As in any other roleplaying game, one of the most important things to get started is creating a character.

Your character is meant to represent you in the game. If Scions was a movie, your character would be equivalent to your part in the movie. This part can be VERY similar to you in real life, or it can be completely different - it's up to you. Some people want to play a swashbuckling Indiana Jones type hero, and some people want to play an insane Riddler type villain - or anything between. However, when creating a character, it's important to consider how other characters are going to react to your character - if you're going around killing people and stealing things, how do you expect the players around you to react?

Some people find it helpful to play along a common stereotype (a Mongrel Mercenary for a tough, dumb fighter) and add some elements to round it out (enjoys playing the flute). Most television and movie characters are based on this theme. Maybe you want to play a cowardly thief with the occasional streak of bravado..

The three most critical factors when deciding on a character is the character's Race, Religion and Class. These three factors help decide how your character might feel about things, and will also guide what skills your character will have (more on that later). For example, if you want to play a quiet bookworm, chances are the Mongrel Mercenary of Rend isn't the combination for you.

Your character's Race represents what type of creature it is. Humans are "normal" humans, but other races like the Angelics and Dark Elves abound in Scions, and your character can be one of several of these races as well. Some races lean more towards certain classes than others, but any race can be of any class.

Your character's Class represents your characters chosen profession, and what skills he/she has developed over years of training (or not training). Some classes excel at fighting, some at the Mystic Arts, and some like to build stuff. The best way to figure out what Class to select is to picture your character at a higher level, and select the most appropriate class to get there.

The third, and perhaps most important factor, is religion. Although most characters can choose to be an agnostic and not follow any particular god, certain powers, items and quests are limited to followers of certain gods. Also, the god you follow (or don't follow) has an impact on how others will deal with you, so choose wisely! Although a character can change their religion through in-game means, it isn't easy. Also note that both the cleric class and the Angelics race require a religion be declared.