How to create a character: 5 ways to build someone you'll enjoy playing

Creating a character means deciding who you'll be at an event, what drives them and how they'll respond when the story unfolds. A strong character gives you a reason to make choices, react to other players and stay engaged when plans change. The rest of this guide walks you through picking a concept, writing a backstory that fits the setting, choosing traits that work in practice and preparing the details that help you step into the role. Every section includes steps you can take this week, so by the time you arrive at your first event, you'll know exactly who you're playing.

Start with a concept that excites you

The best characters begin with an idea that makes you want to turn up. That idea might be a profession (a blacksmith, a healer, a wandering scholar), a personality trait (loyal to a fault, suspicious of authority, quick to forgive) or a goal your character wants to achieve. Write down the first thing that comes to mind, then ask yourself what that person would do when faced with a problem, how they'd treat a stranger and what would make them change their mind.

A concept doesn't need to be complicated. A farmer who's never left their village works as well as a disgraced knight seeking redemption, as long as the idea gives you something to play with. Picture your character in a crowded tavern, at a campfire after a battle or standing in front of a council making a decision. If you can see them acting, speaking and reacting, the concept is solid.

Match your character to the setting and rules

Every event has a world, a time period and a set of rules about what characters can and can't do. Some settings are historical, some are high fantasy with magic and monsters, others are science fiction or post-apocalyptic. Read the event's background material before you finalise your character, because a concept that works in one setting might not fit another.

Check whether the event allows magic, what technology exists, which factions or nations are at war and what happened in recent history. A character who's a devout follower of a banned religion creates tension in a setting where that faith is outlawed, but falls flat if no one else at the event knows the religion exists. Similarly, a character built around using a specific weapon or skill needs to work within the event's combat or crafting rules.

If the event organiser or game master publishes a list of available character classes, cultures or species, read through them and pick one that matches your concept. When the setting allows flexibility, lean into the details that make your character feel like they belong in that world rather than imported from somewhere else.

Write a backstory that informs how you play

A backstory explains where your character comes from, what shaped them and why they're at this event. It doesn't need to be long, but it should answer three questions: what was their life like before this story began, what event or decision brought them here and what do they want now? These answers give you a foundation to draw on when you need to make a choice in character.

Focus on moments that changed your character rather than listing every year of their life. A single betrayal, a mentor's death, a vow they made under pressure or a mistake they're trying to fix will tell you more about how they think than a paragraph about their childhood. Write the backstory in a way that leaves room for other players' stories to connect with yours, so when someone mentions a shared enemy, a mutual friend or a place you've both been, you can build on it together.

Some events ask you to submit your backstory to the organisers before the event, especially if your character has ties to the setting's history or factions. Keep a short version for yourself that you can refer to during the event when you need to remember why your character cares about something.

Choose traits and flaws that create opportunities

Traits are the qualities that define how your character behaves: brave, cautious, generous, stubborn, curious, cynical. Flaws are the weaknesses or contradictions that make them interesting: a hero who's terrified of water, a wise advisor who can't admit when they're wrong, a skilled fighter who freezes when someone cries. Both traits and flaws give you clear ways to react when something happens, and they create moments where other players can see who your character really is.

Pick traits that will come up naturally during play. If your character is fiercely protective of children, you'll have a strong reaction when a child is threatened. If they're deeply superstitious, they'll avoid certain actions or insist on rituals before important decisions. Flaws work the same way: they're not there to stop you having fun, but to give you reasons to struggle, fail and grow over the course of the event.

Avoid making your character perfect or untouchable. A character who's good at everything, never makes mistakes and never doubts themselves is harder to play because there's no room for tension or change. A character who's skilled in one area but out of their depth in another gives you somewhere to go when the story shifts.

Prepare the details that bring your character to life

Once you have a concept, a backstory and a sense of who your character is, the final step is preparing the small details that help you stay in role. These include your character's name, their accent or speech patterns, their posture and the way they move. Some players also choose a personal item or piece of costume that reminds them who they're playing, like a worn book, a family crest or a specific style of belt.

Think about how your character introduces themselves, what they say when they're nervous and what they do with their hands when they're thinking. These habits don't need to be dramatic, but they should be consistent enough that other players start to recognise them. If your character always touches a pendant when they're lying, or scratches their beard when they're considering an offer, those gestures become part of how people read you.

Write down a few key facts you want to remember: your character's age, where they grew up, what they're afraid of and what they'd never do. Keep this list somewhere you can glance at it before the event starts or during a break, so you don't forget who you're playing when the action gets intense.

Steps you can take this week

1. Write down three concepts and pick the one that makes you most excited to play.
2. Read the event's setting guide and mark which parts of the world your character has experienced.
3. Draft a one-paragraph backstory that explains why your character is at this event and what they want.
4. Choose two traits and one flaw, then imagine how your character would act in a tense negotiation or a sudden fight.
5. Decide on one physical habit or speech pattern that you'll use to signal when you're in character.

Compare ways to develop your character

Test your character before the event

Before you arrive, spend time thinking in character. Ask yourself how your character would react to common situations: someone challenges their honour, a friend asks for help they can't give, they discover a secret that puts them in danger. If the answers come easily, you're ready. If you find yourself unsure, revisit your backstory and traits until the choices feel clear.

Some players find it helpful to write a short scene or diary entry from their character's perspective, describing a moment from their past or their thoughts on the journey to the event. This exercise helps you settle into their voice and spot any gaps in what you know about them. You can also talk through your character with a friend, explaining who they are and why they're going to the event, which often reveals details you hadn't considered.

If the event has a forum or group chat for players, introduce your character there and see how others respond. You might discover connections you hadn't planned, or realise that another player's character has a history with yours. These conversations can shape your character in ways that make the event richer from the start.

#Beginner tips #Characters #Backstories

Download PDF: Character Creation Checklist PDF, 27 KB