Dramatis personae
Character generator
A name, an age and a job, then the inner life that drives a story: what they want, what they need, what holds them back and what they hide.
Character sheet
Typing in a field locks it, so New character keeps your changes.
Want, need, flaw: using the sheet
The want is what your character chases on the page: the job, the house, the answer. The need is what they must learn to be whole, and usually they can’t see it. Strong stories set the two against each other, so that getting the want means facing the need. The flaw is the habit that keeps them from learning it, the secret is what could come out at the worst moment, and the quirk is a small detail that makes them easy to picture.
Pick a flavour for the names and jobs, and an age range or any age; children and teenagers get jobs and goals that suit them. Every field can be edited. Typing in one locks it, so New character redraws only the rest, and the dice beside a field roll just that field. When you’re happy, copy the sheet, download it as Markdown for your notes app or print it.
Questions
Are these real names?
Contemporary and historical names pair real first names and surnames from many languages at random, so they aren’t meant to be anyone in particular. Fantasy names are built from syllables. Search a name before you publish it, in case it belongs to someone well known.
What is the difference between a want and a need?
A want is a goal the character knows about and can describe. A need is an inner change they would rather avoid. In many stories the character wins the want, or gives it up, only after meeting the need.
Does the generator save my characters?
No. Your edits stay on the page until you leave it, and nothing is sent anywhere. Copy, download or print the sheet to keep it.