A pen and paper character sheet is classic, but let’s face it: digital sheets have evolved to become an extremely convenient tool for players and Game Masters alike. They can calculate your modifiers, track your inventory, and catalog your most obscure class features. Some even have exclusive features to supplement gameplay with app-based content.
If you’re starting to play a new TTRPG, you might be wondering if there’s a digital character creator for it or if you need to print a sheet. Well wonder no more! Here is a comprehensive list of various character creator apps and websites for popular games.
Most Games
Most major TTRPGs, and a lot of popular indies, can be played on virtual tabletops. Since the goal of VTTs is to create a streamlined online play experience, they come with their own built-in digital character sheets for a lot of systems. Roll20, Foundry, Fantasy Grounds, and Alchemy VTT all have sheets with automated functions. These work for popular games like DnD, of course, but also include games like Fallout, Alien RPG, Vaesen, Dragonbane, and Powered by the Apocalypse.
Demiplane isn’t a VTT, but its Nexus is the preferred character creator for Avatar: Legends, Candela Obscura, Daggerheart, Cosmere RPG, and Marvel Multiverse. Finally, Character Sheet Online is an app with a simple user interface that covers multiple games with its character maker.
Blades in the Dark - Dark Blades
The Dark Blades app on Google Play is a fan-created character builder for the popular heist RPG. The app aims to bring the dark, mysterious vibe of the game to its interface, but some user reviews indicate that the heavy use of grey makes it difficult to read sometimes. The developers have been active in regarding feedback, so many review issues could have been fixed by the time you check out Dark Blades.
Cairn - Kettlewright
The free, open source solution for your Cairn RPG characters is Kettlewright. It’s still in beta, but the current version empowers you to create characters and even manage whole parties. The source code is available in GitHub, so you can tinker with your own version of Kettlewright if you’ve got the time and skills.
Call of Cthulhu - Dhole’s House
Whether you’re playing 6th or 7th Edition CoC, or even Pulp Cthulhu, Dhole’s House has you covered. It also has character creation support for modern era CoC games. You can save multiple investigators on the site and download them as PDF character sheets to print. Keepers can also use the site to get handout templates for telegrams and newspapers articles.
Cyberpunk Red - Companion App
Usually when you see the words “Companion App” you’re getting something made by or at least approved by the official publisher of the connected game. This goes for the Cyberpunk RED app. While not created by R. Talsorian Games, it is approved by company and supported by Patreon donations. The app can give you balanced pre-gen characters, generate a random merc, or give you space to buy and store your own creation.
Cypher System - Cypher Tools
As a system that covers many genres and settings, you might think that you’d need multiple apps to keep track of various Cypher System characters. Publisher Monte Cook games instead chose to support all Cypher players with Cypher Tools. Once you create an account, you can build, store, and export many Cypher System characters from your different campaigns.
Dungeons & Dragons - DnDBeyond
As the largest TTRPG in the world, you know DnD has that corporate money for its own dedicated character creator site. Indeed, DnDBeyond is an app and website for players to store characters and DMs to maintain a digital library of adventure/setting books. It starts off as free but requires a subscription to host more characters and share game materials.
Those wanting a cheaper alternative can look into Fight Club 5th Edition. This app is free but only includes basic options at the start, and you’ll need to do some compendium editing to make use of expanded rules. For 3.5 stalwarts, there’s a dedicated app called RPG Scribe 3.5.
Dungeon Crawl Classics - Purple Sorcerer
Purple Sorcerer Games creates a lot of quality supplements for Dungeon Crawl Classics, but it all started with a level zero character generator. Today, that generator along with many others are at your disposal on the Purple Sorcerer website. There’s also tools for GMs like magic generators and monster generators.
Exalted 3rd Edition - Lotcastingatemi
If Exalted 3E is your game, looking into Lot-Casting Atemi. This site offers resources to create your own chronicle or join another’s. Character sheets created on this site are synced in real time across devices so you can make something on your PC and then bring it out on game day via your tablet.
Fabula Ultima - Fultimator
You might already have a Final Fantasy inspired character concept ready for the Fabula Ultima TTRPG. But do you know how to build them? The Fultimator builder is a fan effort that lets players create characters and GMs build homebrew content. It’s based on the web, but there’s also a desktop software so you don’t have to rely on an internet connection.
Fallout - Fallout2d20
The Fallout2d20 site is extremely simple and really made for mobile rather than PC– the interface will always be a vertical window even if you access it via web browser. When you first start it up, you go through a step-by-step process of creating your character for Modiphius’ Fallout RPG. It’s not the prettiest app in the world but it does the job.
GURPS - GURPS 4E Character Builder
With GURPS you have the freedom to play any character you want in any kind of setting you want. The GURPS 4E Character Builder helps you live that dream by offering a straightforward digital character sheet. There’s no flashy animations slowing your computer down, no microtransactions– just making a GURPS character.
Ironsword/Starforged - Pocketforge
The Pocketforge companion app from Rock Paper Story is built to be an all-in-one tool for both Ironsworn and Starforged, and even for mixing rules from the two. The app can record NPCs and delves plus roll oracles. The whole campaign can be printed or saved to your browser so it can be accessed offline on mobile devices.
Lancer - Comp/Con
The appeal of Lancer is the tactical mech combat that’s enhanced by its deep mech customization. The Comp/Con official companion app can help in the process of creating pilots and cataloging mech upgrades. But it also offers so much more. The GM can use the app to deliver worldbuilding tidbits and mission info mid-game as though the player pilots were receiving it in the cockpit of their mechs.
Level Up Advanced 5th Edition - Level Up Gateway
EN Publishing created Advanced 5th Edition to add more depth to the popular 5th Edition of DnD. So while the game plays very similarly, you have to put in some work to use DnD character makers for your A5E creations. Thankfully, EN noticed the need and is working on Level Up Gateway. The site is still a work in progress, but the team aims to make it into a proper, dedicated character creator for A5E.
Mothership - Mothership Companion
The sci-fi hit Mothership has its own official companion app for all your character creation needs: Mothership Companion. It’s available on both Apple and Android devices, and provides a nice minimalist character profile that fits in with the game’s theme. Don’t be fooled by its bare bones appearance, however, this app keeps track of detailed stats, makes inventory management a breeze, has a dice roller, and can even store unlimited characters with the Pro upgrade.
One Ring 2E - One Ring Match
If you want to set out for a classic journey under the One Ring 2E system, you’ll want to have One Ring Match at your side. This is a fan labor of love, and as such is still in beta without any fancy features. You basically pick your culture and calling, then fill out the digital sheet manually or push a button for random rolls. The end result is a finely-styled sheet that can be exported into PDF.
Pathfinder - Pathbuilder or RPG Scribe
There can be a lot to keep track of in Pathfinder, no matter which of the two editions you prefer. Pathbuilder comes to the rescue for Pathfinder 2E players, offering both a web character builder and Android app. The app and site operate independently and require some purchases to unlock all character options. Pathfinder 1E players have an app in RPG Scribe Pathfinder 1E.
RuneQuest - Runequesting
To take a brave step into the deadly and detailed world of RuneQuest, you’re going to need a character. Thankfully, Runequesting has you covered when it comes to making a digital character sheet. It’s licensed by game publisher Chaosium and has tools for both players and GMs.
Savage Worlds - Savaged.us
The Savaged.us character creator is the officially licensed site for Savage Worlds generators. You can use its tools to make characters, vehicles, power armor, ships, and walkers. It also comes with GM tools like an initiative tracker and damage calculators. FInally, you can save your creations and share them with your fellow players.
Shadowdark - Shadowdarklings
The owners of Shadowdark run Shadowdarklings, making it the ideal character generator for the game. They keep the creation tools updated with each cursed zine and even incorporated certain third-party options. You can import the character sheets made here to a select few VTTs like Owlbear Rodeo or Foundry.
Shadowrun - OMAE 3.0
If the dark future of Shadowrun is your thing, you might be familiar with OMAE 3.0. The site is done up with a neat cyber style, with the function being very straightforward. You start from the top with your character’s name, and go step-by-step picking attributes and abilities. The sheet does auto-populate with options from the core 6E book, but there’s no guidance given. This one is more for experienced players than newbies looking to learn.
Star Trek Adventures - Bcholmes
The Bcholmes online character generator for Star Trek Adventures 2E is one of the most comprehensive and stylish on this list. The presentation hits just right without sacrificing any readability. It includes creators for characters and starships, as well as a token maker for VTTs. It’s the best for the game, and a great example of what a character creator site should strive to be.
Star Wars FFG - Oggdude’s Character Generator
You’d expect a fan-favorite franchise like Star Wars to have a robust community-created resource for any game under the name. And you’d be right! Oggdude’s Character Generator is a site chock full of info for players and GMs alike. The actual character generator is a Windows program you install on your computer that lets you make characters, vehicles, and NPCs to store and later print at your convenience.
Starfinder - Hephaistos or Starbuilder
We’ve got another special case with Paizo’s Starfinder. The science-fantasy RPG matches its cousin Pathfinder by offering two choices of character app. Starbuilder is the premium app that comes with a base cost but offers up-to-date content offerings for Starfinder 1E. Many fans, however, sing the praises of Hephaistos for its performance and speed. It is notable that Hephaistos will eventually be usable for Starfinder 2E.
Tales of the Valiant - Shard VTT
The Kobold Press alternative to DnD 5E is still relatively new to the market, so a dedicated online character creator isn’t available yet. However, Kobold Press worked closely with Shard VTT to make Tales of the Valiant available soon after its release. Shard works well on mobile and PC so, while it may seem a lot to use a VTT just for a character generator, it is the best option for an online ToV character sheet.
Traveller - Traveller Character Generator
Whether you’re playing a game of Traveller 1E or 2E, you can get help creating a character online with the Traveller Character Generator. It’s a one page site without all the bells and whistles of sleek mobile app character sheets, but it is the most efficient way to make characters for both editions of Traveller. It also contains links to basic Traveller lore for the benefit of entirely new players.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay - Hammergen
A single person created Hammergen for the benefit of all WFRP 4E players. It doesn’t have an app, but the website is chock full of auto-generated character elements that use the core rulebook. You can also create custom skills, talents, trappings, and other elements to both use on your character and share with other players. Hammergen does allow for printable sheets.
Wildsea - Charsmith
The Wildsea RPG has a cool digital character creator by way of fans from the Charsmith. They put together a sleek site with a spiffy, straightforward UI and cycling animations of character art. Chasmith saves can save multiple groups consisting of characters, ships, and GMs. There’s also a compendium section so you can look up rules and lore while creating your character.
World of Darkness - Realm of Darkness
This one is a bit of an odd duck, but Realm of Darkness is technically an all-in-one tool for Vampire: the Masquerade, Werewolf: the Apocalypse and Hunter: the Reckoning. It also covers older World of Darkness. However, it’s not exactly a character generator app or online character sheet. Instead, it’s a Discord bot with built-in commands for all of your characters’ abilities and specialty die. There is a character sheet website from the same makers, with the goal being seamless synergy between your character and the Discord bot.
