When making up a character [Archive] - Wizards Community

When making up a character [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Desolate Poet
08-30-03, 12:44 AM When making up a character first, do you usually come up with the characters personality and background, history, etc. first, or do you get a genral concept eg: class, race, etc. then roll and make the character up around the rolls? Or roll and see what comes up? Just asking for genral interest.
Archmage Evender
08-30-03, 02:21 AM well i would do his hitory backround and personality after

but i do have at least a few ideas in my head about his/her personality ect
Trydan
08-30-03, 12:06 PM I usually start with a class & concept. Examples:

Sorcerer specialising in sonic magic
Scythe wielding barbarian
Rogue/Ranger avanced scout
Fighter/Sorcerer who casts electrical spells while wearing metal armour
Rogue/Bard who is an investigative reporter for the town criers

I then do some basic mechanics to make sure that it is not going to be completely hopeless (the Ftr/Sor in the above list took some work with the help of the Characater Optimisation crowd to get it to a stage where it was playable). It is at this time that the main feats/skills are chosen, along with the ability scores.

Then, if there is a particular weapon/item/spell, then it is also selected.

Then I work on the personality and how the character does the day-to-day living.

Next is the detailed character history. How did the character get to be where he/she is today?

Finally, I fill in the character sheet comlpetely, choosing skills to match the background. The min/maxed skills/feats would have already be selected in the second stage of the process, so everything at this point is being done for role-playing reasons. Also, of course, spells, equipment, etc.

And that's pretty much about it. I usually have about 20 pages of notes at this stage (which I do electronically). These notes are about 50-50 between mecahnics and description. Also included are relevant rules from the SRD, cut-and-pasted in, so I can refer to them easily without having to trawl through the PHB (e.g. barbarian rage rules).

I then print all this out, and bind them into a little booklet, which I then take to the game. The binder is removable, so I can easily add new sheets of items, notes, etc. as necessary.
I hope that helps.
Edymnion
08-30-03, 02:17 PM I make up characters in just about every way imaginable.
Sometimes I roll the stats, and then see what sort of race/class would work best, then come up with a personality.

Sometimes I have the character concept first, then do all the rest.

Sometimes I take a purely mechanical idea then build a character around that (I did this with my dual shortsword weilding Rogue/Fighter, came up with the shortswords and class, then figured out how to explain it).

There is no right or wrong way to do it, as long as you wind up with a character you enjoy playing. I enjoy my mechanical based rogue just as much as I do my concept based sorceress. Long as you enjoy it, you did it right. :)
Kharne
08-30-03, 06:29 PM I work similarly to Edymnion. More often than not...I have a concept for a schtick (style...not goofy ideas) for my character within the rules and then flesh it out. I tend to want to play characters that have a lot of versatility...so i'll often have to trim a bit of effectiveness off to add more range and add a few skills and/or abilities to help me find a roleplaying concept.

I'm actually (in my opinion) still a pretty weak roleplayer when it comes to my characters...LOL even though i've been playing for about 15 years. I've discovered, however, that I can roleplay NPCs quite well since where I really fall down is long term development. This is why I usually DM. I have about 8 character concepts I want to play right now...but keep DMing the games :P
Trydan
08-31-03, 11:51 AM Originally posted by Edymnion
There is no right or wrong way to do it, as long as you wind up with a character you enjoy playing. I enjoy my mechanical based rogue just as much as I do my concept based sorceress. Long as you enjoy it, you did it right. :) Oooo... nicely put! :cool:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Desolate Poet 08-30-03, 12:44 AM	When making up a character first, do you usually come up with the characters personality and background, history, etc. first, or do you get a genral concept eg: class, race, etc. then roll and make the character up around the rolls? Or roll and see what comes up? Just asking for genral interest.
Archmage Evender 08-30-03, 02:21 AM	well i would do his hitory backround and personality after but i do have at least a few ideas in my head about his/her personality ect
Trydan 08-30-03, 12:06 PM	I usually start with a class & concept. Examples: Sorcerer specialising in sonic magic Scythe wielding barbarian Rogue/Ranger avanced scout Fighter/Sorcerer who casts electrical spells while wearing metal armour Rogue/Bard who is an investigative reporter for the town criers I then do some basic mechanics to make sure that it is not going to be completely hopeless (the Ftr/Sor in the above list took some work with the help of the Characater Optimisation crowd to get it to a stage where it was playable). It is at this time that the main feats/skills are chosen, along with the ability scores. Then, if there is a particular weapon/item/spell, then it is also selected. Then I work on the personality and how the character does the day-to-day living. Next is the detailed character history. How did the character get to be where he/she is today? Finally, I fill in the character sheet comlpetely, choosing skills to match the background. The min/maxed skills/feats would have already be selected in the second stage of the process, so everything at this point is being done for role-playing reasons. Also, of course, spells, equipment, etc. And that's pretty much about it. I usually have about 20 pages of notes at this stage (which I do electronically). These notes are about 50-50 between mecahnics and description. Also included are relevant rules from the SRD, cut-and-pasted in, so I can refer to them easily without having to trawl through the PHB (e.g. barbarian rage rules). I then print all this out, and bind them into a little booklet, which I then take to the game. The binder is removable, so I can easily add new sheets of items, notes, etc. as necessary. I hope that helps.
Edymnion 08-30-03, 02:17 PM	I make up characters in just about every way imaginable. Sometimes I roll the stats, and then see what sort of race/class would work best, then come up with a personality. Sometimes I have the character concept first, then do all the rest. Sometimes I take a purely mechanical idea then build a character around that (I did this with my dual shortsword weilding Rogue/Fighter, came up with the shortswords and class, then figured out how to explain it). There is no right or wrong way to do it, as long as you wind up with a character you enjoy playing. I enjoy my mechanical based rogue just as much as I do my concept based sorceress. Long as you enjoy it, you did it right. :)
Kharne 08-30-03, 06:29 PM	I work similarly to Edymnion. More often than not...I have a concept for a schtick (style...not goofy ideas) for my character within the rules and then flesh it out. I tend to want to play characters that have a lot of versatility...so i'll often have to trim a bit of effectiveness off to add more range and add a few skills and/or abilities to help me find a roleplaying concept. I'm actually (in my opinion) still a pretty weak roleplayer when it comes to my characters...LOL even though i've been playing for about 15 years. I've discovered, however, that I can roleplay NPCs quite well since where I really fall down is long term development. This is why I usually DM. I have about 8 character concepts I want to play right now...but keep DMing the games :P
Trydan 08-31-03, 11:51 AM	Originally posted by Edymnion There is no right or wrong way to do it, as long as you wind up with a character you enjoy playing. I enjoy my mechanical based rogue just as much as I do my concept based sorceress. Long as you enjoy it, you did it right. :) Oooo... nicely put! :cool: