If you're struggling either conceptually or mechanically, I'm happy to help out, as are your other players, probably. Post what you have so far and we'll try to refine it into a fully-realized character.

Also, if anyone has a good character sheet template handy, please PM it to me! I can't really find a good one for PF2e. I'll set up your character sheets tomorrow.

I couldn't sleep and someone sent me a workable template, so you all should now have editable character sheets. Please let me know if I did it wrong; I'm still trying to figure out the GM settings. I'd like to see at least initial concepts by Monday. The first scene is an Influence encounter, not combat, so it's fine if your weapons and other equipment aren't totally figured out yet, but your basic statistics, feats, and skills should be.

Morning all.

Are we doing any of the optional character rules for this? Any 2e I've played before we've used one or all of "ancestry paragon", "free archetype", or "gradual ability boosts". They're all outlined here https://2e.aonprd.com/Rules.aspx?ID=1297 They're pretty common options and very popular. But it's ok with me if we stay vanilla, of course.

I could be talked into Gradual Ability Boosts. I like the idea of smoothing out level bumps a bit. We'll see how we feel when we get to level 2.

The others, definitely not. There's really no reason for Free Archetypes to be needed in this adventure: environmentally it's a perfectly standard wilderness-exploration campaign. You won't be spending a significant time on the high seas, or mountaineering, or visiting other planes, or locked in a magical academy, or anything like that, and there's no real need for the characters to have compatible backgrounds or expertise.

While there are a lot of social encounters (which is mostly what Ancestry Paragon helps with), I accepted an extra player for a total of 5, which will already make social encounters a bit easier since there's no easy way to scale them up (I can't just add an extra mook or two like I can for combat encounters). So I don't see a great need for this either.

I would like to point out Pathbuilder2. It is a free app on Android and it makes character building super easy. You can export from it as well. It is a great tool so I wanted to recommend it.

Totally fair, can't blame a girl for asking for more feats. But I'm good without them.

By the way, what is everyone thinking of bringing? I see dubh will be a druid which is perfect for a wilderness theme, and ulle I'm guessing is some sort of fighter barbarian type?  What kind of concept are you others playing Wilkezag and Gannok? If you guys don't mind sharing.

Ranger here actually, with a ridable animal companion and a current emphasis on survival skills.

Ooh cool never done animal companions in 2e but more flanking bodies the better.

Mounted combat doesn't help that much with adding more flankers, but I'll be interested to see how it works all the same. Animal companions in general are pretty good; not quite as favored as in 1e but still definitely nice to have.

I've always liked the idea of mount companions. The only thing I have against mounts is that they are problematic if the entire party doesn't have them and when you are in confined spaces (read, dungeons) all the cool stuff you have built the character for has very limited use.

And you are?  ... Oh, I see in the other thread, a ruffian rogue.  Nice.

I was actually waiting to see what is needed.  I've known our GM a long time so I was invited rather than having to qualify in.  Also, I have a lot of experience role-playing and am happy to play whatever is needed.  I was originally thinking about a bard, since it seems we don't have a face, yet.  But GM has said that one other player is still considering a bard, and (as GM said) no party needs two of them.  If not a bard, then either an Investigator or a caster of some sort.  (I'm already a sorcerer in another game, so I'm less interested in that.)

I do generally like playing a counter-indicated personality from the class.  I've done a barbarian who was something of a gentle giant (unless ...) and a druid who was a cigar-chomping city-street kid.  As a bard / face I can't really afford to be abrasive, but maybe a terrible introvert who has to overcome his shyness constantly.  (That might get old a little too quickly.  I'll have to work on it.)  I'm still looking for inspiration, otherwise.


Seconded.  I actually installed BlueStacks on my PC just so I could run it there.  It does only have a subset of the rules, however.

Ah yes sorry missed that it was mounted combat. Still curious to see how it works out. I've only played a few 2e games so still have a lot of character concepts I haven't seen.

Drill sergeant captain America type who's charisma is more that he's inspiring to the troops than a sociable type? He can turn it in when needs to, but would rather be anywhere else than conniving at court?

I also love playing against type with a ruffian rogue, very strong not that nimble. Trying to settle on secondary role where I lean into either dex stealth, and tripping, wisdom and perception and medicine, or backup face skills (especially intimidate). Not sure which way to go yet...

I love bards and investigators and rogues (in 2e)

I've recommended elsewhere that I strongly suggest all characters be somewhat competent in at least one of the three main social skills. I promise it will not be wasted skill ranks. Fortunately in this system Perception is automatic and depends only on your class; you're not giving up anything by being good at it.

The skill ranks were easy enough, it's the underlying ability scores. Does the 14 (or maybe 16) go into dex, wis or cha?

For me it's all about the Wisdom.

I could see this character becoming a spy master/intelligence lead. I'm leaning heavily towards playing a Fetchling even though that will lead to some racial prejudice. I think I may be willing to accept that for the ability to ghost through shadows.