Character Creation
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Contents
Step 0: Consult your narrator
Your narrator (or DM) ultimately decides what methods can be used to generate your character. Only use whatever method(s) of character creation your narrator endorses.
If adhering to Legends of Hyrule content, your narrator might also consider Random Character Creation to decide more factors by rolling dice, or Advanced Character Creation for creating characters above 1st level.
You can use a sheet of paper, a digital notepad, or anything you like to record the details and statistics for your character. A typical character sheet for Dungeons & Dragons should work just fine for Legends of Hyrule, too.
Step 1: Determine Ability Scores
As you may already know, one of the most fundamental aspects of a player-character are their numerical ability scores. You can choose one of the three methods below to determine your ability scores. These methods are designed to be interchangeable; if one player wants to roll ability scores and another wants to use point-buy, the scores could be a little better or a little worse, but almost never to the extent either player will feel useless by comparison.
However you generate your ability scores, be sure to record them.
Method A: Standard Array
You have six numerical scores: 14, 13, 12, 11, 9, and 7. You can assign these scores to your six abilities in whichever order you like.
This method creates a very balanced character. These scores can be easily optimized with your race and class to create an effective individual who still has room to grow, and doesn't have any glaring weaknesses.
Method B: Rolled Array
Roll 2d8+1, and record the number you rolled. Do this five more times, until you have six numbers. The six numbers you rolled become your six ability scores, which you can assign to your six abilities in whatever order you like.
This method's average result is precisely 10, with a small chance of being as low as 3 or as high as 17. There's only about a 9% chance of rolling even a single 17 across all six scores, and equally low odds of rolling even a single 3. There's about a one-in-three chance you won't roll a 14 or higher at all. The most probable scores will be comparable to the Standard Array. This a good option if you want something a bit different, or want to take a chance at being above-average. With a method like this, it's important to have the narrator or another player watch and verify your rolls.
If you would be disinterested in committing to a character that isn't optimized, it is best if you choose a method other than this one.
| Score | Cost |
|---|---|
| 7 | 0 |
| 8 | 1 |
| 9 | 2 |
| 10 | 3 |
| 11 | 4 |
| 12 | 5 |
| 13 | 7 |
| 14 | 9 |
Method C: Point-Buy
This method gives you nuanced control over the exact numbers your ability scores can be, which may be a preferred result if you enjoy optimizing your character's capabilities.You have 27 points to spend on your ability scores. The cost of each score is shown in the adjacent table. For example, a score of 13 costs 7 points. This method cannot be used to decrease a score below 7 or increase a score above 14.
Step 2: Choose a Race
The world of Hyrule is inhabited by countless different creatures, though hylians are certainly the most familiar. As your fantasy race, choose one of the races summarized below, or other races your narrator has specifically approved. Be sure to choose a subrace as well, and note any other decisions afforded by your race.
Your chosen race and subrace will increase one or more of the ability scores you chose in step 1. Your race also affords you several racial features you may want to record on your character sheet. For the races below, click its namr for a more detailed page of the race and its traits.
- Hylians are the most widespread, influential, and industrious people of Hyrule. Most travelers and adventures hail from this familiar race. Unlike most races, hylians are always expected to be fully clothed. Link, Zelda, Impa, and most well-known Hyrulean characters are hylians.
- Zora are amphibious people who typically live along coastlines and rivers, and often resemble fish. Many among them can innately wield magic. Sidon, Mipha, Ruto, and Oren are some of the most renowned zora characters. Link once even took the form of Mikau, a sea zora.
- Gorons are built like mountains, eat rocks, and wade through lava. Gorons are indomitable both as warriors and as friends. They only have one gender, which is considered male. Darunia, Daruk, Biggoron, Gorko, and Darbus are well-known gorons. Link once took the form of Darmani, a goron warrior.
- Gerudo are tall, powerful, beautiful women who resemble hylians in many superficial ways, but have stark red hair, deep tan skin, and tend to be much taller. Many adhere to a proud warrior culture. Most gerudo live deep in desert terrain. Ganondorf is the most infamous gerudo. Other renowned gerudo include Urbosa, Riju, Nabooru, Koume, and Kotake.
Adventurers might hail from these uncommon races, but not all legends feature them.
- Deku scrubs are Small wooden people with bark-like skin and leaf-like hair, who have many plant-like characteristics. Their tubular mouths are used to spit seeds as a means of defense. Some hylians consider scrubs to be wild monsters, but they may simply be misunderstood and perhaps paranoid. Link once took the form of a deku scrub.
- Rito are prideful bird-like people gifted with the ability to fly high in the sky. They typically live in mountains or other terrain that is easily defended from terrestrial creatures. There are two main varieties of rito: those who have arms which function as wings (highland), and those who slip their arms into sleeve-like wings to fly (coastal). Well-known rito include Medli, Revali, Kass, Quill, and Komali.
- Anouki are squat people with reindeer-like horns who almost universally wear parkas all day. They are most comfortable in wintery lands that most other races find unbearably cold. Though civilized and organized, they tend to live far away from most other races listed here.
- Koroks seem to be made of wood, have stubby limbs, and wear leaf-masks in lieu of faces. Most koroks have an incredibly positive and innocent attitude, which may be why they are sometimes called "children of the forest" despite never really being children. This mysterious, reclusive race all respect and admire the Great Deku Tree as a patriarch. Renowned koroks include Makar, Hestu, and Chio.
Flexible Ability Scores
The Ability Score Increase feature your race represents typical members of the race, but heroes are rarely typical. If your narrator enables it, you may ignore your Ability Score Increase trait and instead assign ability score increases tailored to your character. To do so, take each Ability Score Increase you gain from your race or subrace and apply it to an ability score of your choice. If you gain more than one increase, you can't apply those increases to the same ability score, and you can't increase a score above 20.
For example, if your race is sea zora you normally increase your Wisdom by 2 and your Charisma by 1, but if your narrator enables this option you could instead increase your Dexterity by 2 and your Constitution by 1. You couldn't however increase your Dexterity by 3.
Step 3: Choose a Class
Choosing your class is perhaps the most involved part of character creation. Your class represents the general shape of your capabilities, especially those you employ in combat. Choose one from those listed below. Click a class's name for a fully detailed page.
- Fighter, one who employs weapon attacks and exudes physical prowess; most incarnations of Link are some form of fighter; Strength or Dexterity is usually a fighter's most important ability score, followed by Constitution
- Opportunist, one who wields finesse and tact, exploiting weaknesses both on the battlefield and in city streets; Linkle, Tingle, Kass, Sheik, and even Garo are various opportunists; Dexterity is typically an opportunist's most important ability score
- Sage, one who holds mysterious elemental powers and restorative magic bestowed by the gods; most incarnations of Princess Zelda are sages; Wisdom is a sage's most important ability score
- Researcher, one who studies magic and casts spells from memorization and practice; Midna, Maple, Pura, Twinrova, and even Wizzrobes are all different kinds of researchers; Intelligence is a researcher's most important ability score
- Scion, one who inherited supernatural power directly from a powerful being like a dragon, a great fairy, or even a guardian stalker; Charisma is usually a scion's most important ability score
Depending on your choice, there are various other decisions you must make regarding your class, as detailed on each class's page. Opportunist or perhaps fighter is the most straightforward initially. If you chose sage or scion, you will need to choose a subclass right away, but other classes let you get a feel for things before you must commit to a subclass.
Step 4: Improve
An improvement represents a particular area of training or aptitude for your character, which may set you apart as a paragon or hero. As your improvement, you can gain one of the following benefits:
- Gain one feat for which you qualify.
- Increase two ability scores by 1 each.
- Increase one ability score by 2, but only if your race's Ability Score Increase doesn't already increase that same score by 2.
This improvement cannot increase an ability score above its maximum, which is initially 20.
Step 5: Equip
Some legendary heroes start without even so much as a sword, but thankfully your character has amassed some gear or wealth prior to the start of your campaign. You character always start with a set of common clothes and a backpack. If your campaign focuses on survival, you also start with the following for free: 10 days of rations, a full waterskin, a bedroll, a mess kit, a tinderbox, and 10 torches.
Additionally, you can either (a) select from with the Starting Equipment provided by your class or (b) pick out your own equipment using a budget of 1,000 rupees. Any rupees leftover from the the budget end up in your backpack.
Finally, and optionally, you you can start with any sentimental trinket you like that with negligible economic value, such as a ragdoll or a tiny wooden figurine.
Step 6: Statistics
By now you should have already have several statistics recorded, including your speed based on your race, your known languages, your heart points from your class, and any proficiencies you have with saving throws, skills, and tools. It's time to jot down a final few statistics of your character if you haven't already done so.
Armor Class
The higher your AC, the harder it is to hit you in combat. If you are wearing armor, use the AC it provides. Some races or classes have a feature which grants you an AC as well, which you can use as it describes. If you lack such a feature and aren't wearing armor, your AC equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier.
Weapons
For each weapon your character wields, calculate the modifier you use when you attack with the weapon and the damage you deal when you hit. When you make an attack with a weapon, you roll a d20 and add your proficiency bonus (only if you are proficient with the weapon) and the appropriate ability modifier.
- For attacks with melee weapons, use your Strength modifier for attack and damage rolls. For a weapon that has the finesse property, such as a broadsword, you can use your Dexterity modifier instead.
- For attacks with ranged weapons, use your Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. For a weapon that has the thrown property, such as a handaxe, you must use your Strength modifier instead (unless that weapon also has the finesse property).
Passive Perception
The higher your passive Perception, the harder it is for creatures to hide from your notice. Your passive Perception equals 10 + your Wisdom modifier. If you are proficient in Perception, you add your proficiency bonus as well.
Step 7: Describe
It's time to flesh out your character as a person, if you haven't done so already. You can describe your character in as much or as little detail as you like: appearance, personality, backstory, flaws, and more. Your character's race and class can help to inspire characterization ideas, but you never need to adhere to them; your character's personality and story are entirely yours to decide. You may also decide to give your character an alignment, though in Legends of Hyrule this is optional. Giving your character ideals to uphold and goals to achieve can be particularly helpful for your narrators crafts adventures tailored to your party. If your character has relationships to other characters you namedrop—family members, work associates, peers—this can help the narrator create better narratives, too.
At a bare minimum, you should at least decide on a name for your character. Your race lists examples of common or renowned names for members of that race. Most Hyrulean characters only have a given name, but you can add a surname if you like.
Final Step: Assemble
Legends of Hyrule is about adventurers working together. It is assumed your character will be in a party of two to eight adventurers each portrayed by a different player, all working together in a world described by your narrator. It's best to talk with your fellow players and narrator about how your characters would meet and work together. Your group may even prefer to build their characters under a joint concept, such as being from the same village or having something else in common. Even if your characters come from completely different backgrounds, teamwork and cooperation greatly enhance your success in Hyrule. After all, it's dangerous to go alone.
