Hi Duane,

Here are those clarifications:

[b]Synergy[/b]
The way this is often done is thusly. Say I have a character with 5 ranks in Spellcraft and 5 ranks in Use Magic Device. Each of those skills gives a +2 synergy bonus to the other in a specific situation (scrolls). So, the skills would be noted in this manner (assuming no further bonuses or penalties):

Spellcraft +5 (+7 to decipher scrolls), Use Magic Device +5 (+7 with scrolls)

In a situation where the synergy bonus isn't situational, such as Bluff's bonus to Diplomacy or Jump's bonus to Tumble, there's no need to note the synergy bonus parenthetically. So, if I had 5 ranks in Tumble and 5 ranks in Jump, but no further modifiers to either skill, they would be noted in this manner:

Jump +7, Tumble +7

[b]Racial Abilities[/b]
How these are noted depends on the abilities about which you're speaking. For racial ability suites that appear in the Player's Handbook, they are often noted in one abbreviated paragraph with and embedded header, like so:

[b]Dwarf Traits:[/b] +2 on Search checks to notice unusual stonework. Can make a Search check to notice unusual stonework within 10 feet as if actively searching. +4 on ability checks made to resist being bull rushed or tripped. +1 on attack rolls against orcs and goblinoids. +4 to Armor Class against giants. +2 on Appraise or Craft checks that are related to stone or metal items. +2 on saving throws against poison, spells, and spell-like effects.

Now, I'd actually note some of these things parenthetically in the stat block, near or with pertinent stats. For example, instead of listing the +2 to saves against spells here, I'd put it near the saves, or at least make a notation (and asterisk or some such thing) on the saves.

Racial abilities, such as the medusa's gaze attack or a succubus's spell-like abilities, are noted in separate, distinct entries. If a creature has a lot of spell-like abilities, in specific, they usually come just before the spells prepared/known portion of the block under the embedded header Spell-Like Abilities. Then they're listed in descending order of uses per day (that is, at will first, 3/day next, 2/day next, and so on). Caster level, save DCs, and touch attack modifiers are usually included.

[b]AC and Abilities[/b]
For armor class, the breakdown is listed in parenthesis after the initial AC feature. For example: AC 15 (-1 size, +2 Dex, + 4 natural armor).

For abilities, it certainly wouldn't hurt to list the modifiers, but that's not usual. Most DMs know the bonuses for PC-ranged ability scores (3-20). Most also know how to get the modifier if they need it (Ability score - 10, divide answer by 2).

And there you have it.

:D

Here’s a “blank” stat block with notes. It’s modeled on blocks like those in recent WotC books. Take blank spaces between entries as an indication to indent.

[b]Name:[/b] Sex race class level/class level [color=red][[classes either in alphabetical or order entered]][/color]; CR XX; Size type (subtypes); HD XXdXX+XX plus XXdXX+XX plus XX [color=red][[Group HD of the same die type together]][/color]; hp XX [color=red][[Maximum hit points for the first PC class level, average for all monster Hit Dice and NPC classes]][/color]; Init XX; Spd XX ft.; AC XX, touch XX, flat-footed XX; Base Atk +XX; Grp +XX; Atk +XX melee (XXdXX, weapon); Full Atk [color=red][[If any. If none, append Full Atk to Atk like so: Atk or Full Atk:]][/color]; SA [color=red][[alphabetical order]][/color]; SQ [color=red][[alphabetical order]][/color]; AL XX; SV Fort +XX, Ref +XX, Will +XX; Str XX, Dex XX, Con XX, Int XX, Wis XX, Cha XX.

[i]Skills and Feats:[/i] Skill +XX (+XX synergy situation) ; Feat*, Bonus FeatB[color=red][[use a superscript B to denote a bonus feat, including those gained from class features]][/color].

[i]Languages:[/i] XX.

[b]Special Attack 1 (type; Ex, Sp, or Su):[/b] Description. [color=red][[List attacks in alphabetical order.]][/color]

[b]Special Quality 1 (type; Ex, Sp, or Su):[/b] Description. [color=red][[List qualities in alphabetical order.]][/color]

[i]Class Spells [color=red][[Prepared or Known]][/i][/color] (caster level XXth; prohibited schools): Level ordinal [color=red][[0 for 0-level spells, not 0th]][/color]—[i]ranged spell[/i] (+XX ranged touch), [i]ranged and resisted spell[/i] (+XX melee touch; DC 14), [i]resisted spell[/i] (DC 17), [i]spell prepared multiple times[/i] (number of times), [i]spell.[/i]

[i]Spellbook:[/i] Level ordinal—spells not on prepared list.

[i]Possessions:[/i] Armor, weapon, ranged weapon and ammo, permanent magic items, charged items, single-use items, mundane equipment, wealth. [color=red][[Italicize magic equipment, but not the words “scroll of”]] [/color]

I hope that helps.

Couple of questions regarding the stat block.

In brackets after the skill you state there is synergy situation. Is this the synergy bonus that is included in the skill bonus, or to be added to the skill bonus?

Eg I have a NPC with a +12 Spellcraft of which +2 is a synergy bonus due to 5 ranks in Knowledge arcana. How is that put in the stat block? +12 Spellcraft (+2 synergy Knowledge Arcana) or +10 Spellcraft (+2 synergy Knowledge Arcana)?

IN the Special Attacks/Qualities, do you list all the racial/class abilities? Thus afterwards when you list them, do you list the whole description that is in the racial or class ability?

Also with the AC do you list the breakdown in brackets? With the ability scores, is there a need to list the modifier in brackets after it?

Thanks for any clarifications.

But I am paid to know. Bwuhahahahahahahaha!!!!

[/temporary insanity]

:lol:

It helps very much indeed. I noticed when doing searches that a number of character generators actually output into a stat block, but the character generator I have (3.5 redblade, a free generator that has just the core srd in it) only has a html character sheet.

Thanks again Chris.

It's official, Chris. You know WAY too much about this stuff :)