Your First Character Template

Show beginners how to use a pre-generated character so they can start playing immediately without feeling overwhelmed by character creation.
5 min read
Player

Your First Character Template

Creating a character from scratch can feel overwhelming when you're learning the game. A pre-generated character—a character prepared ahead of time—lets you skip the build and jump straight into play. You can explore who they are as the story unfolds.

What you'll learn

  • What a pre-gen is and when to use one.
  • How to take ownership of a ready-made character.
  • Why starting with a template makes learning easier.

Core idea

A pre-generated character (or pre-gen) is a complete player character with numbers, abilities, and a backstory seed already filled in. Your Game Master (GM) or the game itself provides these templates so new players can begin without spending an hour on rules.

You don't need to understand every line on the sheet. Focus on three things:

  1. Name and concept: Who is this person?
  2. Core strength: What do they do well?
  3. What they want: A goal or drive you can play toward.

As you play, the character becomes yours. You choose how they react, what they say, and what matters to them. The template is a starting point, not a cage.

Why pre-gens work for beginners

When you're learning, you're already tracking new concepts: how a scene flows, when to roll, what the GM expects. Building a character adds mechanical choices before you understand what those choices do in play.

A pre-gen removes that pressure. You can see how checks work, how your character's strengths apply, and how the fiction shapes decisions—all without worrying whether you "built wrong." Many groups use pre-gens for one-shots, convention games, or the first session of a campaign.

After a session or two, you'll know enough to customize or create from scratch.

Try this (2 minutes)

Pick a simple archetype: curious scholar, loyal guard, clever thief, or wandering healer. Write one strength and one flaw. Example: "Clever thief—great at talking out of trouble, terrible at planning ahead." That's a playable pre-gen seed.

Common pitfalls

  • Ignoring the character because "it's not mine." Treat the template as a collaboration. Add details that feel right.
  • Worrying about optimal builds. Pre-gens are designed to work. Focus on the story, not the numbers.
  • Skipping the backstory prompt. Even one sentence helps you make choices that feel true to the character.

Do this next: Quickstart Kit