How to Create a D&D 3.5 Character

Roll three six-sided dice, and add the numbers together to find your first ability score. Repeat the process five more times so you have a total of six scores ranging from three to 18. Your ability scores are the basis for all your character's other skills and abilities.

Write down the six scores in the "Ability Scores" section at the left-hand side of your character sheet. Enter the scores where necessary for the type of character you want to play, such as putting your highest score in "Intelligence" if you want to play a wizard or in "Strength" if you want to play a fighter.

Select one of the races found in Chapter Two of the Player's Handbook, such as "human," "elf" or "half-orc." Note down the ability score modifier for your race, such as +2 constitution and -2 charisma for a dwarf character. Change your ability score section accordingly.

Write down any special abilities provided by your race in the "Special Qualities" section of your character sheet. For example, the elf race receives the "Low Light Vision" and "Martial Weapon Proficiency: Longsword" abilities.

Examine the available classes in Chapter Three of the Player's Handbook and select the class you want to use for your character, such as "Druid" or "Monk." Write your selection in the "Class" heading at the top of the character sheet.

Examine the "hit die" for your class, such as "1d10" for a fighter. Mark down your hit points based on your hit die in the "Hit Points" section. For example, a fighter starts with 10 hit points plus any bonus for having a high constitution score. Examine the bonus table on page 9 of the Player's Handbook to find the bonus for your constitution score, such as "+1" for a score of 12.

Locate the number of skill points for your class, which displays under the "Class Skills" section. For example, a barbarian starts with four skill points, plus your intelligence modifier, times four. Open Chapter Four in the Player's Handbook to see a list of skills.

Allocate your available skill points to the skills listed in Chapter Four. Examine the chart on page 63 to see which skills are cross class skills for your class. For example, the "Escape Artist" skill is a cross class skill for the barbarian class, which means that you must spend two skill points to buy one point in that skill.

Write down your skills in the "Skills" section at the right-hand side of the character sheet. Examine Chapter Five in the Player's Handbook to see a list of feats. Pick any one feat for your character and write it down in the "Feats" section. Human characters receive a free bonus feat at first level.

Examine page 111 of the Player's Handbook to find the amount of starting gold for your character class, such as "125" for the "Rogue" class. Note down any equipment in Chapter Seven that you want to buy with the starting gold, such as armor or weapons. Write down any changes the armor makes to your armor class in the "Armor Class" heading near the middle of the character sheet.

Write down any remaining details for your character, such as his name, deity and moral alignment. You will find descriptions of the available deities and alignments in Chapter Six of the Player's Handbook.