What makes up a level 1 character in Pathfinder?

This is the first in our series of Pathfinder character creation, where we make a character which then becomes "premade" for future use.

We are operating under the following conditions, from this post:

Class: [Sorcerer] (Accursed Bloodline)

Now classes are a key component in a character's "build", what the character does and the special abilities it gains will be largely based here. In OGC format, the class page comes with a table, which gives us a nice "once over" of what a class "gets" each level.

Here is such a table from the D20pfsrd Source:

"pfsrd" means Pathfinder Source Reference Document, and everything you see at this "source", which is the Open Gaming Network - is OPEN SOURCE. Yes, open source like "open source code" - the same legal definition, although under a different license. This link is to the HIVE version, which I published on @mithrildestiny.

While writing this post, I reblogged the OGL version 1a - see tx here - under which Pathfinder First edition is itself published, meaning that not only am I covered under the license to share and share alike this material content, "this code", everything I publish using it - like the character I am about to make today, is published under the license - namely IS ITSELF OPEN SOURCE.

Sorcerer Class

At first level (1st), Sorcerer class basically need to pick everything, right up front through their Bloodline. Bloodline's are a complicated chart of a whole bunch of magical and mystical doohickies that change and increase throughout the entire level progression (throughout the game). If you are of a similar flavor of autistic to me, you will now spend the next week reading through all the complete level progression powers for every possible arcana option before choosing the best one for your character.

These of course, due to the nature of the license we discussed, as well are all open source too, including "3rd party" created content. I couldn't manage to get a screenshot with all of them on one page tho:

You might see why I discussed that "creating a character could become an obstacle to playing the game". Luckily the wise interlocutor gave us a bloodline requirement - Accursed, so we don't even need to read any of these links.

At 1st level, our bloodline really comes down to few things -

A class skill: Perception (++)
Our Bloodline Arcana: AMAZING!
A bloodline "power": in our case - a supernatural ability we can use 3+CHA times per day.

That's it! Going back to the Sorcerer Class Table, we can also see that our class gives us a feat: Eschew materials, which is nice and means we won't have to "worry", even in roleplay, about "spell components": batwings, cow dung, fig leaves or chalk dust - except for very specific and late game (read: higher level) cases.

We also get spells, both Cantrips and 3 1st level spells (per day). We will have to pick them, from a list. A list of open source content, that not only anyone can add to, but everyone is legally obligated to add to if they want to "publish" the material. Are you starting to get the picture?

A note about "sorcerer" magic in Pathfinder

Sorcerer class is limited by another table, Spells Known. This table is not modified by any attribute - we get to "know" 4 cantrips (which can be cast unlimited times per day) and 2 first level spells. That's it.

We will go deeper into Spell Selection in a future post, for today let's jump ahead by quickly choosing the following from the spell list:

Cantrips: Resistance, Acid Splash, Message, and Daze
1spells: Ear-Piercing Scream and Animate Rope

Did we just go through the class first?

Yes we did, and now we can see that Charisma is our defining attribute, for both our bloodline "power", and our spells' per day and Difficulty Class.

In fact, Attributes (strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom and charisma) are even sometimes the last thing I do. In many ways, its mostly obviously what you should select for attributes after you figure everything else out.

So what is left? Race, 2 Traits, 1 feat, and a few skill points. Doesn't sound like much right? It's not, it's "easy" - of course with hundreds of possible links to click along the way if we want to, thousands of pages full of options and tables and progressions.

Race: Human!

Since we are just trying to "get through" this part now, we will choose the easiest "OP" race in the game, Human. After all, if we don't want to read tomes upon tomes of flavor text before deciding how to "play a game", we can just be what I can only assume most of us are: Humans!

Humans also have a player chosen +2 to one ability score, which lines up exactly nicely with our Golarion One Homerules on character creation.

What does this mean? 1 extra feat, and one extra skill rank. Easy peasy - let's move on!

Traits (2)

After all that, finally we can think a bit about "who is this character?". I like to "start" with traits (after the foundational stuff about class and race is decided), because traits are the little details that help us start painting a backstory (generic, of course, but that will be filled out as the adventure goes on).

While Feats and Skills serve a mostly "mechanical" role within the gameplay, traits are really {mostly} about "telling a story". Each character gets two traits (unless of course you pick the "Additional Traits" Feat 😅), and you cannot chose two traits of the same type - said another way, the two traits you pick must be from separate type/categories.

For our character today we will choose: Unpredictable Reactions, a combat trait, and Magical Talent:Grasp, a magical trait.

Feats (2)

In addition to gaining Eschew Materials free from our class, we get to pick 1 feat for being level 1 and 1 feat for being human. There are many long lists of feats, lots of them chain into each other as characters level up, so the lists are not quite as daunting as they seem. To make it quick, we will quickly chose some classic "good choices":

Toughness
Combat Casting

Ability Scores

See more about ability score calculations in Golarion One here
Strength: 10
Dexgerity: 14
Constitutio : 12
Wisdom: 14
Intelligence: 12
Charisma: 18

Skills (4; 2 + 1(human) +1(int))

Remembering we gain Perception as a class skill due to our bloodline:

We will chose:
Bluff: 1 rank
Perception: 1 rank
Spellcraft: 1 rank
Use Magic Device: 1 rank

Character Sheet "format", in markdown!

Premade Character: Jaminka Flores

Templates:	Sorcerer 1, Accursed Bloodline	Character Level 1
Medium, Human	chaotic, good	Initiative +2
Senses:	Normal Vision	Perception +8

Defenses
AC:12	touch:12, flat-footed:29(31)	+2 Dex,
HP: 8 (1d6 + 4)	Fort:+1, Reflex:+2, Will:+4

Offense
Speed	30 ft.
Melee	unarmed +0; d2 nonlethal
Special Attacks

Spells Known	(CL 1st)
1 (4/day)	Ear-Piercing Scream, Animate Rope
0 (at will)	Resistance, Acid Splash, Message, and Daze

Statistics
Ability Scores	Str: 10, Dex: 14, Con: 12, Int: 12, Wis: 14, Cha: 18 Base Atk: +0, CMB: +0, CMD: +12
Feats	Combat Casting, Toughness
Skills	Bluff:+8, Perception:+6, Spellcraft:+5, Use Magic Device:+8

Other
Special Abilities	Horrific Visage (Su):Will save DC 15 or become shaken for 1 round; 5/day
Equipment:	Silken Rope, 50ft; Small Tent; Backpack, Blanket, Bedroll; 47gp

With that, our first "premade character" is made! Big upvotes for anyone who submits fanart (ai or otherwise) for our new friend, Jaminka Flores.

Freedom and Friendship