Character creation (Deadfire)

Character creation is the process by which a player creates a player character. Once you enter the character creation screen, you have an initial option to either import a character or to create a brand-new character. If you choose the latter you'll be led through a series of decisions to craft the character you will play on your adventures across Deadfire Archipelago.

The steps are as follows:
 * 1) Select a sex.
 * 2) Select a race and subrace.
 * 3) Select a class or two (multiclass).
 * 4) Modify attributes.
 * 5) Select a culture and a background.
 * 6) Select initial weapon and/or shield proficiency.
 * 7) Customize appearance, voice and name.

While creating a character, it is best to remember that there are no good or bad characters, and different people appreciate different aspects of the game.

Sex
The first step of the character creation is to choose a gender. You can play as either male or female.

Depending on the culture from which they hail, men and women are found in a wide variety of stations and professions. Though different nations of Eora have different traditional views on the roles of the sexes, there are exceptions to these rules in all societies, and besides determining your character's look in the game and having in some cases varying conversation options, the two genders do not differ in stats or capabilities.

Race
The second step involves selecting a Race and Sub-race. There are six possible races to choose from. Each race gets a small bonus or penalty to certain attributes which differentiates it from the other races.

Subrace
After selecting a race, a list of subraces is brought up. Subrace has no effect on attributes, they differ mostly in their passive abilities. Each Subrace (except humans, who all share Fighting Spirit) provides access to a unique passive ability. Additionally, it affects the way NPCs treat your character in small degree.

See Subrace Descriptions.

At this point during character creation, Godlike also choose a body type from among the other five races. This is solely cosmetic and has no impact on their attributes.

Class
The third step of the character creation is selecting whether you want to make a single class or multiclass character, and the specific class(es) for that. Multiclass characters are generally not recommended for new players. Class is very important, it defines the majority of abilities a character will obtain as they increase in power. There are eleven classes to choose from, unrestricted by race or gender. Each class has its own strengths and weaknesses, which can be further specified by subclass selection (e.g. which order your Paladin belongs to, or which deity your Priest worships). For Paladin and Priest classes in particular the power of their abilities can be later modified by their behavior and the reputations they develop during their adventures. Multiclassing combines two classes into one, which allows access to a wider range of abilities but also means slower progression towards higher level powers (with the highest levels entirely out of reach) and averaged class-based skill bonuses.

After selecting a class and a subclass (if any), you need to pick starting abilities. Note that the lists of available abilities per level are different from, but there were no updated lists to link to at the time this was written. Once such lists exist these links should be updated to point to them.


 * Barbarians choose one ability
 * Chanters choose one Invocation and one chant phrase.
 * Ciphers choose one power.
 * Druids choose one Druid spell and a spiritshift form. This form represents a type of animal spirit with which the druid has developed an intimate level of understanding.
 * Fighters choose one ability
 * Monks choose one ability
 * Paladins choose one ability.
 * Priests choose one Priest spell.
 * Rangers choose one ability and an Animal Companion.
 * Rogues choose one ability
 * Wizards choose one Wizard spell.

Attributes
The fourth step of creation is assigning attribute points. Since attributes strongly affect game play, and can't be changed later, considerable thought should be given to choosing them. The attributes that are generally considered particularly important or especially beneficial for your chosen class(es) are marked with a gold star (highly recommended) or a silver star (recommended). When you increase or decrease a number the associated bonuses and/or penalties (listed at the bottom on the right side panel) change accordingly. You can proceed from this view without using all attribute points, but that is not recommended and the game asks you for confirmation that the choice was intentional.

Note that the attribute bonuses from your selected race are already applied to the initial attribute numbers you are given and won't be added on top of the numbers you choose here. However, the attribute bonus from your culture (which you'll select in the next step) will still add one point to one of these attributes.

Outside dialogs with NPC's, some scripted interactions, and especially in combat, your companions' attributes contribute equally to gameplay, so the fact that you can't have all maximum attributes on your main character should not worry you. You can often choose which character of your group is best suited for a particular task during scripted interactions, and you can refresh your memory of everyone's particular attributes and skills by hovering over their portrait.

Culture and Background
The fifth step of character creation is selecting a culture of where you came from. Each culture gives a +1 bonus to a specific attribute and affects the starting equipment the character receives, with what equipment you will start the game, as well as what backgrounds are available.

Once you have selected the culture you need to select a background. Backgrounds provide a skill boost. Some backgrounds are only available to certain cultures, while others are available to all cultures.

Weapon Proficiency
The sixth stage of the character creation is selecting which weapons or shields your main character is proficient with initially. This grants you access to modal abilities such as Overdraw or Binding Block that are available when you have a corresponding weapon or shield equipped, and which can be turned on or off to meet the tactical needs of a battle. There is no penalty for using a weapon without the corresponding proficiency, but the modal abilities are only available for characters that have the proficiency.

Appearance, voice, and name
Last part of character creation is to choose appearance, a portrait, a voice and a name.

There are in total 103 default portraits to choose from and your choice is not limited in any way by your chosen race or gender. You can also import more portrait options, but there is no importing option within the character creation itself so do that upfront if you wish to use a customized version. See also: Female portraits and Male portraits.
 * Portrait

While largely governed the player's choices of gender, race and culture, you can also pick some modification of character head and his skin. This includes colors: primary and secondary clothing/armor colors, skin, hair and eye colors; and head appearance: facial hair style (males only), face style, and hair style. The options available depend on the character's gender and race.
 * Appearance


 * Voice

There are eight different voice sets to choose from, you are also able to choose none. Unlike in you can only select a voice set that matches your gender. The choice has little effect ingame, as your character speaks only if they affirm that they understood your order.


 * Pose

There are eight different poses to choose from that determine your character's general bearing, whether it's hunched or energetic or simply average.

Give your character a name. If you intend to role-play or otherwise desire to have names consistent with lore, use Personal Names for reference.
 * Name

Post-character creation
While not necessarily part of character creation, the following areas are influenced by the choices you've made.

Starting equipment
You find weapons matching your chosen proficiencies shortly after character creation. Note that if you chose a proficiency for a two-handed weapon and another for a shield, that initial stash won't contain a single-handed weapon to go with that shield (although you'll be able to find some very soon afterwards regardless).