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Creating a tabletop roleplaying character means deciding both what they can do under the game’s rules and who they are in the shared story. The details depend on the system and edition: start with a character idea, then use that game’s rules to turn it into choices and statistics.
What character creation involves
A player character has a game-facing side—such as statistics and abilities—and a roleplaying side shaped by personality, history, and imagination. D&D’s 2014 Basic Rules describe a character as “a combination of game statistics, roleplaying hooks, and your imagination.” Read the D&D 2014 character-creation rules.
There is no single procedure that applies to every tabletop RPG. Follow the rules for the system and edition your group is playing rather than combining steps from different games.
What to do first
Begin with a broad idea of the adventurer you would like to play: perhaps a daring explorer, a resourceful investigator, or a cautious healer. You do not need a complete biography before starting. The concept gives you a direction; the game’s rules determine how to express it mechanically.
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Before making specific choices, confirm the game and edition with the group or game master. Then open the matching character-creation section and follow its order. For example, D&D’s 2014 Basic Rules present an ordered, step-by-step process, while the 2024 D&D rules have their own character-creation section. See the D&D 2024 character-creation rules.
How creation differs by game
D&D 5th Edition (2014 Basic Rules)
The 2014 rules frame character creation as a sequence of steps. Use that edition’s instructions for its specific choices and statistics; do not assume they match a different edition’s process. The guide also encourages players to picture the adventurer they want before working through the rules.
Genesys
Genesys begins with a character’s background and describes a seven-step character-generation process. Its designer, Sam Stewart, says the choices can help guide roleplaying and interactions in the game world. That starting point is specific to Genesys, not a universal RPG rule. Read Fantasy Flight Games’ Genesys character-creation article.
Basic Roleplaying
Basic Roleplaying has a dedicated character-creation section in its system reference document. Consult that document for its procedure rather than borrowing the steps from D&D or Genesys. Open the Basic Roleplaying System Reference Document 1.0.2.
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- Includes 50 double-sided, full-color character sheets designed for easy organization of all your RPG character details, stats, and notes.
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How to make the character feel like a person
Once you know which options the rules provide, connect them to a few choices about the character’s life and outlook. These prompts are optional creative aids, not required rules:
- What does the character want right now?
- What are they especially good at, and what do they find difficult?
- Who or what matters to them?
- What would make them cooperate with the rest of the party?
Use the answers to inform the choices the system actually asks you to make. In Genesys, for instance, background is built into the creation process and can shape how the character approaches roleplaying and relationships. Other games may handle history differently.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to write on a character sheet
Record the information your game needs during play, using the official sheet or another format that works for your group. A sheet is a practical reference, not a universal requirement. D&D’s 2014 rules call its official character sheet “a fine place to start” until you know what information you need and how you use it during the game. The same rules explain the sheet in context.
Follow your game’s own instructions for which statistics, abilities, equipment, and notes to record. A sheet designed for another system or edition may use different terms or omit information your game needs.
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A straightforward creation checklist
- Confirm the system and edition. Ask the group which rules they are using.
- Choose a broad character concept. Pick a direction that interests you without trying to settle every detail at once.
- Open the matching creation rules. Use that game’s sequence and definitions.
- Make the required mechanical choices. Let the rules translate your concept into abilities and statistics.
- Add a few roleplaying hooks. Note a goal, a connection, or a trait that gives you something to portray.
- Record the result in a usable format. Check that you can find the information you need during play.
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