SpiralWorlds Player’s Manual · Character Creation

Character Creation

D&D 5.5e / 2024 · Pathfinder 1e · D&D 3.5e

Use this chapter to create a player character from start to finish. Choose the campaign rules system first, then follow only that edition’s numbered procedure. SpiralWorlds setting choices are recorded alongside the rules; they do not form a second creation sequence.

Fantasy player characters prepared for adventure in SpiralWorlds — Choose one rules system, follow its procedure, then finish the character record and final checks.

Before you begin

Have four things ready

Campaign system5.5e/2024, Pathfinder 1e or D&D 3.5e.

Starting levelUsually level 1 unless the Games Master says otherwise.

Character sheet and diceCharacter sheet · dice.

Simple conceptOne sentence describing what the character does and why they might take risks.

One-edition rule: setting lore can be shared across editions. Ability scores, skills, feats, class features, saves, attacks, spell rules and equipment statistics cannot. If a linked page contains mixed legacy material, use only the section clearly identified for your campaign system.

The only numbered procedures on this page

Choose your edition and follow it in order

5.5e / 2024Pathfinder 1eD&D 3.5e

D&D 5.5e / 2024

Step	Do this	SpiralWorlds record
1	Choose a class. Record level, Hit Die, proficiencies and level-1 class features. Use the Choose Your Class chapter.	What does this class look like in the character’s actual life: soldier, court mage, guild thief, hunter, scholar, temple servant or another role?
2	Determine origin. Choose an approved 2024 background from the current rules, choose the character’s people/species, then choose languages. Record the background’s Origin feat, two skill proficiencies, tool proficiency and starting equipment choice. Use the Basic Rules background reference below · use the Choose Your People chapter. Where an individual people page is still marked legacy, use it for setting identity and use the approved 5.5e rules source for mechanics.	Record homeland, household/community and former occupation. Language conversion: a standard 2024 character knows Common plus two chosen languages. In SpiralWorlds, replace Common with one real home/local language appropriate to the character, then keep the two additional language choices unless another feature changes them. Language reference.
3	Determine ability scores. Generate six scores using the approved method, assign them, then apply the background increases.	Use the rebuilt Ability Scores chapter.
4	Choose alignment. Use the Alignment chapter if the campaign records alignment.	Also note one loyalty, taboo or principle that actually affects decisions.
5	Finish the sheet. Use the rebuilt chapters for Skills & Proficiencies, Feats, Hit Points, Equipment, Saving Throws, Initiative & Attacks, Description & Personality and, if the class casts spells, Starting Spells & Spellcasting.	Add one ally, one rival, one obligation and one present reason to adventure.

Novice rule: the Player’s Manual chapters are now edition-separated. When you open Skills & Proficiencies, Feats, Hit Points, Equipment or the combat-numbers chapter, stay in the 5.5e / 2024 tab and do not import the PF1e or 3.5e procedure.

Pathfinder 1e

Step	Do this	SpiralWorlds record
1	Determine ability scores. Use the Ability Scores chapter.	Record the six final scores and modifiers.
2	Choose race/people. Apply PF1e racial modifiers and traits.	Record homeland, languages and community separately from the mechanics.
3	Choose class.	Record level, Hit Die, proficiencies, class skills and class features.
4	Assign skill ranks and choose feats.	Use PF1e ranks, class-skill bonuses and feat prerequisites only. PF1e skill-rank reference.
5	Buy equipment.	Use PF1e starting wealth/equipment rules, then note regional availability. PF1e starting-equipment reference.
6	Finish the character.	HP, AC, saves, initiative, attacks, spells, alignment, appearance, ally, rival, obligation and reason to adventure.

D&D 3.5e

Step	Do this	SpiralWorlds record
1	Determine ability scores. Use the Ability Scores chapter.	Record the six final scores and modifiers.
2	Choose race/people.	Apply 3.5e racial traits and adjustments; record homeland and languages.
3	Choose class.	Record Hit Die, BAB, saves, class skills and class features.
4	Assign skill points.	Use 3.5e class and cross-class skill rules.
5	Choose feats.	Use 3.5e feat timing and prerequisites.
6	Choose equipment.	Use 3.5e starting wealth and equipment statistics.
7	Finish the character.	HP, AC, saves, initiative, attacks, spells, alignment, appearance, ally, rival, obligation and reason to adventure.

Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e resemble one another but are not interchangeable. Do not import Pathfinder revisions into a 3.5e build unless the Games Master explicitly allows them.

5.5e / 2024 quick reference

Choose a Basic Rules background

In 2024 rules, background is mechanical: it supplies three eligible ability scores, one Origin feat, two skill proficiencies, one tool proficiency and an equipment choice. Apply the ability increases in Step 3, not before.

Background	Eligible abilities	Origin feat	Skills	Tool	Equipment choice
Acolyte	Intelligence, Wisdom, Charisma	Magic Initiate (Cleric)	Insight, Religion	Calligrapher’s Supplies	Calligrapher’s Supplies, prayer book, Holy Symbol, 10 sheets of parchment, robe and 8 GP; or 50 GP
Criminal	Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence	Alert	Sleight of Hand, Stealth	Thieves’ Tools	2 Daggers, Thieves’ Tools, crowbar, 2 pouches, Traveler’s Clothes and 16 GP; or 50 GP
Sage	Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom	Magic Initiate (Wizard)	Arcana, History	Calligrapher’s Supplies	Quarterstaff, Calligrapher’s Supplies, history book, 8 sheets of parchment, robe and 8 GP; or 50 GP
Soldier	Strength, Dexterity, Constitution	Savage Attacker	Athletics, Intimidation	One Gaming Set	Spear, Shortbow, 20 Arrows, chosen Gaming Set, Healer’s Kit, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes and 14 GP; or 50 GP

How to fit it to SpiralWorlds: keep the rules package but describe the actual occupation appropriately. Soldier can mean mercenary, city-watch veteran, household retainer, militia veteran or professional man-at-arms; Sage can be a university or court scholar; Acolyte can belong to an appropriate temple or sacred tradition; Criminal can be a thief, smuggler, poacher or outlaw courier.

Background is not homeland or people. Record those separately. Languages are also chosen separately: use actual languages learned through home, community, schooling, military service, trade or travel.

Official 2024 Character Origins reference

Class Reference People Reference

Not a second procedure

Complete the SpiralWorlds character record

Fill these entries while following your edition’s numbered steps above. They place the character in the setting and give the Games Master usable connections.

NameName, family, clan, household, guild or title where relevant.

PeopleThe character’s people, plus the rules-system term used mechanically if needed.

HomelandA specific kingdom, city, village, frontier, island, enclave, road or travelling community.

LanguagesThe actual languages spoken, read, signed or otherwise used. No universal Common.

Background / former occupationWhat the character did before adventuring and who trained or employed them.

CommunityOne household, guild, military company, court, school, workshop, coven, temple, clan or similar group that knows them.

AllyOne person likely to help.

RivalOne person or group whose aims conflict with theirs.

ObligationA debt, oath, dependent, patron, office, contract or promise.

Reason to adventureA present problem, opportunity or responsibility that makes action necessary now.

Ready for play

Final character check

Only one rules system has been used.
Class and all level-1 choices are complete.
Background/origin or legacy race/class steps are complete for the chosen edition.
Ability scores and modifiers are final.
Skills/proficiencies or ranks are calculated correctly.
Feats are correct for the edition.
HP, AC/defence, saves, initiative, attacks and movement are recorded.
Spellcasting statistics and starting spells are complete where applicable.
Weapons, armour, tools, money and supplies are recorded.
Name, people, homeland and languages are recorded.
At least one ally, rival and obligation are named.
The character has a reason to adventure now.

Five-second test: another player should be able to glance at the sheet and answer four questions: Who are you? What can you do? Where are you from? Why are you here?

Legacy material

Older character-creation pages are quarantined

The links below are preserved so old site links do not break. They are references, not a second creation path. A novice should follow the edition procedure above and use a legacy page only when its system label matches the campaign.

Open the legacy reference list

Page	Use	Status
Dice & Core Rolls	Edition-separated dice notation, d20 tests, natural rolls, Advantage/Disadvantage and multiplier rules.	Rebuilt
Character Sheet & What to Record	Edition-safe sheet selection plus the mechanical and SpiralWorlds details a player needs to record.	Rebuilt
Ability Scores	Edition-separated ability generation.	Rebuilt
Choose Your People	Edition-separated people/species/race gateway.	Rebuilt
Choose Your Class	Edition-separated class gateway and novice class-selection guide.	Rebuilt
Skills & Proficiencies	Edition-separated 5.5e proficiencies, PF1e ranks and 3.5e skill points.	Rebuilt
Feats	Edition-separated 5.5e feat categories, PF1e feat progression and 3.5e feat progression.	Rebuilt
Hit Points & Hit Dice	Edition-separated starting HP, higher-level HP, Constitution and class Hit Dice.	Rebuilt
Equipment & Starting Gear	Edition-separated 5.5e packages, PF1e starting wealth and 3.5e starting gold.	Rebuilt
Saving Throws, Initiative & Attacks	Edition-separated saves, Initiative, Armor Class, weapon attacks, spell attacks and combat modifiers.	Rebuilt
Alignment	Edition-separated moral shorthand, class restrictions and alignment-sensitive rules.	Rebuilt
Description & Personality	Playable appearance, motivations, backstory, relationships, obligations and roleplaying cues.	Rebuilt
Starting Spells & Spellcasting	Edition-separated cantrips, prepared spells, spellbooks, slots and spellcasting ability.	Rebuilt

Optional viewing

Character-creation videos

Broad beginner introduction retained from the original page. Use the edition rules above when details differ.

Optional concept and personality advice.

Sources and licensing

Rules sources

SRD 5.2.1 attribution: This work includes material from the System Reference Document 5.2.1 by Wizards of the Coast LLC, licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International.

Legacy Open Game Content notice

Pathfinder 1e and D&D 3.5e mechanical material is Open Game Content only to the extent that it derives from material released as Open Game Content under the Open Game License version 1.0a. SpiralWorlds setting material, 1454 campaign material, examples, artwork, CSS and editorial presentation are excluded.

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