Follow these steps to create a character for this game.

1. Choose a Race

Pick a race from the races page and see how they fit in the world. Or if there is another race you’d like to play, talk with me about it and we’ll work them into the world somehow. Note: Some of the races have been slightly changed and a couple have been homebrewed. Use the stat blocks on the races page.

2. Choose a Class

Check out the classes page and choose the class that sounds coolest to you. If you’re interested in a build from WotC’s Unearthed Arcana series, I’ll probably allow it, just talk with me first. I strongly recommend the alternate ranger build if you’re interested in that class. Also, keep an eye toward party composition. A party should have at least one of each of the following roles:

Role	Classes best fitting that role
Front line fighter/Tank	Fighter, Paladin, Barbarian
Scout/Skirmisher	Ranger, Rogue, Monk
Healer/Buffer	Cleric, Druid, Bard
Artillery/Controller	Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock

3. Determine Ability Scores

You have 27 points to spend on your ability scores (before they are modified by your race. The point costs are as follows:

Score	Cost
8	0
9	1
10	2
11	3
12	4
13	5
14	7
15	9

Alternate Method

Roll 3d6 nine times and record the scores in a 3×3 grid. Then write the names of the ability scores like this:

	Int	Wis	Cha
Str	x	x	x
Dex	x	x	x
Con	x	x	x

Choose a score from the corresponding row or column for that ability, and once you do cross it off. Then, in addition to a racial ability modifier, you get a class modifier as well.

Class	Bonus
Barbarian	+1 Str & Con
Bard	+1 Cha & Int
Cleric	+1 Wis & Cha
Druid	+1 Wis & Con
Fighter	+1 Str/Dex & Con
Monk	+1 Str/Dex & Wis
Paladin	+1 Str & Cha
Ranger	+1 Dex & Wis
Rogue	+1 Dex & Int
Sorcerer	+1 Cha & Con
Warlock	+1 Cha & Int
Wizard	+1 Int & Wis

All players must use the same method to generate their characters.

4. Choose a Background

Choose a background from the following list, or consult with the DM to develop a unique one if none of the listed ones quite fit. Some of the PHB backgrounds have been modified and I’ve added a few unique to the world.

Name	Skills	Tools	Languages	Feature
Acolyte	Arcana, History	None	Any two	Shelter of the Faithful
Artisan	Insight, Persuasion	Artisan Tools	Any one	Guild Membership
Charlatan/Spy	Deception, Sleight of Hand	Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit	None	False Identity
Criminal	Deception, Stealth	Gaming Set, Thieves’ Tools	None	Criminal Contact
Entertainer	Acrobatics, Performance	Disguise Kit, Musical Instrument	None	By Popular Demand
Hermit	Medicine, Survival	Herbalism Kit, Musical Instrument	None	Secret Knowledge
Hunter/Trapper	Perception, Survival	Musical Instrument	Any one	Geographic Knowledge
Knight	Animal Handling, History	Gaming Set or Musical Instrument	None	Knightly Regard
Monster Hunter	Arcana, Investigation	Herbalism Kit	Any one	Dark Secret
Merchant	Insight, Persuasion	Land Vehicles	Any one	Trading Network
Noble	History, Persuasion	Gaming Set or Musical Instrument	Any one	Position of Privilege
Outsider	Arcana, Religion	None	Any two	Exotic Presence
Pauper	Sleight of Hand, Stealth	Disguise Kit, Thieves’ Tools	None	Streetwise
Sage	Arcana, History	None	Any two	Researcher
Simple Farmer	Animal Handling, Survival	Artisan Tools, Land Vehicles	None	Rustic Hospitality
Soldier	Athletics, Intimidation	Gaming Set, Land Vehicles	None	Military Rank
Temple Knight	History, Religion	None	Any two	Figure of Legend

5. Character Traits

Alignment

I don’t use alignment in my games. If you want to write an alignment on your character sheet to guide your roleplaying go ahead, but no characters in the world will ever reference alignment and it will never have any mechanical effect. Also, don’t expect monsters to be allies or enemies based on what their traditional alignment is. Heroes in my games have had to ally with goblins and undead, and have had to fight angels. Instead of alignment, your character is defined by their ideal, bonds, flaws, and goals.

Ideal

A short sentence that sums up your character’s belief system. Your ideals are the things that you believe in most strongly, the fundamental moral and ethical principles that compel you to act as you do. Ideals encompass everything from your life goals to your core belief system. The backgrounds in the PHB have sample ideals you can choose (or roll for if you want). A character may only have one core ideal, though it may change if the events of the campaign warrant it.

Bonds

A bond is a person, place, or thing important to your character. Even the most jaded loner has something they care about, something tying them to the world. A character can have as many bonds as you like. At least one of your bonds must be to one of the other PCs.

Flaw

Pick a personality flaw for your character. No one’s perfect, and the most interesting characters are the flawed ones. The good news is that if you play into your character’s flaw in an interesting way, you can be granted Inspiration, which can be used to gain advantage on rolls. Once again, if you have trouble thinking of a flaw, there are tables to roll on for your background in the PHB.

Goals

What does your character want? The wilderness is a dangerous place. You’d be insane to go out into it. Why are you?