Background Quiz: Character Creation
This quiz will help you discover things about yourself and your character, and could be used before actual character creation or as you are developing your character to aid in backstory and game play. Envision what character you would like to embody, and then take the quiz.
1. What emotion best describes your character?
Find one emotion your character exemplifies. Try to use a specific word to describe it. For example, instead of “happy”, use “cheerful” or instead of “sad” use “dour” or “melancholy”. Use descriptive words to help specify your character’s specific overall outlook.
2. What emotion does your character evoke in others?
Does your character have a boisterous streak or he/she whiney? Do they heighten or bring down a mood? Is their laughter infectious or is it like claws down a chalkboard? Planning to evoke emotions in other players will help you role-play and allow you to prepare snippets of dialogue.
3. Why did your character choose the class they have?
Why did your Halfling choose the path of a paladin, as opposed to the much more common rogue? Why is your dragonborn a wizard, even though you know you have sorcerous blood? Playing an uncommon race/class combination can be fun, but doing so requires a bit more thought and creativeness.
4. What are you adding to the party?
Roleplaying means playing a role, discuss your desired position in the team with your fellow players and your DM. An ideal party has characters who can each do their jobs without stepping on each other’s toes. A warrior, a thief, a priest, and a mage will have all their bases covered and will have more fun than a party with 4 jack-of-all-trades characters. Striving for balance will make the game more enjoyable J
5. What is your character’s goal in life?
If your character had everything he/she needed, why would they go on an adventure? Common needs are survival, greed, security, companionship, romance, or family. Consider what your character’s goals are and where you want them to be by the end of the campaign. It helps to establish this with the DM to ensure it fits with your game’s theme.
6. How does your character believe this end goal can be reached?
What will be your method to achieving your goal, and what are your character’s methods? A character bent on revenge might consider perfecting a fighting discipline, while a character devoted to a cause might consider researching religious or esoteric knowledge.
7. Where are you from?
In any campaign, a character should know where they come from, have a vague idea what you want your home to be like, and talk to your DM about finding a place within his realm that coincides with this idea, this way the Dungeon Master will not have to take a break from the action/mystery to explain the geography.
8. What was your family life like?
Consider your character’s cultural and racial roots. An elf adopted by the halflinigs may be very different from one who was born in a proper elven community. Talk to y our DM about the possibility of tweaking your racial abilities to reflect your odd upbringing, that upbringing may be what shapes your character most. Be sure that you give your DM ample time and get approval before brewing a character.
9. What do you do for a living?
In most campaigns, “adventurer” is hardly an occupation, especially when starting out. You may be a bard who plays at Inns and Taverns, and comes across a quest. Or are you a pickpocket that sneaks in the shadows and over hears a plot that sets your quest in motion? Having an occupation can help root your character in the world and may earn you some income during downtime.
10. What values does your character hold dear?
List three things your character considers sacred truths and three things your character finds unacceptable. Thinking like your character will help you when you need to step into the character’s way of thinking.
11. How does your character dress?
Start simple with your clothes quality. Is your traveling outfit worn and tattered or are your clothes beautifully tailored, like a noble’s? How does your character’s history affect your appearance?
12. What are your character’s personal tastes?
Name at least three things your character personally enjoys. Are you a bard that has a fetish for pears? Are you a sorcerer who loves picked eggs? On the other hand, are you a wizard that will only wear the color orange? You might be a barbarian that loves to unwind in a bubble bath that smells of jasmine, or you might be a rogue that loves to do comedy?
13. What is your character’s limit?
What does your character fear or refuse to do? Is your character the muscle of a team of mercenaries who steadfastly refuses to fly? Are you a dungeon crawling teen afraid of nothing?
Maybe a wizard that cannot swim due to a trauma and is now afraid of water so has to take elixirs just to take a bath.
14. Who had the biggest impact on your character's life?
Name and briefly describe at least one person who had a significant impact on your character. It can be a personal hero or a diabolical villain. Talk to your DM about possibly setting up a nemesis for your character.
15. What are some of your character's quirks?
Does your character have a nervous twitch? Does your character have a preoccupation with mushrooms that goes as far as affecting the aesthetics of their spells? Does your highborn character have an endless supply of white handkerchiefs to wipe her rapier after every fight? Unique character quirks make them more memorable and a memorable experience is what this game is all about!
