Quick Start

This walkthrough runs from a fresh install to a finished character. For installation steps, see Installation.

First-run welcome

A welcome dialog opens once per session. Your copy links to the system’s compendium source configuration, which controls what the wizard lists. It also links to the Hero Mancer settings and the Pending Approvals queue. Players see only the player steps. Tick Do Not Show This Again before pressing Got It to stop the dialog returning.

Open the wizard

The wizard opens from the Hero Mancer button in the Actor Directory header, or by picking Create with Hero Mancer 2 in the Create Actor dialog. The directory button pulses while the user has no assigned character.

The sidebar holds a live preview of the character above the tab list. Each tab has a progress bar and a badge counting the choices still open.

Back and Next step through the tabs, including each Identity sub-tab. Save Draft stores progress, and the draft restores the next time the player opens the wizard. Closing with unsaved changes prompts the player to save a draft, discard the changes, or stay. When the randomizer is enabled, Randomize fills in the name, identity, ability scores, and hit points. See Randomizer and Compare.

Walk the tabs

Start

The player types a character name or generates a random one. Portrait and token art are picked here. Player color, pronouns, and token ring options appear when you allow them. A starting level above 1 unlocks multiclass and advancement choices. Players can change the level only when you allow it. As GM, you also get an Assign to Player dropdown that makes a player the owner of the new character.

Identity

The Identity tab has Background, Species, and Class sub-tabs, in the order set in Settings. A Subclass sub-tab appears once a class reaches its subclass level. Each picker shows the full description of the chosen option, and pinned options can be compared side by side. When the starting level is above 1 and multiclassing is allowed, the Class sub-tab adds level steppers and Add Multiclass. See Character Creation.

Abilities

The player generates scores with the methods you allow: Standard Array, Point Buy, Manual Formula, or Manual Entry. Each ability lists the skills it covers, and the class’s primary abilities are flagged. See Ability Scores.

Hit Points

The player picks one of the methods you allow and sets hit points for each class level. The total includes the Constitution modifier. See Hit Points.

Equipment

Granted Equipment holds the gear from the class and background, with any either-or choices to resolve. Where starting wealth is offered, the player can take it instead. Purchase Equipment is a shop for spending gold. See Equipment and Gold.

Biography

The player fills in physical details, alignment, faith, personality traits, ideals, bonds, flaws, and backstory. You can require every Biography field before submission.

Advancements

The tab lists what the class, species, and background grant, then the choices the player still has to make. At an Ability Score Improvement, the player raises scores or, when offered, picks a feat from a searchable feat browser. See Advancements.

Finalize

The Finalize tab summarizes basic info, species traits, ability scores, proficiencies, equipment and gold, and biography. When Spell Book is active, a spellcaster’s Finalize tab has a checkbox to skip the Spell Book handoff.

Submit and what happens next

The player presses Create Character to finish. If required choices are incomplete, a prompt lets the player go back or create anyway.

When you require approval, a player’s submission goes to you for review instead of creating the character. GMs skip approval. See GM Approval.

After creation:

A Character Created card posts to chat with a View Sheet link, depending on the Publish Creation Summary setting.
When Spell Book is active, spellcasters are handed off to it to set up spells. See Integrations.