How to Build an Interesting Character

Homebrew, multi-classing, rule bending demigod; it all sounds so sexy, so tempting. The allure of building a character that has never been built before can be overwhelming for a new player. Perhaps even more so if you’ve come to table top role playing games (TTRPG) for the chance to inhabit a whole new identity and really explore this imaginative space. But when your Half-Tiefling, Half-Aasimar, Spore Druid/Artificer goes from feeling like the over-powered (OP) character of your dreams, to feeling more like a house of cards in a stiff breeze, it’s already too late. The game has begun and you’re praying for the next Kobold hoard to kill you off.

The moral of the story is that an interesting build does not always equal a character that’s interesting to play. If you are a Min-Maxer, or a player who’s focus is to do as much damage as you can and collect loot like a dragon building their treasure hoard, your focus on rules and stats make an exotic build more manageable. You don’t need me. Why are you still reading this? But if you love the role play aspect of TTRPGs, getting bogged down in rules, contradictory abilities, and a spell list a mile long, might make a fun hobby feel like work.

Getting Started

Don’t be afraid to keep it simple. A simple build doesn’t mean a boring character. Being able to understand the mechanics of your character will lessen the amount of time you and the GM will have to take looking up and explaining rules, which bogs down the game for everyone at the table. Rather, think about who is your character and what are your goals? Were you inspired by an archetype? What is your backstory? All of these factors can help you build a character with a personality that is fun to play and adds to the group dynamic. There are also resources that will help you start with a creative idea and build out from there. One of my favorite sites is Who the Fuck is My DND Character (https://whothefuckismydndcharacter.com/).

It’s also important to remember that most GMs will have you start at 1st level. This means that, if you have a very grand idea for your character and what you want them to be able to do, you might have to manage your expectations and work up to the character you ultimately want to play. Building your charter up to a specific goal will also help you to generate a backstory that makes sense for your character, which is the topic of the next section.

The Backstory: Too Much or Not Enough?

Maybe you drew inspiration from your favorite fantasy property. Rather than trying to create a Fighter that rivals Geralt of Riva, think of how the Witcher would have started out, before years of fighting monsters had hardened them. As a GM, I have had players turn in backstories where their character single handedly took out whole garrisons of soldiers, or famously fought a dragon who had menaced a kingdom, all before 1st level.

My advice would be to start with rolling up your character, look at their skill set, and then tailor your backstory to that. Think of it as day one of your hero’s journey, where you first hear the call to adventure. Maybe you have some modest exploits to your name. If you’re the type of player who really loves to RP, talk with your GM and see how you can fold your personal story into the world they’ve worked so hard to create. Alternately, you can write a backstory with just enough information that the GM can run with it, and come up with in-game story-lines that highlight or even revolve around your backstory.

Whether you write a single paragraph or a full page of backstory, you’ll have a launching pad that will inform who your character is and what motivates them to fight back an infernal army, or risk life and limb to delve into a dangerous catacomb to recover a legendary treasure. However, for your GM, please keep it under a page. We’ve got a lot going on already.

Putting it All Together

If you are playing for the very first time, the best advice I have to impart is: everyone feels awkward those first few sessions. Maybe you’ve come up with a fun voice, or a quirky set of personality traits, to breath life into your character. Do it! Have fun. After all, that’s why groups of adults gather together around a table or online to essentially play pretend together. New players are often my favorite players.

Once you’ve decided on a class, race, and backstory, rolling stats and filling out your character sheet is simplicity itself. Because Wizards of the Coast™ have an open gaming license for Dungeons and Dragons™, there are countless online resources to help guide you through what can feel like an overwhelming process. DnDBeyond™ (https://www.dndbeyond.com) has a very user friendly character builder where you can just plug in the information you want and generate a fully formed character sheet without second guessing rules about abilities and starting equipment.

Finally, reach out to your GM. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, check what house rules they might use, or what their preferred method for rolling your stats might be. Most GMs will be happy to guide you through the process. Many games will begin with a session zero, where the players create their characters, talk about backstories, and maybe have a short, introductory game if there’s time.

Whether you’re playing an edition of DnD, or any of the many TTRPGs out there, these guidelines can help you find a character that you will love to role play. Every table, group, game, and GM will be different. Finding the table that best suits you can take time. Don’t give up. Because when you find one, where everything clicks, it’s one of the most magical experiences you’ll ever have.