Rather than having classes to choose from, Mount&Blade instead lets you choose backgrounds that determine your starting skills and act as a sort of difficulty setting. Unlike some RPGs your starting stats are not "rolled" for you, so every time you choose a particular background the base stats will be the same.
Once you have chosen a background and proficiency you move onto point distribution.
Minor Noble
As the heir of a minor noble you start with 100 Renown, four Mercenaries, and 520 denars. You also get to bear your own banner at the very start (characters from humbler backgrounds have to earn the right to bear a banner). Mercenaries are good fighters, and together with your starting money this will make the early stages of the game easier.
SwordsmanshipYou start with a Segmented Helmet, Padded Leather, Leather Boots, Leather Gloves, a Saddle Horse, a Kite Shield, a Bastard Sword, a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, and a Smoked Fish. Starting EXP: 125 |
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ArcheryYou start with a Segmented Helmet, Padded Leather, Leather Boots, Leather Gloves, a Saddle Horse, a Sword, a Short Bow, Arrows, and a Smoked Fish. Starting EXP: 157 |
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MedicineYou start with a Segmented Helmet, Padded Leather, Leather Boots, Leather Gloves, a Saddle Horse, two Winged Maces, a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, a Round Shield, and a Smoked Fish. Starting EXP: 132 |
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Merchant
As a merchant you start with 20 Renown, three Caravan Guards, 1250 denars, four Salt, three Pottery, a Sumpter Horse, and a Smoked Fish.
SwordsmanshipYou start with a Leather Jacket, Leather Boots, a Saddle Horse, a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, a Sword, and a Wooden Shield. Starting EXP: 142 |
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ArcheryYou start with a Leather Jacket, Leather Boots, a Saddle Horse, a Hunting Bow, Arrows, and a Quarter Staff. Starting EXP: 143 |
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MedicineYou start with a Leather Jacket, Leather Boots, a Saddle Horse, a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, two Winged Maces, and a Dagger. Starting EXP: 145 |
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Unknown adventurer
As an unknown adventurer you start with 35 denars, 0 Renown, a Swaybacked Saddle Horse, Tattered Leather Gloves, a Ragged Leather Jerkin, Leather Boots, and a Smoked Fish. This background choice requires more work than the others.
SwordsmanshipYou start with a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, and a Rusty Arming Sword. Starting EXP: 111 |
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ArcheryYou start with a Hunting Bow, Arrows, and a Quarter Staff. Starting EXP: 108 |
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MedicineYou start with a Hunting Crossbow, Bolts, a Winged Mace, a Dagger, and a Staff. Starting EXP: 111 |
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Point distribution
Once you have chosen your background and proficiency you will see the character creation screen. First you have to decide whether you want to be allowed to quit without saving. Enabling this will allow you to quit and reload your game to undo a disastrous battle or otherwise experiment with things.
Once you have decided on a saving mode you get to distribute points to your skills and attributes (see those pages for more information on what each does). Before you can continue you must distribute all skill, attribute, and weapon points, and also give your character a name.
Face generation
Next you get to customise your face. You can rotate the face by holding 
and dragging around, and you can customise various features by moving the sliders or clicking the buttons. You can also click Randomize to have the game create a face (which you can then tweak if you wish). Once you're happy with your face, click Done to finish your character.
Additional party members
When you've finished creating your character you'll be told that you've met some adventurers looking for a leader. If you ask them to follow you five Farmers will be added to your party in addition to any troops you already start with.