Character Creation

Make sure you review the Classes, Species, Talents, Feats, Abilities, and Skills sections before using this overview when creating a Star Wars character. Print out a copy of the Character Sheet to use as a record of your character.

Characters generally begin play at 1st level and attain additional levels as they complete adventures.

Step 1: Generate Ability Scores
Every character has six Abilities that represent the character's basic strengths and weaknesses. These Abilities- Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma- affect everything a hero does, from fighting to using Skills.

A score of 10 or 11 in a ability is average. Higher scores grant bonuses, and lower scores give penalties. When you create your character, you'll want to put your higher scores into the Abilities most closely associated with your character's Class.

Use one of the methods described in the Abilities section to generate your six Ability Scores. Record the scores on a piece of scrap paper and put them aside for the moment.

Step 2: Select Your Species
As a Star Wars character, you aren't limited to simply being Human. There are a variety of Species available, from Mon Calamari to Wookiee. Select the Species you want to play from those presented in the Species section.

Each Species has it's own set of special abilities and modifiers. Record these traits on your Character Sheet.

Step 3: Choose Your Class
A Class provides you with a strong point for your character, a frame upon which you can hang Skills, Feats, and various story elements. Choose a Class from those presented in the Classes section and write in on your Character Sheet.

Step 4: Assign Ability Scores
Now that you know what Species and Class you want your character to be, take the scores you generated in Step 1 and assign each to one of the six Abilities: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Then make any adjustments to these scores according to the Species you selected.

For guidance, each Class description indicates which Abilities are most important for that Class. You might want to put your highest scores in the Abilities that accentuate the natural benefits of the Class.

Record your Ability Scores on your Character Sheet. Record your Ability Modifiers as well.

Step 5: Determine Combat Statistics
In Combat, you need to know your character's hit points, Defenses, Damage Threshold, attack bonuses, and speed, as well as how many Force Points you have to spend.

Hit Points
Each character can withstand a certain amount of damage before falling unconscious or dying. The ability to take damage and keep functioning is represented by the character's hit points.

Your Class determines how many hit points you have at 1st level, as shown below: For example, if your character belongs to the Scoundrel class and you have a Constitution score of 12, you start with 19 hit points (18 + 1 for your Constitution bonus).

Your hit points increase as you gain levels, as described in the Classes section.

Defenses
Determine your character's Defenses as follows:

Reflex Defense: 10 + Your Heroic Level or Armor Bonus + Dexterity Modifier + Class Bonus (If any) + Natural Armor Bonus (If any) + Size Modifier

Fortitude Defense: 10 + Your Heroic Level + Constitution Modifier + Class Bonus (If any) + Equipment Bonus (If any)

Will Defense: 10 + Your Heroic Level + Wisdom Modifier + Class Bonus (If any)

When you take your first level in a Heroic Class, you gain class bonuses on two or more Defenses, as shown in the Classes section.

If you wear armor, you must substitute your Armor Bonus for your Heroic Level when calculating your Reflex Defense. For example, a 1st level Soldier with a Dexterity of 12 while wearing a Blast Helmet and Vest (+2 Armor Bonus) has a Reflex Defense of 14 (10 +2 Armor +1 Dex +1 Class). Some types of armor also provide an Equipment bonus to your Fortitude Defense in addition to an Armor Bonus to your Reflex Defense (As noted in the Equipment section).

Damage Threshold
Attacks that deal massive amounts of damage can impair or incapacitate you regardless of how many hit points you have remaining. Your Damage Threshold determines how much damage a single attack must deal to reduce your combat effectiveness or, in some cases, kill you.

A Small or Medium character's Damage Threshold is equal to his or her Fortitude Defense. Record this number on your Character Sheet.

Base Attack Bonus
The character's Base Attack Bonus (sometimes abbreviated BAB). Apply this bonus to the character's attack rolls. Base Attack Bonuses does not apply to damage rolls. Your character's Class determines your Base Attack Bonus. Record this number on your Character Sheet:

Melee Attack Bonus
To determine your melee attack bonus, add your Strength modifier to your Base Attack Bonus. Certain Feats and Talents might provide additional modifiers, so make adjustments as necessary.

Ranged Attack Bonus
To determine your ranged attack bonus, add your Dexterity modifier to your Base Attack Bonus. Certain Feats and Talents might provide additional modifiers, so make adjustments as necessary.

Speed
Your character's Species determines their speed. Most Species have a speed of 6 squares. Ewoks -among others- have a speed of 4 squares because they are Small.

Force Points
Your character begins play with 5 Force Points. Indicate this in the space provided on the Character Sheet.

If you end up taking the Force Boon feat, you gain an additional 3 Force Points.

Destiny Point
If your GM uses the optional Destiny Rules, your character begins play with 1 Destiny Point. Indicate this in the space provided on the Character Sheet.

Step 6: Select Skills
Skills represent how well a character accomplishes dramatic tasks other than combat, such as disabling a tractor beam generator or climbing a sheer surface.

Each Class comes with a list of class skills. From this list, you get to pick a number of Skills in which your character is considered Trained. The number of Trained Skills your character gets depends on the Class you've selected and your character's Intelligence modifier. Once you've selected your character's Trained Skills, determine the skill check modifier for each skill.

The skill check modifier for Trained Skills is one-half your character level (rounded down) + the relevant Ability modifier + 5. If you are Untrained in a skill, the skill check modifier is one-half your character level (rounded down) + the relevant Ability modifier. (In other words, you get a +5 bonus on skill checks made using Trained Skills.)

Some Skills cannot be used Untrained. See the Skills section for more information.

Step 7: Select Feats
Feats are special features that provide a character with new capabilities or improvements.

Your character begins play with at least one Feat. If you are playing a Human, you get a bonus Feat. In addition, your Class also gives you several starting Feats that you get for free.

Select your Feats from the Feats section and record them on the Character Sheet. Some Feats may affect the information you've already recorded, so make adjustments as necessary.

Step 8: Select a Talent
At 1st level, your character gets a Talent (a special class feature). Choose a Talent from any of the Talent Trees available to your Class. Characters that have the Force Sensitivity feat may take a Talent from a Force Talent Tree, or take a Talent from their Force Tradition talent tree. Some Talents have prerequisites that must be met before they can be selected. Select your Talents from the Talents section and record them on the Character Sheet. Some Talents may affect the information you've already recorded, so make adjustments as necessary.

Step 9: Determine Starting Credits and Buy Gear
Your character's Class determines how many credits you start play with. Use your credits to purchase Equipment for your character. The Equipment section details weapons, armor, and gear you can purchase. Record all purchased Equipment and remaining credits on the Character Sheet.

Step 10: Finish your Character
The last details you need to add to your Character Sheet help you to visualize and roleplay your character. You need a name, of course- something that fits your Class, Species, and the Star Wars galaxy. You should also determine your character's age, gender, height, weight, eye and hair color, skin color, and any relevant background information you want to provide. (Make sure to run your ideas past your Gamemaster so that he or she can fit them into the campaign.)

The Heroic Traits section provides guidelines that can help you with these details and characteristics.