Your first step in playing an adventurer in the Elemental Worlds game is to imagine and create a character of your own. Your character is a combination of game statistics, roleplaying hooks, and your imagination. You choose a nation (earth, fire, air, water, or other) and invent the personality, appearance, and backstory of your character. Once completed, your character serves as your representative in the game, your avatar in the Elemental World.

Before you dive into step 1 below, think about the kind of adventurer you want to play. You might be a courageous fighter, a skulking rogue, a fervent disciple, or a flamboyant mystic. Or you might be more interested in an unconventional character, such as a brawny drifter who likes hand-to-hand combat, or a sharpshooting bending prodigy who picks off enemies from afar. Do you like to be creative and craft items for your character? Maybe an artist or maker would suit you. Do you want your character to be the toughest adventurer at the table? Consider a class like the guardian. If you don’t know where else to begin, take a look at the illustrations in this book to see what catches your interest.

Once you have a character in mind, follow these steps in order, making decisions that reflect the character you want. Your conception of your character might evolve with each choice you make. What’s important is that you come to the table with a character you’re excited to play.

Throughout this chapter, we use the term character sheet to mean whatever you use to track your character, whether it’s a formal character sheet (like the one at the end of this book), some form of digital record, or a piece of notebook paper. An official Elemental Worlds character sheet is a fine place to start until you know what information you need and how to use it during the game.

Building Lee

Each step of character creation includes an example of that step, as I build an Earth Nation character, Lee.

1. Choose a Nation

Most characters belong to one of the four elemental nations, with a few exceptions for some neutral factions and areas of the Elemental World. The majority of player characters are from the Earth Kingdom, Fire Clans, Air Nomads, or Water Tribes. Each of the elemental nations also have subnation, such as Clay Earth or Consumer Fire. Chapter 2 provides more information about these nations, as well as the neutral nation options.

The nation you choose contributes to your character’s identity in an important way, by establishing a general appearance and the natural talents gained from culture and ancestry. Your character’s nation gains particular national traits, such as special senses, proficiency with certain weapons or tools, proficiency in one or more skills, or the ability to perform certain moves or techniques. These traits sometimes dovetail with the capabilities of certain classes (see step 2). For example, the national traits of Air Nomads on the path of worldly balance make them exceptional leaders, and people from the destructive Fire Clans tend to be powerful fighters. Sometimes playing against type can be fun, too. Putting together an awkward character can add to your character’s story and spur opportunities for memorable roleplaying moments.

Your nation also increases two or more of your ability scores, which you determine in step 3. Note these increases and remember to apply them later. Record the traits granted by your nation on your character sheet. Be sure to note your starting languages and base speed as well.

Building Lee, Step 1

I’m sitting down to create a character. I decide that a gruff man from the rocky mountains of the Earth Kingdom fits the character I want to play. I note all the national traits of the Earth Kingdom on my character sheet, including his speed of 30 feet and the languages he knows: common and simplified script.

2. Choose a Class

Every adventurer is a member of a class. Class broadly describes a character’s vocation, what special talents they possess, and the tactics they are most likely to employ when exploring, fighting off threats, or engaging in a tense negotiation. The character classes are described in chapter 3.

Your character receives a number of benefits from your choice of class. Many of these benefits are class features--capabilities (including bending) that set your character apart from members of other classes. You also gain a number of proficiencies; armor, weapon, skills, saving throws, and tools. Your proficiencies define many of the things your character can do particularly well, from using certain weapons to telling a convincing lie.

On your character sheet, record all the features that your class gives you at 1st level.

Level

Typically, a character starts at 1st level and advances in level by adventuring and gaining experience points (XP). A 1st-level character is inexperienced in the adventuring world, although they might have been a soldier or a pirate and done dangerous things before.

Starting off at 1st level marks your character’s entry into the adventuring life. If you’re already familiar with the game, or if you are joining an existing Elemental Worlds campaign, your GM might decide to have you begin at a higher level, on the assumption that your character has already survived a few harrowing adventures.
Record your level on your character sheet. If y9ou’re starting at a higher level, record the additional elements your class gives you for your levels past 1st. Also record your experience points. A 1st-level character has 0 XP. A higher-level character typically begins with the minimum amount of XP required to reach that level (see “Beyond 1st Level” later in this chapter).

Hit Points and Hit Dice

Your character’s hit points define how tough your character is in combat and other dangerous situations. Your hit points are determined by your Hit Dice (short for Hit point Dice). At 1st level, your character has 1 Hit Die, and the die type is determined by your class. You start with hit points equal to the highest roll of that die, as indicated in your class description. (You also add your Constitution modifier, which you’ll determine in step 3.) This is also your hit point maximum.

Record your character’s hit points on your character sheet. Also record the type of Hit Die your character uses and the number of Hit Dice you have. After you rest, you can spend Hit Dice to regain hit points (see “resting” in chapter 8).

Chi Points

Your character’s chi points represent the amount of energy they have to expend on bending moves and abilities in the course of a day. Your chi points are determined by your Chi Die, the type of which is determined by your class. You start with chi points equal to the highest roll of that die plus your Constitution modifier (determined in step 3), divided by 2. If the resulting number is a fraction, round up. This is your chi point maximum. The lowest chi point maximum a character can have is 1. Record your character’s chi points on your character sheet.

Proficiency Bonus

The table that appears in your class description shows your proficiency bonus, which is +2 for a 1st-level character. Your proficiency bonus applies to many of the numbers you’ll be recording on your character sheet:

• Attack rolls using weapons you’re proficient with
• Attack rolls with bending moves you use
• Ability checks using skills you’re proficient in
• Ability checks using tools you’re proficient with
• Saving throws you’re proficient in
• Saving throw DCs for bending you use (explained in each bending class)

Your class determines your weapon proficiencies, your saving throw proficiencies, and some of your skill and tool proficiencies. (Skills are described in chapter 7, tools in chapter 5.) Your archetype gives you additional skill and tool proficiencies and some nations give you more proficiencies. Be sure to note all of these proficiencies, as well as your proficiency bonus, on your character sheet.

Your proficiency bonus can’t be added to a single die roll or other number more than once. Occasionally, your proficiency bonus might be modified (doubled or halved, for example) before you apply it. If a circumstance suggests that your proficiency bonus applies more than once to the same roll or that it should be multiplied more than once, you nevertheless add it only once, multiply it only once, and halve it only once.

Building Lee, Step 2

I imagine Lee charging into battle with an axe, one mountain lion goat horn on his helmet broken off. I make Lee a fighter and note the fighter’s proficiencies and 1st-level class features on his character sheet.

As a first-level fighter, Lee has 1 Hit Die--a d10--and starts with hit points equal to 10 + his Constitution modifier. I note this, and will record the final number after he determines Lee’s Constitution score (see step 3). I also note the proficiency bonus for a 1st-level character, which is +2.

3. Determine Ability Scores

Much of what your character does in the game depends on their six abilities: Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Each ability has a score, which is a number you record on your character sheet.

The six abilities and their use in the game are described in chapter 7. The Ability Score Summary table provides a quick reference for what qualities are measured by each ability, what nations increase which abilities, and what classes consider each ability particularly important.

You generate your character’s ability scores randomly. Roll four 6-sided dice and record the total of the highest three dice on a piece of scratch paper. Do this five more times, so that you have six numbers. If you want to save time or don’t like the idea of randomly determining ability scores, you can use the following scores instead: 15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8.

Now take your six numbers and write each number beside one of your character’s six abilities to assign scores to Strength, Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma. Afterward, make any changes to your ability scores as a result of your nation choice.

After assigning your ability scores, determine your ability modifiers using the Ability Scores and Modifiers table. To determine an ability modifier without consulting the table, subtract 10 from the ability score and then divide the result by 2 (rounded down). Write the modifier next to each of your scores.

Building Lee, Step 3

I decide to use the standard set of scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) for Lee’s abilities. Since he’s a fighter, I put his highest scores, 15, in Strength. His next-highest, 14, goes in Constitution. Lee might be a brash fighter, but I decide I want Lee to be older, wise,r, and a good leader, so I put decent scores in Wisdom and Charisma. After applying his national benefits (increasing Lee’s Constitution by 1 and his Strength by 1), Lee’s ability scores and modifiers look like this: Strength 16 (+3), Dexterity 10 (+0), Constitution 15 (+2), Intelligence 8 (-1), Wisdom 13 (+1), Charisma 12 (+1).

I fill in Lee’s final hit points: 10 + his Constitution modifier of +2, for a total of 12 hit points.

Variant: Customizing Ability Scores

At your Game Master’s option, you can use this variant for determining your ability scores. The method described here allows you to build a character with a set of ability scores you choose individually.

You have 27 points to spend on your ability scores. The cost of each score is shown on the Ability Score Point Cost table. For example, a score of 14 costs 7 points. Using this method, 15 is the highest ability score you can end up with, before applying national increases. You can’t have a score lower than 8.

This method of determining ability scores enables you to create a set of three high numbers and three low ones (15, 15, 15, 8, 8, 8), a set of numbers that are above average and nearly equal (13, 13, 13, 12, 12, 12), or any set of numbers between those extremes.

4. Describe Your Character

Once you know the basic game aspects of your character, it’s time to flesh them out as a person. Your character needs a name. Spend a few minutes thinking about what they look like and how they behave in general terms.

Using the information in chapter 4, you can flesh out your character’s physical appearance and personality traits. Choose your character’s alignment (the moral compass that guides their decisions) and ideals. Chapter 4 also helps you identify the things your character holds most dear, called bonds, and the flaws that could one day undermine them.

Your character’s archetype describes what type of character they are, how they fit into the story, and their place in the world. Your GM might offer additional archetypes beyond the ones included in chapter 4, and might be willing to work with you to craft an archetype that’s a more precise fit for your character concept.

An archetype gives your character an archetype feature (a general benefit) and proficiency in two skills, and it might also give you additional language arts or proficiency with certain kinds of tools. Record this information, along with the personality information you develop, on your character sheet.

Your Character’s Abilities

Take your character’s ability scores and nation into account as you flesh out their appearance and personality. A very strong character with low Intelligence might think and behave very differently from a smart character with low Strength.

For example, high Strength usually corresponds with a burly or athletic body, while a character with low Strength might be scrawny or plump.

A character with high Dexterity is probably lithe and slim, while a character with low Dexterity might be either gangly and awkward or heavy and thick-fingered.

A character with high Constitution usually looks healthy, with bright eyes and abundant energy. A character with low Constitution might be sickly or frail.

A character with high Intelligence might be highly inquisitive and studious, while a character with low Intelligence might speak simply or easily forget details.

A character with high Wisdom has good judgement, empathy, and a general awareness of what’s going on. A character with low Wisdom might be absent-minded, foolhardy, or oblivious.

A character with high Charisma exudes confidence, which is usually mixed with a graceful or intimidating presence. A character with a low Charisma might come across as abrasive, inarticulate, or timid.

Building Lee, Step 4

I fill in some of Lee’s basic details: his name, his gender, his height and weight, and his alignment (lawful good). His high Strength and Constitution suggest a healthy, athletic body, and his low Intelligence suggests a degree of forgetfulness.

I decide that Lee comes from a ruling class family, but his family was expelled from its homeland when Lee was very young. He grew up working as a smith in the remote villages of the Tian Ban Mountains. But Lee has a heroic destiny--to reclaim his homeland--so I choose the hero archetype for my fighter. I note the proficiencies and special feature this archetype gives him.

I have a pretty clear picture of Lee’s personality in mind, so I skip the personality traits suggested in the hero archetype, noting instead that Lee is a caring, sensitive person who genuinely loves his friends and allies, but he hides his soft heart behind a gruff, snarling demeanor. He chooses the ideal of fairness from the list in his archetype, noting that Lee believes that no one is above the law.

Given his history, Lee’s bond is obvious: he aspires to someday reclaim Mi Yin Mountain, his homeland, from the dragon ants that drove the people out. His flaw is tied to his caring, sensitive nature--he has a soft spot for orphans and wayward souls, leading him to show mercy even when it might not be warranted.

5. Choose Equipment

Your class and archetype determine your character’s starting equipment, including weapons, armor, and other adventuring gear. Record this equipment on your character sheet. All such items are detailed in chapter 5.

Instead of taking the gear given to you by your class and archetype, you can purchase your starting equipment. You have a number of gold pieces (gp) to spend, as shown in chapter 5. Extensive lists of equipment, with prices, also appear in that chapter. If you wish, you can also have one trinket at no cost (see the trinket table at the end of chapter 5).

Your Strength score limits the amount of gear you can carry. Try not to purchase equipment with a total weight (in pounds) exceeding your Strength score times 15. Chapter 7 has more information on carrying capacity.

Armor Class

Your Armor Class (AC) represents how well your character avoids being wounded in battle. Things that contribute to your AC include the armor you wear, the shield you carry, and your Dexterity modifier. Not all characters wear armor or carry shields, however.

Without armor or a shield, your character’s AC equals 10 + their Dexterity modifier. If your character wears armor, carries a shield, or both, calculate your AC using the rules in chapter 5. Record your AC on your character sheet.

Your character needs to be proficient with armor and shields to wear and use them effectively, and your armor and shield proficiencies are determined by your class. There are drawbacks to wearing armor or carrying a shield if you lack the required proficiency, as explained in chapter 5.

Some bending and class features give you a different way to calculate your AC. If you have multiple features that give you different ways to calculate your AC, you choose which one to use.

Weapons

For each weapon your character wields, calculate the modifier you use when you attack with the weapon and the damage you deal when you hit.

When you make an attack with a weapon, you roll a d20 and add your proficiency bonus (but only if you are proficient with the weapon) and the appropriate ability modifier.

• For attacks with melee weapons, use your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls. A weapon that has the finesse property, such as a rapier, can use your Dexterity modifier instead.
• For attacks with ranged weapons, use your Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. A weapon that has the throw property, such as a handaxe, can use your Strength modifier instead.

Building Lee, Step 5

I write down the starting equipment from the fighter class and the hero archetype. His starting equipment includes chain mail and a shield, which combine to give Lee an Armor Class of 18.

For Lee’s weapons, I choose a battleaxe and two handaxes. His battleaxe is a melee weapon, so Lee uses his Strength modifier for his attacks and damage. His attack bonus is his Strength modifier (+3) plus his proficiency bonus (+2), for a total of +5. The battleaxe deals 1d8 slashing damage, and Lee adds his Strength modifier to the damage when he hits, for a total of 1d8 + 3 slashing damage. When throwing a handaxe, Lee has the same attack bonus (handaxes, as thrown weapons, use Strength for attacks and damage), and the weapon deals 1d6 + 3 slashing damage when it hits.

6. Come Together

Most Elemental Worlds characters don’t work alone. Each character plays a role within a party, a group of adventurers working together for a common purpose. Teamwork and cooperation greatly improve your party’s chance to survive the many perils in the Elemental Worlds. Talk to your fellow players and your GM to decide whether your characters know one another, how they met, and what sorts of quests the group might undertake.

Beyond 1st Level

As your character goes on adventures and overcomes challenges, they gain experience, represented by experience points. A character who reaches a specified experience point total advances in capability. This advancement is called gaining a level.

When your character gains a level, their class often grants additional features, as detailed in the class description. Some of these features allow you to increase your ability scores, either increasing two scores by 1 each or increasing one score by 2. You can't increase an ability score above 20. In addition, every character’s proficiency bonus increases at certain levels.

Each time you gain a level, you gain 1 additional Hit Die. roll that hit Die, add your Constitution modifier to the roll, and add the total (minimum of 1) to your hit point maximum. Alternatively, you can use the fixed value shown in your class entry, which is the average result of the die roll (rounded up).

When your Constitution modifier increases by 1, your hit point maximum increases by 1 for each level you have attained. For example, when Lee reaches 8th level as a fighter, he increases his Constitution core from 17 to 18, thus increasing his Constitution modifier from +3 to +4. His hit point maximum then increases by 8.

The Character Advancement table summarizes the XP you need to advance in levels from 1 through 20, and the proficiency bonus for a character of that level. Consult the information in  your character’s class description to see what other improvements you gain at each level.

Tiers of Play

The shading in the Character Advancement table shows four tiers of play. The tiers don’t have any rules associated with them; they are general descriptions of how the play experience changes as characters gain levels.

In the first tier (levels 1-4), characters are effectively apprentice adventurers. They are learning the features that define them as members of particular classes, including the major choices that flavor their class features as they advance (such as a sage’s Role or a fighter’s Forte). The threats they face are relatively minor, usually posing a danger to local farmsteads or villages.

In the second tier (levels 5-10), characters come into their own. Many benders gain access to 3rd-level moves at the start of this tier, crossing a new threshold of benign power with moves such as fireball and surf. At this tier, many weapon-using classes gain the ability to make multiple attacks in one round. These characters have become important, facing dangers that threaten cities and regions.

In the third tier (levels 11-16), characters have reached a level of power that sets them high above the ordinary populace and makes them special even among adventurers. At 11th level, man benders gain access to 6th-level moves, some of which create effects previously impossible for player characters to achieve. Other characters gain features that allow them to make more attacks or do impressive things with those attacks. These mighty adventurers often confront threats to whole nations and continents.

At the fourth tier (levels 17-20), characters achieve the pinnacle of their class features, becoming heroic (or villainous) archetypes in their own right. The fate of humanity or even the fundamental order and balance of the world hangs in the balance during their adventures.