Character Creation Rundown
Building Your House(Creating a Character)
Character creation is an in-depth process that helps you develop the mechanical tools around your character concept. Think of it like a house that you build and live in while you are in the world of Skjaald.Base Class
Even though you dont get it right away(at level 1), the first thing you should consider when building your character "house" is what you want your base class to be. Your base class is essentially the floor plan to your house. Base classes are highly customizable as your character develops but give a basic "definition" of what your character is and what they do mechanically. Base classes come with certain attribute requirements, so make sure to note down which one your base class has.Base classes can be found in the Class Overview page.
Attributes
Once you have a base class floor plan in mind you want to lay down the foundation. Attributes are the eight stats that make up what your character is capable of physically and mentally. When creating a new character you start out with the following possible attribute scores: 13, 12, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. That means a new character has two +1 modifiers, three 0 modifiers, one -1 modifier, one -2 modifier, and one -3 modifier. You may place these starting attribute scores in the attributes of your choice, but you will want to pair your attribute choices with what you plan to choose as a base class to make sure you will meet it's attribute prerequisites. Later decisions such as your character's race and some of the background options also influence attributes, so it isnt all or nothing at this point. Regardless, don't be afraid to change your choices or start over and create your character in a different order.To see an in depth explanation of the attributes and the things they affect, check out the Attributes page.
Character Race
Next lets put a roof and some paint on your character. Choose a race for your character. Character races bring various attribute bonuses and penalties, traits, unique racial features and extra abilities for you to use. Your character's race can really help you tie your character into the world through one of its various kinds of people and cultures. Make sure to check in with your DM on whether or not a given race is available in this campaign.Playable races can be found on the Playable Races Overview page.
Backstory and Everything Inbetween
Now your character house is built, but its far from a home. You still need to figure out all the furnishings, landscaping, all the things to make this house yours. You have the mechanical core of your class to support your concept, go ahead and dive into developing them further. Describe what they look like, how they act, and what they have been doing with their life up to now. These things weigh into the character background, but also just provide you with context and reminders if you need them while playing.Background
While there is no minimum(or limit) for how much backstory your character needs, it all helps you and your DM decide the details of your character's background. You can either use your backstory to figure out your mechanical background, or you and your DM can come up with a background to inspire your backstory. While the whole process can be done in any order, these two steps are truly interchangeable.Explore the Character Backgrounds page.
