character

name	character
description	Guides players through creating Old-School Essentials (OSE) characters step-by-step, including rolling ability scores, choosing classes, buying equipment, and completing character sheets. Use when creating a new OSE character, rolling up a PC, generating a character, or creating an entire party.
allowed-tools	WebFetch Bash AskUserQuestion Read Write Edit Glob

Character creation for Old-School Essentials

Guide players through creating OSE characters using the rules from the web-based system reference document (SRD).

Core principles

The referee’s constitution governs all behavior. Read it before beginning play if it is not already in context. Additionally:

1. Look up rules from SRD — read plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd_map.md to find the right file, then Read it
2. Roll dice with roll.py — use uv run plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/scripts/roll.py "<expr>"
3. Use AskUserQuestion at each character creation decision point

The character creation process

0. Preparation

• Read from SRD: plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Creating_a_Character.md
• Run roll.py -h to learn command format

0.5. House rules

• AskUserQuestion (multiSelect): Present optional house rules the player can enable. They may select any combination (or none for classic OSE defaults):
  • 4d6 drop lowest - Roll 4d6 and drop the lowest die for ability scores (default: 3d6)
  • Max HP at level 1 - Take maximum hit die value instead of rolling HP (default: roll hit die)
• Remember the player's selections for use in steps 1 and 7

1. Roll ability scores

• Use 4d6Lx6 if the player chose "4d6 drop lowest" in step 0.5, otherwise use 3d6x6
• Roll with Bash, present results (you may offer reroll per sub-par characters section in Creating_a_Character)
• Read from SRD: plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Ability_Scores.md for modifiers
• AskUserQuestion: Offer reroll per optional rules in SRD

2. Choose class

• Read from SRD: class pages (e.g. plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Fighter.md, Thief.md, Magic-User.md, etc.)
• AskUserQuestion: Present every viable class per the rolled ability scores and very brief descriptions from the SRD

3. Adjust ability scores (optional)

• AskUserQuestion: Offer to adjust scores per adjustment option in the SRD

4. Note ability score modifiers

• Calculate and display the ability modifiers using data in your context

5. Note attack values

• Use THAC0 from class data already extracted in step 2

6. Note saving throws and class abilities

• Use saving throws, special abilities, and restrictions from class data already extracted in step 2
• Arcane spellbook (Magic-User, Elf only): Per srd/Spell_Books.md, arcane casters begin with as many spells in their spellbook as they can memorize (1 at level 1). Read the spell list from srd/Magic-User_Spells.md and present the 1st-level spells. AskUserQuestion: let the player choose. Record the selected spell(s) on a SPELLS line (e.g. SPELLS: 1st: Sleep). Read Magic is a common choice — mention it but do not force it.
• Clerics have no spells at level 1. Skip this.

7. Determine hit points

• If the player chose "Max HP at level 1" in step 0.5, take the maximum value of the class hit die + CON modifier (e.g. Fighter with CON +1 = 8+1 = 9 HP). Skip the roll and the reroll offer.
• Otherwise, roll class hit die with CON modifier (if any)
  • AskUserQuestion: If base roll without modifier was 1 or 2, offer reroll per optional low HP roll rule in SRD

8. Choose alignment

• Read from SRD: plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Alignment.md
• AskUserQuestion: Present alignment options

9. Note languages

• Read from SRD: plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Languages.md
• AskUserQuestion: Select bonus languages if INT modifier grants them

10. Buy equipment

• Roll starting gold per formula in SRD
• Read from SRD: plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/references/srd/Weapons_and_Armour.md and Adventuring_Gear.md
• AskUserQuestion: Offer standard kit or manual selection options
  • AskUserQuestion: If the user chose standard kit, present a class-appropriate kit for approval
  • AskUserQuestion: If the user chose manual select, use multiSelect to present separate tabs for weapons, armor, and gear, each with a complete checkbox-based multi-select list of items from the SRD. Each multiSelect item list should include only the item names and their cost in "Item Name (cost)" format - omit descriptions.

11. Note armor class

• Calculate from armor + DEX modifier

12. Calculate encumbrance

Using the detailed encumbrance system from srd/Time%2C_Weight%2C_Movement.md (Option 2):

• Sum equipment weight: armour and weapon weights from srd/Weapons_and_Armour.md, plus 80 cn for miscellaneous adventuring gear (backpack, rations, rope, spikes, sacks, etc.)
• Add coin weight: 1 cn per coin of any type
• Record total as ENC [total]/1,600 cn
• Determine movement rate from the detailed encumbrance table:
  • Up to 400 cn: MV 120'(40')
  • Up to 600 cn: MV 90'(30')
  • Up to 800 cn: MV 60'(20')
  • Up to 1,600 cn: MV 30'(10')
• Format: ENC [total]/1,600 cn | MV [rate]

13. Note level and XP

• Level 1, XP 0
• Use XP needed for level 2 from class data already extracted in step 2

14. Identify character

• AskUserQuestion: Character name
• AskUserQuestion: Pronouns

Character sheet format

Present completed character concisely. Add sections like THIEF SKILLS, CLERIC TURNING, or SPELLS only as needed - remember that tokens are expensive!

- NAME | Class | Level [n] | Alignment | Pronouns
  - STR [score] ([mod]) | INT [score] ([mod]) | WIS [score] ([mod]) | DEX [score] ([mod]) | CON [score] ([mod]) | CHA [score] ([mod])
  - AC [value] | HP [value] | THAC0 [value] | XP 0/[next level] ([bonus %])
  - SAVES: Death [value] | Wands [value] | Paralysis [value] | Breath [value] | Spells [value]
  - SPECIAL ABILITIES: [list]
  - EQUIPMENT: [list]
  - MONEY: [coin type] [n], ...
  - ENC [current]/1,600 cn | MV [rate]
  - LANGUAGES: [list]

Level-up procedure

Invoked by Skill "character" "level-up <adventure-path>" from the combat skill after XP is awarded. This is not part of character creation.

1. Identify eligible PCs

Read the adventure's PARTY.md. For each surviving PC, compare their current XP to the next-level threshold (the value after / in XP current/next). Process each PC whose XP ≥ threshold.

2. Enforce one-level-per-session cap

Per srd/Advancement.md: a character cannot advance more than one level per session. If the PC's XP would reach the threshold for the level after the new one, cap it at 1 XP below that threshold. Update the XP value in PARTY.md accordingly.

3. Read class progression data

Read the PC's class SRD page (e.g. srd/Fighter.md, srd/Cleric.md) to find the new level's row in the Level Progression table. Extract:

• HD: new Hit Dice expression
• THAC0: new THAC0 value
• Saving throws: Death, Wands, Paralysis, Breath, Spells values
• Spell slots (if applicable): slots per spell level
• Thief skills (if Thief): updated skill percentages from the Thief Skills table
• Turning table (if Cleric): note any improved turning results

4. Roll new Hit Die

Roll one additional Hit Die of the class type using roll.py:

uv run plugins/bx-referee/skills/referee/scripts/roll.py "1d8"

• Add the PC's CON modifier to the roll. Minimum 1 HP gained per die regardless of CON penalty.
• CON cap: at level 10+ (when the class table shows a fixed HP bonus like +2 instead of a die), CON modifiers no longer apply. The HP gain is the fixed amount shown.
• Add the result to the PC's HP max. Set current HP to the new max (level-up restores full HP).
• Report the roll, modifier, and new HP total.

5. Update PARTY.md

Use Edit to update the leveled-up PC's stat block:

• Level: increment (e.g. Level 1 → Level 2)
• HP: new current/max (both set to new max)
• THAC0: new value from the class table
• XP: keep current total, update the next-level threshold to match the new next level
• SAVES: new saving throw values
• Spell slots (Cleric, Magic-User, Elf): add a SPELLS line if gaining first slots, or update existing counts. Format: SPELLS: 1st:[n] 2nd:[n] ...
  • Arcane casters (Magic-User, Elf): Per srd/Spell_Books.md, when a caster gains access to a new spell level, they may add new spells to their spellbook via mentoring. Read the appropriate spell list from srd/Magic-User_Spells.md and AskUserQuestion to let the player choose which spell(s) to add. Update the SPELLS line with the new selections.
  • Clerics: Clerics pray for spells daily from the full Cleric spell list — no spellbook. When they first gain slots (level 2), or gain access to a new spell level, AskUserQuestion to let the player choose which spells to prepare. Update the SPELLS line.
• Thief skills (Thief only): update or add a THIEF SKILLS line with new percentages

6. Announce

Report to the player: "[Name] has reached level [N]!" followed by a brief summary of what changed (new HP, improved saves, new spell slots, etc.).

After completion

• AskUserQuestion: Save character? If an adventure is active (check conversation context for adventure path), append the character block to that adventure's PARTY.md. Otherwise, write to <game-root>/characters/[name]-[class].md. The game root is passed as an argument (e.g. Skill "character" "/Users/player/osr-games"). If not available from arguments or conversation context, AskUserQuestion for the game directory.
• When appending to PARTY.md, use HP [value]/[value] format (current/max) and add a blank line before the new character block.

Example character block:

- BLARG | Fighter | Level 1 | Neutral | He/Him
  - STR 14 (+1) | INT 10 | WIS 11 | DEX 14 (+1) | CON 15 (+1) | CHA 11
  - AC 1 [18] | HP 7/7 | THAC0 19 [0] | XP 0/2,000 (+5%)
  - SAVES: Death 12 | Wands 13 | Paralysis 14 | Breath 15 | Spells 16
  - EQUIPMENT: Plate mail, shield, sword (1d8), dagger (1d4), torches x12, tinder box, backpack
  - MONEY: 10 gp, 2 sp
  - ENC 670/1,600 cn | MV 90'(30')
  - LANGUAGES: Common (broken), Neutral