Character Creation
Choose a Character Sheet
You’ll record the main details of your character on a character sheet. Throughout this chapter, we use the term “character sheet” to mean whatever you use to track your character’s details, whether it’s a printed character sheet, a digital character sheet, or plain paper. Choose whichever style of sheet works for you, and then embark on creating a character!
Create Your Character
Here are the steps to make a character; each step is explored in detail:
1: Choose a Class. Every adventurer is a member of a class. A class broadly describes a character’s vocation, special talents, and favored tactics.
2: Determine Origin. A character’s origin includes two elements: background and species. How did the character spend the years leading up to a life of adventure? Who are the character’s ancestors? You can also choose your character’s languages.
3: Determine Ability Scores. Much of what your character does in the game depends on the character’s six abilities.
4: Choose an Alignment. Alignment is a shorthand for your character’s moral compass.
5: Fill in Details. Using the choices you’ve made, fill in the remaining details on your character sheet.
=Step I: Choose Class
Choose a class, and write it on your character sheet. The Class Overview table summarizes the classes. See “Classes” for the classes’ details.
| Class | Likes ... | Primary Ability |
Complexity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barbarian | Battle | Strength | Average |
| Bard | Performing | Charisma | High |
| Cleric | Gods | Wisdom | Average |
| Druid | Nature | Wisdom | High |
| Fighter | Weapons | Strength or Dexterity | Low |
| Monk | Unarmed combat | Dexterity and Wisdom | High |
| Paladin | Defense | Strength and Charisma | Average |
| Ranger | Survival | Dexterity and Wisdom | Average |
| Rogue | Stealth | Dexterity | Low |
| Sorcerer | Power | Charisma | High |
| Warlock | Occult lore | Charisma | High |
| Wizard | Spellbooks | Intelligence | Average |
Write Your Level
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Write your character’s level on your character sheet. Typically, a character starts at level 1 and advances in level by adventuring and gaining Experience Points (XP). Write Your XP. Also record your Experience Points. A level 1 character has 0 XP. Starting at a Higher Level. Your GM might start you at a higher level. If you start at level 3 or higher, write your chosen subclass on your character sheet. See the “Starting at Higher Levels” section later in “Character Creation” for more information. Note Armor Training Your class might give you training with certain categories of armor. Note your armor training on your character sheet. Armor training with a kind of armor means you can wear that armor effectively, gaining defensive bonuses from it. The categories of armor are described in “Equipment.” Step 2: Character Origin Determining your character’s origin involves choosing a background, a species, and two languages. A character’s background represents the place and occupation that were most formative for the character. The combination of background, species, and languages provides fertile soil for your imagination as you ponder your character’s earliest days. Choose a Background Choose your character’s background, and write it on your character sheet. You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in “Character Origins,” and your GM might offer additional backgrounds as options. The background you choose influences step 3, when you determine your character’s ability scores. If you’re having trouble choosing, the Ability Scores and Backgrounds table shows which backgrounds benefit which ability scores. Look for your class’s primary ability there. Ability Scores and Backgrounds Ability Background Strength Soldier Dexterity Soldier Constitution Soldier Intelligence Acolyte