As a player, you will be part of a growing town built from the ruins of Valdarin’s Gate, where you’ll battle undead and goblins and beastmen a-plenty, and deal with ancient spirits rising to reclaim a world that was once their home. As ancient evil begins to stir, so too do long-forgotten heroes, so there is always hope.

Ready to design your PC for Kyranthia? Here’s how:

Read Up on the Game
You’ll get a lot more out of Kyranthia if you pay attention and read up on the rules materials. First, you’re required to know the Core Rules so you can participate in our game. Second, it’s a good idea to know some basic information about the world your character is entering, so read up on the Campaign Guide as well.

While you’re at it, have a look at our Prestige Classes so you can plan ahead as your character progresses.

If you’re into crafting, check out the Crafting Guide.

Design your Character Concept
A character concept is the overall idea for who you’d like to portray – a central theme you build your character around. Your concept will help you decide what Race and Class you play, what Skills you buy, and how your character acts. Your character’s concept will help determine what stories you get involved in and has a big impact on your in-game experience, so you should put a lot of thought into it.

Think “What sort of character do I want to play?” Consider what your friends are playing if you’re joining a group, and what type of character would be a good fit for that group. You can draw on inspiration from media like movies or books, but be careful not to be too much like those characters; you want to borrow elements, not steal them.

You can develop a concept from a simple idea such as “Merchant” or “Mercenary”, or something more complex like “Hard-headed Renegade Warlord” or “Nature-loving Wanderer.”

You could also start with a descriptive phrase, something simple like “An insult-swordfighting wannabe pirate who can hold his breath for 10 minutes,” or something a bit more deep, like “A scarred, amnesiac immortal wandering the planes to discover their true purpose.”

Don’t forget to give your character quirks and flaws. A character designed to have real flaws is likely to be more interesting to play and to interact with.

Build in some flexibility. Extreme character types like Shiny Good Guy or Bastardly Villain are tough to play, and can be limiting. Don’t be too rigid. Leave room for gray morality, that wide gap between black and white, or you may cut yourself off from too many opportunities.

Since you’ll be playing this character all weekend long at events, it should be something you could feasibly play for long periods of time without getting bored or frustrated.

Choose your Race
Your Race will have a major roleplaying impact on your character, so choose it carefully. Consider whether the costume and makeup requirements are something you can deal with for an entire weekend. Does the race you chose fit your character concept?

Choose your Class
Your character’s concept should fit you as a player, and draw on your actual interests and skills. You should play a character that does things you like to do… if you love fighting, you should probably play a fighter. If you like to perform, you’re well-suited to play a bard. However, it’s OK to go outside your comfort zone if it’s something you’re interested in doing. Stay away from things you’re really bad at or hate doing.

Choosing Skills
When choosing skills, make sure they fit your concept and goals. Think about how your character learned those skills, and the reasons why.

Character History
You receive an extra 25 Skill Points for an approved character history if you send it in before your character’s first event. If you don’t like writing out a full history until you’ve played a few events, a set of bullet points will probably be enough. We just want to know the key information about your character. It’s OK to send in long histories, too.

Consult the Core Rulebook and Campaign Guide when writing your character history. Get your details from these sources rather than making up your own world and town. Be prepared to have your ideas shot down if you have unrealistic expectations for your character.

Here are a few questions that may help you:

What is your character’s name?
A good character name is important, as you will use it quite often. Be sure it’s something you’re comfortable with, and remember that you will have to introduce yourself to many other characters. Taking a name from a fantasy movie or novel is not a good idea. Think no one else has read that book? Someone has, and chances are they will probably bring it up. Pick a name that is easy for you to remember and fits your character’s personality.

Where was your character born?
This is also very important, as this question is likely to come up often in-game. If you don’t know where your character would be born, consult the Campaign Guide or just ask us.

What about your character’s family?
What were they like? Are any still alive? Did your family treat you well? Do you get along with your family? Are you an orphan?

What is your character’s moral code?
Are there any instances in which your character would lie, cheat, or steal? What are your beliefs on killing? Are you lawful? Would you ever leave friends behind? How strong are your beliefs, and would you die for them? How far would you go for a friend or relative?

What does your character like?
The woods? Being alone? Being surrounded by friends? Being in a dark graveyard? In a library? Drinking ale? Singing? Riddles? Money? Battle?

What does your character dislike?
Weak ale? Undead? Being in a dark graveyard? Greed? Fighting amongst friends? People who disrespect the land? Pompous nobles? Laws? Thieves? Laws against thieves?

What is your character’s weakness?
Money? Revenge? Unable to turn down a challenge? Can’t tell a lie? Can’t tell the truth?

What did your character do prior to arriving in the area?
Who trained you? Who taught you your beliefs? What was your profession? Were you a bard? A baker? A candlestick maker?

Why did your character leave home?
Fleeing from someone/something? Oppression? Boredom? Wanderlust? Revenge? Tracking down an enemy/friend/family member? Wanted to become a traveling merchant? Great mage? Battle lord? Do you seek wealth? Adventure? Are you wanted by the local authorities?

Have fun making your character history. Add as much or as little as you’d like. It’s your character; remember, you have to deal with the consequences of your past (which is a big part of the fun!)