Some Basic Information
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
Deep within the still centre of my being
May I find peace.
Silently within the quiet of the Grove
May I share peace.
Gently within the greater circle of humankind
May I radiate peace.
-druid prayer
Classes
Here are few. Theres more info in D&D players guide
This is what your character does, what they have trained in, what their trade is.
Paladin
There are a number of fighting orders, whose members dedicate their lives to a single deity, or, to a group of gods. Outside those orders, one might find lone warriors who pledged their power to one more gods - making a pledge similar to that made by the militant orders. They too are considered Warriors of the Gods.
It is common knowledge that once a oath has been made to the gods by a warrior (or anyone really), it can never be unmade. Forsaking the oath will most surely bring the wrath of all the gods down on the Warrior.
Those who choose the path of the warrior are usually barred from the path of the priest, with whom they share the worship, if through slightly different means. This is not always the case but in most orders it is.
Mage
A magick user or the unknown arts. They practise the archane section of magic.
geeks of the D&D world.
studied books for years to get where they are today.
For added realism for your magical play
I suggest you read the intro first>
AT intro
G&E
At laws
Mono/Duo/poly
Sacrifices
�Evil� magic is done in pretty much the same ways that �good� magic is done
� only the psychological and spiritual/ethical flavors are different,
though these will affect such issues as what sort of spirits
will help or hinder the magic as well as reactions by other characters.
But let me close this topic by repeating the Law of Positive Attraction,
that �like attracts like.� A dedication to �demonic� pursuits tends to
attract �demonic� energies (many of whom are aligned �Hungry�) and repeated
destructive acts usually wind up attracting destruction (that�s why you
never meet a genuinely happy and successful diabolist).
This is especially true in the psychic realms, where physically weak �victims�
may have sneaky and unexpected ways of lashing back at their unwary attackers
(unlike most victims of physical violence). Or to put it
another way, �those who live by the wand, often die by the wand.�
Fighters
These are warriors, who have had some training.
Don't hit at all if it can be avoided, but never hit softly. � Theodore Roosevelt
Cleric
Priests, followers sworn to a god. Becoming a priest is a choice for life. Once a mortal has chosen to serve a god as priest, the path back is blockced. Leaving priesthood means forsaking one's sworn oath. Any priest doing so is marked as traiter, and should expect to be treated as one by other priests.
If your order says you cant do something, you cant.
its the same as breaking your oath.
Sorcerer
Natural magic users. They do not need spellbooks.
charsmatic pretty boys
mages generally hate them because they had it sooo easy
Druid
When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe. (John Muir)
Ranger
In wildness is the preservation of the World.
(Henry David Thoreau, Walking)
heroic types.
Bard
Roaming musicians, they normally dabble in magic. Can be pretty cool.
tradiationally week fighters and cowards.
arent always though, but it can be fun.
Monk
These also have sworn an oath to a god. They are experts in unarmed fighting. They follow simple lifes and may have taken on a certain diet. They sometimes may serve in armies under special circumstances. They may have studied in a monastery or under a master.
Barbarians
Me, big warrior. Brought up on raw meat in land of ice. Me smite good...etc etc
Can be played other ways though, but generally isnt. Maybe you think too much and got kicked out of your tribe because you didnt think the best thing in the world was to die in battle? Maybe you were captured and not allowed to die? Maybe you became a slave and are out for revenge then going home?
Thief
You are going to run in to these. Generally when you most cant afford it. Why not be one yourself and do it to other people. You also get more chances to backstab. Go on, be a thief
Links
info on bards
more for bard
warrior quotes, suitable for some fighters, some clerics, some monks, some barbiarians
zen quotes for monks
druidry
Species/Races
Each have their own strenghts and weaknesses, they alter your class, some enhance some detract, some are not possible, but all are fun to play. Heres a few. There is more info in players guide
Human
a good few types
talk to me
Orc
generally not used much
half-orc more useful
Elf
a few sub types
ex wood elf
Dwarf
a few subtypes here too
Halfing
not hobbits
but pretty close
gnome
minus a fishing rod
Half-elf
cute, but rareish
have some difficulty
bit of outsiders generally
Half-orc
have the same problem as half elves
but more
as orcs arent nice
There are also some species that are not used as pc's ex. fairys, centares, dragons.
What d&d character are you?