After all this, and you’re still
A list of Questions
to Get You Started stuck with no ideas?
THEN TRY THESE!
1. How old is your character?
2. Are your parents still alive? If not, when and how did IDEA – 1: Be Yourself
they die? How often do you get the chance to be a stronger,
faster, more powerful version of yourself? Try it
4. Who raised you after your parents died?
out!
5. Do you have any siblings?
IDEA – 2: Be your Evil Twin
6. Have any of them died or done something
noteworthy? Tired of being good and know there’s a mischievous
side of you that wants to get out? Let it loose!
7. Is your character married?
8. Does your character have children? IDEA – 3: Play a Familiar Fictional Character
(Just make sure you can make them fit the world
9. What social class is your character from? you’re in. Ask your DM for help.)
10. How has their upbringing affected their worldview? Iconic characters like Han Solo, Wonder Woman,
Robo-cop, Legolas, or so many more!
11. What specific memory do you have that you look
back on with happiness or that shaped you in a positive
IDEA – 4: Talk to your DM for ideas
way? Creating a character in Dungeons and Dragons
12. What specific negative, scary, or traumatizing IDEA – 5: Choose a Catchy and Easy to Remember can be as simple or as complex as you want to
memory do you have from childhood? Archetype and Hook make it. This guide hopes to offer some insight
13. How did your character get started in their chosen Formulate a single sentence that describes your
into how the process works, how you can get
class / background? character, where they come from, and what life
event has shaped them (making sure it fits in the the most out of your character, and how your
14. What do you do for work? universe you’re playing in.) play group can have the most fun with the
15. Who is an inspirational figure for your character? characters you all create.
For Example: “CHECK IT OUT! I’M GOING TO BE A
16. Does your character have any significant personal
RESOURCEFUL DRAGONBORN RANGER FROM A
items?
LOCAL BREWERY WHO FAILED OUT OF EVERY GUILD
Above all remember: Dungeons and
17. What are your character’s religious practices or HE’S EVER JOINED!” Dragons is a collective storytelling game.
beliefs?
Everyone at the table has an interesting
18. What was your education like? story to tell
You still need more resources? Check these out:
19. What is your character’s views on magic? Everyone at the table wants a turn in the
www.whothefuckismydndcharacter.com (language warning)
20. Where did your character learn or train their skills? “Great GM RPG Sessions” on Youtube.com (lots of good
spotlight to do The Cool Epic Thing!
21. Who are some of your character’s closest friends? videos on lots of good topics) Everyone at the table wants to have fun
Go read some popular fantasy and sci-fi books, or watch
22. Does your character have any enemies? some popular fantasy or sci-fi TV shows or movies
Everyone at the table (including you) has a
responsibility to work together to make
23. What are your character’s goals in life?
these things happen
24. If your character died tomorrow, what would they be
The Character Sheet TIPS and Pointers
CREATING A CHARACTER TIP #1: Choose a mix of skills for each of the three
Ability Scores – Your character stats types of scene.
This way you won’t be stuck with nothing to do.
Combat skills (Athletics, Stealth, Intimidation, Animal Handle)
1. CHARACTER CONCEPT – this should be a 30s Skills and Proficiencies – What Exploration Skills (Athletics, Acrobatics, Stealth, Arcana,
elevator pitch idea for what sort of character you your character is good at History, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Insight, Medicine,
Perception, Survival)
want to play. Make sure it fits with the setting of Interaction Skills (Sleight of Hand, Investigation, Religion,
the game, and is something you will enjoy Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion)
playing.
TIP #2: Choose well-rounded combat skills.
It’s great that your favorite spell is FIREBALL or that you
2. PICK A RACE – If your elevator pitch does not love to swing a Greatsword at anything that moves, but
immediately give away what race you should what happens when you don’t have that sword, or are
pick, then start reading through the races to find out of spells? What’s your backup? What’s your backup
to your backup?
one that looks like a match!
TIP #3: Don’t get TOO creative.
3. PICK A BACKGROUND – This is where your Some players want to fit every cool idea they come up
character started life before becoming an with into a single character, which can get very messy
and not all that fun.
adventurer. It gives them some skills and some
flaws! Additionally, some players dive so deep into their custom
character idea that it becomes a burden for everyone at
4. PICK A CLASS – One of the most important the table to play with. It’s not a lot of fun when your
choices because this will determine what sorts of character hates combat, has poor social skills, and cares
more about keeping their nails clean than finding
things your character can do. answers to the quest they are on.
5. GENERATE ABILITY SCORES – Different games TIP #4: Character Built for a Party.
will use different methods for this. Consult your You are not the only hero at the table. You are a team of
adventurers who are working together to solve a quest.
DM. Be a part of your party, not an antagonist to it.
6. EQUIPMENT – Use any extra money you have TIP #5: Have fun and help others have fun.
to buy some stuff your character will start with. Hit Points and Armor Class – It can be just as rewarding and fun to help throw the
Keeps you from dying wizard into the face of the giant so that they are up close
7. HEALTH AND HIT DICE – Roll your classes Hit and personal when they cast Fireball right in its eye.
Help your team come to a solution, rather than always
Die and add your CONSTITUTION modifier to see Background Info – Who your being the solution yourself.
your starting HP character is and how they act
8. FILLING IN BONUSES – Add up any
proficiencies, ability modifiers, or other bonuses Attacks / Damage / Spells –
to flesh everything out. How you fight
