Getting The Basics Right
Creating a great Dungeons & Dragons character is one of the most enjoyable parts of preparing for an adventure. A strong character is not only effective in play, but also fun to portray and easy for the party to understand. With a little planning, you can build someone who feels memorable from the very first session.
1. Start With a Clear Concept
Before you even choose any numbers, you should already have a good idea of what you want your character to be in simple terms. After all, a clear concept can help guide decisions about class, background, personality, and goals.
2. Choose a Class That Fits Your Play Style
How do you enjoy playing the game? Knowing whether or not you like to cast spells, do direct combat, or do problem-solving can help you pick a class that best fits your preferred gameplay. The best class is not always the strongest one, but the one that keeps you interested between snack breaks.
3. Give Them a Practical Backstory
Really get into the world and the story by creating a useful backstory to your character to give you the motivation you need. Dungeons and Dragons requires intense roleplaying, so to best get into the role of your character, you need important details so you can really become them.
4. Build Connections With the Party
Your character should have reasons to cooperate with the other adventurers. After all, this is a cooperative game! Even a mysterious loner (your character, not you!) needs enough social skill to join a group without standing silently in every tavern corner.
5. Balance Strengths With Flaws
A great character can do impressive things, but they shouldn't be perfect. Flaws, fears, habits, and limits are what make roleplaying and stories more interesting, so don't be afraid to make your character more human than invincible. Just make sure the flaws are entertaining for the table!
