Character creation
A player sits at a table with a blank sheet of paper and polyhedral dice scattered nearby. This moment marks the start of character creation in role-playing games. The process defines a player character before any story begins to unfold. It records physical, mental, psychological, and social attributes using specific game mechanics. Informal descriptions of appearance or personal back-story often appear alongside these numbers. Games set in fantasy worlds may require players to select a race or species first. This initial step belongs exclusively to the player rather than the gamemaster who runs the session.
Rules dictate how choices happen during generation for many tabletop systems. A formula might map one statistic directly to another predetermined choice without player input. Sometimes the game master decides the outcome before the player even touches their dice. Random choices occur when rolling dice determines the final result directly or via lookup tables. Rolling four six-sided dice and adding the highest three generates ability scores between 3 and 18 in some Dungeons & Dragons editions. The Stormbringer role playing game used a single die roll of 100 sides to determine both race and class. Players have little control over scores generated this way but gain diversity among new characters. Other systems allow decisions within defined restrictions where points distribute across various statistics.
Point distribution systems let higher scores cost more points per level than lower ones. Costs vary between statistics within a category depending on the specific game system. The Hero System includes its predecessor Champions as an example of point-based mechanics. GURPS uses similar rules for assigning values to attributes. The World of Darkness series employs point distribution to define character capabilities. Amber Diceless Roleplaying Game features an unusual auction system for allocating resources. Castle Falkenstein gives each player the same pre-defined set of scores to assign freely. Higher scores can be bought by balancing them with a number of low scores in that game. Some Dungeons & Dragons editions offer an optional point buy method for determining ability scores instead of random rolls.
Character templates speed up creation while representing genre-typical archetypes ready-made for play. A thief template ensures knowledge of moving quietly, picking locks, disarming traps, and climbing walls. Shadowrun allows these templates as optional aids with no prescribed effect on gameplay. GURPS lets players modify or ignore templates entirely to maintain control over creation. Mandatory tools provide direction and limitations in other games through the character class concept. Dungeons & Dragons introduced this character class idea now used in all d20 System games. Palladium Books' Megaversal system adopted the mandatory template approach for their own titles. Templates can be completely flexible or strictly defined depending on how much agency designers grant players.
Traveller models a character's life prior to becoming an active adventurer through career cycles. Empire of the Petal Throne uses similar methods to build history before gameplay begins. Harnmaster RPGs apply life simulation techniques to develop skills and possessions over time. Mount & Blade cRPGs incorporate family origin choices followed by decisions at specific checkpoints. Early education and young adulthood stages apply modifiers that give opportunities to gain advantages. Tours of duty in various careers allow repeated cycles to sacrifice youth for additional skills. Levels of randomization vary significantly depending on the specific system being played. Darklands also employs narrative generation to shape character backgrounds before combat starts.
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Common questions
What is character creation in role-playing games?
Character creation defines a player character before any story begins to unfold. It records physical, mental, psychological, and social attributes using specific game mechanics alongside informal descriptions of appearance or personal back-story.
How does Dungeons & Dragons generate ability scores during character creation?
Rolling four six-sided dice and adding the highest three generates ability scores between 3 and 18 in some Dungeons & Dragons editions. Some Dungeons & Dragons editions offer an optional point buy method for determining ability scores instead of random rolls.
Which role playing game used a single die roll of 100 sides to determine race and class?
The Stormbringer role playing game used a single die roll of 100 sides to determine both race and class. Players have little control over scores generated this way but gain diversity among new characters.
Who decides the outcome when rules dictate how choices happen during generation?
Sometimes the game master decides the outcome before the player even touches their dice. This initial step belongs exclusively to the player rather than the gamemaster who runs the session.
What systems use career cycles to model a character's life prior to becoming an active adventurer?
Traveller models a character's life prior to becoming an active adventurer through career cycles. Empire of the Petal Throne uses similar methods to build history before gameplay begins.