So, you’ve got yourself a copy of the G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game, and now find yourself preparing to create your very own character! Whether you grew up watching G.I. JOE, or are just a fan of TTRPGs and decided to give this one a shot, we can all likely agree that creating your very own character is an experience second to none. This can be an especially magical moment for those of us who grew up watching G.I. JOE cartoons, and playing with the action figures!

Creating a character for any RPG can be a challenging feat. The process of creating a great character goes far beyond the simple steps of rolling stats and filling out a character sheet. Though ensuring that your character sheet is properly completed is crucial to successfully playing any TTRPG, in truth, many will agree that the stats are the least important part of a character. Afterall, the word "character" is more often used to reference ideals, and the deeper attributes of what makes someone themselves.

In this article, we provide valuable insight into the character creation process through a Q&A with Eiric E. Padráig! Eiric recently won a G.I. JOE Roleplaying Game character creation competition, which was run on the Renegade Game Studios Discord server as part of G.I. JOE Month! Eiric created an incredibly unique character, Mystic, a Joe recruit with a background as a cultural intelligence expert! Mystic speaks eleven different languages, and has visions that often sever her from reality. If you’d like to see more of Mystic, or the other characters that were submitted, you can head over to our discord!

Without further-ado, let’s dive into the Q&A portion of this article so you can start making characters of your own!:

What is your first step when making a TTRPG character?

A: “The first step in my character creation process is to think about who came before the new character. What all have I played in the system, what combination or options have I not thought of yet.”

What is a must-have aspect of a TTRPG that you consider while making a character?

“Character advancement is a must have for me. As long as I can improve my character over time, then I am bound to enjoy myself.”

What is your top tip for creating a great TTRPG character?

“My top tip for making a character for a game is to simply never retread a character concept. That way, I am always keeping it fresh so the experience does not dull, no matter how many times I play a given game.”

How do you find creative inspiration when creating a character?

“Inspiration, for me, always comes to me while my mind is occupied. Whether it is while playing a game, reading a book, or even coming from my dreams, I cannot force myself to be creative. I always wait for it to come to me first.”

What is your favorite part of Mystic? Do you have plans to evolve the character?

“My favorite part of Mystic is the Psychic Perk. She stands out because she is a different take on the same concept that everyone strives for… that of a bad*** Joe. But by focusing on what makes her different, I was able to make her stand out from other Joes.”

How important is backstory in your mind?

“Having a backstory is vital to the role playing process, to me at least. It doesn’t have to be a novel, or even a short story. But every character should have at least a few sentences to cover the basics of who they are, where they come from and why they do what they do.”

What are your tips for writing a good backstory?

“When writing a good backstory, you should always start with who they are, where they come from, and why they do what they do. You should focus on the best stats on the sheet and write up a sentence or two about each (how did they get interested in the occult? Did they get their good intelligence from their father?). You might want to even think of a character flaw… even if they aren’t explored in the rules.”

What is your final step when making a TTRPG character?

“The final step in character creation is always to go through the rules and make sure I did everything correctly. Do I have the skills I need to be able to do what I want with the character? Do I understand what it is that the rules mean when referring to the character? If so, I am ready to play.”