Abilities are generated using a 15 point buy.  All abilities start at 10 and one ability can be lowered to 8 prior to racial modifiers in order to get extra points.  The following books are available as resources for characters:  Core Rulebook, Ultimate Magic, Ultimate Combat, and Advanced Player’s Guide.  These are “arbitrarily” chosen by virtue of being the books I have ready access to.  That said, if you have a character concept that goes beyond these books for class, race, feat, etc., let me know and odds are I will allow it. 

Characters wishing to use firearms may do so, but at the start of the campaign, only early firearms are available.  Whether or not more advanced firearms become available during the course of the campaign will depend largely on character decisions during the campaign. 

Starting wealth is determined by class as per the Core Rulebook.