D&D: Five Quick And Dirty Character Concepts
Failed those death saves and now you need a new character in a hurry? Don’t worry. Here are some quick and dirty character concepts.
Sooner or later, no matter how well you roll, a character ends up dead. And sometimes, they die when you’re only a few minutes into the session – and so now you have to come up with a new character. Because you don’t know when the next time your group’s schedules will all align, and you don’t want to miss out on the playtime waiting for the party to get to an NPC that can revive them. You came to play, and by gum, you’re going to play.
If only you could think of what to play. Well, don’t worry, we’ve got quick and easy character concepts that you can roll up and inhabit at a moment’s notice.
Human Fighter
The quintessential D&D character is a Human Fighter. It’s the one class that’s meant to be the easiest to play. The most generic of fantasy adventurers (which is why you can always find one in every corner of the multiverse), human Fighters have carried D&D parties across countless adventures.
And when you come across one of them, it just makes sense that they would hang out with a party of adventurers for a while. Plus for Fighters, all you really need to know to start with is what weapon you’re using, what armor you’re wearing, and how many hit points you have. Everything else you can fill in as you go, and it’s quick and easy.
Itinerant Monk
Sometimes, these quick and dirty characters need an excuse to wander in and then wander back off if, say, your goal is to get your old, dead character revived. Or you just need an excuse for someone to be wandering along in the dragon wastes or whatever you decide to call the place you’re in.
Either way, a wandering Monk is a fantasy trope that is a staple of many adventure stories. You could be out looking to hone your Focus or you could be just someone who has decided to wander around helping people with their problems and then moving on when the job is done.
Plus also when was the last time you played a Monk? I know, it’s been a while for me too. Why not see if you like them now?
Rogue on the Run
Rogues are always a welcome addition to parties because they often master skills that party members lack. With their various expertises and the right combo of Origin Feats and such you can make someone who has whatever skills the party happens to need.
And to give all those skills a sort of vehicle in the world, play a Rogue who is on the run from the consequences of their own actions. Whether you committed a crime in Waterdeep, or you ticked off the local Zhentarim faction, as long as whoever the adventurers currently don’t like ALSO doesn’t like you, you’ve got a fast and easy way to join up with a random party for however long you need to.
Wizard’s Apprentice
Wizards are a strange lot. Living up in their towers does something to ’em. Maybe it’s all the orb pondering. Either way, a perfect quick and dirty character concept is a Wizard’s apprentice. You might be affiliated with some distant Wizard who’s done some great magic, but that’s not you – you’re the hapless apprentice, sent to a far corner of the world to try and harvest a rare ingredient. And here comes a party of adventurers in need of a little magical support.
Giving yourself an “apprentice mission” means you have some easy roleplaying hooks. And you can spend a good deal of the session trying to pick out your spells whenever the spotlight isn’t on you.
Barbarian Vagabond
Last but not least, the Barbarian special. Conan has a lot of influence on D&D; but nowhere is it more obvious than in the Barbarian class. Which makes it a perfect class to show up anywhere. You could easily believe a Barbarian was taken prisoner and kept in the dungeon the party happens to be exploring. Or was camping out in the dune slopes, and you spotted the smoke from the fire of a roasting lizard lunch or something. Whatever the case, almost every party can instantly use a new Barbarian.
They’re tough, they have a lot of hit points. And you can find the depths to them after you start hitting things with your axe.
Happy adventuring!
