RPGA Character Creation Guide v.1.95.pdf

RPGA ® CHARACTER CREATION GUIDE

Version 1.95, Effective February 1, 2010 Next Update: June, 2010

Updates to this document from the previous version appear in red text .

Your RPGA number

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What is the RPGA?

The RPGA is an official network that promotes play of

Wizards of the Coast roleplaying games, heavily focused on

D&D ® . With the RPGA, thousands of gamers participate in

massive shared-world campaigns in their homes, at

conventions around the world, and online. You can often

take your character from one play group to a completely

different group, and with this guide you’ll know that your

character is official. DMs also earn DM Rewards, exclusive

D&D game materials and aids only available through the

RPGA. Your home game can also be scheduled through the

RPGA, earning you rewards for your local play.

In order to become a RPGA member and participate,

you need a membership number, which can be obtained at a

public event (such as a convention or local game day) or

online. Go to www.dungeonsanddragons.com and click on

“Events” for more information on how you can sign up to

join the biggest D&D organization in the world.

If you’re a Dungeon Master (DM) and you want to

schedule a public game for play, you’ll need to become an

organizer through the Wizards Play Network (WPN). This

process is simple, straightforward, and only takes a few

minutes.

Any other player resources you want (see below)

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This guide

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On the official character record sheets (found in the back of

the Player’s Handbook or available for purchase), put your

RPGA number next to your name at the top of the first page

of the sheet. You’ll want to note the appropriate appendix of

this document to find the program you’re going to play. Then

crack open your Player’s Handbook and continue reading on!

Creating a New Character

Creating a character for a RPGA game is very similar to

creating a character for any other D&D game. In fact, if you

follow the character creation rules in the Player’s Handbook ,

you’ll be pretty much set. However, there are some

decisions that normally a DM would make about character

creation, and this guide tells you what is official for RPGA

play in these circumstances. If a specific situation is not

covered by this guide, use the Player’s Handbook as the

default reference.

All characters start at 1st level unless otherwise

specified. Some RPGA programs might have characters

starting at a higher level, in which case see “Creating a

Higher-Level Character” below.

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www.wizards.com/wpn

for

information.

How to Use This Guide

This Character Creation Guide is used for all official RPGA

programs in which you have to bring your own character. In

addition to the general rules in this guide, each program has

its own appendix with additional information specific to the

program.

You can also use the rules in this guide for your own

home game. Doing so allows your players to take advantage

of using their RPGA Rewards cards for your home game.

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Ability scores are never rolled. Use Method 1 or 2

( Player’s Handbook , pages 17-18) to generate ability

scores for your character.

Starting characters must purchase equipment that is

from a player resource. Each 1st-level RPGA character

starts out with 100 gp, just like any other D&D

character. They can purchase equipment that is from a

player resource (see below). Once you start

adventuring, you may gain access to or find other magic

items that you normally could not purchase.

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Character alignments must be unaligned, good, or

lawful good. In addition, characters may not worship a

deity with an alignment of evil or chaotic evil.

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What You’ll Need

In order to create a character for a RPGA game session,

you’ll need the following:

Player resources are legal for character options. Each

month, Wizards of the Coast releases more D&D game

material through print products on sale at your local

store or on our website through Dragon and Dungeon

magazines. Some of this material is a player resource,

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A Player’s Handbook

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A character record sheet

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RPGA Character Creation Guide

Page 1

and some of it is for DMs. See the chart to identify what

products are player resources.

Artifacts

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Content that specifies DM adjudication in order to be

used by a character

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Rules for Home Games

If you’re going to be the DM for a homebrew game, you

can choose to follow any or all of the information in this

guide. However, if you make your game a RPGA-

sanctioned public event, meaning different players can

rotate in and out of your sessions, you need to use two

rules presented here: characters use Method 1 or 2 for

ability scores and characters have use of RPGA Rewards

cards (see below). The rest is up to you.

Retraining in the RPGA

The Player’s Handbook, page 28 has specific rules regarding

retraining, but in order to allow players to take better

advantage of new rules options and to make it easier to

adjust to rules updates, the RPGA uses a more permissive

system.

Whenever your character gains a level, you may retrain

out any and all character-based rules options, except for

the following:

Player Resources

The following list as of this publication date contains the

names of the products that have player resources through

December 2009. This list will continue to be updated in this

document semi-annually, and on the RPGA website when

appropriate.

Your character race (you may retrain race-based

options that you chose)

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Your character class (you may retrain your build)

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Access Information: Content from publications not listed

above requires you to obtain access. For magic items, rituals,

and formulas, you’ll want to check the appendix for the

program you’re participating in, if any. For new races, feats,

powers, and other options, you need to have a RPGA

Rewards card that grants you access and have it in your card

stack (see below) or the option needs to be specifically

mentioned in the appropriate appendix for the program.

Dragon Magazine: Content appearing in Dragon Magazine

that is player resource-friendly (full racial write-ups, classes,

paragon paths, epic destinies, powers, feats, magic items,

rituals/formulas, and backgrounds) is available for access if

present in the compiled issue and when the compiled issue

is available for download (typically at the end of the current

month). Content from individual articles is not available for

access upon the date of the article’s publication, as the

compiled issue may make final modifications to the rules in

the article. Exceptions to access will be noted in the rules

content’s article.

Playtest Classes: Occasionally, D&D Insider subscribers

to Dragon Magazine may have playable “playtest” classes

available to them months before they actually see print.

These classes are usable when the compiled monthly issue is

available, but keep in mind that some features and powers of

the class may change when the final version of the class is

published. If the class isn’t presented in a playable state

when the compiled monthly issue is released, it is not legal

for RPGA play.

Publication

Content Allowed

Date Legal

Player’s Handbook

series (includes races

series)

All

Upon release

All except

spellscarred rules

and backgrounds

Forgotten Realms

Player’s Guide

Available now

Adventurer’s Vault &

Adventurer’s Vault 2

All

Available now

Power series ( Martial

Power, etc.)

All

Upon release

Manual of the Planes

Paragon paths

Available now

Player’s Handbook

Heroes Miniatures

All

Available now

All except

dragonmarked rules

& backgrounds

Available now

Eberron Player’s Guide

Dragon Magazine

Annuals

All

Upon release

Upon release of

compiled issue

Dragon Magazine

All

D&D Insider

Character Builder

exclusive content

All

When available

Content Not Accessible: There are a few bits of D&D game

material that are not considered accessible to players (even

if content from the resource is allowed), as it is too difficult

to evaluate the content’s use in RPGA campaigns. Exceptions

to this rule will be noted on specified play documents. This

includes the following game content:

Rules Updates and FAQs

Periodically, Wizards of the Coast will release rules updates

with corrections to existing rules, or a player/DM will

inquire through a specific official channel to get a

clarification on an existing rule. When there is

RPGA Character Creation Guide

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Creating a Higher-Level Character

If you’re creating a character higher than 1st level for a

specific campaign (either a RPGA program or a home

game), simply follow the rules in the Dungeon Master’s Guide

page 143, in addition to those in this guide. Remember to

adjust the number of RPGA Rewards cards in your stack

appropriately.

Pay particular attention to Step 7 of the process in the

Dungeon Master’s Guide. You get one magic item of your level

+ 1, one of your level, and one of your level – 1. You also get

gold equal to a magic item of your level – 1. Keep in mind

that you still must adhere to the access rules for the

campaign.

contradiction or confusion on a ruling at a table, the

DM is the final arbiter, although the most recent rules

should be used when possible. The following are

considered official rules sources for RPGA play:

Printed rulebooks

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Official D&D rules updates (available at

www.dungeonsanddragons.com ; click on “Products,” then

“Updates”)

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D&D Rules Compendium (available through D&D

Insider at www.dungeonsanddragons.com )

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D&D Character Builder (available through D&D Insider

at www.dungeonsanddragons.com )

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Clarifications issued through the official Game Support

team at Wizards of the Coast

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RPGA Rewards Cards

Periodically, the RPGA issues special cards that can be used

in official RPGA games. These cards allow you to get an

adventuring edge from time to time, help promote

teamwork, and provide you with new character options. You

should show your DM what cards you have in your stack

prior to beginning a play session.

Rewards cards printed from a PDF file are legal for play,

as long as they are available for download via the Wizards

website. Otherwise, you must have the physical card present

to use it.

RPGA Character Creation Guide (this document)

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Updates posted on the official Wizards website (through

D&D Insider or as news items)

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Important Play Information

While each program has its own set of rules, there are three

bits of information you’ll want to keep in mind when playing

your character.

It’s a team game. While creating a brooding loner

character can be interesting, the character should still be

able to function well in a team environment. 4th Edition

D&D is all about working together to overcome

challenges, and the mechanics of the game reinforce that

aspect. Roleplay your character however you like, so long

as you remember the importance of assisting your fellow

adventurers. If you are in control of your character and

have an attack that includes PCs in its effect, always ask

the players controlling the affected characters if it’s OK to

damage or otherwise hinder their character before you

make the attack.

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There are four types of Rewards cards:

General cards are the most common and the ones likely

to be used in a game session. Each general card has a

benefit listed on the card. Once the benefit is triggered,

the card is turned sideways to indicate it is used, and the

bonus indicated on the card (usually +1 or +2) becomes

active for the rest of the session. You can give any one ally

(a character other than your own) the bonus at any time

after a d20 roll has been made. Only one card bonus may

be given to a d20 roll. Once the bonus has been spent,

remove the general card from the play area or flip it face

down. You can have as many general cards as you like in

your stack (up to your limit), and may have multiple

copies of the same general card in your stack.

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When a rule is updated, use the newest version. Keep

an eye out for rules updates, particularly Dragon Magazine

options that later appear in a rulebook. Make sure that

you’re using the most current version of the rule. This is

especially important if you use a playtest class from

Dragon Magazine.

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Creation cards allow you to create a character of a new

race or with an option unavailable to most characters.

You can only have one creation card in your card stack, it

must be assigned when the character is created, and it

cannot be changed once chosen.

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Play of an adventure is restricted to once per character,

not once per player. Unless otherwise specified, all RPGA

adventures that allow you to create your own character

can be played multiple times, so long as you use a

different character each time you play. You can even DM

a game and then play it at a later date. If you play an

adventure again, you are required to let the DM know at

the beginning of the game that you’ve already played it,

and don’t ruin the surprises for anyone else that might be

experiencing the adventure for the first time.

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Expansion cards give your character new options. You can

have as many different expansion cards as you like in your

stack (up to your limit), they can be assigned at any time,

and if they are removed at a later time, you lose access to

the options on the card (which might mean you have to

retrain or restrict future item access).

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Quest cards are a special type of card linked to a specific

program (usually a long-term official RPGA campaign). On

each quest card, there are tasks listed that you have to

RPGA Character Creation Guide

Page 3

perform in adventures. Your DM will inform you if you’ve

completed the task and can gain credit from doing so.

Once you’ve completed all the tasks, you unlock a special

adventure playable only by those with the quest card in

their stack and all tasks completed. Your character can

possess as many quest cards as you’d like in your stack;

these cards do not count against your total cards in your

stack.

Each character has a card stack; essentially a number of card

“slots”. The number of cards in the stack grows as a

character gains levels. You can modify the cards in your

stack in-between adventures. See the table below for

specifics.

Character

Level

Cards

Gained

Total Cards in Stack (Only

1 Creation)

1st

6th

11th

16th

21st

26th

Documenting Your Play

Each campaign may have different ways that you document

your play – for many of them it’s as simple as writing down

your XP and treasure gained on your character sheet, just

like any other D&D game. For others, it may involve you

keeping an adventure log either on paper or online. See the

appendix for the specific program you’re participating in.

RPGA Character Creation Guide

Page 4

APPENDIX: CONVENTION SPECIALS

What are Convention Specials?

Every so often, we will release an adventure or short series of

adventures that is not tied to a larger campaign, for example,

the D&D Championship. These adventures typically come

with pregenerated characters, but offer you the opportunity

to create your own appropriately-leveled character to play

the adventure. A list of available adventures and their

premiere conventions is listed below. Adventures are usually

available for general release within a short time after the

premiere convention.

Note that the Convention Delve is only available

through convention support and the Ultimate Dungeon

Delve is only available at conventions officially sponsored by

Wizards of the Coast.

Adventure Name

Level

Premiere Convention

Return to the Moathouse

5th

Origins 2008

In Fear No More Series

9th-11th

Gen Con Indy 2008

Beyond the Door

18th

D&D Experience 2009

Shards of Galifar Series

2nd-4th

Gen Con Indy 2009

Special Character Creation Rules

Create an appropriately leveled character following all of

the rules in the RPGA Character Creation Guide. To equip

your character, select one magic item of your character’s

level +1 (or less), one magic item of your character’s level (or

less), and one magic item of your character’s level -1(or less).

You also have gold equal to a magic item of your character’s

level -1 to spend on other equipment, potions, rituals, or

more magic items.

Follow the rules in the RPGA Character Creation Guide

for player resource access rules. As new resources become

available on the player resource list, these options become

available for characters in future play of the adventure.

Please see the notes below for specific adventures.

In Fear No More Series: This group of adventures uses

only pregenerated characters. They are included with the

adventure download.

RPGA Character Creation Guide Appendix: Convention Specials

Page 5

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