Backstory and Established Organizations [Archive] - Wizards Community

Backstory and Established Organizations [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
CzarGarrett
05-20-05, 09:50 AM Over the last day or two here, I've been thinking:

If/when making a character to play, and there is any sort of connection to a pre-established organization, how much backstory is needed? By that- I mean how much does the player come up with and how much does the DM allow?

For some reason, I got the idea that if could be really fun to play a wizard in FR who was a Harpell (no, not Harper- Harpell, a family of erratic and well-intentioned but often bumbling magic users). Now I'd be able to create plenty of a backstory myself, but how much 'cannon' material should be used?

And how much of a connection, if you were a DM, would you allow to such organizations. Would you allow a player to be a Harpell? An up and coming member of the clergy of Deneir out of Spirit Soaring? so on and so on.

So what's your thoughts on such matters?
Draco Strang
05-20-05, 10:24 AM Yes, I would let them be a member of either organization. Zhent, Army of Cormyr, whatever.

However, they'd have to be willing to write a good backstory for it. Also, they need to realize that the uber-powerful member of the organization in question will not be helping them every session. If I've a cleric of Deneir in the party, Cadderly will not be dropping by to help smite evil. At best, he'd send the PC a vision every so often, and a quest would be the result.

As for the Harpells? I can't think of an easier backstory to write. Either your character made a bit of a "mess" back home, and has to go away for a while so they can fix the damage, or the elder Harpells want him/her out questing for new magic, or to test a new spell/item. Either way, Malchor and Harkell won't be along to help out the young mage. Gotta make that clear.

Oh God....you just gave me an idea. Expect a member of the Harpell family to be making an appearance in my session tomorrow.
PrinceAzar
05-20-05, 10:30 AM Ha ha, that's freaking hilarious, the Harpell family.

Do you have a quirk for your character already set up? Each family member had a small ideosyncracy that made them readily identifiable.(Bidderdoo, Regweld, DelRoy and such)

So let's hear it, three cheers for the Harpells!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
CzarGarrett 05-20-05, 09:50 AM	Over the last day or two here, I've been thinking: If/when making a character to play, and there is any sort of connection to a pre-established organization, how much backstory is needed? By that- I mean how much does the player come up with and how much does the DM allow? For some reason, I got the idea that if could be really fun to play a wizard in FR who was a Harpell (no, not Harper- Harpell, a family of erratic and well-intentioned but often bumbling magic users). Now I'd be able to create plenty of a backstory myself, but how much 'cannon' material should be used? And how much of a connection, if you were a DM, would you allow to such organizations. Would you allow a player to be a Harpell? An up and coming member of the clergy of Deneir out of Spirit Soaring? so on and so on. So what's your thoughts on such matters?
Draco Strang 05-20-05, 10:24 AM	Yes, I would let them be a member of either organization. Zhent, Army of Cormyr, whatever. However, they'd have to be willing to write a good backstory for it. Also, they need to realize that the uber-powerful member of the organization in question will not be helping them every session. If I've a cleric of Deneir in the party, Cadderly will not be dropping by to help smite evil. At best, he'd send the PC a vision every so often, and a quest would be the result. As for the Harpells? I can't think of an easier backstory to write. Either your character made a bit of a "mess" back home, and has to go away for a while so they can fix the damage, or the elder Harpells want him/her out questing for new magic, or to test a new spell/item. Either way, Malchor and Harkell won't be along to help out the young mage. Gotta make that clear. Oh God....you just gave me an idea. Expect a member of the Harpell family to be making an appearance in my session tomorrow.
PrinceAzar 05-20-05, 10:30 AM	Ha ha, that's freaking hilarious, the Harpell family. Do you have a quirk for your character already set up? Each family member had a small ideosyncracy that made them readily identifiable.(Bidderdoo, Regweld, DelRoy and such) So let's hear it, three cheers for the Harpells!!! :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: