Character Creation Time?

[JoeGKushner]

So how long does it take to generate a character?

For me, maybe an hour if I'm really thinking about it. Even if it's a higher level character.

I usually have an idea of what I'm interested in, ask for some quick opinions from friends, and write out the character.

Other people's experiences?

 

[EricNoah]

Doesn't take me long with etools once i have a concept. I whip up mid-level NPCs all the time for adventures. I'd say no more than 20-30 minutes, tops, including a pre-calculated spellsheet.

 

[JRRNeiklot]

In 3e, it takes me at least a week. I have to plan my characters out ahead of time, so I'll know what feat to take when, when to take X skill, et., to qualify for prestige classes. One of the drawbacks to 3e, imo. In the end, you get a nice character, but there's no spontaneity.

 

[Kae'Yoss]

For a full PC, something about an hour, too, I'd say. A good deal is thinking about the concept. Then figuring out how to represent that. The rest is often quite quick.

NPC's are another thing, of course. They can be whipped out real quick, they don't need a long background or a mile-deep personality unless they are to stay (most NPC's aren't really).

 

[MonsterMash]

Probably a couple of hours in 3e, as skills/feats take up time.

Similar amounts of time in RQ or CoC (BRP) again due to skill point allocation

1e AD&D/BD&D/OD&D - maybe 15 minutes.

 

[Ambrus]

Coming up with the initial concept is usually relatively quick since I usually have a half dozen rough character concepts in my head at any one time. I usually wait to hear what everyone else intends to play before I settle on any one concept though. After that the fun begins; I enjoy optimizing my characters so they'll be very good at what they do. I research various prestige classes and feats, in my books and online, scribble down a few character builds, weigh the pros and cons of different options, think about it some more, talk to my GM about my various ideas and then make my final decision. By the time my character sheet is ready, probably a week or more has gone by. It may sound excessive, but I rarely get to play (I DM more often then not) so each opportunity to create a character is too precious to waste with a poorly though out PC. Oftentimes I'll end up typing a multi-page character history for the GM and even sketch out the character, ink it and colour it in photoshop once the game begins.

Is this excesive? Am I nuts?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

10 minutes.

This is using Code Monkey's character generator and not really doing anything particularly exciting with the character.

1 week.

This is when I get a bit more ... involved.

 

[Stone Angel]

Never more than an hour unless it's epic then it tends to take a bit longer, mostly applying everything to your stats and buying magic items.


The Seraph of Earth and Stone

 

[JoeGKushner]

In 3e, it takes me at least a week. I have to plan my characters out ahead of time, so I'll know what feat to take when, when to take X skill, et., to qualify for prestige classes. One of the drawbacks to 3e, imo. In the end, you get a nice character, but there's no spontaneity.

How far ahead do you plan your character?

I mean, maybe it's just me, but if I'm interested in a PrC, I'll note the prerequisites and that's about it.

Most characters I pick aren't maxmized though. For example, my rog 2 / pal 2 has Monkey Grip and is working towards Shadowbane Inquisitor. I thought it'd be funny to have this sneakly paladin hitting someone with a large greatsword. Was that the best feat? Probably not, especially as he doesn't have a lot of feats, but it is fun.

 

[MoogleEmpMog]

I'd say about a half hour + 10 minutes per level. 15 minutes per level at least for a primary spellcaster, probably 5 minutes per level for a barbarian. Add an additional 5 minutes per multiclass and 10 per PrC.

So, assuming the character concept, personality and backstory are ready beforehand, I probably take an average of 2 hours to create an 8th level PC, which is about average for me, since I actively seek mid- to high-level campaigns.