Page 11 - DnD_5e_Players_Handbook_(BnW_OCR)

in chapter 4, and might be willing to w ork with you to His flaw is tied to his caring, sensitive nature—he has a
craft a background that’s a m ore precise fit for your soft spot for orphans and wayward souls, leading him to
character concept. show m ercy even when it might not be warranted.
A background gives your character a background
feature (a general benefit) and proficiency in two skills, 5 . C h o o s e E q u i p m e n t
and it might also give you additional languages or
Your class and background determine your character's
proficiency with certain kinds of tools. R ecord this
starting equipment, including weapons, armor, and
information, along with the personality information
other adventuring gear. R ecord this equipment on your
you develop, on your character sheet.
character sheet. All such items are detailed in chapter 5.
Instead of taking the gear given to you by your class
Y o u r C h a r a c t e r ’s A b i l i t i e s
and background, you can purchase your starting
Take your character’s ability scores and race into
equipment. You have a num ber of gold pieces (gp)
account as you flesh out his or her appearance
to spend based on your class, as shown in chapter 5.
and personality. A very strong character with low
Extensive lists of equipment, with prices, also appear in
Intelligence might think and behave very differently
that chapter. If you wish, you can also have one trinket
from a very smart character with low Strength.
at no cost (see the trinket table at the end o f chapter 5).
For example, high Strength usually corresponds
Your Strength score limits the amount o f gear you can
with a burly or athletic body, while a character with
carry. Try not to purchase equipment with a total weight
low Strength might be scrawny or plump.
(in pounds) exceeding your Strength score times 15.
A character with high Dexterity is probably lithe and
Chapter 7 has m ore information on carrying capacity.
slim, while a character with low Dexterity might be
either gangly and awkward or heavy and thick-fingered.
A r m o r C l a s s
A character with high Constitution usually looks
Your Armor Class (AC) represents how well your
healthy, with bright eyes and abundant energy. A
character avoids being wounded in battle. Things that
character with low Constitution might be sickly or frail.
contribute to your AC include the armor you wear, the
A character with high Intelligence might be highly
shield you carry, and your Dexterity modifier. Not all
inquisitive and studious, while a character with low
characters w ear armor or carry shields, however.
Intelligence might speak simply or easily forget details.
Without armor or a shield, your character’s AC equals
A character with high W isdom has good judgment,
10 + his or her Dexterity modifier. If your character
empathy, and a general awareness of what’s going on.
wears armor, carries a shield, or both, calculate your
A character with low W isdom might be absent-minded,
AC using the rules in chapter 5. R ecord your AC on
foolhardy, or oblivious.
your character sheet.
A character with high Charisma exudes confidence,
Your character needs to be proficient with armor and
which is usually mixed with a graceful or intimidating
shields to w ear and use them effectively, and your armor
presence. A character with a low Charisma might com e
and shield proficiencies are determined by your class.
across as abrasive, inarticulate, or timid.
There are drawbacks to wearing armor or carrying a
shield if you lack the required proficiency, as explained
B u i l d i n g B r u e n o r , St e p 4
in chapter 5.
B ob fills in som e of Bruenor’s basic details: his name,
Som e spells and class features give you a different
his sex (male), his height and weight, and his alignment
way to calculate your AC. If you have multiple features
(lawful good). His high Strength and Constitution
that give you different ways to calculate your AC, you
suggest a healthy, athletic body, and his low Intelligence
choose which one to use.
suggests a degree of forgetfulness.
Bob decides that Bruenor com es from a noble line,
W e a p o n s
but his clan was expelled from its homeland when
For each weapon your character wields, calculate the
Bruenor was very young. He grew up working as a smith
modifier you use when you attack with the w eapon and
in the remote villages of Icewind Dale. But Bruenor
the damage you deal when you hit.
has a heroic destiny—to reclaim his homeland—so
W hen you make an attack with a weapon, you roll
Bob chooses the folk hero background for his dwarf.
a d20 and add your proficiency bonus (but only if you
He notes the proficiencies and special feature this
are proficient with the weapon) and the appropriate
background gives him.
ability modifier.
Bob has a pretty clear picture of Bruenor’s personality

in mind, so he skips the personality traits suggested in • For attacks with melee weapons, use your Strength
the folk hero background, noting instead that Bruenor is m odifier for attack and damage rolls. A weapon that
a caring, sensitive dwarf who genuinely loves his friends has the finesse property, such as a rapier, can use your
and allies, but he hides this soft heart behind a gruff, Dexterity modifier instead.

snarling demeanor. He chooses the ideal of fairness • For attacks with ranged weapons, use your Dexterity
from the list in his background, noting that Bruenor modifier for attack and damage rolls. A w eapon that
believes that no one is above the law. has the thrown property, such as a handaxe, can use
Given his history, Bruenor’s bond is obvious: he your Strength modifier instead.
aspires to som eday reclaim Mithral Hall, his homeland,
from the shadow dragon that drove the dwarves out.