Dungeons and Dragons: Building a Character

Classes in D&D are akin to jobs or professions in real life. Choosing a class is a key part of character creation, as it defines your character's abilities, stat distribution, skills, and sometimes even their personality traits, such as ideals or motivations.

There are currently 13 officially approved D&D5e classes by Wizards of the Coast: Artificer, Barbarian, Bard, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard.

These classes are categorized into three groups: Martial (focused on combat with some potential magic), Full Casters (specializing in arcane and divine magic), and Half Casters (combining martial skills with magic and gaining spell slots at half the rate of Full Casters). The classifications are as follows:

• Martial Classes: Barbarian, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue
• Full Caster Classes: Druid, Bard, Cleric, Wizard, Sorcerer, Warlock
• Half Caster Classes: Artificer, Paladin, Ranger

Check out this thorough guide from Dungeons & Dragons Fanatics!

Alignments define your character’s moral compass. For example, will they help someone in need unconditionally, only if rewarded, or not at all?

A lawful good paladin will always spare enemies who surrender and plead for mercy, while a neutral evil rogue might only do so after taking all their valuables.

In D&D, alignment affects your character's decisions and the resulting consequences throughout their journey. It’s not just characters that have alignments; NPCs, monsters, and even deities also have moral alignments. While alignments are crucial for character development and roleplaying, remember to balance them with your character’s story and your fellow players’ experiences. For instance, playing a ruthless villain in a party of heroes could disrupt the game. Use alignments as a moral guide, but don’t let them rigidly dictate your actions. Characters are complex and dynamic, and they can’t be confined to a single category.

After selecting your D&D class, choosing a race is the next most crucial decision in character creation. Beyond their appearances, each of the 5e races offers unique traits that can significantly impact your character’s skills, abilities, and role within the team. Some races also vary in size.

Backgrounds offer additional proficiencies, as well as armor and equipment for your character, making them highly important. They also provide context for your character's personality and history. For instance, a cleric with an acolyte background is a devout follower of a chosen deity, equipped with holy relics and proficient in insight and religion. It’s crucial to consider backgrounds alongside your class. For example, the "Charlatan" background pairs well with the "Rogue" class, as it grants proficiency in sleight of hand and deception skills.

Backgrounds also define your character's ideals, traits, bonds, and flaws. Remember, role-playing games are about immersing yourself in your character. If the official backgrounds don't quite fit, don't hesitate to discuss creating custom personality traits with your DM. The more you can connect with and portray your character, the richer your gameplay experience will be.

Check out a full list of backgrounds here!