Tips On Character Creation in Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition
You don’t roll abilities in Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition, you forge your own destiny.
Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition is very different from other Infinity Engine games and the distinctions start right at the character creation screen. Let’s take a quick tour of some of the character creation differences you’ll see between PST:EE and other IE titles.
Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition.
Character class
Your adventures in Planescape are influenced less by preset abilities and more by your actions and in-game choices. The Nameless One wakes as a fighter and later acquires the ability to become a mage or thief further in the story. After unlocking each class, you’ll be able to switch between roles by speaking with trainers or party members who are skilled fighters, mages, or rogues.
Alignment
The Nameless One begins his journey as True Neutral and your alignment towards Good, Evil, Law, or Chaos will change depending on your behavior, speech options, and quest decisions. Perform kind and unselfish deeds and your character will become Good. Lie to everyone you meet and use force to take that which is not freely given, and your character may end up as Evil. Your actions also influence whether the Nameless One is Lawful, Neutral or Chaotic. For example, if you go through PST:EE fulfilling promises, you’ll likely acquire a Lawful alignment.
Attributes
Attributes in Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition will be familiar to all Dungeons & Dragons players: strength, dexterity, constitution, intelligence, wisdom and charisma. However there’s no ability-rolling in Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition and at the start you distribute a limited amount of character points (21) between your stats. No attribute can become higher than 18 points at the character creation, but as you play the game it will become possible to increase attribute scores further. During your travels, you’ll discover items, tattoos, and spells that can modify the Nameless One’s stats. As well, attributes in PST:EE can be gained through levelling, exploration, and self discovery.
Pump up Strength to successfully bash chests and locks.
Strength
Traditionally, this is a priority attribute for a Fighter. Strength determines how successfully your character hits opponents (THAC0) and the damage you inflict. Strength also determines the ability to break locked objects. If your character gains Strength 15+, you will see new lines in dialogues, which mostly serve to intimidate others. It can be a good choice to increase Strength if you’re going to become an Evil or Chaotic character.
There're plenty of items to steal in Sigil and a high Dexterity can help with that.
Dexterity
Dexterity is a priority attribute for a Thief. It affects a character’s ability to avoid enemy strikes and aids all thieving skills. A high Dexterity (14+) can provide several unique opportunities, such as catching pickpockets trying to rob you or allowing the Nameless One to snap the neck of a nosy Dustman. Thieves and thugs are all over the place in Sigil, and increasing Dexterity is a benefit to any who wishes to travel the planes as a Warrior, Thief, or Chaotic character.
A high Constitution increases your regeneration rate.
Constitution
Constitution is the attribute responsible for a character’s Hit Points (including how many of them you get at level-ups) and regeneration speed. The regeneration rate in Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition is higher than in Baldur’s Gate. At 9 Constitution, you can regenerate 1 HP every 60 seconds. Considering there’s very little access to healing in Planescape, Constitution is an important attribute for any character.
Intelligence makes possible to understand other creatures.
Intelligence
Intelligence is the most important attribute for Mages. In Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition, an Intelligence of 15+ can influence available dialogue choices with inhabitants of Sigil. Also, a high Intelligence allows Mages a more successful chance to learn a spell, as well as increases the amount of spells they can memorize. In addition, Intelligence increases Lore, allowing for the free identification of magical items.
According to PST & PST:EE Lead Designer Chris Avellone, a high Wisdom can reveal what can change the nature of a man.
Wisdom
Wisdom is arguably the most important attribute for the Nameless One in PST:EE. It uncovers new lines in conversations, offers unique opportunities for solving various problems, unlocks new ways to persuade other characters, and helps the Nameless One discover memories of the past. It also substantially increases the speed of gaining experience and new levels. Wisdom should definitely be a focus for any player wanting to explore the depth of Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition.
Make friends of Sigil merchants and Outland enemies with Charisma.
Charisma
The Nameless One’s face and body is covered with scars and the consequences of lifetimes of hardship. However, Charisma is not only physical beauty, it also encompasses a character’s force of personality. By increasing your Charisma, you can greatly improve your interactions with Sigil’s dwellers and other creatures you meet. This attribute also affects the attitude of merchants and prices in stores.
In the end, don’t be afraid to create a character you gravitate towards the most. The rich story of Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition will give you countless opportunities to roleplay and improve your character.
New to the planes? Find out more about Planescape: Torment: Enhanced Edition at
planescape.com!
