agility score. Halflings add a +1 bonus to their modified agility score when using this trait.

Empathy: The character with this trait has an innate ability to sense the motivations, emotions, and possibly the intentions of others. If the character can observe a group of NPCs for 1d6 rounds, the DM can allow for a wisdom/intuition check. Success means the character has understood something significant about the discussion or plans of those NPCs. The empathetic character does not have to speak the language of the NPCs.

If the NPCs are of a very different race the check can be modified. However the DM can also add positive or negative modifiers if the character has an extra long or short time to observe, or watches from an especially advantageous or disadvantageous position.

Fast Healer: This highly useful trait allows a character to recover 1 hit point of damage within 2-12 turns of receiving a wound. Also, the character naturally heals at a rate of 2 hit points, not 1, per day.

Glibness: The character has the knack for dissuading the suspicions of NPCs. The PC must speak the same language as those he is trying to impress, and players are encouraged to role-play the glibness attempt.

Situations where this might arise include characters trying to talk their way past the guards at a city gate, turning aside the hostility of a bullying thug, or disarming the suspicions of a merchant who suspects the PCs of thievery. Characters can make wisdom/intuition checks to see if their glibness is successful.

Of course, if the guards are looking for a smuggler that fits one of the characters' descriptions, or the bully really wants to beat up, say, a blond elven rogue, or the merchant saw the fellow steal a bracelet, no glibness attempt is possible.

Halflings can purchase this trait for 1 less character point than the listed amount.

Impersonation: This trait represents the acting talent in the modern world - the character has a natural ability to fall into a role, and to project that role believably to others. A character with the impersonation trait gains a +2 bonus to all rolls made using the disguise proficiency(skill).

Additionally, the character can assume a disguise immediately - i.e. without benefit of a costume or makeup. Such an impromptu disguise cannot alter the character to assume a specific identity, nor can it alter the appearance of his race, or, except under unusual circumstances, sex.

Inerent Immunity/Poison: This trait enhances the character's natural resistance to poisons - inhaled and injected. The character receives a +1 bonus to all saving throws vrs any kind of toxin. Additionally the damage done by virulent poisons is reduced by 1 point per die to a minimum of 1, and the duration of paralytic and other temporary poisons is reduced by 1 round per die rolled.

Dwarves can purchase this trait for 1 less character point than the listed amount.

Inherent Immunity/Disease:

Inherent Immunity/Cold:

Inherent Immunity/Heat:

etc, to be continued!


Selecting Disadvantages

When a character is created, the ability scores of that pc include inherent advantages and disadvantages. A character will be strong or weak, fast or slow, brilliant or stupid, handsome or ugly. These categories are general, and players have a great deal of freedom in interpreting the numbers for their characters.

Some disadvantages are more specific than these character abilities, and they provide background for players who like to role-play. A player whose character passionately fears spiders, or becomes tongue-tied in social situations, has specific suggestions about role-playing.

At the time of character creation, a player can select one or two disadvantages. The choice is purely optional - no character must have a disadvantage. Unlike traits and proficiencies, disadvantages do not cost character points - instead, each disadvantage awards a certain number of points that the player can use to provide a character with other enhancements.

Some disadvantages can be chosen at one of two levels - the disadvantage of allergies, for example, can be taken at a moderate or a severe rating. Characters who choose the severe disadvantages will have lower chances of resisting the effects of the disadvantage during play.

A character can never gain more than 15 character points by acquiring disadvantages.

Certain disadvantages will contradict traits, and these cannot be selected - a character with keen eyesight cannot choose the colorblind disadvantage, fro example. These conflicts are generally obvious on the basis of common sense.



Using Disadvantages

Disadvantages work well to enhance the role-playing of a character, and as such they should be the player's responsibility to remember and employ. A character with an irritating personality, for example, can be role-played in such a way that the DM never has to do anything to enforce the disadvantage. Good role-players will create their own trouble, so to speak.

However, some aspects of disadvantages require DM input. Somewhere amid copious volumes of notes, the DM should keep a list of each character's disadvantages, making sure that none of them are overlooked. For example, if a character has a phobia of spiders, the DM can insure there will be a chance every once in a while to encounter some big, hairy-legged arachnids.

If a disadvantage falls to the player''s responsibility, and that player tends to ignore it, the DM should create a few situations where the disadvantage is impossible to overlook. For example, if the player does not role-play the character's irritating personality disadvantage, NPCs might suddenly become enraged at the character for imagined slights - insults that the NPCs claim result from the PC's irritating personality.

-- Editors note: As NWN Persistent world dms have a lot more on their plates I make sure that I keep track of my own disadvantages, and avoid ones that would outright require a DMs input. Sometimes it is easy to forget, but often times if the disadvantages are worked right into the characters personality, it won't get away from you.


Moderate/Severe Disadvantages

A character with a moderate disadvantage checks against ability or sub ability scores, while a character with a severe disadvantage rolls at half of the ability scores, rounded up.

-- Editors note: We're not using 2nd ed dice rolling of course, so I give myself a penalty of -3 to moderate and -6 severe rolls. Oftentimes I skip rolls in favor of simply rping along with my disadvantage, or do a quick percentile roll to decide if my pc is affected when I need to be quick about it.

-- I should also note that often I use this only as a guide for ideas of weaknesses that my character can have, and how to RP around those disadvantages to give my characters more flavor and feeling. These are options, and your imagination is really your limit for coming up with more options, and everyone has the option of giving this sort of thing a skip as well.

-- Disadvantages can be removed through a character point system - however in nwn this becomes an RP only option. Can your character change and grow enough to overcome these issues? This is another great aspect of adding disadvantages, they not only add to the RP but can become part of a character goal.

Disadvantage	Moderate C.P Gain	Severe C.P Gain
Allergies	3	8
Bad Tempered	6	-
Bruise Easily	8	-
Clumsy	4	8
Colorblind	3	-
Compulsive Honesty	8	-
Cowardice	7	15
Deep Sleeper	7	-
Fanaticism	8	-
Greed	7	-
Irritating Personality	6	-
Lazy	7	-
Powerful Enemy	10	-
Phobia: Crowds	4	10
Phobia: Darkness	5	11
Phobia: Enclosed Spaces	5	11
Phobia: Heights	5	10
Phobia: Magic	8	14
Phobia: Monster (Specific)	4	9
Phobia: Snakes	5	10
Phobia: Spiders	5	10
Phobia: Undead	8	14
Phobia: Water	6	12
Tongue-tied	6	-
Unlucky	8	-

Disadvantage descriptions to come.

[Pedantry INC]

Just incase, placeholder.