What Do You Pick First

[Dave Goff]

Usually, I sit around and think up a few character story concepts I like and then roll some dice to see which one they correspond with best.
If I'm entering an existing group, I will straight up ask if they have a class preference. For example, I'm perfectly happy playing clerics, so if a party needs a cleric I'll step right in and just give my own backstory spin.
And finally, if I'm undecided, I'll just roll dice to decide everything and see what comes up and if this means I'm playing a halfling barbarian, so be it. I find the weird combos really can work if you give it a chance and explore the concept.

 

[Satyrn]

I've been randomly picking race and class for every character I've made over the last few years. Which comes first is unimportant to the process, so which comes first is determined by which comes first on the character sheet or app I'm using to make the character. It varies



Oh, and when in the future I finally play the human champion I want to play, they'll be chosen together.

 

[lowkey13]

*Deleted by user*

 

[Caliban]

It really depends on what inspires me.

Sometimes I pick a particular weapon then try to think of combinations of class/race/feats that make it more effective (example: Net. Result: Human War Domain Cleric with Sharpshooter that throws a net, then uses a bonus action to throw a dart with -5 att/+10 dam immediately thereafter, channeling divinity for a +10 to hit if needed. Very effective at low levels, still seeing how it plays out at mid-to-high levels).

Other times I think a particular spell for feat is interesting and think of ways to maximize it. (example: Armor of Agathys. Result: Goliath Fighter 1/Warlock X with Heavy Armor Master and a poor sense of personal safety.)

Other times it's a race that has an interesting ability (Example: Deep Gnome Abjuration Wizard with the racial feat that lets them cast Misdirection at will so they can recharge their Arcane Ward for free.)

Or an interesting concept that I want to play with. (Example: Dice manipulator. Result: Halfling Divination Wizard 2/Wild Mage 6+ with the Lucky feat. Levels in Lore Bard optional).

Or we are putting together a group to play through a hardcover adventure and I want to make sure all the roles are covered. That has resulted in a Yuan-Ti Lore Bard as the group healer and crowd control specialist.

 

[WaterRabbit]

Actually I pick Background first and then Race/Class second. However, if joining a group, I try to fill whatever role they are missing.

 

[Zardnaar]

Usually class but it depends on the dice rolls. If I roll 16+ I might do something like Dwarf Sorcerer where the racial bonus doesn't match the primary class stat. You're already ahead of the curve you don't need an 18 or 20 that much.

 

[thundershot]

Character concept first. Then build race and class and stats based on that.

 

[DCRWrites]

I start with an idea, then go from there.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Nothing can come first before the DM tells you what world they are running in and what the restrictions are going to be. And what generally gets asked first is which races are available to play in the world being run.

 

[rgoodbb]

Nothing can come first before the DM tells you what world they are running in and what the restrictions are going to be. And what generally gets asked first is which races are available to play in the world being run.

That's an interesting point of view. With the group I play with/DM, everything is available. Any book, any UA. The only thing I would possibly ask permission for is flyers. But then we hardly ever do published adventures.