When building a new PC...

[frankthedm]

B most of the time with no shame. I'll give the character a few personality quirks based on the abilties and flesh out the rest in game.

Usually, an abjurer should be patient, an evoker far less so. A character with maxed out spot, skill focus spot and alertness should seem rude to others since he is never looking the person he is talking to in the eye. {His eyes looking for the next attack].

 

[Nonlethal Force]

I do both. And I honestly see value in both.

I like to come up with ideas and then find a way to make that happen in a class. That is probably the method that feels the most "sincere" for me.

However, sometimes I'm flipping through a book and see a spell or feat (not usually a class for me) that makes me really want to use it. So then I figure out which classes could make that spell/feat/power/skill work the best. Once I have that in mind, then I figure out a legitimate character reason to play that combination. Sometimes this method of play just feels good.

I think of them both as "meat and potatoes" & "desert." I'm normally a meat and potatoes kind of guy. I like to stay in my comfort zone and do what feels natural. So I most often do A. But every once and a while I like the joy of coming up with a pre-game numerical/statisical plan and then getting it to work. It's like my version of RPG chocolate. When I'm in that mood, I choose B.

 

[Greg K]

I tend to build my characters like this:

Me: I like to have characters fit in the world. Where are we starting or what's appropriate?
GM: Anything man, I don't mind.

At which point, I would say, "Thanks, but I am not interested in playing in your game".

 

[blargney the second]

I like to let myself be inspired by new D&D material. I went with B.
-blarg

 

[Dykstrav]

I usually design a character, then pick game stuff, although this often leaves my characters "underpowered." Of course, if I'm shooting for a prestige class, it's usually the other way around.

 

[DragonLancer]

I'm a bit of A & B. I get my inspiraton from any number of sources or ideas.

 

[RFisher]

Half the time when making a 3e PC--since almost all options are appealing in some way--I just can't decide & end up rolling everything randomly. Surprising how much fun that can be.

 

[GwydapLlew]

I tend to be the DM in my games, so I have a half-a-bajillion PC concepts floating around in my head at any given moment. I pull from both A and B when making characters; I ask the DM what kind of PC he needs (plot/setting/party balance) and then see what pops into my head.

My current AoW PC came about because I was stuck on the side of the road (long story) coming back from the game session where my then-current PC had died. I didn't have anything else to do, so I read through the books I had with me, and the Fochlucan Lyrist popped out at me. I then took a bard concept I had been tinkering with and modified it to fit.

 

[the Jester]

Mix of both. Let's see... my current dnd characters:

1. Neverbeard- concept first (dwarf who gave up his beard and name after his clan was killed and he blames himself).

2. The White Knight- mechanics first. (Oooh! I wanna play a knight!!)

3. Yolanda- some of both (hmm, epic game, I want to throw spells around, what's a good concept for an epic spellcaster? I know, alienist/planeshifter!)

I'd say I come down about 50/50. Same thing with npcs when I'm writing adventures, too.

 

[Psion]

I tend to a mix. Sometimes a prestige class concept comes up that interests me and gets me thinking how it could make a good character. Other times, I have a personality or style in mind and pick up options to realize it or by convenience.