Starfield Character Creation Explained

New Bethesda game Starfield offers freedom and impressive character customization options, significantly improved in comparison to their previous titles. Some of the features haven’t appeared before in any Bethesda games.

https://youtu.be/HBhzv2YH2kY

Table of Contents

Introduction

Various alien races, droids and robots were shown in a glimpse of gameplay during Xbox & Bethesda Showcase 2022, but as far as we know character customization will be focused on humans only. Just looking at the game footage above, we can tell how creative players can be to create their perfect protagonist. This also means we can expect variety in NPC’s appearance, offering a better game experience.

Starfield’s character creation system offers multiple options to create diverse and unique characters: biometric ID, body, face, background and traits. We don’t know yet every single detail, hair option or available eye color, but enough to understand, and start theory crafting about the new Bethesda game. Let’s take a closer look at what we know and what we have seen already.

“It’s an Epic Role-playing game where you get to be who you want and go where you want.“
Todd Howard, Xbox & Bethesda Showcase 2022

Biometric ID

This is the pre-set menu. You can choose one of the base models, and customize it further in the next character creator tab. You can also keep one of the loadouts. Each model has a personal record number, so far it looks like we can select at least one of 14 pre-sets. Biometrics can be changed later in the game by visiting the genetics facility. We don’t know whether these facilities are going to be available on your own ship or across all civilized Starfield planets.

Body

In the body, tab players can select from three options to customise their character’s body. First, we have the body type pre-sets that can be adjusted using the circular grid with three extremum areas: muscular, thin and heavy. Changing the balance on the grid with the dot’s position, you can define your character’s musculature, weight and body structure. As of now, we don’t know if these presets will influence the gameplay.

Next, we have a very interesting setting, the Walk style, which let you pick your character’s walking animation. We don’t know how many available options we will be able to choose from. Will it be only classic feminine and masculine walking styles or more detailed, like cheerful, or proud? However, it’s the first time we will be given the “walk style’ option in the Bethesda game. The last slider allows choosing the skin tone.

Face

A character’s facial attributes can be adjusted in the Face tab. Unfortunately, during the Bethesda showcase, Todd Howard didn’t spend much time on this category. However, using sliders we have numerous options to choose from, to adjust complexion, eyes, head shapes, hair, and hair colour. He also reassured that starfield character customisation is their “most flexible yet”.

Background

One of the biggest Bethesda strengths is storytelling, and next, we have the character background.

You can choose your character’s origin story from 20 available in total. In an interview with IGN, Todd Haward explained the background is the “starting class” This setting will determine your three starting skills and how the game environment and NPC characters will react and interact with your character. As we know from previous Bethesda titles, what skills and which path you decide next is completely up to you and with no limitations.

During the gameplay reveal we could see a protagonist with a Diplomat background talking with an NPC character, who comments:

“…says here you spend some time as a diplomat. …having a way with words might prove useful.“

Not every NPC’s reaction to your character’s origin can be positive. Some may accuse you of murder because they learn you are a Gangster or they simply don’t like your chef’s cuisine.

The list of characters’ backgrounds

So far we have seen sixteen character’s backgrounds:

Beast Hunter
Bouncer
Bounty Hunter
Chef
Combat Medic
Cyber Runner
Cyberneticist
Diplomat
Explorer
Gangster
Homesteader
Industrialist
Long Hauler
Pilgrim
Professor
Ronin

We have details about only five of the characters’ backgrounds:

Chef

“While the unrefined masses scarfed down Chunks by the shipload, you catered to those with a more… discerning palate. In your kitchen, countless alien species became true culinary masterpieces.”

Starting Skills:

Gastronomy – You can craft speciality food and drinks, and research additional recipes at a Research Lab
Duelling – Melee weapons do 10% more damage
Wellness – Gain 30 points in maximum health

Cyberneticist

“Robots? Mere toys. Neuroamps? Good for parlor tricks. The Colony War may have made implants and upgrades available to veterans, but you once saw a greater future. Humans and machines, as one.”

Starting Skills:

Medicine – Med Packs heal 10% more
Robotics – You deal 105 more damage to Robots and Turrets
Lasers – Laser weapons do 10% more damage

Cyber Runner

“From Neon to New Atlantis, the megacorps stand as monuments to power, prestige and profit. You’ve worked both for and against them, on the inside and out, often sacrificing conscience for credits.”

Starting Skills:

Pistol Certification – Pistols do 10% more damage
Security – You can attempt to hack Advanced locks and bank two auto attempts
Persuasion – Gain an increased chance of success in speech challenges

Combat Medic

“Leave it to human beings to fight over something as infinite as outer space. That’s where you come in. You’ve never been afraid to take on the enemy… but you’d much rather take care of your friends.”

Starting Skills:

Pistol Certification – Pistols do 10% more damage
Medicine – Med Packs heal 10% more
Weight Lifting – Increase total carrying capacity by 10 kilograms

Diplomat

“The wars are over. Peace no reigns the Settled Systems. But only because there are those quietly fighting to keep it. Because of you, agreements were signed, words were heeded… lives were spared.”

Starting Skills:

Persuasion – Gain an increased chance of success on speech challenges
Diplomacy – You can force a target NPC at or below your level to stop fighting for a while
Bargaining – Buy items for 5% less and sell them for 10% more

Traits

Lastly, players can select up to three attributes from a wide list of Traits to shape their characters even further. Each provides unique advantages and disadvantages and thus traits are optional. However, some traits cannot be combined with others. For example, having Traits like “Introvert” can’t be combined with the “Extrovert” trait. We don’t know how exactly the traits will influence the gameplay, yet we have some details about a couple of them. For example, with the “Kid Stuff” trait, your character will be able to visit their alive parents, and 10% of all the money players earn will be deducted and sent to the parents. This opens possible dialogue options maybe special quests or events in-game.

Traits we have seen so far

Trait

Advantages

Disadvantages

Incompatible Traits

Introvert

More endurance when adventuring alone.

Less endurance when adventuring with other human companions.

Extrovert

Kid Stuff

Your parents are alive and you can visit them at their home.

10% of the money you earn is deducted automatically and sent to your parents.

–

Neon Street Rat

Gain access to special dialogue options and better rewards from some missions on Neon.

Crime bounty by other factions is greatly increased.

Any other faction allegiance trait.

Raised Enlightened

Gain a significant discount at the Enlightened organization store.

Lose access to the Sanctum Universum organization store.

Any other religion trait.

Raised Universal

Gain a significant discount at the Sanctum Universum church store

Lose access to the Enlightened organization store.

Any other religion trait

Serpent’s Embrace

Grav jumping provides a temporary boost to health and endurance.

Health and endurance are lowered if you don’t continue jumping regularly – like an addiction.

Any other religion trait.

Spaced

Health and endurance are increased when in space.

Health and endurance are decreased when on the surface.

Terra Firma

Starter Home

You own a small house on a peaceful little moon.

Start with a 50,000 credit mortgage with Galbank.

–

Other traits:

Alien DNA
Empath
Extrovert
Freestart Collective Settler
Taskmaster
Terra Firma
United Colonies Natives
Unwanted Hero

Replayability & Future

That’s everything we know about the character creation in Starfield revealed so far. This all opens many questions about Starfield gameplay, but also gives us a glimpse of how complex and engaging the new Bethesda game will be. Just like in their previous games, the character creation options, protagonist origins and unique traits will increase the replayability of Starfield, allowing us to spend countless hours in one more extremely engaging and captivating world. Reminds me of Skyrim and NPC’s reactions to my protagonist, after I killed my first dragon. I could feel like the hero, hearing the cheers of happiness of the guards that fought at my side, and the excited villagers’ whispers on my way to the hold. Imagine if your character origin or trait would create a completely different NPC’s reaction…

Bethesda officially confirmed that in the upcoming months more about the Starfield will be revealed.

Thanks for reading!

We will be doing more deep dives into Starfield and covering the game on starfieldguides.com. I’d encourage you to hit the subscribe for the newsletter if you want the latest posts and guides when the game launches. I’ll also be streaming the game on twitch.tv/deltiasgaming.

Introduction

Biometric ID

Body

Face

Background

The list of characters’ backgrounds

Chef

Cyberneticist

Cyber Runner

Combat Medic

Diplomat

Traits

Traits we have seen so far

Trait

Advantages

Disadvantages

Incompatible Traits

Replayability & Future

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