Welcome back, my inquisitive roleplaying compatriots! A particularly engaging session of Dungeons & Dragons this weekend inspired me to write/gush about one of the things I love most about my D&D players: the intricate characters they build!

While my previous character-building article was a how-to on putting all of the technical details together on a character sheet, this post is diving into the intangible, often paradoxical details which bring your character to life. Unlike the former post, this one is entirely subjective based on what motivates me as I create my own characters and excites me as a DM running games for characters with these traits.

Make Them Empathetic

Characters are like the space rovers created by NASA; we shuttle them off into the hypothetical void to explore concepts, circumstances, and consequences without ever leaving the safety of our own space. They allow us to question the boundaries of self and the world around us by experiencing these situations in our stead. Therefore, it is far more important for a character be empathetic than it is to be believable.

The best case for this point is fantasy/sci-fi media and games. When the dragon-man barbarian absently stares into the bright flames of the campfire and contemplates the meaning of family and abandonment, the fact he is a seven-foot tall lizard creature drops in priorities. We hone in on the “mortal conundrums,” the things we can relate to no matter who or what they are coming from.

Do Not Create Yourself

In a somewhat similar vein: you do yourself a disservice by making the character exactly like you. What hypotheticals are you navigating by making a character who acts exactly like you would, only they swing around a claymore with abandon? If you let the situations they experience challenge your beliefs or conceptions, I promise you’ll remember that character forever.

One example of playing against your personality is, typically, the thief or hacker. Without knowing the extracurricular activities you engage in, it’s fair to say you’re most likely a law-abiding citizen. While you would probably never dare to break into someone’s home or steal their prized possessions, you can vicariously experience the thrills and dangers of doing so through a thief or hacker.

Focus on a Theme

While your roleplaying will flesh out the character and make them believable in the context of your game, I find my most enjoyable characters are the ones centered around a particular theme. The barbarian mentioned earlier could be based around the meaning of family or how we define ourselves by the people we hold most dear. The thief, meanwhile, could be an epitome of what drives someone to live outside the law, and the consequences of continuous selfish actions.

Themes provide metaphorical bones for your character; they become the central focus for the words you speak and the actions you take in the game. When relying on contacts, strengths, and weaknesses feels too cut and dry, use the theme to serve as an infinite wellspring of actions and responses to consider.

Imitation Can Be Rewarding

As a final tip for this post, do not be ashamed of blatantly stealing character concepts from the media. Regardless of whether you create a Drow Fighter/Ranger named Frizzt or Nichelangelo the Tortle Monk, your character will be driven by the ways you interpret the scenarios at hand. Even if you ask “What would Drizzt do right now” at every turn, over time the responses become less about following the premade character concept and more about how your character has diverged through the campaign.

So, by all means, go wild! Find what character suits your needs for the game and see where that road takes you. I had an absolute riot playing a Ranger named Cloak who led a resistance of disillusioned farmers against a tyrannical King and funded by wealth they stole from the King’s allies.

In Conclusion

Always ensure you’re having fun with the character you’re playing; if it ever becomes boring, work with your DM/GM to either make some adjustments or plan a character swap in the near future. While characters themselves are the vessel through which you experience new things, you’re far less likely to explore those options if you dread playing that character.

What are some of your tips for creating meaningful characters? Leave a comment below and let’s chat!

Blessed be,

Matthew Wulf

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