I really don't know what made me choose this one for today. If you don't know about D&D, shame on you. I'm not going to worry about a specific campaign setting, and I'm only going to use the Player's Handbook. That's just how I roll.
Speaking of rolling, that's where we start: rolling ability scores. I roll 4d6 and drop the lowest die six times. This gives me the following scores: 13, 16, 14, 13, 14, 14. Actually pretty darn good. I don't usually roll that well.
Now I choose my race and class and then assign my ability scores as I'd like. I think I'll go with a halfling ranger. After racial modifiers, my ability scores are: Str 11, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 13.
I'm going to ignore the starting package (I'm no newb) and record my racial and class features. As a ranger, I get the favored enemy class feature, and I have to choose a creature type to specialize in. I go with humanoid (goblinoid); this character comes from a region plagued by an expansionist hobgoblin army. (Hey, look! Backstory!)
On to skills. Rangers get (6 + Int modifier) skill points, and this is x4 at first level, so I have 32 skill points. Obviously, I'll max Survival, and I'll also max Listen and Spot. I'll put 4 in Hide and Move Silently, and 2 each in Knowledge (dungeoneering) and Knowledge (geography). I have 12 points left. I'll max Climb, Heal, and Jump.
Now, I get 1 feat, and I'll take Weapon Finesse. My ranger will go the two-weapon route eventually, and now I can use light weapons with my Dex bonus instead of my Str.
For equipment, as a ranger I have 6d4x10 gp, and I roll a total of 180. I start with a pair of short swords for 20 gp. I buy some daggers for throwing; say five for an even 10 gp. I'll get some leather armor for 10 gp. That still leaves me 140. I'll get an everburning torch for 110 gp, a backpack (1 gp), a bedroll (1 sp), a fishing net (4 gp), a belt pouch (1 gp), two days' trail rations (1 gp), and a tent (10). The other 12 gp and 9 sp I'll keep in the belt pouch.
The last step is to record my combat numbers. I get 8 hit points plus my Con modifier, for a total of 10. My AC is 10 + 4 (Dex) + 1 (size) + 2 (armor) = 17. I hit with my short sword at +6 for 1d4 damage, or with a thrown dagger at +7 for 1d3. My initiative modifier is +4 (from my Dex). My saving throws are Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3.
And that's that. My ranger will be a member of the illustrious Coffeepot clan, Hayden Coffeepot.
Hayden Coffeepot
NG Male halfling Ranger 1
Init +4; Senses Listen +8, Spot +6
Languages Common, Dwarven, Elven, Halfling
AC 17, touch 15, flat-footed 13
hp 10 (1 HD)
Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3; +2 racial bonus on saves against fear
Speed 20 ft. (4 squares)
Melee shortsword +6 (1d4, 19-20/x2)
Ranged dagger +7 (1d3, 19-20/x2)
Base Atk +1; Grp -3
Combat Options favored enemy (goblinoids) +2
Abilities Str 11, Dex 18, Con 14, Int 14, Wis 14, Cha 13
SQ wild empathy
Feats Track, Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +6, Heal +6, Hide +12, Jump +6, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +4, Knowledge (geography) +4, Listen +8, Move Silently +10, Spot +6, Survival +6
Possessions short swords, five daggers, leather armor, everburning torch, backpack, bedroll, fishing net, belt pouch, two days' trail rations, tent, 12 gp, 9 sp
