How to Start a D&D Character: A Step-by-Step Guide

This is where the magic truly begins. Knowing how to start a D&D character is your first act of storytelling in a game that is all about collaboration and imagination. This guide will demystify the process, breaking it down into simple, manageable steps. By the end, you'll have a hero ready for adventure.

Step 1: The Concept - Dream Your Hero

Before you touch a single die or write down a number, take a moment to dream. Who do you want to be in this fantasy world? A character concept can be as simple as a single phrase. Don't worry about the rules or mechanics yet; focus on the story. Here are a few examples to get you started:

• A grizzled dwarf warrior who has seen too many battles.
• A charismatic and witty elf wizard hungry for ancient knowledge.
• A nimble and sneaky halfling rogue with a heart of gold but sticky fingers.
• A half-orc cleric who struggles to reconcile their faith with their heritage.

This core idea will be your North Star through the entire creation process, guiding your choices for race, class, and personality.

Step 2: Choose a Race and Class - The Core Identity

Now it's time to give your concept some mechanical bones. Your character is defined by two key choices: their Race and their Class.

Race: Your Heritage and Culture

Your Race (or species) determines your character's ancestry and innate abilities. Are you a sturdy Dwarf, a graceful Elf, a versatile Human, or something more exotic like a draconic Dragonborn or a fiendish Tiefling? Each race provides specific bonuses to your ability scores, unique traits, and a rich cultural background to draw from for your roleplaying.

Class: Your Profession and Skills

Your Class is your character's calling, their skillset, and how they interact with the world. It’s what you do. Are you a martial powerhouse like a Fighter or Barbarian? A divine agent like a Cleric or Paladin? A master of arcane magic like a Wizard or Sorcerer? Or a specialist with a unique set of talents, like a Ranger or Rogue? Your class determines your primary abilities, hit points, and the gear you're proficient with.

The Player's Handbook is the ultimate resource for all official options. For a free and guided experience, the character builder on D&D Beyond is an excellent tool that walks you through every choice. Don't be afraid to mix and match! A Half-Orc Wizard or a Tiefling Monk can be just as compelling—if not more so—than the classic combinations.

Step 3: Determine Ability Scores - Your Raw Potential

Ability scores are the six numbers that define your character's raw talent: Strength (physical power), Dexterity (agility), Constitution (stamina), Intelligence (reasoning), Wisdom (awareness), and Charisma (personality). There are two primary ways to generate these scores:

• The Standard Array: You get a pre-set list of scores (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) that you can assign to your six abilities as you see fit. This method creates balanced, effective characters.
• Rolling Dice: The traditional method is to roll four 6-sided dice (4d6) and drop the lowest number, doing this six times to get your six scores. This can lead to more varied and sometimes more powerful (or weaker) characters. Your DM will tell you which method to use.

Once you have your scores, your chosen race will provide bonuses to some of them. For the official rules, see the D&D Beyond Basic Rules.

Step 4: Describe Your Character - Adding a Soul

This is where your character truly comes to life. Your chosen Background (e.g., Soldier, Acolyte, Criminal) provides a template for your life before adventuring. It gives you additional skill proficiencies and, most importantly, helps you define your personality through four key traits:

• Personality Traits: A few key quirks or mannerisms (e.g., "I'm always polite and respectful" or "I'm sarcastic to a fault").
• Ideals: What your character believes in (e.g., "Respect. People deserve to be treated with dignity.").
• Bonds: Connections to people, places, or events that matter to you (e.g., "I will do anything to protect the temple where I grew up.").
• Flaws: Your weaknesses or vices (e.g., "I have a weakness for the finer things in life and can be easily tempted by them.").

This is also where you'll choose your character's alignment—their general moral and ethical compass (e.g., Lawful Good, Chaotic Neutral, Lawful Evil).

Step 5: Equip Your Character - Gearing Up for Adventure

Your class and background determine your starting equipment. This includes your armor, weapons, and an "adventurer's pack" containing useful items like a rope, rations, and a waterskin. Take time to note down your Armor Class (AC) and the damage dice for your primary weapons.