Well you can't really make a character without the players handbook because difrent games have difrent rules.
However for games like DnD its VERY easy to find the Handbook as a Ebook.
Just do a google search and it shouldnt take you more then a minute to find it.
You dont need to read the Whole handbook ofcourse, just read the intro, and about your class and race. you will learn most of the rules in your first game session anyway, and not from the handbook itself.
Hope this will help you a littlebit, and if your stuck on anything you can allways send a PM my way :)