With just a few words of description, you can make your character’s class abilities unique from other characters of that class, without changing any of the mechanics. Personalizing your character in this way can emphasize that your character is a creation all your own!

What does “flavor” mean?

If you’re unfamiliar with the term, “flavor” in this context refers to the nonmechanical description of something in the game. For example, some of the mechanics (or “crunch”) of Tasha’s hideous laughter are the spell’s level, components required, range, duration, concentration required, the imposition of a Wisdom saving throw on the target, and the incapacitated and prone condition as a consequence of a failed save. The “flavor” part of Tasha’s hideous laughter is that, should the target fall victim to the spell, they collapse in fits of laughter.

Another example: Celeste the sorcerer is walking through the forest. The Dungeon Master calls for a Wisdom (Perception) check for her to find the path through the woods. The player rolls a d20, adds Celeste’s modifiers, and tells the DM the result. The Dungeon Master narrates the consequences of that result.

Later on, Celeste is traversing a series of caves. The player tells the DM that Celeste is looking for any evidence of living creatures in these caves, so the DM calls for a Wisdom (Perception) check. The player rolls a d20, adds Celeste’s modifiers, and tells the DM the result. The Dungeon Master narrates the consequences of that result.

Mechanically speaking, the same thing happened here. But the roleplaying and narrative situations were different. When people talk about flavor, they’re talking about the narrative of the game rather than the mechanics. Narrative and mechanic elements certainly influence each other, but you can customize the narrative “look” of a game element to personalize it to the situation.

So, how does this apply to D&D players?

Whether you’re playing a martial or caster class, you can add a little personal flavor to your character. Some abilities (most spells, some class features) come with flavor already, but that doesn’t prohibit you from coming up with your own.

If your character mainly attacks with a weapon, what does that weapon look like? (We touched on this a bit in the Equipment post.) How does their training show through in their fighting style? A well-trained fighter with a shield and sword might plant their feet, calmly alternating between offense and defense, with practiced form even in the most chaotic battles. A streetwise rogue might be fighting one opponent while keeping an eye on their surroundings, never leaving their back exposed to enemy fire.

How does your paladin or cleric pray to their deity, and how does that reflect your character’s personality and the characteristics of that deity? What does their Channel Divinity look like? Are they cloaked in radiant light, or covered in holy fire, as they invoke that power? Each deity presented in the core books has certain symbols associated with them, so you might consider incorporating those themes into your character’s spells and other abilities.

Like the paladin or cleric, a warlock is connected to a higher power. How does the aesthetic of your warlock’s patron come through in their powers? Is your warlock marked by their patron in any way?

What does your barbarian’s rage look like? Does it manifest as a change in appearance, some sort of battle aura that surrounds them? Do your character’s mannerisms change during this state?

What does it look like when your druid uses Wild Shape? Is the transformation especially visceral, or is it a “blink and they’re a wolf now” sort of magic? Do those animal forms share a certain physical characteristic (a mark, for example) that identifies them as your character?

What do other characters sense when they receive your Bardic Inspiration? Does your bard play a certain song or say a certain phrase, or does it change depending on the circumstances?

What does it look like when your monk uses their ki, or one of their ki features like Flurry of Blows? Is there any sort of visual cue to others that your character is using a special ability?

How has your ranger learned to navigate the wilds? Is it obvious that they are constantly looking around them, taking stock of their surroundings? Or, have they honed their senses so that even if they look distracted, they remain vigilant?

Does any additional effect accompany your sorcerer’s Metamagic, something perhaps indicative of the source of their magic? How does your sorcerer’s innate magic look different from other classes’ spells? Is their magic a spectacle, or is it more subtle?

How does your wizard prepare their spells? Does it look like they’re cramming for a test, or are they leisurely leafing through their spellbook? Do they add notes to the spells they’ve written down as a sort of study guide, or do they keep their writings meticulously tidy?

To summarize: how does your character perform their abilities, and what does it look like?

Re-flavoring your character’s actions is totally optional, but it’s a fun way to put your own spin on D&D and make your character stand out!

Have you done this before? Have any stories about some particularly cool flavor for a character or a spell? Anything I missed or that you’d like to add?