How do you create a character?
Creating a character starts with using a character sheet like this one. It contains all the important information you need to start playing D&D. It can be intimidating at first glance, but when we break it down into secitons, it's much simpler. Here, we've broken the character sheet down into four sections and what they mean for an individual character.
Character Traits
Your character is a fully fledged person with a backstory, characteristics, and a personality that makes the character who they are. There are some specific gameplay elements that can help you develop your character and define who they are. The most basic of these include race, class, and level.
Race is an intrinsic trait which a character is born with, similar to their species, such as human, dwarf, and elf. These races also confer bonuses to certain skills depending on the race your character is.
Classes are similar to a job in real life, but are more intrinsic to who the character is and what they represent. Each class has specific abilities and attacks that come with it and progress as your level increases. You can learn more about classes on the classes page.
Most beginner campaigns will start at level one so you can become familiar with the game and your character. This level will increase as you gain experience during gameplay.
Stats and Skills
Here is where the math comes in for D&D. Your character has numerical statistics that influence their capabilities within the game. You can gain bonuses to these stats from your class or race. These statistics are largely determined by rolling dice.
Strength
Measures physical power
Strength measures natural athleticism and physical power. It is used to determine your carrying capacity and strength based weapon attacks, as well as skill checks requiring athletics.
- Important for Barbarian, Fighter, and Paladin
Dexterity
Measures agility
Dexterity measures physical agility, reflexes, balance, and poise. It is used to determine your armor class and dexterity based weapon attacks, as well as skill checks requiring acrobatics, sleight of hand, or stealth.
- Important for Monk, Ranger, and Rogue
Constitution
Measures endurance
Constitution measures health, stamina, and vital force. It is used to determine the amount of hit points you have.
- Important for everyone
Intelligence
Measures reasoning and memory
Intelligence measures mental acuity, information recall, and analytical skill. It is used for intelligence based spellcasting as well as skill checks requiring arcana (magical knowledge), history, investigation, nature, or religion.
- Important for Wizard
Wisdom
Measures perception and insight
Wisdom measures awareness, intuition, and insight. It is used for wisdom based spellcasting as well as skill checks requiring animal handling, insight, medicine, perception, or survival.
- Important for Cleric, Druid, and Ranger
Charisma
Measures force of personality
Charisma measures confidence, eloquence, and leadership. It is used for charisma based spellcasting as well as skill checks requiring deception, intimidation, performance, or persuasion.
- Important for Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, and Warlock
Class Abilities
The class of your character provides certain actions and abilities for you to use in gameplay.
Attacks
Attacks are used in combat against enemies and can be weapons or spell based attacks.
Spells
Many spells can be used outside of combat and can be used to heal the party, solve a puzzle, or escape a situation.
Special Abilities
Classes can provide special abilities and features outside of combat that can help them with problem solving or in roleplay.
Inventory
As your character goes on their adventures, they will need to have certain items in their bag such as weapons, potions, or magic items. This information is kept in your inventory so you always know what is available.
Check out the resources page for blank character sheets and more detailed information on building a character. You can also learn more about the classes on the types of classes page.
