A believable background story [Archive] - Wizards Community

A believable background story [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Loken
10-09-06, 02:22 PM what i really need are some really believable background storys for characters. the ones that i have tried to write up and my players have written are either waay to fantasy ie im the half dragon son of the Lich "Sammaster" or are very 2d and boring

Any tips on how to strike a balance?
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 02:28 PM Well, that's a very broad question, but I find the funnest thing to do is first think of a very vague concept. (IE Fighter) Then think of how fighters are made. Monasteries, war schools, practice, personal expereince, inborn rage etc.
Then, go from that. If you chose like a martial school, think about the guy. He would probably have been raised by an ex-soldier, or maybe he's a farmer that wants to leave the farm, or maybe his blue-blooded kingly father wanted him to mix with the nobles. His fighter style would be more along the lines of skill, and expertise, with dis-arm, trip, and other such things, as he recieveed orderly training.

Try and have the history while making the character. It's difficult to make history to a character, and vice versa

Hope the quick reply helps, answer soon and I'll respong again to any questions
Loken
10-09-06, 02:56 PM this helps, yet i would like the background material to somehow come to the fore in the campaign and be the reason for a couple of adventures.
So far my only idea, hopefully not to reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, is a ranger ex nuble attemting to clear his families name and gain back his families estates
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 03:03 PM Your playing a ranger?

Well, you could play him as a hater of whatever his favored enemy is, and as part of the history of his character, he was tortured by a certain one of the favored enemies, (We'll say Orcs, no one likes Orcs.) and now he has a vendetta against that guy, or the cities he's from.

I played an elf like this, it was quite awesome.
Maybe he has a soft spot in his heart for helping cities and villages against marauding orc parties, or maybe he's devoted his life to wiping out that species (Like my elf, which in Epic, almost suceeded in killing all Orcs on the continent)
Loken
10-09-06, 03:17 PM pondering on my problem even more i have come across one other problem with my character backgrounds.

They come from different countries/ kingdoms yet they are from somestimes a far flung country ie, a halfling from the Western Heartlands in the middle of Daramara? (cannot remember how to spel it) and a human from the Shar, and i can think of no reason for them being there apart from adventuring and sightseeing, which both seem poor excuses.

can you offer any help with this particular problem?
Carey Z W
10-09-06, 03:19 PM You could have them there as scouts/mercenaries on a mission from someone in their homeland, and after completing the mission decide to stay for a while. Or they could have been exiled from their homelands for one reason or another.
They might be trying to visit old friends, or search out a particular smithy/magic user to craft them an item, or delivering a letter, or many other reasons.
SunTzuWarmaster
10-10-06, 03:28 PM Journal Exerpt:

"It was a hard time for my family, after the cold of winter stole our crops from us. We barely had enough to get by when the mayor, knowing our situation, offered us a kind and dreadful solution. He needed to get a message to the nearest, biggest city, but we knew this would be a one-way trip.

I was of age, and being strongly convicted of my morals, the need to do the right thing, and knowing that there was more to life than farming, I undertook the mission, though I knew I wouldn't be coming back anytime soon.

Equipped with enough [starting gold] provisions from the town, the blessings and the tears of my family, I started on the long trail that would eventually let them all survive the winter. After completing the trip, I begged the King for his kindness, and he ordered the wizards to send a shipment of foodstuffs along with my note of safety, and goodbye to the people that I had once befriended. I am now free to adventure as I will, without being tied to my family. Maybe one day the wind will blow me back that way and I will see my mother again. For now, I shall write bi-monthly."

There you go, had to leave the town to save it. Character trait - writes his family every so often, already built for LG, LN, NG; and has some trail experience (lv 1-3 Ranger, Druid, Barbarian) and a good deed or two.
arjomanes
10-10-06, 07:27 PM Trying to decide why the characters are together, especially at low levels can be challenging. Mix in different races, different occupations, countries, and even languages and you have some serious suspense of disbelief problems.

The penance
This concept requires your character to meet some specific objective to compensate for some past sin. Perhaps your character was part of an elven gang that beat up a half-orc that visited your town. Your order or town leader found out, and placed a geas (real or perceived) on you to save a half-orc's life. Or perhaps a wealthy aristocrat child was sent away to live with social outcasts for a year, as training on how to appreciate what she has.

The mission
Strange things begin happening that haven't been seen for decades (abberations, undead, etc) and you have been sent from your village/town to get help from some sect or organization. Along the way you meet others with the same problem or who ally with you to fight this evil, or to gain some assistance for their problems (wizard of oz).

The prophecy
"I saw four birds take flight in a blood sky: a swan, a raven, a hawk, and an owl." You are destined to fight alongside those you wouldn't otherwise consider friends.

Common ties
Perhaps you are all misfits, forced together because no one else would have you. Or perhaps you have similar goals, ideologies, political aspirations, or business objectives. Maybe you are all diplomats or representatives of allied households or factions.

I don't know if those ideas are any help.
Loken
10-12-06, 12:35 PM Thank you very much with all that you have written it helps alot i especially like the "mission" idea. having read about the Avariels and their castle in place "The Snow Eagles eyrie" which has a plant collection in it of plants that do not exist any where else in Faerun i have come up with the concept of,

A Ranger from a small town comes to the capital of the kingdom, (currently thinking of Impilatur) asking for the assistance of the wizards/ any other powerful beings to help with a outbreak of a disease/plague.
Are shown to someone in the government, who is recieving people like this from all over the kingdom, as well as diplomats/ messengers from neighboring kingdoms.

The Guy who they all meet holds a meeting, to discuss it and to consult with some very old wizard and find out. They find out that the disease/plague is magical and that the only cure can be made from a magical plant which was thought to have become extinct centuaries ago. He has though come across recently in his studies about a rumour that the avariels may have one of these magical plants in their castle. The guy in charge asks for volunteers to go on this quest. the players step forward. wanting to see their lands free of this horrible disease/plague. wizard sends a apprentice with them to get some field experience and to hopefully safely collect and carry the plant back to the old wizard, who then concocts something to cure the disease. (thinking along the lines of grind up part of the plant and dilute it with lots and lots of water to end up with some sort of "magic water". this is then shared out to those areas affected. Whilst on their way to "The Snow Eagles Eyrie" the adventurers pick up/ find clues as to whos behind the disease/plague.

I do not though know how to continue it yet, but i suppose that it would become easier as the campaign goes on.

I will of course write backgrounds for the other diplomats/messengers.
Loken
10-12-06, 12:37 PM THe reason for chosing this area is because ive read the "Year of the Rogue Dragons" trilogy, which is set heavily, if not entirely in this area of Faerun. And so i have more knowledge of this area than any other.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Loken 10-09-06, 02:22 PM	what i really need are some really believable background storys for characters. the ones that i have tried to write up and my players have written are either waay to fantasy ie im the half dragon son of the Lich "Sammaster" or are very 2d and boring Any tips on how to strike a balance?
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 02:28 PM	Well, that's a very broad question, but I find the funnest thing to do is first think of a very vague concept. (IE Fighter) Then think of how fighters are made. Monasteries, war schools, practice, personal expereince, inborn rage etc. Then, go from that. If you chose like a martial school, think about the guy. He would probably have been raised by an ex-soldier, or maybe he's a farmer that wants to leave the farm, or maybe his blue-blooded kingly father wanted him to mix with the nobles. His fighter style would be more along the lines of skill, and expertise, with dis-arm, trip, and other such things, as he recieveed orderly training. Try and have the history while making the character. It's difficult to make history to a character, and vice versa Hope the quick reply helps, answer soon and I'll respong again to any questions
Loken 10-09-06, 02:56 PM	this helps, yet i would like the background material to somehow come to the fore in the campaign and be the reason for a couple of adventures. So far my only idea, hopefully not to reminiscent of Lord of the Rings, is a ranger ex nuble attemting to clear his families name and gain back his families estates
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 03:03 PM	Your playing a ranger? Well, you could play him as a hater of whatever his favored enemy is, and as part of the history of his character, he was tortured by a certain one of the favored enemies, (We'll say Orcs, no one likes Orcs.) and now he has a vendetta against that guy, or the cities he's from. I played an elf like this, it was quite awesome. Maybe he has a soft spot in his heart for helping cities and villages against marauding orc parties, or maybe he's devoted his life to wiping out that species (Like my elf, which in Epic, almost suceeded in killing all Orcs on the continent)
Loken 10-09-06, 03:17 PM	pondering on my problem even more i have come across one other problem with my character backgrounds. They come from different countries/ kingdoms yet they are from somestimes a far flung country ie, a halfling from the Western Heartlands in the middle of Daramara? (cannot remember how to spel it) and a human from the Shar, and i can think of no reason for them being there apart from adventuring and sightseeing, which both seem poor excuses. can you offer any help with this particular problem?
Carey Z W 10-09-06, 03:19 PM	You could have them there as scouts/mercenaries on a mission from someone in their homeland, and after completing the mission decide to stay for a while. Or they could have been exiled from their homelands for one reason or another. They might be trying to visit old friends, or search out a particular smithy/magic user to craft them an item, or delivering a letter, or many other reasons.
SunTzuWarmaster 10-10-06, 03:28 PM	Journal Exerpt: "It was a hard time for my family, after the cold of winter stole our crops from us. We barely had enough to get by when the mayor, knowing our situation, offered us a kind and dreadful solution. He needed to get a message to the nearest, biggest city, but we knew this would be a one-way trip. I was of age, and being strongly convicted of my morals, the need to do the right thing, and knowing that there was more to life than farming, I undertook the mission, though I knew I wouldn't be coming back anytime soon. Equipped with enough [starting gold] provisions from the town, the blessings and the tears of my family, I started on the long trail that would eventually let them all survive the winter. After completing the trip, I begged the King for his kindness, and he ordered the wizards to send a shipment of foodstuffs along with my note of safety, and goodbye to the people that I had once befriended. I am now free to adventure as I will, without being tied to my family. Maybe one day the wind will blow me back that way and I will see my mother again. For now, I shall write bi-monthly." There you go, had to leave the town to save it. Character trait - writes his family every so often, already built for LG, LN, NG; and has some trail experience (lv 1-3 Ranger, Druid, Barbarian) and a good deed or two.
arjomanes 10-10-06, 07:27 PM	Trying to decide why the characters are together, especially at low levels can be challenging. Mix in different races, different occupations, countries, and even languages and you have some serious suspense of disbelief problems. The penance This concept requires your character to meet some specific objective to compensate for some past sin. Perhaps your character was part of an elven gang that beat up a half-orc that visited your town. Your order or town leader found out, and placed a geas (real or perceived) on you to save a half-orc's life. Or perhaps a wealthy aristocrat child was sent away to live with social outcasts for a year, as training on how to appreciate what she has. The mission Strange things begin happening that haven't been seen for decades (abberations, undead, etc) and you have been sent from your village/town to get help from some sect or organization. Along the way you meet others with the same problem or who ally with you to fight this evil, or to gain some assistance for their problems (wizard of oz). The prophecy "I saw four birds take flight in a blood sky: a swan, a raven, a hawk, and an owl." You are destined to fight alongside those you wouldn't otherwise consider friends. Common ties Perhaps you are all misfits, forced together because no one else would have you. Or perhaps you have similar goals, ideologies, political aspirations, or business objectives. Maybe you are all diplomats or representatives of allied households or factions. I don't know if those ideas are any help.
Loken 10-12-06, 12:35 PM	Thank you very much with all that you have written it helps alot i especially like the "mission" idea. having read about the Avariels and their castle in place "The Snow Eagles eyrie" which has a plant collection in it of plants that do not exist any where else in Faerun i have come up with the concept of, A Ranger from a small town comes to the capital of the kingdom, (currently thinking of Impilatur) asking for the assistance of the wizards/ any other powerful beings to help with a outbreak of a disease/plague. Are shown to someone in the government, who is recieving people like this from all over the kingdom, as well as diplomats/ messengers from neighboring kingdoms. The Guy who they all meet holds a meeting, to discuss it and to consult with some very old wizard and find out. They find out that the disease/plague is magical and that the only cure can be made from a magical plant which was thought to have become extinct centuaries ago. He has though come across recently in his studies about a rumour that the avariels may have one of these magical plants in their castle. The guy in charge asks for volunteers to go on this quest. the players step forward. wanting to see their lands free of this horrible disease/plague. wizard sends a apprentice with them to get some field experience and to hopefully safely collect and carry the plant back to the old wizard, who then concocts something to cure the disease. (thinking along the lines of grind up part of the plant and dilute it with lots and lots of water to end up with some sort of "magic water". this is then shared out to those areas affected. Whilst on their way to "The Snow Eagles Eyrie" the adventurers pick up/ find clues as to whos behind the disease/plague. I do not though know how to continue it yet, but i suppose that it would become easier as the campaign goes on. I will of course write backgrounds for the other diplomats/messengers.
Loken 10-12-06, 12:37 PM	THe reason for chosing this area is because ive read the "Year of the Rogue Dragons" trilogy, which is set heavily, if not entirely in this area of Faerun. And so i have more knowledge of this area than any other.