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Level 0 Characters for 5e

Level 0 characters are a topic I didn't know I wanted to write about until @DnDEdition tagged me in a post describing a homebrew approach to Level 0 characters.
While I like the creativity they put into their Level 0 character generation process, here are my thoughts on using Level 0 characters.

Level 0 character generation

Follow the steps described in the Basic Rules/Player's Handbook as follows:
  1. Choose a Race
  2. skip Choose a Class. Your base Hit Points are 6.
  3. Determine Ability Scores
  4. Describe Your Character
  5. Play the game.

Race

Your choice of race will influence your Ability Scores and Skills. At Level 0, this can be especially important. A magical Cantrip is a potent spell and a Skill Proficiency is something most characters will not have.

If you use Variant Human rules including Feats, you should grant the Feat at this stage. It may not have the same effect for a Level 0 character as for a standard Level 1, but that seems appropriate.

Skip Choose a Class

The major difference between Level 0 and Level 1  is the benefit of a Class. Classes determine Hit Dice, Proficiencies and much more. At Level 0 you get none of that.

Since the smallest Hit Die for any class is a d6, use 6 Hit Points as the base Hit Points for your Level 0 character. Characters who choose classes with more Hit Points gain those at Level 1.

Determine Ability Scores

Do this like you usually do. Pick a method and generate your Ability Scores. Apply bonuses from your Race.

Describe Your Character

The most significant step of Describing Your Character will be choosing a Background. This is intended to reflect a character's previous life and training, so it serves as the source of Proficiencies and Equipment your Level 0 character will receive.

Use a Proficiency Bonus of +2 for these Proficiencies, as well as any granted by Race.

In my opinion, this gives you some direction for how your character will act and grow. If you wanted to have Level 0 characters who are children or young adults you could decide to give part of a Background or use none at all.

You can still describe all of the other components of your character's description, such as Alignment, Bonds, Flaws and Ideals, but I imagine that Level 0 characters are most interesting to players that want to determine these details through play. Your Level 0 character may be in the middle of experiencing the events that influence their later description.

Playing with Level 0 Characters

There's a big challenge in playing Level 0 characters. You won't have many Hit Points, Proficiencies or any Class Abilities. This makes you pretty vulnerable and below the average in terms of capabilities, so take advantage of this short time to play a scene of personal significance.

As Level 0 characters coming together, this is probably a moment that is formative for your later campaign; think about how you all met and what things became important to you.

Consider this a golden opportunity to make future friends and experience defeat.

Play Level 0 for exactly one session. Level the characters up and come back for Level 1 next time.

Experiencing Defeat

No one likes losing. Yet, everyone loves a good villain. A Level 0 game is a great opportunity to showcase characters that are interesting and come together in the face of a threat, specifically one that will come back later in the game (at Level 1) to cause trouble for the characters again.

At Level 0, lose. Let the villain defeat the characters and throw it in their face. Leave them broken and alone, unworthy of being finished off. Then let them come back at Level 1 for revenge.

This doesn't have to be combat; it could be a social defeat or a puzzle that must be solved to enter a dungeon. Have fun with defeat and let it shape your character.

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