=== Creating a Character ===

Zangband is a roleplaying game, in which you, the player, control a
character in the world of Zangband. Perhaps the most important thing
you control is the birth of your character, in which you choose or
allow to be chosen various attributes that will affect the future life
of your character.

Character creation, or birth, is controlled through a variety of
choices as to constraints on the type of character you wish to play,
followed by a series of random calculations to generate ("roll up") a
random character matching the appropriate constraints.

Once your character has been generated, you will be given the choice to
generate a new character obeying the same constraints, and once you
have generated more than one character, you can switch back and forth
between the two most recent characters, until you are presented with a
character that you feel comfortable with.

You may start the entire process over at any time by pressing 'ESC' at
any prompt (with the exception of the autoroller (see below [1]) prompt
and the prompt for the number of random quests (see below [2])).  Also,
on the final screen, use delete or backspace to restart.

***** <BirthOptions>
=== Birth Options ===

During character generation you may press '=' at any time to access
the options screen. A more detailed description of the various options
can be found in the section on the Options Page (see option.txt [3]).
Here you may set yout 'Birth options' which are options set at birth
and which cannot be changed again during the game. Note that you may
change your birth option preferences in game but these will only have
effect in your next character. Perhaps one of the most important
features of the birth options is the ability to decide what type of
town level you want. The various town options are discussed on the Town
page (see town.txt#TownLevel [4]). Another important decision to make
is whether you wish to use the Autoroller (see below [1]) or the point-
based character generation system (see below [d]).


***** <CharAttributes>
=== Character Attributes ===

Once you begin character generation you will be asked to choose
your character's three primary attributes - its sex, race and
class. If you have selected a spellcasting class, you will also be
prompted for your choice of magic realm(s).

Your character's sex has a minimal effect on game play - females start
with slightly more gold, males are generally heavier and so can bash
more effectively. Race, class and magic realms have a far more
significant effect and are discussed at some length in the Race (see
charattr.txt#TheRaces [5]), Class (see charattr.txt#TheClasses [6])
and Magic Realms (see magic.txt#MagicRealms [7]) sections.

--- Secondary Attributes ---

Each character has a few secondary attributes, height, weight, social
class, and background history, which are randomly determined, but which
are affected by the sex and race of the character. In general, these
attributes are only used to provide "flavor" to the character, to
assist in the roll playing, but they do have a few minor effects on the
game. For example, background history affects social class, which
affects the amount of money the character will start with. And weight
affects carrying capacity and bashing ability.

***** <RaceClassComb> 
=== Race/Class Combinations ===

Once a race has been chosen, you will need to pick a class. Some 
race/class combinations are not recommended and so certain classes are
shown inside brackets. This may be because the combination is not
conceptually sound or because the chosen race has stat penalties in
areas where that class needs bonuses.

However, any race/class combination can be chosen and experienced
players may often choose unusual combinations for the challenge that
they represent. It is recommended that inexperienced players choose
warriors as spellcasting requires a player more familiar with dungeon
survival techniques.

The following table shows which classes are recommended for the various
races.

 
            Warrior Mage  Priest Rogue  Ranger Paladin Warrior Chaos
                                                        -Mage Warrior
Human         Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     Yes     Yes    Yes
Half-Elf      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     Yes     Yes    Yes
Elf           Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     No      Yes    No
Hobbit        Yes    Yes   No     Yes    No      No      No     No
Gnome         Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      No     No
Dwarf         Yes    No    Yes    No     No      No      No     No
Half-Orc      Yes    No    Yes    Yes    No      No      No     Yes
Half-Troll    Yes    No    Yes    No     No      No      No     No
Amberite      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     Yes     Yes    Yes
High-Elf      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     No      Yes    No
Barbarian     Yes    No    Yes    Yes    Yes     No      No     Yes
Half-Ogre     Yes    Yes   Yes    No     No      No      No     No
Half-Giant    Yes    No    No     No     Yes     No      No     No
Half-Titan    Yes    Yes   Yes    No     No      Yes     No     No
Cyclops       Yes    No    Yes    No     No      No      No     No
Yeek          Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      No     No
Klackon       Yes    No    No     No     Yes     No      No     No
Kobold        Yes    No    No     Yes    No      No      No     No
Nibelung      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      No     No
Dark Elf      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     No      Yes    Yes
Draconian     Yes    Yes   Yes    No     No      No      Yes    No
Mind Flayer   No     Yes   Yes    No     No      No      Yes    No
Imp           Yes    Yes   No     Yes    No      No      Yes    Yes
Golem         Yes    No    No     No     No      No      No     No
Skeleton      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      No     No
Zombie        Yes    No    No     No     No      No      No     No
Vampire       Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     Yes     Yes    Yes
Spectre       No     Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      Yes    No
Sprite        No     Yes   Yes    Yes    Yes     No      Yes    No
Beastman      Yes    Yes   Yes    Yes    No      No      Yes    Yes


                   Mind-  High
             Monk crafter Mage
Human         Yes   Yes    Yes
Half-Elf      Yes   Yes    Yes
Elf           Yes   Yes    Yes
Hobbit        No    No     Yes
Gnome         No    Yes    Yes
Dwarf         No    No     No
Half-Orc      Yes   No     No
Half-Troll    No    No     No
Amberite      Yes   Yes    Yes
High-Elf      Yes   Yes    Yes
Barbarian     No    No     No
Half-Ogre     No    No     Yes
Half-Giant    No    No     No
Half-Titan    Yes   Yes    Yes
Cyclops       No    No     No
Yeek          No    Yes    Yes
Klackon       No    No     No
Kobold        No    No     No
Nibelung      No    No     Yes
Dark Elf      Yes   Yes    Yes
Draconian     Yes   Yes    Yes
Mind Flayer   Yes   Yes    Yes
Imp           Yes   Yes    Yes
Golem         No    No     No
Skeleton      Yes   Yes    Yes
Zombie        No    No     No
Vampire       Yes   Yes    Yes
Spectre       Yes   Yes    Yes
Sprite        No    Yes    Yes
Beastman      Yes   Yes    Yes

***** <ChoosingMagic>
=== Choosing Your Magic Realm(s) ===

If you have selected a spellcasting class, you will next be prompted
for your choice of magic realm(s). The magic system, as implemented in
Zangband, consists of seven realms: Life, Arcane, Sorcery, Nature,
Trump, Chaos and Death. In general, Life is primarily defensive but
also offers spells to attack evil creatures, Arcane offers utility
spells and some limited offensive capability, Sorcery offers utility
and defensive spells, Nature offers both defensive and offensive
spells, Trump specializes in teleportation and summoning spells and
Chaos and Death are offensive. A more complete description of the magic
realms and spellcasting in general can be found in the section on the
Magic Realms (see magic.txt#MagicRealms [7]).

Where possible, it is generally a good idea to pick one defensive realm
and one offensive realm. If you pick the realms always in the same
order (e.g. nature as your first realm and chaos as your second realm,
not the other way around) you will be less confused when trying to
pick the correct spellbook to use in the game.

***** <Restrictions>
--- Class/Realm Restrictions ---

In Zangband, spellcasting classes can select either one or two realms
from those available. Some classes which can learn two realms may learn
their first realm 'better' than their second.

Note that certain realms may be prohibited for some classes. In the
table below, '1st' indicates that the realm may only be the first
choice, '2nd' indicates that the realm may only be the second choice
and '1st/2nd' indicates that it can be either. Classes that only have
'1st' options do not get a second realm. Classes with only one '1st'
option must choose this option as their first realm.

Class          Life    Arcane  Sorcery Nature  Trump   Chaos   Death
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mage           1st/2nd 1st/2nd 1st/2nd 1st/2nd 1st/2nd 1st/2nd 1st/2nd
Priest         1st     2nd     2nd     2nd     2nd     2nd     1st
Rogue                  1st     1st             1st             1st
Ranger                 2nd     2nd     1st     2nd     2nd     2nd
Paladin        1st                                             1st
Warrior-Mage   2nd     1st     2nd     2nd     2nd     2nd     2nd
Chaos Warrior                                          1st
Monk           1st                     1st                     1st
High Mage      1st     1st     1st     1st     1st     1st     1st


***** <RandomQuests>
=== RandomQuests ===

Once you have chosen your race, class and (if applicable) your magic
realm(s), you will be asked how many random quests you wish to be
assigned. You may choose any number between 0 and 49. A more detailed
discussion of random quests can be found in the Dungeon section (see
dungeon.txt#RandomQuests [8]).


***** <AutoRoller>
=== The Auto-Roller ===

The auto-roller is a quick means of generating start-up characters
based on a set of user-selected criteria. If you choose to use the
auto-roller, you will be presented with a column giving the maximum
possible statistics (see charattr.txt#PrimaryStats [9]) for your choice
of race, class and maximize mode (see option.txt#StartUp [3]). You will
then be prompted to enter your desired statistics which should not
exceed the maximum statistics displayed on the screen.

Once you have entered your desired statistics, the computer will then
randomly roll successive start-up characters and compare them to your
specified criteria. Each stat is rolled as a number from 8 to 17, with
a normal distribution, and is then immediately modified based upon the
race and class which you have chosen. The exact quantum of this
modification can be found in the Character Attributes section (see
charattr.txt#StatBonusTable [a]).

***** <CharDisplay>
Once a character that matches or exceeds your expectations has been
rolled, the computer will display the character for you to look at and
also display the character's life-rating (see below [b]). If you accept
the rolled character (by pressing 'Esc'), you will be asked for its
name (see below [c]). If not, you may press 'r' to resume rolling and
searching for the next match or, if this is not your first match, 'p'
to return to the previous character which met your criteria.

Note: The statistics are not independent of each other and trying to
maximize each one using the auto-roller will not work. A good idea is
to specify statistics close to maximum that are critical for your class
(for example, high wisdom for priests, intelligence for mages and
strength and dexterity for warriors). You should set minimum acceptable
levels for the remaining statistics rather than looking for high rolls.

If you select not to use the auto-roller, the computer will roll one
random character at a time and then display it for you to either accept
or reject. The 'r', 'p' and 'Esc' keys will work as outlined above.


***** <PointBased>
=== Point-based Character Generation ===
This alternative method of determining your starting statistics gives
you 48 'points' which may be 'spent' on increasing your statistics
according to your own preference.  Using this system you are better
able to customize your character but may not get such high individual
statistics as are possible with th auto-roller. Note that as your stats
get higher it takes more points to increase them further. Also note
that should you choose not to spend all your points, you will be given
100 gold pieces for each unused point subject to an upper limit of 600
gold pieces.


***** <LifeRating>
=== Life Ratings ===

During the course of 'rolling' your character you will be told its life
rating. This is an indication of how many hitpoints your character will
have at character level 50 before taking into consideration any bonus
from having a high constitution. The life rating will be displayed in
the form of x/100 where 'x' is typically a number varying between 80
and 120.

Example 1, a human mage has a 10-sided hit dice yielding an average of
5.5 hitpoints per level for an average maximum hitpoints at level 50
of 50*5.5=275. If this mage had a life-rating of 110/100, then at level
50, he would have 275*(110/100)=302 hitpoints (before considering any
bonuses from constitution).

Example 2, a human warrior has a 19-sided hit dice yielding an average
of 10 hitpoints per level for an average maximum hitpoints at level 50
of 50*10=500. If this warrior had a life-rating of 95/100, then at
level 50, he would have 500*(95/100)=475 hitpoints (before considering
any bonuses from constitution).

Your life rating is only a guarantee of your character's base hitpoints
at level 50. This might be achieved by small increases in the early
stages and much larger increases in the later game or the other way
around. Generally, however, the increases tend to be fairly even.


***** <CharName>
=== Naming Your Character ===

Once you have accepted a character you will be asked to provide a name
for the character. In general, the actual choice of a name is not
important, but do keep in mind that it may have some effect on the game
itself. For example, on some machines, the character name determines
the filename that will be used to save the character to disk. On
others, the character name specifies special "pref" files. And the
character name is used on the high score list.


***** <StartInventory>
=== Starting Inventory ===

Once you have named your character, you will be prompted to press 'Esc'
and, having done so, you will be brought to the town screen from where
you will begin your adventuring. You should note that each character
starts in the town with a small number of items in their inventory.
Which items you are given will depend upon your chosen race and class
and the number of such items depends on chance. For example, all
classes receive either food rations or scrolls of satisfy hunger but
the number of rations or scrolls received is random. Typically, you
will receive a weapon, a piece of armor, some food, some torches and
a magical item although there is some variance from this.


--
Original   : (??)
Updated    : (??)
Updated    : Zangband DevTeam
Last update: May 24, 2001

***** Begin Hyperlinks
***** [1] birth.txt#AutoRoller
***** [2] birth.txt#RandomQuests
***** [3] option.txt
***** [4] town.txt#TownLevel
***** [5] charattr.txt#TheRaces
***** [6] charattr.txt#TheClasses
***** [7] magic.txt#MagicRealms
***** [8] dungeon.txt#RandomQuests
***** [9] charattr.txt#PrimaryStats
***** [a] charattr.txt#StatBonusTable
***** [b] birth.txt#LifeRating
***** [c] birth.txt#CharName
***** [d] birth.txt#PointBased

