Step 1: Origins and You

Right off the bat, you need to decide if you're planning to create a fully customized character or if you want to pick one of the Origins Larian Studios put together instead. If you're having trouble deciding on a build of your own, and/or are new to the systems of Dungeons & Dragons, picking an Origin can be a good choice for you. Origins are premade characters, with their appearance, class, race, and Ability scores all set. Beginning as an Origin character will even include a fully-realized backstory, tailoring the experience further: this will come up in the intro to give the player an idea of where they stand in this world, and it will influence your playthrough accordingly. There are three important things to keep in mind:

1. While this Origin character does have its own thoughts and feelings, hopes and desires, you are ultimately the one in control. If you want Gale the Wizard to turn into a kleptomaniac, you can do that.
2. To go with the above, you are able to respec the Origin character's class. If you want to diverge from being a Barbarian with Karlach, and decide to be a Paladin, that is your right. However, the game will assume you are still the original class for story purposes.
3. Each of the Origin characters - except for The Dark Urge - double as Companions in the story. Whether you start as one or not, you can (and will) stumble across the others during your journey, and can bring them along on your epic quest.

Speaking of The Dark Urge, they are special in-that they are a union between custom character and Origin character: you have full control of their appearance, race, and class, but their backstory is a dark, terrifying mystery that will be revealed over the course of the game. We've been told this is a brutal storyline, so only pick The Dark Urge if you want to get your murder on!

At the time of writing, there are 6 Origin characters to choose from (plus the aforementioned Dark Urge). Character descriptions come directly from Larian:

Astarion is a High Elf Rogue with the Charlatan background.

"Astarion prowled the night as a vampire spawn for centuries, forced to follow the orders of his sadistic master, Cazador: seduce every fool with a pulse, and lure them back to Cazador's lair. Free for now, Astarion will do anything to keep his life in the light. He can see but one way to ensure his liberty for good: become many times more powerful than his old abuser could ever dream of being.

His body is forever tainted by the intricate, patterned scarring Cazador carved upon his back, and the elder vampire seems set on sending out waves of hunters seeking to capture his lost spawn."

Lae'zel is a Githyanki Fighter with the Soldier background.

"Crashed down to the Sword Coast from the stars, Lae'zel is a fierce warrior, even by the standards of militant githyanki society. When faced with the possibility of becoming a mind flayer, the monster she has dedicated her life to defeating, she must prove her worth and earn the right to rejoin her people -- if they don't execute her first. Will Lae'zel's strength and determination be enough to prove herself to Queen Vlaakith, or must she walk another path in exile?"

Gale is a Human Wizard with the Sage background.

"What’s a god to a world-class wizard? Gale was once a formidable archmage in Waterdeep, but pushed his relationship with the goddess Mystra too far. Failing to usurp his former lover’s godhood, the goddess stole Gale’s magics away and cursed him with the Netherese Orb, a dangerous artefact with enough magical potential energy in it to level a city if it were allowed to escape.

Beyond learning the lesson for his hubris, Gale has now become beset with concern for the danger he poses to others around him, and is worried that if he undergoes ceremorphosis, the angry Orb could imperil countless lives if he can’t neutralise it first."

Shadowheart is a High Half-Elf Cleric (Trickery Domain) with the Acolyte background.

"A devoted cleric of Shar, goddess of darkness and loss, Shadowheart agreed to have her memories wiped as part of a holy mission. Now its sole survivor, she must deliver a powerful relic back to her kin in order to win Shar's love and have her memories restored – but all the while, she is tormented by strange, painful magic that she struggles to understand."

Wyll is a Human Warlock with the Folk Hero background.

"From a scion of a famed Baldurian house to a life of adventure on the road, Wyll’s life as the monster hunter called the Blade of Frontiers has made him one of the beating hearts of the Sword Coast. While he has done great deeds for the Coast’s people, the source of his power remains secret. The cambion Mizora drew Wyll into a warlock’s pact in a moment with many lives at stake, and cursed him with the duty of hunting her enemies. Mizora only asks Wyll to sacrifice devilish creatures to her, but a cambion’s ambitions are ever fickle, and Wyll wishes to escape the pact before its price grows cruel."

Karlach is a Zariel Tiefling Barbarian with the Outlander background.

"Fresh-escaped from Hell, Karlach is finally free of the archdevil Zariel - but not from the infernal engine Zariel planted in her chest. With her first taste of freedom in ten years, Karlach is eager to find a fix for the engine that's burning hotter and hotter before it burns her out completely. But even more premier in her mind? Exploring, finding like-minded travellers, falling in love (or lust)... and taking revenge on the man who sold her to Zariel all those years ago."

**Because Origins are predefined, they aren't the full-fledged character creation experience I want to focus on. As such, the rest of the time I will be assuming you want to create a completely custom character.**

Continue Building Your Baldur's Gate III Character

When you're ready to continue, head to one of the other sections of this guide; Race being next in the game!