Character Backgrounds, How do you handle them?

Natasha · Unread post by **Natasha** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:42 pm

Sometimes Q&A happens in the game.

bigbobsr6000 · Unread post by **bigbobsr6000** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 2:44 pm

True.

Natasha · Unread post by **Natasha** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:06 pm

Sissy.

I just like to read character sketches.

And nosey NPCs.

bigbobsr6000 · Unread post by **bigbobsr6000** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 3:13 pm

Misfit KotLD wrote:Understandable. Really, they make good guidelines, but I'd never demand a player fill one out filly. Give me something on the character, but I don't need a novel.

I've had a few players show up at the next game session, after character creation, with 20+ pages of background, typed single space. A couple had from birth an almost monthly description of events. I know there are players who like this kind of indepth character development. More power to them. IMO, that much is just not needed. If that's what you like to do, I'm all for it.

Big Bob................

KillWatch · Unread post by **KillWatch** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 9:56 am

The great thing about character histories is you can use them at your discretion. YOu can pull NPCs from their past long long after game play has begun and begin hinting at their arrival or simply surprise them with a sudden appearance. YOu can use them or not at your leisure. If a player wants to explore items in their history that can be a complete game or even saga. With a pre formed history, you can take turns with each character making them the center of the story.

Natasha · Unread post by **Natasha** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:10 am

Yea, it's just one more dimension the GM can use to personalise the campaign.

Natasha · Unread post by **Natasha** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 10:59 am

Misfit KotLD wrote:
KillWatch wrote:The great thing about character histories is you can use them at your discretion. YOu can pull NPCs from their past long long after game play has begun and begin hinting at their arrival or simply surprise them with a sudden appearance. YOu can use them or not at your leisure. If a player wants to explore items in their history that can be a complete game or even saga. With a pre formed history, you can take turns with each character making them the center of the story.

I like doing that, but I don't need War and Peace either. I do want more than the character's height and weight, but less than Moby ****.

Some of PB's games really give good prompts in the character creation rules. I think the racial and O.C.C. descriptions sometimes give good prompts, too.

Natasha · Unread post by **Natasha** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:05 am

X-rated and smart!

KillWatch · Unread post by **KillWatch** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:11 am

did you tell them to slim it down? However I might give them a bunch of points and read it and see what they were going for
Hell you might be able to screw them over in so many ways that their not sure where it's coming from with so much story