Sat Nov 28 2025
Character Creation in Of Ash and Steel – Are You Stuck as Tristan?
There is no traditional character creator—you play as Tristan, a fixed protagonist. Here’s what that means and how to personalize your run anyway.
No Custom Avatar
Tristan is the only protagonist.
You cannot change name, gender, or appearance. Dialogue and cutscenes reference Tristan directly, similar to Geralt in The Witcher. The team focused resources on story and worldbuilding instead of a full creator.
How You Can Customize
Build, gear, and choices still shape your playthrough.
Build & stats
Allocate Strength/Dexterity/Insight/Fortitude to craft your archetype—nimble archer or heavy knight. Gear and faction perks reinforce your build. See the stance guide and faction guide.
Appearance via gear
Armor and weapons change Tristan’s look: cloaks, plate, or rogue leathers. Late-game sets drastically alter silhouette even if the face stays the same.
Role-play via dialogue and choices: pick responses that fit your Tristan (compassionate, sarcastic, ruthless). Faction alignment and stance preference also flavor your run. For stamina/damage tuning, use the build calculator.
Mods & Future Options
Could mods unlock custom characters?
No major character overhaul mods exist yet, but the community is exploring model swaps. Watch NexusMods for future experiments.
Until then, embrace Tristan as your lens into Grayshaft. The “character creation” is how you build him: stats, gear, stance, and faction choices. For newcomers, start with the Beginner’s Guide and Gameplay Overview.