Character templates

Character templates (p. B258) are collections of elements that you can apply to your character sheet. They make it easy to build consistent characters quickly, enforce choices, and bundle common options.

Templates can represent:

• Races (Elf, Dwarf).
• Professions or training packages (Knight, Soldier, Wizard).
• Gear sets (Adventurer’s Pack).
• Grimoires or spellbooks.
• Custom bundles of Traits, Skills, Spells, Equipment, and Notes.

When you apply a template to a character, its contents (including spent points) are copied into the character sheet. If you have any Containers using ancestry type or template choices, you'll be prompted to choose from a list of items to build your character.

Creating a template

To build a new template:

1. Go to File > New Character Template.
2. Add Traits, Skills, Spells, Equipment, and Notes.
3. Add or adjust Trait Modifiers or Equipment Modifiers, if needed.
4. (Optional) select the Set Body Type to and select a Body type to apply a different body type besides humanoid.
5. Save your template for future use.

Tip

Test new templates on a blank character sheet before applying them to an active character.

Using Containers in templates

Containers give templates much of their power. They can group items, enforce choices, and provide structure when the template is applied.

When creating containers for templates, make sure to use:

• Ancestry type: Marks the container as an ancestry bundle (Elf, Dwarf, Human, etc.).
• Template choices: Enforces a required number of selections (Count) or a required point total (Points) from the container’s contents.

When you apply a template, GCS will present a series of windows prompting you to select items that satisfy these rules.

GCS supports simple nested containers automatically (for example, “Pick 1 of 3 Skills” inside a “Spend 10 Points in Skills” box). For very complex nesting (deeply mixed Count and Points), it’s best to document the requirement in the template’s notes instead of relying on the template choices to enforce it.

Best practices for templates

To make your character templates more usable and consistent:

• One top-level container: Put everything in a single, clearly named container (for example, Dwarf, Knight, Adventurer’s Pack).
• Always add Page References for published content (at least at the top level).
• Guide choices with Template Choices: Use Count or Points to enforce “pick X skills” or “spend X points.”
• Organize professions: Group skills into Primary, Secondary, and Background sub-containers.
• Separate Attribute: Place traits like Increased ST inside a container with Container Type = Attributes so points apply correctly.
• Clean up modifiers: Remove irrelevant trait modifiers (for example, don’t leave No Fine Manipulators on a humanoid ancestry).
• Set body type for character builds: Make sure the correct Body Type is set on the template.

These practices help enforce rules without overwhelming players with confusing errors or irrelevant options.

Substitutions

Templates can also include substitution using the @<comment>@ format.

• When the template is applied, the comment becomes a prompt.
• The answer replaces the placeholder wherever it appears (commonly in fields like skill specialization).

Modifiers in templates

When you add items to a template, modifier dialogs don’t trigger immediately. Instead:

• The item is added “as is.”
• When the template is applied to a character, GCS then presents any modifier dialogs for you to choose from.
• If you want to pre-select mods (for example, this skill is always DX-based), edit the item before saving the template.

Character template toolbar

The toolbar above a Character template gives you quick access to common actions:

Button	Name	Description
	Help	Opens the help page from the User Guide.
100%	Zoom	Adjusts the display size of the character template
	Expand/Collapse All	Show or hide all items within containers at once.
	Open/Close All Notes	Show or hide all embedded notes on your template.
	Apply Template	Copies the contents of the current template to an open character sheet. If more than one character sheets are open, you'll be prompted to choose which to apply.
	Sync with all sources	Sync all items in the character template with the Master Library.
N/A	Search	Search for content on the character template.
Checkbox	Names only	Limit searches to names only, ignoring notes or other details.

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