The Next Generation of Players: Silas's First Character

Silas says: "It's not failing unless you've died yet."

This week, my son, who turns four in four days, insisted that "I want to use that book [5e Players Handbook] to make a character for my stories!" So, I broke out the six-sided dice, taught him how to roll stats (4d6, drop lowest), asked him a few basic questions, and translated his riffing into stats. His responses (actual quotes)  and the results appear below.

What do you want to be?

"I want to play a dragon!"
"He's really a nice fighter named Khaka! Khaka is a good name for a dragon!"

What is your dragon's job?

"My dragon's job is killing gnomes. He just breathes fire and that's how he kills gnomes."

 Does he do anything else?

"He actually likes to cook pasta with meatballs for people. He's a cooker and a fighter."

Anything else?

"He's good at swimming, but if he swims he gets really sick."

What is his background? What was he like as a kid?

"He is a HERO!"
"He was actually a TERRIBLE MONSTER before he was a hero. When he was a baby he was a terrible monster. When he was a terrible monster he made fire, but when he was a hero he just saved the day all the time." [sadly I cannot capture the matter-of-fact voice and knowing nodding that accompanied this last statement]

(This is a more detailed background than I get from many adult gamers...)

So he kills gnomes. What does he use other than fire?

"I use a sword and shield to fight. Like 'I'm gonna lay down my sword and shield down by the riverside...'" [starts singing]
"And he needs a saw and an axe!"

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The Character:

Khaka

Male Dragonborn (Brass) Fighter*, Folk Hero Background

Stats:  [4d6, drop lowest, in order]

Strength  18

Dexterity 8

Constitution 8

Intelligence 12

Wisdom 6

Charisma 16

Hit Points: 9

Armor Class: 16

Proficiency Bonus: +2

Features:

Breath Weapon (30-ft. line of fire)

Damage Resistance vs. Fire

Fighting Style (Protection)

Second Wind

Rustic Hospitality

Proficiencies:

Armor:  Light Armor, Medium Armor, Heavy Armor, Shields

Weapons:  Simple Weapons, Martial Weapons

Tools:  Cook's Utensils, Land Vehicles

Saving Throws:  Strength, Constitution

Skills:  Animal Handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Survival

Languages:  Common, Draconic

Equipment:

Chainmail

Longsword and Shield

2 Handaxes

Cook's Utensils

Shovel

Iron Pot

Common Clothes

Belt pouch w/ 10gp

Explorer's Pack

* Given the "gnome-killing" aspect, he could have been a Ranger with gnomes as his favored enemy, but Silas used the term "Fighter" multiple times without prompting, so we'll trust his judgement.