Package

A package is a pre-defined set of preferences for building a character, including preferences for ability increases, skills, feats, domains, spell school, spells, animal companion, and familiar. Each package also specifies the class it is for, as well as the starting gold and equipment given to a player character when that package is chosen at character creation.

Packages are primarily shortcuts for the convenience of players who do not want to spend time making choices during character creation and level-up. During character creation, a package is selected, and if it is not customized (with the "Customize Packages" button), it will determine the skills, feats, etc. taken for level 1. During level-up, the package determines the behavior of the "Recommended" button. (If taking a level for a class other than that chosen at character creation, the default package for that class is used; there is no opportunity to choose a different package for additional classes.) The determination of what to choose is based on a set of priorities, with the chosen feat, skill, etc., being the highest priority choice that the character qualifies for. This allows some flexibility in accounting for decisions that may have been made by players without the aid of a package (including choosing a second class).

One drawback of packages is that they are just a fixed system of priorities, so have limited ability to intelligently adapt to unexpected circumstances. For example, if a character has weapon focus in the bastard sword and a package calls for weapon focus in the longsword, the second weapon focus will be chosen even though it is probably not really desired for that character. Packages work best if they are used consistently, with no customizations by the player. (Whether or not packages are useful even at their best is a subject of debate, though.)

Custom content
A package can be used to control the leveling of a non-player character (NPC) through the LevelUpHenchman command, but usually only if that character started at level 1. For special NPCs, it may be desirable to define a custom package, as BioWare did for the henchmen in the Hordes of the Underdark campaign.

Packages are defined in, with some associated information (such as feat lists) in the  ,  ,  , and   files.