I love creating characters in games. I can't even begin to count the amount of hours I've spent pouring over the options in character creation suites over the years, which is partly what makes the prospect of diving into Baldur's Gate 3 so exciting. From what I've seen so far, Larian's character builder looks impressively diverse and expansive, with options to customize just about every facet of your protagonist – from their appearance to their background, class, and skillset. Will I make myself in the new Baldur's Gate adventure, though? That's the big question. The answer to that, in my case, is almost always no.
Since both Starfield and Baldur's Gate 3 will let us create and customize a character of our own, it's got me reflecting on my history with RPGs when it comes to bringing a playable protagonist to life. With a few exceptions – such as Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and Story of Seasons – I never make myself in the games I play. I firmly believe it's incredibly important that we can make a character like ourselves if we want to, and I will always support more diversity so that everyone can see themselves reflected in the media they consume. More often than not, though, I want to get lost in the fantasy of role-playing as someone who's far cooler and more interesting than I am.
