Some crazy things went on in the early 1980s.
Not least of which was my introduction to role-playing games. D&D changed everything. My already over-active imagination found a vehicle that propelled me through realms indescribable.
Finding My Old D&D Characters
When cleaning out my childhood home after my father passed away, I made a discovery. Tucked away in a magazine holder with old Starlogs and Lucas Film Fan Club magazines was my first Dungeons and Dragons rule book.
I opened it, and out fell some of the first characters I ever created. I thought I would share them with you. The date range on these would be from 1982 to about 1985.
My First Dungeons and Dragons Character
“The Skull” was the first character I ever created. I was nine years old, and D&D was pulsing through my veins. If I remember correctly, I only played him a few times. I wish I could find the dice I used to roll his attributes!
How do you think he carried all that gold?
Dwarf Character with Unintentionally Cool Name
I only have vague memories of this Dwarven Fighter. I do clearly remember wanting to name him Gargoyle. However, my dyslexic third grade brain came up with Gorgile. Not a bad name, though.
I like how I put the lowest attribute score on constitution. I’m not sure of my reasoning with that choice. But hey, he has a million gold pieces, so who cares.
Long Live the King, “Evilish” Paladin
I have no memories of creating or playing this character named King. However, I do remember the day I spilled Pepsi all over the character sheet. I was very angry with myself. I thought the portrait I drew was awesome.
As you may have noticed, I had my own system for rolling attributes. I would make characters while watching He-Man or Voltron. I believe I just kept rolling until I was pleased with the result.
Evilish? Paladin? Nine million gold pieces? I don’t…
Thug Life with a Seven Foot, Two Inch Tall Cleric
Thug was my main character through tons of adventures. He was the right-hand man to my brother’s fighter/magic-user character who was called Flash.
Why was he named Thug? Well, I wanted a really cool name. I was wasting time and not picking one, so the DM said his name was Thug. Then we started the first adventure. After that, I always made sure to have a name ready to go.
Again, lowest score on CON for some reason.
Morgan the Price?
I’m guessing I meant to name this character “Morgan the Prince,” because “the Price” doesn’t make any sense.
However, I would not put anything past a kid who makes a 9’11” tall human and puts a “v” in thief. Must have been watching an Andre the Giant wrestling match when I made him that tall.
The Elf with No Name
Evilish shows up again on this character. I wonder where I got that from?
I made him awfully short. I remember having arguments with friends about how tall Elves could be. Looks like I was wrong. I hope I didn’t ruin a friendship over it.
Man, I spilled a lot of soda.
I Am Become Borg
I so remember creating this character. I was in the third grade, and I was very proud of the name. I will have you know this was a good three or four years before Star Trek: The Next Generation. Just saying.
(Since writing this, I learned that I ripped off this name from the D&D Basic Rulebook. There goes my claim to any originality.)
I was never able to play him, much to my sorrow and deep regret. Seriously, the guy had a hawk.
Dirk the Daring
No memory of this fighter remains in me. Though, I must have liked the name…
Dirk the Daring II
At first, I thought this was just a copy of Dirk I. However, there are some key differences.
While they are both 17 years old, Dirk II is five inches taller and more than a hundred pounds heavier. Plus two 16 attribute ratings got bumped up to 17.
Also, Dirk II lost the “Cheeze Stars.” (I assume I meant “Chinese Stars.”)
The Thief, Who Was a Dragonslayer
A wispy, smoke-like memory of this thief being hired to slay a dragon flits about the dark recesses of my mind. Apparently, he succeeded and was richly rewarded with magic items.
I’m a little disappointed with the name (My name is Matt, if you didn’t know.), but at least I grew out of that phase and thought of more robust fantasy names…
Joe the Magic Using Elf
Got nothing on this guy. It looks like he was a character I played at least a few times, though. I wonder why I erased all but two of his spells.
ORG, really?
This Halfling thief was decked out! Seriously, platemail, a shield, and a two “bladed” sword?
I was a confused child. I clearly needed a mentor who had read the rules. A thief with a 13 DEX and an 18 STR? I am ashamed.
Bobby, “Fighter-Assassins”
I may have created this character for one of my cousins, who never wanted to do any “work” in order to play D&D. Can you guess my cousin’s name?
Or, maybe I simply named the character after my cousin. I was prone to hero worship when I was a kid.
Atlas the Hardy Magic User
All I can say about this character is, at least I figured out that constitution was important. Hmm… I erased a couple of his spells as well.
Thorn the Incomplete
It looks like I never finished creating Thorn. No attribute scores or equipment. However, I was thoughtful enough to arm him with the most outrageous weapons possible.
I wonder how I calculated his hit points? The world may never know.
What I Learned from My Childhood D&D Characters
I learned I was a dirty, rotten, little cheater. I learned I prized strength and size over anything else. Though, intelligence usually got an 18 as well, so that’s something.
I learned several of my characters had more gold than Fort Knox. I learned that I was in desperate need of spell check. What’s a Gen Xer to do?
I learned that my friends and I had incredible adventures, which created memories I never want to lose.
I am so happy I have these characters as reminders of the time when fun conquered rules and the only limit was a child’s imagination.
Do you still have any D&D characters from when you were a child? If so, let me know in the comments.
Who knew from these humble beginnings I would end up creating all of these D&D resources books?