Creating a new character can be…tricky. Especially if you’ve played in a lot of campaigns. How do you make sure that each one is unique, with their own flaws and strengths?
After a decade of playing I’ve accepted that no matter how hard I try, part of myself will always end up in my characters. Over the years, I’ve learned a few tricks to help myself flesh out these characters before they hit the table. If you’re also someone who needs that extra flair, then this post is for you.
But before we get into these tricks, I’d like to share what started me on the journey for the character I’ll be using for this post.
The call was sent a few months ago for a new campaign to start. Our Dungeon Master wanted to try something new, a West March homebrew set in Faerun with the consequences of our past campaigns. With a variety of players swapping in and out of the table each week as well, I wanted to create a character that would:
- Have a personality that folks could easily bounce off of for improv and jokes.
- Be a fun character to portray.
- To easy to play because I currently have little time to prep before I jump into a session.
So with that all in mind, here are some of the ways I helped myself prep for this campaign that goes beyond the player character sheet.
(For those curious, a West March is a type of campaign composed of a series of one-shots with players signing up for each session as times allows. Not every session will have the same players, or even the same Dungeon Master some weeks.)
Curate A Playlist.
One of my friends suggested this one, and ever since I’ve done for my characters. Gathering a collection of songs inspired by your character is a great way to help set the tone you want for them.
As I just mentioned, I have little time to prepare for sessions. I sometimes am jumping in five minutes before the session starts, immediately pivoting from putting my little one down. (The perks of being a geeky mom!) Creating this playlist has helped me be able to quickly remember some key traits I want to showcase each session with her.
Collage A Moodboard.
Whether it’s done traditionally to put it in my notebook/play area, or done with a digital Pinterest board, I’ve found creating a mood board really helps my visual mind understand her theming.
(Be sure to check out the other boards for my characters if you need some inspo for your own.)
Design A Portrait.
Finally, having a portrait of my character has been great to help solidify Saffron as having her own personality.
I’ll admit that this is one of the perks of knowing how to draw, but you can just as easily find a favorite artist to get your character commissioned.
Since this is usually what most of my fellow players will see before I speak, I like to design a portrait with what I hope will be their first impression of my character. Will they be bubbly or grumpy? Shy or confident?
Bonus: Downtime Outfit
If I’m feeling extra, they’ll even get a downtime outfit or whole scene sorted out as the campaign keeps going. I wanted Saffron to have some southern goth charm showcased in her campfire outfit. (Thanks Baldurs Gate for this inspiring idea!)
Thanks to these three tricks, I’ve been able to roll into the campaign with a solid enough idea of what I wanted from my aasimar rogue, and have been able to hit the sessions ready for her shenanigans.
What do you do to help yourself when creating a character?
I would love to hear how you prep for your characters beyond writing up the character sheet.
Some ideas I’ve seen but have yet to try myself:
- I’ve seen some on YouTube that almost do a scrapbook for their dnd characters, which I thought was inspiring.
- Creating a cosplay for Ren Faire/Conventions/Playing In Person.
ArtsyRobotz 