Ability Files

The Ability files are used to identify and implement the individual class/racial abilities that make up each character.


How to Build an Ability

The first field is the Ability Name, this is a required field and does not have a tag.


Ability File Tag Dictionary

This section is broken into three subsections. The first, the Ability File Tags subsection, lists the new ability file tags, the second subsection, Global Ability Tags, and the third subsection, Other Ability Tags, lists the tags located else where in the PCGen documentation.


The Ability File Tags


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: ADDSPELLLEVEL:x

Variables Used (x): Number (Increase in spell slot level)

What it does:

This tag is used in metamagic abilities to denote how much higher the spell levelslot requires.

Example:

ADDSPELLLEVEL:2

A spell with this metamagic ability applied to it takes up a slot two levels higher than the normal spell.


*** New 5.15.2

Tag Name: ASPECT:x|y|z|z

Variables Used (x): Text (Name of Aspect)

Variables Used (y): Text (Value of Aspect)

Variables Used (z): Number or Formula (Optional. Used for substitutions in y)

What it does:

Example:

ASPECT:Action Type|Standard Action

Identifies the "Action Type" of an action performed as part of the associated ability as a "Standard Action".

ASPECT:Attack Type|Melee weapon

Identifies the "Attack Type" of an attack performed as part of the associated ability as a "Melee weapon" attack.

ASPECT:Target|One creature

Identifies the "Target" of an action performed as part of the associated ability as "One creature".

ASPECT:Attack|Strength vs. AC

Identifies an "Attack" performed as part of the associated ability as "Strength vs. AC".

ASPECT:Attack Type|Ranged %1|PowerRange

Identifies the "Attack Type" of an attack performed as part of the associated ability as a "Ranged" attack with a range equivalent to the "PowerRange" variable.

ASPECT:Effect|Double damage to %CHOICE creatures

Identifies the "Effect" of an action performed as part of the associated ability as "Double damage" to the creature chosen by the associated chooser.


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: BENEFIT:x

Variables Used (x): Text (benefit text)

Variables Used (x): .CLEAR

Variables Used (x): .CLEAR.text (regular expression)

What it does:

Example:

BENEFIT:This is sample text for the example purposes

Adds ability benefit.

BENEFIT:Kick Butt (level 3)|PRELEVEL:3

Adds ability description only if the PC is level 3 or higher.

BENEFIT:Assembly ~ 1 table|PREVAREQ:AssemblyTables,1
BENEFIT:Assembly ~ %1 tables|AssemblyTables|PREVARGTEQ:AssemblyTables,2

Adds an ability description which is dependent upon the value of the variable AssemblyTables.

BENEFIT:You get a +2 bonus on all %1 saving throws|%CHOICE

Adds ability description and replaces %1 with the first choice made.

BENEFIT:You get a +3 bonus on all checks involving %1|%LIST.

Adds ability description, replacing %LIST with all choices made.

BENEFIT:%3 Sneak Attacks per day for +%1d%2 damage|SneakAttack|SneakAttackDie|SneakAttackTimes

Adds ability description, substituting the variables from the positions specified.

Advanced Combat Martial Arts.MOD <tab> BENEFIT:.CLEAR <tab> BENEFIT:When the character scores a critical hit on an opponent with an unarmed strike, the character deals triple damage

Changes the ability description, substituting the specified text.


*** Updated 5.13.6

Tag Name: CATEGORY:x

Variables Used (x): Text (Ability category)

What it does:

This is the Ability Category that the ability belongs to. The ability category is a broad group of abilities, defined in the game mode. An ability's key name need only be unique within its category.

Examples:

CATEGORY:SpecialAttack

This ability is part of the "SpecialAttack" ability category.

CATEGORY:Feat

This ability is part of the "Feat" ability category, which is a special case of abilities that can be selected as feats.

CATEGORY=Talent|Uncanny Dodge II.MOD <tab> PRE:.CLEAR

This ability is part of the "Talent" ability category, which is aimed at the feat of "Uncanny Dodge II" so that it can be modified by removing the PRExxx.


Tag Name: CHOOSE:SKILLSNAMEDTOCCSKILL|x

Variables Used (x): Text (Skill name)

Variables Used (x): Text% (Start of skill name)

Variables Used (x): TYPE=Text (Skill type)

Variables Used (x): ALL (Displays all skills)

Variables Used (x): CLASS (Displays all class skills)

Variables Used (x): CROSSCLASS (Displays all cross class skills)

Variables Used (x): EXCLUSIVE (Displays all exclusive skills)

What it does:

Example:

CHOOSE:SKILLSNAMEDTOCCSKILL|CLASS

This will display a list of all the characters class skills and allow them to select a skill to be made a cross class skill.

Where it is Used:

Ability Files


Tag Name: CHOOSE:SKILLSNAMEDTOCSKILL|x

Variables Used (x): Text (Skill Name)

Variables Used (x): Text% (Start of skill name)

Variables Used (x): TYPE=Text (Skill type)

Variables Used (x): ALL (Displays all skills)

Variables Used (x): CLASS (Displays all class skills)

Variables Used (x): CROSSCLASS (Displays all cross class skills)

Variables Used (x): EXCLUSIVE (Displays all exclusive skills)

What it does:

Example:

CHOOSE:SKILLSNAMEDTOCSKILL|CROSSCLASS

This will display a list of all the characters cross class skills and allow them to select a skill to be made a class skill.

Where it is Used:

Ability Files


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: COST:x

Variables Used (x): Number (ability point cost)

What it does:

This is how many ability points the ability costs. A decimal value, as the example below, would mean that it only costs 1/2 an ability point.

Example:

COST:1

Ability costs one ability point.

COST:.5

Ability costs half a ability point.

Default Value:

1


Deprectated 5.15.6 - Remove 6.0

Tag Name: MODIFYABILITYCHOICE:x

Variables Used (x):Text (ability name)

Variables Used (x):TYPE=Text (ability type)

What it does:

Example:

MODIFYABILITYCHOICE:TYPE=NinjaMonkeySchool

An ability with this tag will allow the selection of a new school from a list of schools of type 'NinjaMonkeySchool' to replace a previously selected one.

MODIFYABILITYCHOICE:Ninja Monkey Primary Weapon Reselection

Allows a ninja monkey to select a new primary weapon, replacing an earlier selected primary weapon.


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: MULT:x

Variables Used (x): Boolean ('YES' or 'NO')

What it does:

This determines if an ability can be taken multiple times. If the value is set to 'YES', then you MUST also use a 'CHOOSE' tag.

Example:

MULT:YES

This Ability can be taken multiple times.

Default Value:

NO


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: STACK:x

Variables Used (x): Boolean ('YES' or 'NO')

What it does:

This tells PCGen if the ability benefits may be stacked on one another.

Example:

STACK:YES

The benefits for this ability stack with it self if taken multiple times.

Default Value:

NO


Tag Name: TEMPLATE:x|x

Variables Used (x): Text (Template Name)

What it does:

This is a pipe-delimited (|) list of templates that are granted by the ability.

Example:

TEMPLATE:Incorporeal|Undead|Celestial

The ability applies the "Incorporeal", "Undead" and "Celestial" templates.


Tag Name: TEMPLATE:ADDCHOICE:x|x

Variables Used (x): Text (Template Name)

What it does:

Example:

TEMPLATE:ADDCHOICE:Demihuman|Beast

The ability can choose previously defined templates plus the "Demihuman" or "Beast" templates.


Tag Name: TEMPLATE:CHOOSE:x|x

Variables Used (x): Text (Template Name)

What it does:

Example:

TEMPLATE:CHOOSE:Celestial|Outsider

The ability allows the selection of either the "Celestial" or "Outsider" template.


*** Added 5.11.x

Tag Name: VISIBLE:x

Variables Used (x): YES (Default)

Variables Used (x): NO

Variables Used (x): DISPLAY

Variables Used (x): EXPORT

What it does:

Example:

VISIBLE:YES

Shows the ability name in PCGen and on the Output sheet.


Global Ability Tags


Other Ability Tags

These are not true global tags as the tags in the previous section are. Though they occur in other files, they have an impact on abilities and are being included here to make them easier to locate and understand.


Game Mode Misc Info and AbilityCategory Files


Game Mode - Stats and Checks File


Bonus Ability Tags


Starting Kit Tags


PCC Ability Tags


Valid HTML 4.01 Strict