So You Want To Play D&D Step 3: Personality, Background, and Conclusion

“AKA this isn’t a video game, idiot”

This is the 3rd, final, and simplest part of a guide to creating your character for a game of Dungeons and Dragons. If you missed the first two parts, where the fuck were you? I’m disappointed in you, but you can catchup here and here

“Yeah, I get you’re a whirling death vortex with +4 Strength and a magic axe, but like, ya know — who are you?” — A DM reminding everyone D&D is a role playing game

Great, you’ve chosen a race (your racial powers), you’ve chosen a class (profession), now the final piece of the puzzle falls into place — all the other shit that makes you an actual person and not just a fucking facade of an entity.

This is really more a step by step process as opposed to a “choose one of the following”, so follow along at home!

Name

You’re probably going to want to use some kind of name generator for your mad, make-believe person, but honestly, Paul the Half-Orc is way funnier.

Sex

Pick one. Or neither. Or multiple. It affects the game in no way, and is purely there so your character isn’t some genitalia-less action figure (unless you want to be a genitalia-less figurine-like character, in which case, go for it)

Height and Weight

You can check out the PHB (or this handy guide) for advice on average heights and weights, but honestly, go with whatever you feel best aids the characterisation of your mighty hero.

Other Physical Attributes

Hair colour, eye colour. Foot size. Skin pigment. Tongue width. Hand size. Toe length. Choose as many or as few details as you want, flesh out your character as you see fit.

Alignment

Ah, this old chestnut. Alignment is a basic representation of your characters morality, based on 2 spectrums: Lawful to Chaotic, and Good to Evil. Confusion around what alignment actually is is possibly the oldest meme in the world.

Languages

So, everyone speaks Common (unless specified otherwise). I know that doesn’t quite make sense, but hey, we’re playing a game, and you need some way to antagonise the locals.

You’ll probably speak some extra languages based on your race — check the PHB for those. You’ll almost certainly speak at least your racial language (e.g Elves speak Elvish, etc.)

Traits

Spice up that character with some sweet-ass traits, yo! Choose 2 or 3. Or 1. Or 5. Whatever you and the people who have to put up with you are comfortable with.

What kind of traits should you aim for? Sure, fun and interesting, but aim to make them influence behaviour and not outright advantages or disadvantages. For example, “I’m smart” is a rubbish trait, but “I have reoccurring nightmares about drowning”, “I’m one of 7 sisters” or “I never had friends growing up, I had my books” are all interesting things you can work from.

Ideals

Pick an ideal or two. Something positive your character strives for, that might make her act against better judgement or push her to achieve greater things. “I always pay my debts”, “I can’t stand to see children suffer” or “I never hold a grudge” are the right direction.

Bonds

It’s in the word, fam. Something your character is bonded with, that they would put themselves in danger for, or would perhaps betray a new acquaintance to protect. “My village” for a Halfling who left home to adventure, “The people in my squadron” for an ex-army Half-Orc or “The memory of my children” for a Dwarf seeking revenge.

Flaws

Surely you get the idea by now? Something that a villain could use against you, or that an adversary could use to exploit you. “I lose my temper in no time at all”, “I judge myself, and others, too harshly” or “I’m a sucker for a beautiful face”

And that, my good people, is that!

By following the first and second parts of this guide you chose your character race and class, and now you have lots of juicy details to both ground them in the world and help you role play as them.

Work with your Dungeon Master to flesh out the game-y parts of your character (hit points, weapon proficiencies, skills, etc.) and you’ll be fully set to jump into a game of Dungeons and Dragons!

All your friends now think you’re a loser, and your parents think you’re a devil worshipper, but hey, you learned something, and now you get to pretend to be an Elf!

Ah, who am I kidding, D&D is cool now.