Character Creation Guide + Template

Creating a character in the RPG universe is an exciting and dynamic process that allows you to shape a unique persona within the expansive world. This guide will walk you through the key steps and considerations to craft a character that fits seamlessly into the rich tapestry of the RPG narrative.

Before delving into specific details, consider the concept of your character. What drives them? What are their strengths and weaknesses? What goals do they aim to achieve in the RPG world? Having a clear concept will guide you through the subsequent steps of character creation.

Concept:

Detail your character's history, upbringing, and life experiences. Consider how these factors have shaped your character's skills, personality, and worldview.

Your character's background delves into the specifics of their early life, upbringing, and the experiences that shaped them. Consider adding details such as the region they hail from, family background, and any significant events in their past. This information will help in understanding how your character developed their core beliefs, and values.

Profession:

In the world of the RPG, characters often have specific professions that define their skills and role in society. Choose a profession for your character, such as knight, merchant, maester, or rogue. Your character's chosen profession will influence their starting skills and abilities and may open up unique opportunities and challenges in the RPG world.

In the context of the RPG, a character's chosen profession can significantly influence their skills, role in society, and even the challenges they may face. Select a profession that aligns with your character concept. For example, a knight might have combat-related skills, while a maester might excel in knowledge and healing abilities. Your character's chosen profession provides a foundation for their abilities and sets the stage for their role in the RPG world.

For more information on the available Professions and their specific benefits, see the Professions Guide. However, if you don't see a Profession you had in mind on that page, feel free to submit an application using the Profession Template

Alignment and Faction Affiliations:

Specify your character's alignment, reflecting their moral and ethical stance. Alignment uses the simple scale of Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic; Good, Neutral, Evil. Character's are more than welcome to be either valiant vanguards or scrupulous pirates.

Additionally, if your character is from any of the Houses, Factions, or other Organizations throughout the world, detail any affiliations your character may have. Keep in mind though, these alone can heavily impact relationships, alliances, and potential conflicts within the RPG narrative. As a Stark might not necessarily find it wise to side with a Lannister, but they may still consider a Targaeryn as their ally.

For more information on the current Houses, Factions, and Organizations and what each one uniquely provides in gameplay context, see the specific Guide on Houses, Factions, and Organizations.

Titles:

Characters in the RPG world can earn or choose titles that reflect their achievements, affiliations, or unique qualities. Titles add depth to your character's identity and can influence how others perceive them. Some titles may be granted through in-game accomplishments, while others can be chosen during character creation.

Reputation:

Your character's actions and decisions in the RPG world contribute to their reputation. Reputation reflects how well-known and respected (or feared) your character is among NPCs and other players. Positive actions may enhance reputation, while negative actions could harm it. Reputation can open up opportunities or create challenges for your character as they navigate the game world.

For more information on the mechanical benefits of Titles and the Reputation System, see the Titles and Reputation guide for more info.


When a character first starts out at Level 1, no matter their chosen Profession, they are always considered to be a Novice. Certain Events may allow for creation starting at higher Ratings, but unless that occurs everyone must start at the lowest.

Progression through Ratings is achieved naturally by Level Up Milestones as described in the Level Up Guide, going from Novice all the way up to Legend. As a character progresses to those higher ratings, they become able to upgrade their current Skills and Abilities, alongside with learning ones that are reserved for said higher Ratings.

Statistics:

Attributes represent your character's inherent capabilities and are defined in 6 different ways, with 4 additional Sub-Attributes. Distribute points among these attributes based on your character concept and Profession. Additionally, a character's Resource Pools and Sub-Stats are further based off of their Attribute/Sub-Attributes.

Attributes:

Might-
Might represents a character's physical strength and power. It influences physical combat, lifting capacity, and overall brawn.

• Low Might: Struggles in physical confrontations, might have difficulty lifting heavy objects, less resistant to damage.
  
• High Might: Excels in physical combat, can easily handle heavy loads, more resistant to damage.
  

Agility-
Agility reflects a character's speed, dexterity, and coordination. It affects a character's ability to dodge attacks, perform acrobatic maneuvers, and handle finesse-based tasks.

• Low Agility: Limited in dodging attacks, struggles with coordination, lower energy reserves.
  
• High Agility: Nimble and quick, can easily evade attacks and perform acrobatic feats, higher energy reserves.
  

Endurance-
Endurance measures a character's stamina and resilience. It plays a role in determining how much physical strain a character can endure and how well they resist fatigue.

• Low Endurance: Fatigues quickly, struggles to endure physical strain, less tanky and less health.
  
• High Endurance: Can endure prolonged physical activity, resists fatigue effectively, more tanky and more health.
  

Intellect-
Intellect gauges a character's mental acuity and problem-solving skills. It influences memory, logic, and proficiency in tasks that require cognitive abilities.

• Low Intellect: Challenges with problem-solving, may struggle with cognitive tasks, lower mana reserves.
  
• High Intellect: Sharp-minded, excels in logical thinking and cognitive abilities, more mana reserves.
  

Insight-
Insight represents a character's intuition, empathy, and ability to understand others. It plays a role in social interactions, perception, and reading people.

• Low Insight: Difficulty understanding others, may misinterpret social cues, not very pious and sane.
  
• High Insight: Intuitive and empathetic, easily understands people and social situations, very pious and sane.
  

Presence-
Presence signifies a character's charisma, confidence, and ability to command attention. It influences leadership, persuasion, and social influence.

• Low Presence: Lacks charisma, struggles to command attention, not very honorable and lucky.
  
• High Presence: Charismatic and confident, commands attention and social influence, very honorable and lucky.
  

Attribute Points at Character Creation:

Players start with a pool of attribute points that they can distribute among the six main attributes (Might, Agility, Endurance, Intellect, Insight, Presence) and their corresponding sub-attributes.

Players have a total of 25 attribute points to distribute at character creation. At Character Creation, the max amount of points which can be put into any one Attribute can be no more than 10; each Attribute starts at 1.

Sub-Attributes:

Physical Prowess-
Derived from the Might attribute, Physical Prowess encompasses a character's physical combat skills, brute force, and raw physical capabilities.

• Low Physical Prowess: Inept in physical combat, lacks brute force.
  
• High Physical Prowess: A skilled combatant with raw physical capabilities.
  

Reflexes-
Derived from the Agility attribute, Reflexes measure a character's quickness, agility, and reaction speed, particularly in fast-paced or unexpected situations.

• Low Reflexes: Slow reactions, struggles in fast-paced situations.
  
• High Reflexes: Quick and reactive, excels in fast-paced or unexpected scenarios.
  

Composure-
Derived from the Presence attribute, Composure reflects a character's ability to remain calm, collected, and in control in the heat of the moment or high-pressure situations.

• Low Composure: Easily flustered, struggles to stay calm under pressure.
  
• High Composure: Calm and collected, maintains control in challenging situations.
  

Grit-
Derived from the Endurance attribute, Grit represents a character's determination, resilience in the face of adversity, and ability to push through prolonged series of difficult circumstances.

• Low Grit: Easily discouraged, struggles in the face of adversity.
  
• High Grit: Determined and resilient, pushes through difficult circumstances.
  

Sub-Attribute Points at Character Creation:

Sub-attributes are derived from the main attributes and provide additional specificity to a character's capabilities.

Sub-attributes are determined by a formula based on the main attribute. For instance, each main attribute point contributes to a specific sub-attribute point. To determine a Sub-Attribute's value, it is as simple as doing so at a 2:1 ratio. Therefore, if a player allocates 4 points to the Might attribute, they will have 2 points in Physical Prowess.

The maximum value for each sub-attribute at time of character creation is 5 points.

Resource Pools:

Resource Pools refer to the four key components that will directly be influenced in combat or whenever an Ability gets used in the case of Energy and Mana. Similarly to Sub-Attributes and later within this same section, Sub-Stats, all four Resource Pools are based on a Character's 6 primary Attributes. But, out of the other 2, these are the most unique for two different reasons. They are solely based on a relatively large multiplier next to a specific Attribute. Additionally, EP (Energy Points) and MP (Mana Points) can be added to with WC that one accumulates when RPing. However, this guide focuses on just how you get them at time of Character Creation. More information can be learned via the Statistics Guide and Level Up Guide respectively. The Resource Pools, along with what they do and how you get those values are as follows:

Hit Points-
Otherwise referred to as HP, this is the most vital Resource Pool as it represents your character's health and how much damage they can truly withstand. For every 1 Point in a Character's Endurance Attribute, they have 10 Hit Points. The max amount of HP at Character Creation is 100 if Endurance is min-maxed at 10 points.

Damage Resistance-
Otherwise called DR, this is another Resource Pool that provides a character with durability, albeit in a different sense of the term. Instead of Health, this pool simply represents damage that can be shrugged off instead of taking it to HP. Every 1 Point in a Character's Might Attribute gives them 5 points of DR, with the max at Char Creation being 50 points.


Energy Points-
Otherwise known as EP, this Resource Pool is almost equally as important as HP because it determines how much character's can actually do. Every physical and most social-based Abilities cost EP to use. For every 1 Point in a Character's Agility Attribute, they have 20 EP. At Character Creation, the max amount one can have is 200.

Mana Points-
Otherwise frequently named, MP. This Resource Pool most Character's won't even use because it's solely for using magic; similarly to EP, it represents how much metaphysical Abilities a Character can use in threads. Every 1 Point in a Character's Intellect Attribute, they have 20 MP. The maximum one can have at Character Creation is 200.

Sub-Stats:

These are the last 4 components of a Character's Statistics. They are essentially a mix of Sub-Attributes and Resource Pools; taking a significance of the prior in where they are representative of parts of your Character's traits and should be reflected as such. So you may be thinking, why aren't these just Sub-Attributes because of that then? That's because unlike the prior, these are rarely used to add bonuses for things like Skills and Abilities, additionally, similarly to Resource Pools, these can fluctuate during the natural flow of threading through. Sub-Stats can be damaged by taking certain actions or activating certain Abilities, as well as acting as a threshold for unlocking certain Abilities. For example, a Character needs a relatively high Piety to use Divine Abilities with a high rating. However, using certain magical Abilities that also have a high Rating can result in a loss of Sanity. For now though, what's covered next is specifically a small description of each, alongside how you get their values during Character Creation.

Honor-
Honor reflects your character's adherence to a code of ethics and principles and how well they stick to them. It plays an influence on decisions in social interactions and is highly affected by actions that either uphold or tarnish your Character's reputation. To get your Honor value, add your Character's Presence and Composure, then multiply that sum by 2.

Luck-
Luck represents the unpredictable twists of fate that can influence your character's endeavors. It may play a role in determining the outcome of chance-based events, finding rare items, or escaping dangerous situations through a stroke of good fortune. To get your Luck value, add your Character's Presence and Grit, then multiply that sum by 2.

Piety-
Piety measures your character's devotion to religious or spiritual beliefs. It is crucial for unlocking and mastering divine or mystical abilities, and characters with higher piety may find themselves more attuned to the otherworldly and Divine forces throughout life. To get your Piety value, add your character's Insight and Composure, then multiply that sum by 2.

Sanity-
Sanity gauges your character's mental stability and resilience. It can be affected by witnessing supernatural occurrences or using certain magical abilities. Characters with high sanity can maintain clarity of thought, while low sanity may lead to irrational behavior. To get your Sanity value, add your character's Insight and Grit, then multiply that sum by 2.

• For more information on the intricacies and nuances of Statistics specifically, see the Statistics Guide
  
• For more info on how one earns more points, overall max values, etc, see the Level Up Guide.
  

Skills are feats or proficiencies that your character has developed over time. At character creation, you start with 1 Skill Slot. Every 5 Levels, you gain an additional Skill Slot. Skills are divided into Basic, Adept, and Master levels, representing your character's proficiency with them.


Abilities are unique powers, talents, or techniques that set your character apart. At character creation, you start with 3 Ability Slots. However, you can only fill one of these slots with an Ability. Additional Ability Slots gained after character creation start empty and can be filled through spending WC to train an Ability. Abilities are always chosen from the list of Skills in which a person has. Every two levels, you gain an additional ability slot.


Specify the gear and items your character possesses. Keep in mind your character's background, as it influences the resources they would reasonably have.


Compile all the details into a character sheet. This document serves as a reference for both you and other players, providing a snapshot of your character's identity, capabilities, and story. You are expected to update this relatively frequently, at the very minimum when you learn or gain new things. Failure to update something into the sheet means you can't technically use said thing, until it gets properly added in.


As your character embarks on quests and engages in the RPG world, they will earn experience points (XP) and may level up. Leveling up grants additional Skill Slots and Ability Slots, allowing your character to further develop their skills and unlock new abilities.


Participate in quests, interact with other characters, and immerse yourself in the RPG narrative. Your character's journey unfolds through their actions, decisions, and collaborations with other players.


Character creation is an ongoing and evolving process. Embrace the flexibility of the RPG universe, adapt your character to the unfolding narrative, and enjoy the collaborative storytelling experience with fellow players. Your character's journey is a dynamic and integral part of the larger RPG tapestry.

Don't forget, all the text within the brackets are to be removed when filling this out for your character! Good luck, and happy hunting out there y'all!

Code:

[b][u][size=24][center]Character Sheet[/center][/size][/u][/b]

[center][h2]Player Details:[/h2][/center]

[b]Player Name:[/b] [Enter Your Name]
[b]Forum Username:[/b] [Enter Your Forum Username]
[b]Discord Username:[/b] [Enter Your Discord Username]


[center][h2]Character Details:[/h2][/center]

[b]Character Name:[/b] [Enter Character Name]
[b]House/Faction Affiliation:[/b] [Enter House Name or Specify if None]
[b]Alignment:[/b] [Place your Character's Alignment here (Lawful Good, Chaotic Evil, etc)]
[b]Profession:[/b] [Choose from Available Professions]
[b]Rating:[/b] [Always must start as Novice; this is considered to be your In Character rank]
[b]Reputation:[/b] [Starting Value dependent on Profession and Alignment]
[b]Title(s):[/b] [Characters never start with a Title, but place any they gain throughout their journey here]
[b]Level:[/b] [Always start at Level 1; this is considered to be an Out of Character scale]


[h2]Appearance:[/h2]

[b]Height:[/b]
[b]Build:[/b]
[b]Hair Color:[/b]
[b]Eye Color:[/b]
[b]Distinguishing Features:[/b]


[h2]Personality:[/h2]

[b]Traits:[/b]
[b]Habits:[/b]
[b]Motivations:[/b]
[b]Fears:[/b]


[center][h2]Character Background:[/h2][/center]

[Enter a detailed background story for your character. Include information about their upbringing, family, major life events, and motivations.]


[center][h2]Stats:[/h2][/center]

[b]Might:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]
[b]Agility:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]
[b]Endurance:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]
[b]Intellect:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]
[b]Presence:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]
[b]Insight:[/b] [Enter Attribute Value]

[spoiler=Sub-Attributes]
[b]Physical Prowess[/b] [Enter Sub-Attribute Value; half of Might, rounded up]
[b]Reflexes:[/b] [Enter Sub-Attribute Value; half of Agility, rounded up]
[b]Grit:[/b] [Enter Sub-Attribute Value; half of Endurance, rounded up]
[b]Composure:[/b] [Enter Sub-Attribute Value; half of Insight, rounded up][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Resource Pools]
[b]Hit Points:[/b] [Enter HP Value; 1 Endurance:10 HP]
[b]Energy Points:[/b] [Enter EP Value; 1 Agility:20 EP]
[b]Mana Points:[/b] [Enter MP Value; 1 Intellect:20 MP]
[b]Damage Resistance:[/b] [Enter DR Value; 1 Might:5 DR][/spoiler]

[spoiler=Sub-Stats]
[b]Honor:[/b] [Enter Honor Value; (Presence + Composure) x 2]
[b]Luck:[/b] [Enter Luck Value; (Presence + Grit) x 2]
[b]Piety:[/b] [Enter Piety Value; (Insight + Composure) x 2]
[b]Sanity:[/b] [Enter Sanity Value; (Insight + Grit) x 2][/spoiler]


[center][h2]Skills:[/h2][/center]

[List the Skill you chose based on your character's chosen profession during Character Creation, and any additional skills gained throughout your character's progression.]

[Skill 1]
[Skill 2]
[Skill 3]


[center][h2]Equipment:[/h2][/center]

[Detail the equipment your character possesses. Include starting equipment from the chosen profession and any additional items acquired during gameplay.]

[b]Primary Weapon:[/b]
[b]Secondary Weapon:[/b]
[b]Armor:[/b]
[b]Other Items:[/b]

[center][h2]Gold:[/h2][/center]

[b]Total Gold:[/b] [Enter Gold Amount]


[center][h2]Abilities and Techniques:[/h2][/center]

[List the ability you chose from your Character's Profession at Character Creation here, and any further ones they may learn from Skills, their Profession, Quests, or other Events as well.]

[Ability/Technique 1]
[Ability/Technique 2]
[Ability/Technique 3]


[center][h2]Quest Log:[/h2][/center]

[List ongoing quests, completed quests, or any major events your character has participated in here as they complete them.]

[Quest/Event 1]
[Quest/Event 2]
[Quest/Event 3]


[center][h2]Notes:[/h2][/center]

[Include any additional notes, character development goals, or important information.]