Character Creation

Welcome to the world of Alethemia! There is so much that can be shared about this world, but for this particular setting, there are a few things that you need to know, and then some other alternative information that could be helpful as you create a character for this campaign.  

Primary Setting

Our campaign is set in the Kingdom of Kathaar. The map above gives you a general idea of the territory, whereas to the right (or at the bottom if you are using a mobile device) there is an interactive map you can click and see more information about.   Currently, the party is in the middle of the Thalmoris Gap, an ancient battleground of several wars that has been recently re-opened for scavenging. Most likely, you will be meeting the party at Bastion, a settlement within the Gap that is a check-in point for our leaders before they move on to their next objective. Why you are at the Bastion will be up to you, but the idea will be that you will be added to their team by a member of the Scavengers.

Character Info

Race

Because we will be using the 2024 Core Rulebooks to set up new characters, the races permitted will be limited to the races provided in the new Player's Handbook, which are the following, with notes on how common they may be in the area:

Common Races

These races are found in every corner of the Kingdom of Kathaar, though some are less common than others depending on the location:

• Dwarves
• Gnomes
• Halflings
• Humans

Uncommon Races

These races are likely to be found only in the major cities of Kathaar (like the capital Kathaar or in the City of Thalmor), but you may see a few scattered around a town or a village here and there. If you select one of these races, you will likely get some questions about your origin and background, but most people will typically mind their own business:

• Dragonborn
• Goliath
• Elves

Rare Races

These are the races that will turn eyebrows on sight. Be prepared for lots of questions about your origin and background if you select one of these races, as the common person will likely be curious why you're in their settlement:

• Aasimar
• Orc
• Tiefling

Background: Where did I come from?

The new Player's Handbook has now tied ability score improvements to your background. Each class has some recommended backgrounds to fit with the class, but select whichever one you think is most fitting from the list you are given in the Character Creation area.

Filling in the Blanks

At the end of the day, D&D is a role-playing game. For that to be done well, you need to assign yourself a role and a backstory! What made your character who they are? What informs the decisions they make? Formerly, the 5th Edition rules had a format to provide a baseline template for roleplaying guides. But in 2024, they do not have that. However, take the time on your own to make a backstory of your own, that fills in some of the following questions:

• What kind of area do you want to be from? (DM will follow up with area locations of origin)
• What propelled your character into adventure?
• What would your character sacrifice their life for?
• Name 3 aspirations your character is looking for (could be an item, an answer to a question, a person, etc.)
• Name 2 really good relationships, 2 really bad relationships. Add anything you might think relevant
• What is a phobia (fear) your character has and why?
• What are three things a stranger would remember about your character after meeting them?
• What is something your character loves and something they hate?

Where are you from?

The easiest place to start would be to pick a race and have an idea of a background, then check out the Kingdom of Kathaar list of settlements to determine a local area, so that your backstory might better tie into the overall story. However, if you have other ideas for where your character might be from, let the DM know so that you can work together on a backstory that fits really well into the story as it unfolds!

Character Class

The new Player's Handbook has 12 classes to choose from, with 4 subclasses per class. That's a lot of variety to choose from! But to simplify it, here is a helpful guide from the PHB that helps to organize all the options available to you.    You are welcome to check out the The Snugly Ducklings page to see which classes and races are currently being used. If you need help picking a class that might be a good fit for the party, ask the DM! He's always glad to help.