Character Creation - Basic
From Library of the Randirim
For many people, the most daunting part of getting into Role Playing is coming up with a "character concept". While there is no set "best practice" way to create a character, this document may serve to help beginners get past the "OMG - Blank Canvas!" stage and start putting down some information to flesh out the person that's being represented by that collection of colored pixels on your monitor. This document is meant to be a first step - if you want to get more detailed with your character, please see Character Creation - Advanced.
Contents |
The Quick Overview
Rather than go into a ton of detail, a good starting point for beginners is to answer a couple of basic items.
Basic Background
- What town did your character grow up in?
- What were her parents' names?
- What were her siblings' names, if she had any?
- If there was any singular event that stands out from her childhood, briefly describe it.
- What was the reason your character decided to become whichever class she is?
- Who taught her the appropriate skills?
- What was the reason she left home to become an adventurer?
Basic Personality
- What kinds of foods does she prefer? Hobbit? Dwarf? Elven? Spicy or mild? Vegetarian, or "meatitarian" or just a normal diet?
- What kinds of music does she like to listen to (if any)?
- Does she have any specific preference in colors (especially where clothing is concerned)?
- Does she have any vices? Pipeweed? Ale?
- Or mental "problems"? (Always tells lies/tall tales or can't bring herself to lie? Drawn to petty theft? Paranoia? Feelings of superiority?)
Basic Goals
Last, it's a good idea to just come up with a couple of basic goals for the character. What keeps them going forward? Why are they doing what they're doing? It doesn't have to be much - just a couple of lines about why they haven't packed up and gone home to lead a perfectly normal life being a farmer or shopkeeper or some such.
