D&D 5E Creating a new character tonight... First in 3 years!!!

[BookTenTiger]

I'm taking a break from running my D&D game tonight, and another player is stepping up to run Lost Mines of Phandelver. For the first time in three years I get to create a brand new Level 1 character.

I am so excited!

Here are some ideas I have:

A Dragonborn Bard with Noble Background: seeking his own stories after living a pampered life.

A Halfling Artificer with Knight Background: he rides a dog, has three dog servants, and eventually will build a dog Steel Defender.

A Goblin Paladin with Knight of the Order Background: his goblin tribe got adopted into a broader Order of Ao, now he quests though doubts his own faith.

A Human Druid with Folk Hero Background: a man of the people who has farmed his whole life, but recently joined a druid circle when he led a mob against corrupt land owners.

An Elf Fighter with Scholar Background: stealing @Ancalagon 's idea for an old sword sage testing his teachings in the real world.

I'll let you all know what I choose tonight! Obviously it'll be based on what the other players choose.

When's the last time you created a brand new 1st-Level Character (or any other level)? What did you choose? What concepts did you leave behind?

 

[niklinna]

That's quite a selectoin of ideas! I'll tell you which I liked best after you tell us which one you choose.

When's the last time you created a brand new 1st-Level Character (or any other level)? What did you choose? What concepts did you leave behind?

Oh it's been a while. I made an half-elf Illusionist Wizard with a criminal background for the first 5e campaign I played in (homebrew). He'd grown up among the elves, moved to the big city, and got "recruited" by a criminal enterprise but then later edged out when his mentor snuffed it on an ill-advised trek in the Underdark. The campaign took a major left turn pretty quickly, but the witty banter with the party bard was a fair bit of fun.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Goblin Paladin definitely opens up some interesting possibilities in that particular campaign.

 

[Arilyn]

I just joined a group as a player. One of the players is brand new to RPGs and he is so excited. He made a Firbolg druid (planning on moon). The other players have very little experience with 5e. We have a half elf bard and human warlock with fathomless patron. My character strolled into my head and announced that she's a human storm herald barbarian.

"But I don't really like barbarians or the storm herald," I said.

She just stood there tapping her foot, and no other ideas came to mind so I made her. She's an alternate human, which allowed me to take the magic casting feat at 1st level. I chose stormy/water spells to up the storm flavour. We are going through Ghosts of Saltmarsh. My barbarian has the shipwright background, and had been struck by lightning during a divine storm created by the warlock's patron. In story terms this is the reason for her heightened strength and magic.

As an aside. The new player said he'd been watching lots of streamed games. "Ah, critical Role," we said sagely.
His response, "I don't know what that is."

 

[BookTenTiger]

Okay, I wound up rolling for stats and got:

8, 8, 17, 5, 13, 9

I decided to stick with it rather than reroll. Based on my character ideas, I decided the Goblin Paladin worked best!

So I created Plucky Honorbound, Knight of the Golden Hart. He's a young adult goblin (9 years old) who has set out to prove himself beyond his isolated little safe haven community. My final stats are:

Str 8, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 5, Wis 8, Cha 17

Oh boy! I don't know if Plucky will last for long, but it's going to be a lot of fun. It's definitely helpful that, as a Goblin, he can hide as a bonus action. I think for the first few sessions he's going to be using a crossbow and hiding each round. Not exactly the bravest paladin!

 

[niklinna]

I liked him, and the halfling dog-rider! May Plucky have a long and illustrious career.

 

[BookTenTiger]

I liked him, and the halfling dog-rider! May Plucky have a long and illustrious career.

Had I rolled two high stats, I would have done the dog-rider. He would have been based on Ron Swanson, personality- and moustach-wise.

 

[R_J_K75]

Had I rolled two high stats, I would have done the dog-rider. He would have been based on Ron Swanson, personality- and moustach-wise.

Offerman seems like it would've been a very appropriate name for the character.

 

[Ancalagon]

oooof!

Maybe you'll need my idea after all but long live this valiant goblin!

I made mine a human, a dex-based melee specialist psi warrior. I don't think it's the "most powerful" build, but it's quite effective. But your take on it is as valid as mine.

 

[BookTenTiger]

oooof!

Maybe you'll need my idea after all but long live this valiant goblin!

I made mine a human, a dex-based melee specialist psi warrior. I don't think it's the "most powerful" build, but it's quite effective. But your take on it is as valid as mine.

With the stats I rolled, the old sword scholar was a close second choice!