| name | gd-design-character |
| description | Character and class design documentation. Use when designing character archetypes, creating class systems, defining abilities and skills, balancing character stats, or designing progression systems. |
Character Design
Character Template
## [Character Name/Class]
### Role
[What this character does in the game]
### Fantasy
[The player fantasy this fulfills]
### Base Stats
| Stat | Value | Description |
|------|-------|-------------|
| Health | [X] | Hit points |
| Speed | [Y] | Movement speed |
| Damage | [Z] | Base damage |
| [Etc] | [...] | [...] |
### Abilities
#### Ability 1: [Name]
**Type:** Passive | Active | Ultimate
**Description:** [What it does]
**Trigger:** [How to activate]
**Effect:** [Detailed mechanics]
**Duration:** [How long it lasts]
**Cooldown:** [Between uses]
**Damage/Healing:** [Numbers]
**Visual:** [What player sees]
**Audio:** [What player hears]
### Equipment
- **Primary:** [Weapon/Tool]
- **Secondary:** [Weapon/Tool]
- **Armor:** [Protection]
- **Consumables:** [Items]
### Strengths
- [What this character excels at]
### Weaknesses
- [What this character struggles with]
### Counters
- [Who/what beats this character]
### Synergies
- [Works well with...]
### Progression
| Level | Unlock |
|-------|--------|
| 1 | [Base ability] |
| 5 | [Upgrade 1] |
| 10 | [Upgrade 2] |
Character Design Principles
Rock-Paper-Scissors
Every character should have:
- Strengths - Situations where they excel
- Weaknesses - Situations where they struggle
- Counters - Specific hard counters
Clear Fantasy
Each character should embody:
- An identity - "I am the..." statement
- A fantasy - Power trip or fantasy fulfillment
- A moment - When this character shines
Accessibility
Characters should be:
- Easy to learn - Basic understanding in minutes
- Hard to master - Skill ceiling for dedicated players
- Distinct - No overlap with other characters
Class Types
Offensive
Focused on dealing damage:
- High damage output
- Low survivability
- Skill-based positioning
Defensive
Focused on protection and support:
- High health/armor
- Team utility
- Low damage output
Support
Focused on helping team:
- Healing/buffing
- Utility and control
- Resource generation
Hybrid
Mixed capabilities:
- Multiple roles
- Flexibility
- Jack of all trades, master of none
Balance Considerations
Statistical Balance
Ensure characters are numerically balanced:
| Aspect | Considerations |
|---|
| DPS | Damage per second across time |
| TTK | Time to kill average opponent |
| Survivability | Time to die under fire |
| Utility | Value added to team |
Skill Expression
Ensure skill matters:
- Low floor - New players can contribute
- High ceiling - Experts can outplay basics
- Multiple techniques - Different playstyles
- Outplay potential - Can beat stronger opponents
Team Balance
For team-based games:
- No mandatory character
- No trap characters
- Multiple viable compositions
- Each character has a role
Character Review Checklist
Before finalizing a character:
