Introduction:
While many ways to create a character exist, it is likely most useful to think of characters from their origin, and to consider how the character should develop over the course of a campaign. While a player may not have complete control over their character, viewing characters this way helps to propel character growth, and conflict as his or her goals may be closed off over the course of the campaign, new goals may arise, or characters may claw at opportunities lost.
Static vs. Dynamic:
Another useful step is to view characters in two parts, the static and dynamic where characteristics are divided into two categories for character creation and character development. These categories have some overlap, and provide players with ideas for characters, their pasts, and their futures.
Static:
Static Characteristics largely cover Character Creation; these characteristics help to establish the past of the character, and are largely immutable characteristics, or at the very least, characteristics that may develop or change over the course of an entire campaign. Perhaps demonic possession changes their Race, perhaps a wish, perhaps their vision and learned experiences from their past are deemed less important than something they've overcome, perhaps the character changes to such a point through their adventures that their alignment changes. These are not easy feats to accomplish, so they should largely be considered to be set in stone once established, and can help a player make decisions when choosing Dynamic Characteristics.
Races:
Background:
Alignment:
Dynamic:
Dynamic Characteristics largely cover Character Development. These Characteristics cover the features a Character gains over time, ranging from their Class Selections / Features, Traits, Extras, Specials, Attributes, and Skills. Each of these Characteristics develops over the span of a Character's lifetime, and accomplishments. It is not to say that these Characteristics cannot be unmade, but it is difficult for a character to learn to change out these characteristics, as through Experience Characters learn additional things, and increase their Attributes, rather than replace them entirely.
Classes:
Traits:
Extras:
Specials:
Attributes:
Skills:
