Q&A for How to Create a Dungeons and Dragons Character

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  • Question
    How do you roll for your starting Hit Points? Every time I create a character I can never find a straight answer. Is it rolling my hit dice (1d6 in this case) plus my CON modifier?
    Community Answer
    For your first level, you don't roll a hit die. If your hit die is a d6, your starting hit points are equal to the highest possible roll (in this case 6) + your con modifier. At level two and beyond, you roll your hit die, add your con modifier, then add that to your total hit points.
  • Question
    Why do we need such complicated dice?
    Community Answer
    All of the dice play different roles. Different weapon types do different damage, percentages and statistic rolls need to be made at different points in the game, and different dice are rolled for hit points upon level gain, depending on character type.
  • Question
    Can a character that has already died be reused in another Dungeons and Dragons game?
    Community Answer
    Sure! A character that has died could be used in a different campaign. The character could even be resurrected within the same campaign.
  • Question
    How do I get the hit points?
    Community Answer
    Depending on which class you are playing, you will be given a specific type of hit die (d6,d8,d10,...). For level 1, you take your hit die and plus your Constitution modifier (e.g. d6 hit die with +2 Constitution will give you 8 HP). For each additional level, you roll your hit die and add your Constitution modifier for your extra HP.
  • Question
    How do I choose my skills?
    jack 3G
    Community Answer
    You will have to research you class race and background to discover which skills you can choose from.
  • Question
    Do I need to follow the Dungeons and Dragons handbook?
    Community Answer
    If you want to create more complex character, yes. If you want, you can create more basic characters from the official rules online.
  • Question
    Can my character be a robot or alien?
    Community Answer
    Yes, your character can be a robot, an alien, or anything that you want, depending on the story.
  • Question
    Can a D and D character be nonbinary? Or do I have to choose between male and female?
    Mitchtab
    Community Answer
    Your character can be nonbinary if that's what you choose. For example, your character could come from a genderless race.
  • Question
    If my character gets better weapons and higher stats, can they keep them for other games?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    How many skills can I select?
    Lily Wolfe
    Top Answerer
    If you are playing with loose rules, I would say up to seven. With more rules, go with three or four.
  • Question
    Can my character be a werewolf?
    Community Answer
    Yes, consult the Monster Manual. It would be best to have a clear explanation to how your character became a werewolf and some care for how they act in human and werewolf form (most werewolves are not friendly).
  • Question
    How do I get the starting spells?
    Community Answer
    There aren't any specific starting spells, but there are cantrips, which are level 0 spells. You can choose a number of them depending on your class. As a sorcerer, I got four cantrips to start with.
  • Question
    Can a character have wings, wolf ears, a tail, horns, etc.?
    Community Answer
    I would say that they would be allowed, as long as they are just part of the character and don't add power-ups to the game
  • Question
    Does "base speed" mean I can roll a die and make my character faster?
    Community Answer
    No, it's the rate at which you move unless spells or magic items increase it, or conditions (like moving through a swamp, injury, or being cursed) decrease it.
  • Question
    What do CP, SP, EP, GP and PP each stand for?
    Community Answer
    Copper pieces, silver pieces, electrum pieces, gold pieces, and platinum pieces, the currency of the game. You could consider them similar to pennies, dimes, fifty-cent pieces, dollar bills, and $10 bills, respectively, in terms or relative worth.
  • Question
    Should I follow the book regarding any sort of character traits for a Dungeons and Dragons character?
    Community Answer
    The Player's Handbook should tell you all the traits and feats for the class and race you choose, but you can make your character as atypical as you'd like.
  • Question
    How do I determine all of my traits and points for different character qualities in Dungeons and Dragons?
    Community Answer
    First, consider what class you'd like to play (cleric, paladin, sorcerer, etc.) and check the Player's Handbook recommendations for getting started quickly to determine in which statistics to place your highest scores (consult your DM to determine which method will be used to generate them: rolling or point-assignment). Next, select a race that complements those statistics - for example, if you're a rogue, an elf's +2 Dexterity would be useful. The Player's Handbook sections on character class and race will outline any other bonuses, skills and proficiencies you'll receive. You may find it helpful to use a character generator such as OrcPub or D&D Beyond, which will automatically calculate attribute and proficiency bonuses and the like for your various skills.
  • Question
    How do I know what my Initiative is?
    Community Answer
    Your Initiative bonus is just your Dex modifier, unless you have a magic item that increases it above that. Initiative will be rolled on a d20 before combat to determine the order, and any bonuses then added to it.
  • Question
    How do I determine my ability modifiers?
    Community Answer
    They're based off every two away from 10. An ability score of 10 - 11 is a +0 modifier, 12 - 13 = +1, 14 - 15 = +2, etc. This applies to penalties as well; 8 - 9 is a -1 penalty, 6 - 7 is -2, etc.
  • Question
    How do I distribute the points and set up the character sheet for a character in Dungeons and Dragons?
    Community Answer
    Once you have your generated stats (Array, Rolled, or Point buy), distribute them to the stats you think apply to your character. Most classes are built to take advantage of specific stats. Search the class you are trying to build online, and most resources will help you build that kind of character.
  • Question
    Do I need a handbook to make a Dungeons and Dragons character?
    Community Answer
    No. You could create one online through one of the many character generators; D&D Beyond will walk you through the process, automatically updating stat/proficiency calculations and providing additional help in any areas needed.
  • Question
    Why are there so many dice in Dungeons and Dragons?
    Community Answer
    There are a lot of ranges of random results needed for the game. Weapons, for example; a two-handed sword has a greater range of potential damage than does a dagger. With regard to hit points, a fighter is going to have a higher ceiling for hit points than a wizard. Your point is valid, though; some of the dice, such as the d12, are rarely used.
  • Question
    What types of editions are there when creating a Dungeons and Dragons character?
    Community Answer
    There are 5 editions of D&D, you will find most players playing 5th edition, but some play 4th as well. If you are a new player, try 5th before 4th, as the 5th books are easier to find.
  • Question
    What do I do to determine a good beginning proficiency bonus?
    Community Answer
    Your proficiency bonus depends on your level; all 1st-level characters have a proficiency bonus of +2.
  • Question
    Why is starting gold based off of PathFinder Rules but not 5e? And why does that starting gold go into the Hit Dice location?
    Community Answer
    The starting gold doesn't go in the Hit Dice section, I think it was just to show the numbers. And in 5e, the gold is as said in the wikiHow.
  • Question
    What are some good elven names for a male elf who's neutral and has evil moments and good moments? He is also a warrior.
    Community Answer
    Caél is a good name for him, of Celtic origin.
  • Question
    If your race has a proficiency in a skill, what do you put in the blank between the filled-in circle and the name of the skill?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    Every skill has an ability score associated with it, so every skill will have the same ability score modifier as the ability it comes from. for skills you're proficient in, it's the same but you also add your proficiency bonus. for instance if you had a +2 for Charisma, but you were only proficient in Persuasion, you would add your proficiency bonus only to that skill. so the other charisma skills would all be +2, but if you had a proficiency bonus of +3, your persuasion would be at a +5.
  • Question
    How do I play a cat in DND?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    If you want to play a straight up cat, good luck, cats have between 1-4 hit points and you probably won't last long. However, if you want to play as a cat-like adventurer, there is a race called the Tabaxi, they are cat-like people similar to the Khajit from The Elder Scrools, standing on two legs and covered in fur with cat-like faces.
  • Question
    What use are Intelligence and Wisdom? I mean,the character couldn't really be any smarter than his/her/its player,so why should they be listed as stats?
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    For role-playing purposes, so that a smarter person can role-play as a bit of a dummy if they wanted to, but also because there is knowledge in game that a real life person wouldn't be aware of. You could have a PHD in theoretical physics but what do you know about magic spells? Finally, from a mechanical standpoint, certain features of the game such as Spells may rely on these two ability scores, much like you need Strength or Dexterity for attacks, and Constitution for health. Tl;dr, the character you play is not you, they might be sharper or duller than you.
  • Question
    I don’t get these “modifiers” or “ability or stat checks”. Please clarify, I am new to D&D.
    Raphael Key
    Top Answerer
    Ability Scores: are the big numbers usually ranging between 1 and 20, these represent your natural abilities with 10 being considered average. Modifiers: are the little numbers you get from your ability scores, and the number you add to your dice roll for checks. a higher ability score means a higher modifier. Checks: A "check" is when the DM asks you to roll to do something, and you usually roll, and then add your modifiers to a dice, for example if you want to push a heavy object your DM might ask for a Strength check, so you would roll, then add your Strength modifier to it.
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