Character Creation Compendium

Well met, stranger, and welcome to the Book Wyrm's Treasure, the finest bookshop of the North Ward. I am known as Rishaal the Page-Turner, and I am at your service to help you create a character to permit you to roam the streets of Waterdeep. Not that there's much to see out there; I prefer the pleasures of literature myself, you see...
Should you desire closer information on the city outside, might I direct you towards Volo's Waterdeep Enchiridion?

Character Creation Tools

You must create a character under 'Your RPG Characters' on Worldanvil, but for stats, you may use the WorldAnvil stat blocks as well as D&D Beyond, paper character sheets or other tools. If you use D&D Beyond, perhaps you might find the time to import your stats into WorldAnvil?

Races of Waterdeep

You can find lots of interesting species in Waterdeep - I think I even had a hag in here once. You can find anyone from the Player's Handbook, Volo's Guide to Monsters and other official races brought forth by the infamous Wizards of the Coast. Unearthed Arcana and Homebrew should be discussed with your DM, as should any race choice, to properly integrate you into life in our dear City of Splendors!
I would like to make a special indication to also consider the race and subraces elaborated upon in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide.

• Feral Tiefling

• Duergar, the Grey Dwarves
• Ghostwise Halflings
• Deep Gnomes, or Svirfneblin
• various Half-Elf Variants

Adventuring Classes

Adventurers are as diverse as the flavours of sweetrolls sold on the Day of Wonders! Similar rules for the classes are instated as for races, see above. Keep in mind you'll be spending time in a city for the foreseeable future, so you may want to make sure that you won't have to leave again soon. But far be it from me to tell you what to do with your life! That every soul must figure out for themselves.

Adventurers in the Yawning Portal

Ability Scores

You may decide to either use the Standard Array (15, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8) or roll your stats with the 4d6 drop lowest method. Should you so choose, may Tymora look favourably upon you!

Backstory and Description

When writing a story, it's always best to start at the beginning. What that means for you is limited only by your imagination. Feel free to draw upon the readily available information on Waterdeep and the Sword Coast, and make sure to include you DM in your schemes, so that an adventurer of epic potential might be brought forth.
Some things to keep in mind, however: Please make sure to actually want to stay in Waterdeep. The city life is not for everyone, that much is sure, and I'd hate to see you go. Also, an adventuring party is stronger together. It has proved advantageous not to be evil, generally, and I have found Waterdeep is a place for forging friendships, not for stabbing new acquaintances in the back - the City Watch looks unkindly on that too, come to think of it.
Should you need inspiration, feel free to talk to your DM. What you are to encounter will surround themes of mystery and inquisition, intrigue and the fight against a devilishly dangerous evil. Make of that what you will.
And don't ask me how I know that.

Additional Backgrounds

In addition to those in the Player's Handbook, consider the backgrounds from the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide listed below. For wishes beyond that, please consult your DM.

name	description
City Watch	A member of the police force of Waterdeep, protecting its citizens and upholding its laws. Variant: Investigator
cloistered scholar	A studied individual hailing from an institute of learning, such as the Font of Knowledge in the Castle Ward.
courtier	A (former) member of the upper echelons of society, such as the noble courts or guild functionaries.
faction agent	Someone in service of the various factions of Waterdeep, such as the Harpers, the Order of the Gauntlet or even the Zhentarim.
far traveler	Hailing from a land so far-flung it's barely known by most common folk, they now call Waterdeep their more or less permanent home.
inheritor	Someone entrusted with a gift of great importance that set their life on the path of adventure.
mercenary veteran	An experienced sell-sword who now moves on to greater things - whether for good or for gold.
urban bounty hunter	Hunting down quarries in the dark allies or fancy ballrooms, bounty hunters need to rely on a broad set of skills.
Waterdavian noble	A scion of one of the great noble families, who have a reputation for being eccentric, spoiled, and very, very rich.

The Book Wyrm's Treasure

This Is Your Life

For this campaign, you are encouraged to use This Is Your Life section from Xanathar's Guide to Everything. Luckily for you, I have a copy! This isn't an obligatory exercise, and need not be followed exactly. Use it as a starting point for fleshing out your character and their backstory!

Friendly Faces

It is most vital to have a friend! Please feel free to consider if and how you might already know members of your future adventuring party. Are you siblings? Friends? Rivals? Frequent customers at the same bakery?
Adventurers are often directed towards the Yawning Portal Inn. Maybe you might even know someone from the famous tavern? Have a look at some of the regulars, and should someone strike a fancy, consider them a friendly acquaintance!

Parting Words

Well, it looks like your bullyblade is ready to enter the City of Splendors! Before stepping through the gates, have your DM give them a once-over, and have a look at the Guild Council Rules and Regulations for Adventurers.
Always be sure not to stand under a griffon rider, and if you are ever find yourself in the need for literature, historical scripts or arcane tomes, be sure to visit the Book Wyrm's Treasure in Trollskull Alley!