What Kind of D&D Character Would You Be?

1. My ability scores seem too high. How did the survey determine my ability scores?

Adventurers tend to have higher scores than the rest of the population. This test takes that into account. The test doesn't give you your 3d6 self, but your 4d6 self. So most scores would be one to two points lower in "real" life.

My original paper (yes, paper) ability score questionnaire allowed a range of scores from 2 (severely handicapped) to 18 (the normal human maximum). Each question originally had 5 possible answers. I took out the "lowest" answer in each question for this survey. So the lowest answer scores you 2 points and the highest 5. Add up the four components and you get an ability score from 8 to 20. The average in this survey is 12, which is about the average score you get with a 4d6 method. Subtract two from each ability score and these would be your 3d6 method stats (ranging from 6 to 18). But since everyone is assumed to be a hero, an average of 12 is appropriate.

2. When rating myself in appearance (or memory, or willpower, etc.), none of the answers seemed to apply to me. How should I answer?

You should pick the closest answer. For example if you know that your appearance is above average, but you're not the best looking member of your social circle (see question #1), you should choose the answer that gives (what you consider to be) the best description. If you have a hard time picking, you should always err on the high side. Don't be modest.

3. How did the survey determine my fantasy race?

I wanted most survey takers to remain human. Race determination is based on how you answer the questions about your height, weight, background, and what qualities are more important to you. If you answer 70% of the questions "correctly" for a certain race, you will be assigned that race. Otherwise, you're human.

4. Does the survey add in racical modifiers to ability scores?

No, it does not. It does, however, provide a penalty to your race scores if your ability scores are high. For example, if you score an 18 in charisma, the survey lowers your score in half-orc.

So, if you turned out to be an elf with a dexterity score of 15, that 15 is your base dexterity, before the +2 racial bonus is added. Constitution would likewise be lowered by 2 for an elf character.

I could've easily added in racial modifiers to ability scores, but I wanted the survey to display original scores.

5. I was tied in two (or more) classes. How does the survey determine my primary and secondary class?

Primary class assignment goes to the highest score you end up with in a class. In the case of ties, the survey picks the "most exclusive" class as your primary. Ties also result in a multi-class character. The secondary class is the "least exclusive" class that is tied. Exclusivity is based on how common I thought each class to be in a campaign world. Fighter is the least exclusive, while paladin and monk rank the highest in exclusivity. Your final class score (in the detailed results) is modified by your alignment. If your alignment would not allow you to take a class, that class's score is reduced by 21 points. I could've shifted alignment to match class, but I thought that alignment shouldn't be adjusted arbitrarily.

When checking your detailed results, all classes that are tied at the highest score are eligible classes for you. You could be single-classed (pick your favorite from among the highest). You could have two classes, three classes, or more. The survey picks only two (based on the criteria above).

6. How does the survey determine my alignment?

The alignment portion of the quiz is a modification of the Hero Builder's Guide alignment test.

7. This survey says that my alignment is WX and I think my alignment is YZ. What gives?

Most everyone's understanding of the alignment system is different. What passes for Neutral Good in one campaign may be Chaotic Good in another. Lawful Good can be interpreted in many different ways. Selfishness could be regarded as Neutral by one DM while another calls it Evil.

In short, the alignment portion of this questionnaire assumes one person's view of the alignment system. For further information on the alignment system, please visit my Alignment System web pages.

8. How does the survey determine my level?

Level is based purely on the age range and level of life experience (last two questions). I used the d20 Modern book to figure this one out (they had an age category vs. level chart). You end up getting 500 XP a year, each year, starting at mid-adolescence. You gain an additional level for having a full life and lose a level for leading a dull life. If you're multi-classed, your levels are split between your two classes.

9. My charisma is too low to be an effective sorcerer (intelligence too low for wizard, strength too low for fighter, etc.). Is there some mistake?

There is no mistake. Ability scores are determined independently of class selection. Ability scores are determined by how you answer four questions for each ability. Class assignment is determined by questions about your hobbies, work, and interests. You may display (what I have determined to be) the professional characteristics of a sorcerer (or wizard, or fighter) even though you scored low in charisma (or intelligence, or strength).

10. I took a test like this before and I had very different results. What gives?

Many other tests use fewer questions, more obvious questions (if you want a certain character type), or stress different aspects of race and class. As there is no "real" way to determine what sort of fantasy character you would be, different tests should (and do) give different results.

11. Looking at my overall results, it looks like I'm a completely ineffective character. What is your response?

Well, I have two responses. One is that all aspects are decided completely independently of one another (except that class choices are limited by your alignment). Since everything is independently determined, it is almost certain that you will not come out as the most effective character possible.

Also, we can assume that not every player character would be completely maximized in a fantasy world. We are seldom maximized in this world. We all know people who would be better suited in another line of work or people whose strengths are not put to good use. Perhaps an unintelligent person was forced to take up wizardry by his father, or a weak person became a mercenary fighter out of necessity.

12. What are you doing with the results that I post to the "Hall of Heroes"?

I'm taking the database code that you see (yeah, I know it's ugly) and putting it into an Excel spreadsheet so that I can keep statistics on survey results. I need as many characters as possible in the database to determine biases, possible poor questions, etc. I don't get any more information than what you see in the Hall of Heroes.