System Reference Document 5.2.1
19
Character 
Creation
Choose a Character Sheet
You’ll record the main details of your character on 
a character sheet. Throughout this chapter, we use 
the term “character sheet” to mean whatever you 
use to track your character’s details, whether it’s a 
printed character sheet, a digital character sheet, or 
plain paper. Choose whichever style of sheet works 
for you, and then embark on creating a character!
Create Your Character
Here are the steps to make a character; each step is 
explored in detail:
1:  Choose a Class. Every adventurer is a member 
of a class. A class broadly describes a character’s 
vocation, special talents, and favored tactics.
2:  Determine Origin. A character’s origin includes 
two elements: background and species. How did 
the character spend the years leading up to a life 
of adventure? Who are the character’s ancestors? 
You can also choose your character’s languages.
3: Determine Ability Scores.  Much of what your 
character does in the game depends on the char -
acter’s six abilities.
4:  Choose an Alignment.  Alignment is a shorthand 
for your character’s moral compass.
5: Fill in Details.  Using the choices you’ve made, fill 
in the remaining details on your character sheet.
Step 1: Choose Class
Choose a class, and write it on your character sheet. 
The Class Overview table summarizes the classes. 
See “Classes” for the classes’ details.
Class Overview
Class Likes ... Primary 
Ability
Complexity
Barbarian Battle Strength Average
Bard Performing Charisma High
Cleric Gods Wisdom Average
Druid Nature Wisdom High
Fighter Weapons Strength 
or Dexterity
Low
Monk Unarmed 
combat
Dexterity 
and Wisdom
High
Paladin Defense Strength 
and Charisma
Average
Ranger Survival Dexterity 
and Wisdom
Average
Class Likes ... Primary 
Ability
Complexity
Rogue Stealth Dexterity Low
Sorcerer Power Charisma High
Warlock Occult lore Charisma High
Wizard Spellbooks Intelligence Average
Write Your Level
Write your character’s level on your character 
sheet. Typically, a character starts at level 1 and 
advances in level by adventuring and gaining Expe -
rience Points (XP).
 Write Your XP. Also record your Experience 
Points. A level 1 character has 0 XP. 
 Starting at a Higher Level. Your GM might start 
you at a higher level. If you start at level 3 or higher, 
write your chosen subclass on your character sheet. 
See the “Starting at Higher Levels” section later in 
“Character Creation” for more information.
Note Armor Training
Your class might give you training with certain 
categories of armor. Note your armor training on 
your character sheet. Armor training with a kind of 
armor means you can wear that armor effectively, 
gaining defensive bonuses from it. The categories of 
armor are described in “Equipment.”
Step 2: Character Origin
Determining your character’s origin involves choos -
ing a background, a species, and two languages.
 A character’s background represents the place 
and occupation that were most formative for the 
character. The combination of background, species, 
and languages provides fertile soil for your imagi -
nation as you ponder your character’s earliest days.
Choose a Background
Choose your character’s background, and write it on 
your character sheet. You can choose any of the back-
grounds detailed in “Character Origins,” and your GM 
might offer additional backgrounds as options.
 The background you choose influences step 3, 
when you determine your character’s ability scores. 
If you’re having trouble choosing, the Ability Scores 
and Backgrounds table shows which backgrounds 
benefit which ability scores. Look for your class’s 
primary ability there.
Ability Scores and Backgrounds
Ability Background
Strength Soldier
Dexterity Soldier
Constitution Soldier
Intelligence Acolyte