Welcome to character creation 101! So glad you made it here, whether this is your first or fifth character we'll help you get through this process! 

• Request a Username and Password for Foundry in the Discord. An @characterwizard or @dungeonmaster can help you! In the mean time you can login to the Foundry as a Guest.
• Once a Username has been assigned Launch Sword Coast Adventures Foundry  <--- This is a link!
• In the Actors tab (third tab to the top right), open the SCA Pc's folder followed by selecting one of the Unused Character sheets by clicking and immediately rename it, at the top of the sheet, CharName(Discord tag), Example: Galdur Hammerfall(Stunts). Please only use one and do not edit any other sheets.

• This campaign uses the Variant Rule: Customizing Ability Scores option on Page 13 of Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition Players Handbook. You can use this online point-buy calculator to quickly determine your ability scores with a 27 point buy limt.
• During this step no ability can be below 8, and you may only have one ability at 8.
• Prior to applying racial modifiers, no ability can exceed 15.
• Determining this first will help make the character creation automation work more smoothly.

• Use the Sanctioned Races page and take note what restrictions your intended character's race has, and if it is a currently 'open' race.
• The color level will help you understand what is nesseccary for the approval process. Ie: additional background knowledge. The higher level of sanctioning the more we need to know about your character.
• Open the Compendiums Tab (Second tab from the right)
• Open the Character Building folder
• Open the Races Folder
• Find the Race you wish to play and open that Compendium
• Drag the Race/Subrace you want onto your sheet.
• Open the Race/Subrace feature (right click and choose edit, or click your mousewheel) and drag each of the features onto your sheet. You can check the Features tab of your sheet to ensure they all populated.

• Use the Sanctioned Classes page and note what color your character's class is. This will be important for the approval process.
• Open the Compendium Tab.
• Open the Character Building folder
• Open the Classes Compendium
• Drag your class onto your sheet.
• If you're multi-classing, choose which of your classes is your "main" class and drop it on your sheet first.
• Classes will populate at the top of the features tab on your character sheet.

• When it is added, your class should auto-populate the features for your class every time you level up. Just confirm the additions.

• In order to edit the class once it is on the sheet click the Green lock on the right of your sheet to unlock the sheet.

• Right click on the Class and select "Edit Item"
• Click the Details Tab on the window that opens

• Adjust Class level as needed
• Type in the Subclass your will be picking if it is relevant at this time or if you wish to be ahead of the game. Type it exactly as it appears in the class description. Example: College of Lore





• If it is filled in correctly, the subclass features will auto populate as you level up.
• Select your starting Skills by clicking the chosen class skills and checking your picks.

• Go to the Description tab of the Class.
• Drag the features from the applicable section, Starting at level 1, or Multiclassing. Hit points, Proficiencies, Equipment (Choosing the specified amount if multiple options.)

• You can edit the description to remove additional subclasses for ease of use. 
• To add Spells to your sheet. Open the Compendiums tab, Character building folder, Spell list folder, then click the spell list for your class.
• Drag and drop from the compendium onto your sheet. Spells added from compendiums in this manner are set to use the spell modifier and preparation method of the class picked from. If you add a spell from a list outside your class, such as a bard's magical secrets, you need to modify these settings in the spell after it is added to your sheet.(Spells from always prepared lists or from features will add automatically on leveling up)
• Spells will populate into the spellbook tab.

ALL CHARCTERS MUST BE  18 +, 17 and nearing  birthday at a minimium or age of maturity for the race chosen

• Choose your alignment as per normal. Note: evil-aligned characters are sanctioned orange and good-aligned drow are sanctioned red.
• Fill in Traits, Ideals, Bonds, and Flaws in the biography tab. We encourage you to create these yourself instead of using the options in the book, but the book is a good resource to get you started.
• Choose a Background from any available Sanctioned Backgrounds and take note what color your character's background is. This will be important for the approval process. We do not accept custom backgrounds.
  • If your Background grants you a Skill or Item Proficiency that is the same as one you took for your Class, you may choose any other Skill or Item Proficiency so long as it is listed in your Class List.
• Open the Compendium tab, Character building folder, Backgrounds. Search for your background and drag and drop it onto your Character sheet.
• Open the Background feature you chose and drag all the applicable equipment, proficiencies, and features onto your Character Sheet.

• Use the options listed in your class under your granted Class Proficiencies and in your background equipment if you haven't already.
• You don't get gold from your class, but you do get gold from your background.
• Equipment can be added from multiple Compendiums in the same manner as features, drag and drop, for equipment that is later purchased with gold. Do NOT use the option to spend gold to buy equipment at this time -- this is to make character approval take less time. SRD Compendiums folder, Items(SRD) is the first choice. Magical items should be collected from the Preconfigured Magical Items folder and selecting the appropriate Compendium. If it is unavailable there check the D&D Beyond Integration Imports, Items/Armor/Weapons/Tools/Magical Items Folder and check the appropriated Compendium.

• Do make a note of whether your character is carrying their gold on them or is keeping it in a bank. If your gold is in a bank, please list in the Journal tab how much gold is banked and physically where.

• This step is REQUIRED for any character above a blue level of sanctioning. The higher the sanctioning the more details needed in the background.
• We have an extra step that can provide optional bonus levels at character generation. You can write a character profile to take level 2 and a character history to take level 3. Please use this template. Create your thread in the Character Profiles and Histories subforum.
• Submit your character at Level 1 and make any changes (if necessary) the Character Wizard team need.  Once you have your sheet approved at this stage, go ahead and add the additional levels and submit again. 
• If you're on staff, apply any levels to the character granted by your staff position.
• No character can begin play higher than level 6.
• Hit Points for Level 1 are determined as normal, and each additional level will utilize the number within the parenthesis () in your class description for Hit Points at Higher Levels + your constitution modifier. (This should be automated)

• Create a thread in the Character Submissions forum. Title format: "Character name - Highest Approval Level" (IE Brunor Battle Hammer - Orange). You can sort out your highest approval level using the Sactioned Colors of your race, class, and background. Please use only the highest approval level your character requires in the title; do not post all of them.
• Please include your Discord handle so we know which sheet is yours.
• Link the character profile and history page if you completed them.
• Example submission form
• Post the link to the thread in the Discord channel #character-generation.

Once you've submitted your character, please give the staff time to look over your submission and approve it. The approval process takes from a few hours to a few days, and we ask for your patience!

• If you haven't already done so, change your handle to Yourname (Charactername) on the Discord -- IE, Anonymaus (Charity).
• Post where your character begins play in the #travel-log channel.
• You can finally buy equipment with all that gold! Use the #paperwork channel.
• If you still need to add your additional levels and need help you can use Character Advancement