CHR file format

Applies to:
BG2, BG2: ToB, all EE versions

General Description
This file format describes an exported party member. The format consists of a CHR header, followed by a standard CRE file.
CHR V2.0 is used in the BG1 part of BGEE, SoA part of BG2(EE), IWD part of IWDEE. CHR V2.1 is used in SoD (if experience has reached START_MP_XP_CAP/161000 from startare.2da), ToB (or SoA if the pc had more than START_MP_XP_CAP/2950000 experience points), HoW (if started there).

Detailed Description
Overall structure:
  • CHR file header
  • Internal CRE v2.0 file header
  • Known spells section
  • Spell memorization info
  • Memorized spells section
  • Effects
  • Items section
  • "Item slots"


  • Offset Size (data type) Description
    0x0000 4 (char array) Signature ('CHR ')
    0x0004 4 (char array) Version ('V2.0' or 'V2.1')
    0x0008 32(string) Name of Protagonist/Player
    0x0028 4 (dword) Offset to CRE structure
    0x002c 4 (dword) Length of the CRE structure
    0x0030 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 1 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0032 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 2 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0034 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 3 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0036 2 (word) Index into slots.ids for Quick Weapon 4 (0xFFFF = none)
    0x0038 2 (word) Show Quick Weapon 1
    0x003a 2 (word) Show Quick Weapon 2
    0x003c 2 (word) Show Quick Weapon 3
    0x003e 2 (word) Show Quick Weapon 4
    0x0040 8 (resref) Quick Spell 1 resource
    0x0048 8 (resref) Quick Spell 2 resource
    0x0050 8 (resref) Quick Spell 3 resource
    0x0058 2 (word) Index into slot.ids for Quick Item 1
    0x005a 2 (word) Index into slot.ids for Quick Item 2
    0x005c 2 (word) Index into slot.ids for Quick Item 3
    0x005e 2 (word) Show Quick Item 1
    0x0060 2 (word) Show Quick Item 2
    0x0062 2 (word) Show Quick Item 3

    CRE V2.0 File. Supported CRE format versions match the ones used in the particular game