Optimal time for character creation

[Quasqueton]

Assuming you are going to play in a long-term campaign, what is the optimal amount of time for you to make a new PC?

I find that if I make up a new character quickly, like at the beginning of the same game session that we'll start playing, I later regret or am just displeased with choices I've made. And if I have more than a few days to think on the character, I'll really over-analyze everything, and waste a lot of mental time tweaking every little stat. For me, I think something like 2-3 days is best for making a character. (Of course, not every waking minute of those days are spent on the character, but rather 5-10 minutes here and there over that time, letting each idea/concept simmer.)

How long do you prefer to have for making your new PC?

Quasqueton

 

[diaglo]

welcome back Q,

for me less than 5 minutes.

3d6 six times in order.

pick race. class. roll hps and gold. and buy items...

buying stuff takes the most time. but after years of practice i have a good idea.

 

[eris404]

We tend to make our characters as a group and will reserve part of a session to at least tweak and discuss ideas and rules if not actually make characters. I might have a concept or a class or ability or whatever that I've had in mind to try for some time, but the actual details probably won't come to me until probably the day I actually sit down and make the character. Though other people in our group make the basic character well in advance, I tend to wait until the day we're set to play the first session or wait until the beginning of the session to make a character. I like to see what other people are playing so that I can fill in any "gaps" and I like to get input on my ideas, too.

 

[Storminator]

If it's first level, I prefer to have everyone in the game make PCs at the same time, and to take the entire first session doing so. Meanwhile the DM is chatting about the world, the starting locale, etc.

I like making all the PCs together, because people get ideas about which characters fit together. We also get to borrow each other's books.

PS

 

[Kae'Yoss]

Are we talking about 1st-level charakters here? As soon as you know the role that character is to play in the party (and the general role you want him to play), it should go fairly fast. 30-60 Minutes if you take your time, but it can be done in less than 10 minutes (especially if we talk fighter or something where you don't have to pick from an awful lot of very different and very important aspects, like a wizard/sorcerer and her spells, a rogue and his skills, and so on. The time you need for that depends largely on your writing speed)

welcome back Q,

for me less than 5 minutes.

3d6 six times in order.

pick race. class. roll hps and gold. and buy items...

buying stuff takes the most time. but after years of practice i have a good idea.

Why even generate? Just take one of the big book of PC's, since there is no big difference


Me, I don't roll HP, gold or ability scores. I like to have my characters be different in stuff that really matters.

 

[Crothian]

I also like the entire session to making character approach. It never takes that much time but I perfer giving people too much time then not enough.

 

[KB9JMQ]

Usually we all sit down together to make our characters. It normally takes about 2 hours to get a party of 4 made up and equipped.

I can make one in about 10 minutes if it is a "here make a character and play now" sort of deal but that character is not really done. Just done enough to play.

 

[Quasqueton]

welcome back Q,

Thanks, but I haven't been gone. Just haven't posted in over a week.

for me less than 5 minutes.

3d6 six times in order.

pick race. class. roll hps and gold. and buy items...

buying stuff takes the most time. but after years of practice i have a good idea.

Well, when you don't have choices to make (or those choices consist of just 5 options), there's not much need for time to think.

Quasqueton

 

[Zoatebix]

I'll go with one-half to one full session to make everybody's characters, bring them together, and introduce the campaign and the setting.

 

[fett527]

I also like the entire session to making character approach. It never takes that much time but I perfer giving people too much time then not enough.

At least one session dedicated to character creation. For us it is more fleshing out the character traits, personality and background. We emphasize role-playing and rich story lines involving character background in our long-term games.