what extent do you plan out your PC?

[wolff96]

If a character's backstory or ambitions point toward a certain PrC -- or it's just a PrC I want to play -- then I will plan out the character to that point, satisfying the requirements.

I then use the mechanics of where I want to go as a framework for roleplaying and backstory of the character.

Everything else is shaped by the adventure itself; I try to leave some of it open to be influenced by the world.

The only characters I plan all the way out are the ones that require multiple PrCs to work -- for example, a wizard/whatever/archmage.

 

[ergeheilalt]

When I create a character I plan out where he/she will be in 10 levels.

Take Traid, a sorcerer/fighter. I game him the ranks he needed for the dualist PrC when I was creating him, as it fit in very well with the background. Then, after realizing that a whip dagger would be a good weapon for him, I started planing out where to put the ranks for the Lasher PrC aswell. I planed out how I was going to level and what magical items would benifit him the most. Before I made anything final, I gave my DM a quick look at the stats and asked if it was okay.

With the DM's approval I went on to game and have loads of fun.