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Dungeons And Dragons (D&D) creating great characters!

4.3 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Based on 20 ratings
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Dan Bronson

Everyone wants to play a fun character.  Something that inspires them, makes them want to jump into the game.  But how did I, a veteran player who has already done all the usual characters, come up with so many character concepts that I would love to play?  Well, it took a lot of thought and required a system.  I'll share with you my system for character development which I used heavily to make the characters included in this course. Over 60 character concepts are packed into this course.   Each with character traits, a background blurb, artwork, and even a musical theme.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Have more fun playing dungeons and dragons.
  • Get ideas for your next new character.
  • Learn character design by example from over 60 characters.
  • See how ai (artificial intelligence) tools may help to create your next character.

Syllabus

Introduction

A look at this course - which is all about creating D&D characters!  This applies to any version of D&D as the focus is on the flavor/background of a character.

See over 60 characters I've created and the system I used to create them.  Use my characters for a future game as a player, NPC, or DM.  All ideas are yours to use or modify as you see fit to meet your needs.

Read more

Understand how this course came to be and what went into making it.

UPDATE: I corrected all the mistakes in the automatic captions.  Check out some of these wacky auto captions:

[what I said] => [what Udemy heard...]

Dungeon master => Dutch journalist => Dutch minister

Forest monster => frost lawsuit

Powerful drum => powerful drugs

Pilfellow => Kill Fellow => PILT fellow => Gillfillan

elven bard Xana Willowsong => 11 baad Zano Willo song.

Stench toad => step forward

O le-ake => only a week => Holyoake

Racist against dwarves => racist against whites

Qorech the half-orc cleric => Corrick 1/2 for Klarik.

Forgram Bearjaw => For growth, their job.

Afraid of dire wolves => afraid of Tiger Woods

Dwarven druid Forgram Bearjaw => Dwarven Drewett for Gramacho.

Shaman => Charmin

Plazra => plus Rob

Fan-lun => Fannie Lou

Lu Xo => loser

Really grabbed me => really crappy

Oolasaadi Wavesword => hoola. Sorry, we've sold.

Orlavax Imracnamin => All the banks in Iraq, Namon.

Count Velonar Valik =< count of Eleanor valid

the powerful fiend klacarus => the powerful themed club car

Inogan Shadedragon => And Shadrack

Find sources of inspiration for getting started on your next character!

What ideas are really original when you think about it?  Everyone is influenced by the creations of those that came before them.  Let's hunt for inspiration!

What does your character look like?  If you're a talented artist you might draw it yourself but for most of us we need to find visual inspiration to answer this question...

Understand the template I used for making all 60+ characters in this course.

I feel 5th edition D&D has been the best yet at character design suggestions.  Now building on that I created this template.

Follow along as my template is used to create a character concept in a live example!

Why design this character "live" you ask?  So you can see how long it takes, how I use the template, and I can explain my thought processes during the design process.

Part 2 - the "live" character creation continues!  Adding the questions to leave open-ended for this character's future development.

The other 60 characters in this course will only occasionally explain why I made the choices I selected - instead showing the final ideas.  Of course if you have any questions or suggestions, fire away!

The character finishing touches are added! 

Some characters will require a reason for being added to the game and of course you'll need to generate stats for gameplay!  Both are tackled here.

Let's use free AI-powered tools to generate a character backstory!

Are you stumped on your character backstory?  Or maybe you want to create a whole town of NPCs quickly?  In the past ,there were a few backstory generators for D&D but they were using obvious cookie-cutter templates, and thus were limited. 

Let's see what sort of stories are generated by more modern tools...

NOTE: If you're trying to follow along, please realize that AI tools are constantly being trained and often give different results for the same creative prompt.  This is useful because it means you can keep asking the same creative question to get different content for your consideration.  However, it also means you cannot follow my same steps and expect the same results.

Let's use free AI-powered tools to generate character artwork!

Now pulling together text for character backstories is easy compared to generating customized images.  If your wizard character has magical throwing darts wouldn't it be great to generate an image with exactly that?  Well, let's see if we can...

NOTE: If you're trying to follow along, please realize that AI tools are constantly being trained and often give different results for the same creative prompt.  This is useful because it means you can keep asking the same creative question to get different content for your consideration.  However, it also means you cannot follow my same steps and expect the same results.

Comments, questions, ideas for improvement?  Write me in the forums!

A quick look at the D&D courses I've created in case you - or someone you know - may be interested!

COURSE COMPLETE!

Thank you for watching and I welcome your questions.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a system for character development, which can be especially helpful for players looking to create more engaging and unique characters
Offers over 60 character concepts with traits, backgrounds, artwork, and musical themes, providing a wealth of inspiration for players and DMs
Explores the use of AI tools for generating character backstories and artwork, which may be useful for DMs looking to quickly populate their worlds with NPCs
Focuses on character flavor and background, making it applicable to any version of D&D, which is useful for players who enjoy different editions
Includes a live character creation example, showing the design process and thought process, which may be helpful for players who are new to character creation
Notes that AI tools are constantly being trained and give different results, so learners may not be able to perfectly replicate the examples shown

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Create your own learning path. Save this course to your list so you can find it easily later.
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Reviews summary

Creating engaging d&d characters

According to learners, this course is a great resource for D&D players looking to deepen their character creation process. Students appreciate the practical system provided by the instructor, which offers a structured way to develop character concepts beyond typical tropes. The course is filled with numerous character examples across different classes, serving as valuable inspiration. Many find the content on using AI tools for backstories and artwork particularly interesting and relevant to modern tools. While some reviews are brief, the overall sentiment points to a helpful and inspiring course for hobbyists.
Instructor keeps topics engaging.
"The instructor is engaging and passionate about D&D."
"Lectures were easy to follow and kept me interested."
"The presentation style makes learning enjoyable."
Interesting look at using AI for creativity.
"I found the sections on using AI tools very interesting and relevant."
"It was cool to see how AI can help with backstories and character art."
"Looking into AI tools for character creation is a modern and useful touch."
Emphasizes background and personality.
"The focus is on the flavor and background of a character, which is what I wanted."
"This course is great for developing the personality and backstory of your character."
"Helps you create characters that are more than just stats – they have depth."
Provides abundant examples for inspiration.
"There are more than 60 example characters in this course. These examples are great to be inspired by."
"I especially appreciated the wide variety of example characters presented."
"The vast amount of character concepts provided is a goldmine for getting ideas."
Offers a structured method for character design.
"Gives you a system to use, a way to make character creation easier."
"I liked seeing the instructors system. It gives you a method to improve on character creation."
"It presents a practical system for designing characters, moving beyond basic ideas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Dungeons And Dragons (D&D) creating great characters! with these activities:
Review D&D character classes
Strengthen foundational knowledge of D&D character classes to better understand the character concepts presented in the course.
Browse courses on Classes
Show steps
  • Read the class descriptions in the Player's Handbook.
  • Note the strengths and weaknesses of each class.
  • Consider how different classes might interact.
Create a character mood board
Visually represent a character's personality and background by creating a mood board with images, colors, and textures.
Show steps
  • Choose a character concept.
  • Gather images that represent them.
  • Arrange the images on a board.
  • Add colors and textures.
Review Xanathar's Guide to Everything
Provide additional character options and rules clarifications to enhance character creation.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Note any interesting character hooks.
  • Read the character options chapter.
  • Explore the DM's tools section.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Review Tasha's Cauldron of Everything
Provide additional character options and rules clarifications to enhance character creation.
View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the character options chapter.
  • Explore the DM's tools section.
  • Note any interesting character hooks.
Write a short story
Practice character development by writing a short story featuring one of the characters from the course.
Show steps
  • Choose a character from the course.
  • Develop a plot for the story.
  • Write a 500-word short story.
Write a character backstory
Solidify character creation knowledge by writing a detailed backstory for one of the characters presented in the course or for a new character concept.
Show steps
  • Choose a character concept.
  • Develop key events in their past.
  • Outline their motivations and goals.
  • Write a 1-2 page backstory.
Design a D&D campaign
Apply character creation principles by designing a D&D campaign centered around compelling characters and their interactions.
Show steps
  • Outline the campaign's main plot.
  • Create several key NPCs.
  • Design encounters that challenge the characters.
  • Write a campaign overview document.

Career center

Learners who complete Dungeons And Dragons (D&D) creating great characters! will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Dungeon Master
The Dungeon Master in Dungeons and Dragons orchestrates the game's narrative, controls non-player characters, and adjudicates rules. This course is created to help dungeon masters to cultivate rich and engaging experiences, which is a role that relies heavily on the ability to craft compelling characters. By providing over 60 extensively-described character examples, this course may help dungeon masters populate their worlds with diverse personalities and backstories. Dungeon Masters can learn systems of character development, including the use of Artificial Intelligence tools, which can be invaluable for creating memorable narratives. The course, by explicitly catering to D&D character creation, is tailored to meet the needs of Dungeon Masters seeking inspiration and practical tools.
See salaries and explore the career path for Dungeon Master
Tabletop Game Developer
Tabletop Game Developers create board games, card games, and role-playing games. This course, centered around character creation in Dungeons and Dragons, may provide invaluable insights into character design and world-building. The course's focus on character traits, backgrounds, and artwork can be directly applied to tabletop game development. Tabletop Game Developers can use the course to help them brainstorm ideas for their own games. The course may be particularly useful for its systematic approach to character development and the exploration of diverse character concepts, which is very applicable to the tabletop game design process.
See salaries and explore the career path for Tabletop Game Developer
Voice Actor
A Voice Actor provides voices for characters. This course, with its emphasis on character development, presents a multitude of voices to use. The course presents techniques to develop characters that may inspire them. The voice actor may find the course especially useful as it presents over 60 characters that can be studied, used as inspiration, or used for a campaign or podcast.
See salaries and explore the career path for Voice Actor
Game Writer
A Game Writer is responsible for crafting the narrative, dialogue, and character backstories within video games. This course, which zeroes in on Dungeons and Dragons character creation, may be highly relevant to game writers seeking to hone their character development skills. The course may give game writers a variety of character ideas and learn a system for designing compelling characters. Game writers can use the course to expand their creative toolkit and gain greater confidence in their ability to craft memorable characters. Game writers are likely to find the AI tools for backstory generation to be especially beneficial, as this can greatly speed up the writing process.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Writer
Character Artist
A Character Artist designs and creates the visual appearance of characters. This course, with its emphasis on generating character artwork and exploring visual inspiration, may prove beneficial. The course presents many characters that can be used as inspiration. Character artists may find the AI tools for generating character artwork particularly valuable. The course is especially useful as over 60 characters are presented, each of which has artwork, background, and character traits.
See salaries and explore the career path for Character Artist
Screenwriter
A Screenwriter writes scripts for films. This course, focusing on character development in Dungeons and Dragons, may provide screenwriters with a new process for character design. The course may help screenwriters to think about character traits and backgrounds. Screenwriters can use the course to help them brainstorm ideas and develop a more systematic approach to character creation. The course, by explicitly catering to character creation, is tailored to meet the needs of screenwriters seeking inspiration and practical ideas.
See salaries and explore the career path for Screenwriter
Narrative Designer
A Narrative Designer crafts the story, dialogue, and lore within games, ensuring a cohesive and engaging player experience. This course, which focuses on character development within Dungeons and Dragons, may greatly contribute to a narrative designer's toolkit. The course may help narrative designers with a system for character development, and also showcases examples of character traits and backgrounds. Narrative Designers can potentially draw upon the course's wealth of character ideas and apply the AI tools to create engaging stories and character arcs. The course is of particular interest to the narrative designer seeking to strengthen their ability to craft memorable and multifaceted characters.
See salaries and explore the career path for Narrative Designer
Content Creator
A Content Creator develops engaging material. This course, focusing on Dungeons and Dragons character creation, may provide content creators with an endless stream of creativity. The course presents techniques to develop characters with unique backgrounds and traits. Content Creators can leverage the course to help create memorable personalities. The course is especially useful as it presents over 60 characters that can be used as non-player characters or developed into full stories.
See salaries and explore the career path for Content Creator
Animator
An Animator creates moving images. This course, focusing on generating character backstories and artwork, may serve as inspiration for animators. The course showcases characters that can be used to create animated films. Animators may find the AI tools for generating character artwork particularly valuable. The course may be especially useful to those who work with character designs.
See salaries and explore the career path for Animator
Worldbuilder
A Worldbuilder creates fictional worlds. This course, focusing on character development, may enhance worldbuilding skills. The course presents characters who can populate these worlds. Worldbuilders may find the course useful to explore new techniques and find inspiration for bringing worlds to life. The course is especially applicable as it covers generating character backstories and traits.
See salaries and explore the career path for Worldbuilder
Game Designer
A Game Designer conceptualizes and designs the rules, settings, and characters within games. This course, with its focus on character development and exploration of diverse character concepts, may inspire game designers to create compelling characters for their games. The course showcases over 60 character concepts, complete with traits, backgrounds, artwork, and musical themes, which could inform a game designer's approach to character creation. Furthermore, the insights into using Artificial Intelligence tools to generate character backstories and artwork can be invaluable for rapid prototyping and iterative design processes. A game designer can use the course to help them brainstorm ideas and develop a more systematic approach to worldbuilding and character creation.
See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer
Writer
A Writer crafts fictional or non-fictional content. This course, focusing on character creation in Dungeons and Dragons, may offer writers of all types techniques to help develop characters. The course helps foster exploration and development of character backgrounds and traits. Writers can use the course to build a foundation for their character development and learn processes that can be applied to a variety of writing settings. The course offers insight into the character development process, and the lessons may be valuable to writers working in any medium.
See salaries and explore the career path for Writer
Illustrator
An Illustrator creates visual representations for a variety of media. This course, with its inclusion of character artwork and exploration of AI tools for generating images, may be relevant to illustrators looking to expand their skillset or seek inspiration. The course's focus on character design may give illustrators ideas about character appearance. Illustrators may find the course useful to explore new techniques and find inspiration for bringing characters to life through visual mediums. The use of AI tools may be especially useful in creating character designs, and the course's examples may spark illustrators' creativity.
See salaries and explore the career path for Illustrator
Creative Director
A Creative Director oversees the creative aspects of a project. This course's focus on character development and the generation of creative ideas using AI may be valuable to creative directors in various fields, especially those related to gaming, storytelling, or visual arts. The course provides over 60 character concepts, each with artwork, backstories, and musical themes, which can inspire and inform a creative director's vision. Creative directors may find the course useful in guiding their teams, and the techniques for character creation may be applied to diverse creative projects. The course's emphasis on inspiration and systematic character development can be a great help to a creative director in the field.
See salaries and explore the career path for Creative Director
Podcast Producer
A Podcast Producer oversees the creation and distribution of podcasts. This course, which focuses on character development and storytelling within Dungeons and Dragons, may be useful for podcast producers. The course presents many characters that can be used to create stories. Podcast producers may find the course offers ideas for creating podcast series or episodes. The course may be particularly useful for podcast producers who focus on fiction or storytelling.
See salaries and explore the career path for Podcast Producer

Reading list

We've selected one books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Dungeons And Dragons (D&D) creating great characters!.
Cover image
Putting Knowledge to Work
Save
Xanathar's Guide to Everything is an invaluable resource for D&D players and DMs alike. It expands upon the core rulebooks with new character options, spells, and DM tools. provides additional depth to character creation, offering inspiration and mechanics that complement the course's focus on character development. It is commonly used as a reference tool by players and DMs.
Putting Knowledge to Work
Paperback
Check
Putting Knowledge to Work
Kindle Edition
Check

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Rating
4.3 Filled star Filled star Filled star Filled star Empty star
Effort
7 total hours
Via
Udemy
Instructor
Dan Bronson
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Provides a system for character development, which can be especially helpful for players looking to create more engaging and unique characters
Offers over 60 character concepts with traits, backgrounds, artwork, and musical themes, providing a wealth of inspiration for players and DMs
Explores the use of AI tools for generating character backstories and artwork, which may be useful for DMs looking to quickly populate their worlds with NPCs
Focuses on character flavor and background, making it applicable to any version of D&D, which is useful for players who enjoy different editions
Includes a live character creation example, showing the design process and thought process, which may be helpful for players who are new to character creation
Notes that AI tools are constantly being trained and give different results, so learners may not be able to perfectly replicate the examples shown
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