Newb needs help with character creation

Hi all, I'm about to play my first game (D&D5e) and would like to create a character prior to the game. Do you need a paid subscription to do this? I can't seem to figure out how to do this. Thank you for any info :)

Hi Matt, If your DM has Character Vault access available, make sure what sheet they are using, and you can create a character in your own game and use the Character Vault to import it into their game. Check with them first, though. Many DMs like to participate in and monitor character creation.

Thank you for the response :) I assumed a character needed to be created before the game starts. Cheers!

I prefer to have my players create the character within the game.  Once invited, I make up a blank character sheet for them and they can come in and create their character taking advantage of the source books I have made available for them.  This ensures that it will be easier for them to level up their characters with the source material available to back them up.

That's interesting. I would've thought creating a character in-game would take forever. I've just made a character on D&D Beyond and it was more comprehensive than expected (background, characteristics, etc). Do you put a time limit on character creation?

I don't put any time limit on it.  When i start a campaign, I usually start to get players in advance.  I open up a discord channel for them to meet, discuss, and get basic information about the campaign and setting.  From this, they usually arrive at the session 0 with a character concept in mind and it then just comes down to putting the stats to the character.  Using the charactermancer in game, they can create the stats within about 10 to 15 minutes, depending upon the experience level of the player and questions which come up as they are choosing options.  This actually helps because newer players don't know or understand some of the options available and other players and I are there to help explain things to them. We can then also RP some of how they come together as a party, which I think helps with immersion and team building.  I have yet to have character creation last more than 30 minutes which includes some of the campaign discussion and joking around. They can then either add their backstory as time allows between session 0 and the first actual play session.  I have not used D&D Beyond and neither have any of my players, but I do know that there are players who do create their characters and then bring them into a campaign.  Either way, it would be best to talk to the DM about their approach and how they want to have the characters made when signing up or discussing the campaign ahead of starting so that there are no surprises on both sides.

In addition to all of the above, you can absolutely use something like DnD Beyond or your own game set up on Roll20 to create your character. It gives you chance to play with some different ideas or even see what directions you might want to take at higher levels. If the vault isn't an option when game time comes you can just have two tabs open and copy paste across from your test game to the actual game. Once you are more familiar with the options/rules/system it gets quicker and easier but there is absolutely nothing to stop you have most of the info lined up and ready to go :) Most of all though, have fun... it is a game after all!

Great responses. Thank you guys!