The Complete Character Development Guide

Want to make a character with a story-first approach?

Everything you Need

This guide covers backstory, personality traits, useful themes, goals, party roles, internal struggles, allies, nemeses, and even an inspiring character introduction. At the end you’ll find a custom character sheet that captures all your choices, so by the time you finish this guide, you’ll be ready to go.

Easy, Incredible Characters

With this PDF we’ve taken everything we’ve made about character building and put it in one place, with prompts that take you through a thorough yet streamlined process that gives you more than enough to play your greatest character, but never so much that it bogs things down. Never again toss a character concept because “something’s missing”.

Years in the Making

Since 2019 we’ve been creating story-first systems for TTRPGs by borrowing wisdom and knowledge from storytelling experts like playwrights, scriptwriters, and novelists across the ages and distilling it down to what works at your table. The current delivery method is our podcast, but listening to all that would take a bit. Like, literal weeks. So use this handy guide instead!

Features:

• An updated version of our customized character sheet, only found here.

• Hyperlinked sections to relevant episodes so you can learn more about key concepts.

• 39 pages of full colour PDF goodness

If you have found particular value in this guide, consider donating funds to it’s improvement. Any and all money donated will go directly to improvements to this document (hiring artists and creation of advanced PDF features, possibly an eventual web app) as well as the production of a DM version for planning a Session Zero and story-focused campaign.

Character Intro Writing Guide

Like fiction? Want to write some about the character you love? Do you find writing a bit of a challenge?

You can take most of the troubles out of it using this guide, which will assist in writing the punchiest, most exciting and captivating character introduction ever!

Once completed, this can help your roleplaying in a number of ways.

1. Read this quietly to yourself before a game. A brief reminder that your character isn’t simply a collection of stats and class features, but a person with a point of view and mannerisms, treasured items and a way of settling conflict.

2. This format can be a lot more entertaining a read for other people at the table with questions about who your character is. A short and sweet story that conveys everything they need to understand how their character would treat yours.

3. Answering the prompts will force deeper thought about things like truly distinguishing features and traits, rather than superficial ones that are unlikely to ever make an appearance in your game.

Download the guide and send us the result. We’d love to hear them!

Hook and Chance Custom Character Sheet

Need a character sheet that incorporates thoughtful design?

Try ours!

Features include:

• character building and role-playing tips are build right into the sheet including the character planner and character traits rather than bonds and flaws.

• Stat calculations - forget what was contributing to your unreal sneak bonus? Keep track of the math with extra spots.

• Right handed design - stop wearing down or smearing the rest of the sheet, most often used areas are all on the right side.

• Keep track of your Armor Class with spots to highlight additive bonuses. Dropped your shield? Fret not, it’s easy to calculate.