Charater Background Surveys [Archive] - Wizards Community

Charater Background Surveys [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
St23aM
07-29-04, 11:19 PM Hello all. I am wanting to make a survey for my charaters to fill out that will ask them questions about there charater. Such as how did the last war effect you ? How about your family? What country are you from? Have any miltary experience etc. I was just wondering if anyone had some good questions to put on there that would help to flesh out there charaters. I will compile a list of all the questions and then give them to my players.
threshel
07-29-04, 11:42 PM "What were you doing during the war?" Probably the single most defining event in the character's personal history. I think everyone on Khorvaire would see the answer to that question as a kind of character test. Who did you stand for? If you did not stand, then why not? A character's place in Eberron is determined by this, and often his or her future as well.

Aside from that, I'd ask not only for numbers of siblings and parents, but also how the character feels about them, or the status of their relationship.

I'd end with asking about what they've been doing since the war ended.

:)
J
MavrickWeirdo
07-30-04, 12:19 AM "What religion (or deity) gives you the creeps?"
EvilMasterOfEvilDice
07-30-04, 12:34 AM Changeling: has your changing got you into trouble? has it alienated oyu from your surroundings at all?
Shifter: does your character revel or shrink away from his shifter abilities?
Save_vs_DM
07-30-04, 02:57 AM You're welcome to use my 12 question character history survey. I've found that it works well, without having so many questions that players tend to get overwhelmed. Find it here.

http://evildm.datavortex.net/ehouserules.htm

Character History Questionnaire

Character Name:
Player Name:

1. What was your character's life like before he became an adventurer?

2. Who are the most important people in your characters life?

3. Why did your character decide to become an adventurer?

4. What does your character think about Magic?

5. What does your character think about Religion and the Gods?

6. What does your character think about the other races (including his own)?

7. Where or who did your character learn his skills and feats from?

8. What is your characters greatest strength that is not listed on his character sheet?

9. What is your characters greatest weakness that is not listed on his character sheet?

10. How does your character feel about the Last War? Was he or she involved in any way?

11. What does your character think about the Dragonmarked houses?

12. Name one thing that your character would like to accomplish.

Cheers,
Save-vs-DM
St23aM
07-30-04, 08:13 AM this are all really good keep them coming.

:confused: How do you feel about warforged *this would be a good one*

:confused: Where were you on "The Day of Mourning".

:confused: What are your thoughts on The old Kingdom of Galifar. Was it something that we should strive to get back to or was it a relic that no longer had any usefulness.

:confused: Any feelings about the use of Undead? How do you feel about the undead of Karrnath? How about Arenial?
St23aM
07-30-04, 08:13 AM double post:embarrass
StinkyNutz
07-30-04, 12:03 PM The "where were you on the day of mourning" one is great! I tend to use the questions more of a base then an actual handout test type thing...meaning I ask each player the questions with examples and all that then fill it in so I have reference as I'm writing future adventures and all that...plus make new notes as the players rp during the game...been invaluable so far.
St23aM
07-30-04, 01:22 PM I hand them out because it gets the player thinking of things they wouldnt normally. Instead of what kind of armor am I going to use or when i reach X level what feats will I take etc .. they are thinking .. hmm yea wonder if my charater has in brothers or sisters, what did i used to do for a living? Also then I have them hand there surveys to me so I can use this information later when i write my own adventures.
House Evernight
07-30-04, 01:38 PM I've come up with a simple character generation sheet that asks the "who, what, where, when, why and how" along with a question about their family, the Last War, etc. I also have them come up with one ally and one enemy (the idea taken from a post here on the boards).

I plan on the players using it to develop backgrounds for their characters. It will also give me additional tools to design scenarios and the campaign in general.

Evernight
StinkyNutz
07-30-04, 02:11 PM This is the one I'm going to be using (added in the "where were you on the day of mourning"?).

General
Name-
Race-
Age-
Class-
Future Prestige Class-
Nation of Origin-

Family
Who is the characters family?
Close to family (entire or even just one or a few members)?
What city/town do/did they live in?
Any surviving members of the family (cousin, brother etc)?
How does family feel about character becoming adventurer?
Does family have any political affiliations (cults, churches, dragonmarked houses etc)?

Last War
Did character fight in last war? If so for who? Where was character stationed? What rank did he achieve?
How did character feel about last war? For or against (even if they fought in it)?
Did any of the characters family/friends fight in the war?
Any family members lost in the war or because of the war?
How did family feel about war, and about the characters actions regarding the war?
Any views on the treaty (like it, hate it, believe in it etc)?
Where were you on the day of Mourning?

Specifics
Any racisms/hatreds (national or race related)? And why?
How does character feel about “other” races? And why?
Religion and view of other religions? And why?
Fears and secrets?
Short and long term goals?

Short role played story:
Write a short role played story involving some portion (vitally important or not) that you feel will show a good example of who your character is, or what might define him. Examples, characters loss of a family member, destruction of their village, first actual battle, buying their first weapon, stealing their first pouch, casting their first spell, training with their old master, how they got “that” scar, beginning of their quest, why they joined/spurned the church, first pet, what they did in the last war, or what they did last Tuesday.
sh0
07-30-04, 02:33 PM Very nice page Save-vs-DM!

Originally posted by Save_vs_DM
You're welcome to use my 12 question character history survey. I've found that it works well, without having so many questions that players tend to get overwhelmed. Find it here.

http://evildm.datavortex.net/ehouserules.htm

...

Cheers,
Save-vs-DM

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
St23aM 07-29-04, 11:19 PM	Hello all. I am wanting to make a survey for my charaters to fill out that will ask them questions about there charater. Such as how did the last war effect you ? How about your family? What country are you from? Have any miltary experience etc. I was just wondering if anyone had some good questions to put on there that would help to flesh out there charaters. I will compile a list of all the questions and then give them to my players.
threshel 07-29-04, 11:42 PM	"What were you doing during the war?" Probably the single most defining event in the character's personal history. I think everyone on Khorvaire would see the answer to that question as a kind of character test. Who did you stand for? If you did not stand, then why not? A character's place in Eberron is determined by this, and often his or her future as well. Aside from that, I'd ask not only for numbers of siblings and parents, but also how the character feels about them, or the status of their relationship. I'd end with asking about what they've been doing since the war ended. :) J
MavrickWeirdo 07-30-04, 12:19 AM	"What religion (or deity) gives you the creeps?"
EvilMasterOfEvilDice 07-30-04, 12:34 AM	Changeling: has your changing got you into trouble? has it alienated oyu from your surroundings at all? Shifter: does your character revel or shrink away from his shifter abilities?
Save_vs_DM 07-30-04, 02:57 AM	You're welcome to use my 12 question character history survey. I've found that it works well, without having so many questions that players tend to get overwhelmed. Find it here. http://evildm.datavortex.net/ehouserules.htm Character History Questionnaire Character Name: Player Name: 1. What was your character's life like before he became an adventurer? 2. Who are the most important people in your characters life? 3. Why did your character decide to become an adventurer? 4. What does your character think about Magic? 5. What does your character think about Religion and the Gods? 6. What does your character think about the other races (including his own)? 7. Where or who did your character learn his skills and feats from? 8. What is your characters greatest strength that is not listed on his character sheet? 9. What is your characters greatest weakness that is not listed on his character sheet? 10. How does your character feel about the Last War? Was he or she involved in any way? 11. What does your character think about the Dragonmarked houses? 12. Name one thing that your character would like to accomplish. Cheers, Save-vs-DM
St23aM 07-30-04, 08:13 AM	this are all really good keep them coming. :confused: How do you feel about warforged this would be a good one :confused: Where were you on "The Day of Mourning". :confused: What are your thoughts on The old Kingdom of Galifar. Was it something that we should strive to get back to or was it a relic that no longer had any usefulness. :confused: Any feelings about the use of Undead? How do you feel about the undead of Karrnath? How about Arenial?
St23aM 07-30-04, 08:13 AM	double post:embarrass
StinkyNutz 07-30-04, 12:03 PM	The "where were you on the day of mourning" one is great! I tend to use the questions more of a base then an actual handout test type thing...meaning I ask each player the questions with examples and all that then fill it in so I have reference as I'm writing future adventures and all that...plus make new notes as the players rp during the game...been invaluable so far.
St23aM 07-30-04, 01:22 PM	I hand them out because it gets the player thinking of things they wouldnt normally. Instead of what kind of armor am I going to use or when i reach X level what feats will I take etc .. they are thinking .. hmm yea wonder if my charater has in brothers or sisters, what did i used to do for a living? Also then I have them hand there surveys to me so I can use this information later when i write my own adventures.
House Evernight 07-30-04, 01:38 PM	I've come up with a simple character generation sheet that asks the "who, what, where, when, why and how" along with a question about their family, the Last War, etc. I also have them come up with one ally and one enemy (the idea taken from a post here on the boards). I plan on the players using it to develop backgrounds for their characters. It will also give me additional tools to design scenarios and the campaign in general. Evernight
StinkyNutz 07-30-04, 02:11 PM	This is the one I'm going to be using (added in the "where were you on the day of mourning"?). General Name- Race- Age- Class- Future Prestige Class- Nation of Origin- Family Who is the characters family? Close to family (entire or even just one or a few members)? What city/town do/did they live in? Any surviving members of the family (cousin, brother etc)? How does family feel about character becoming adventurer? Does family have any political affiliations (cults, churches, dragonmarked houses etc)? Last War Did character fight in last war? If so for who? Where was character stationed? What rank did he achieve? How did character feel about last war? For or against (even if they fought in it)? Did any of the characters family/friends fight in the war? Any family members lost in the war or because of the war? How did family feel about war, and about the characters actions regarding the war? Any views on the treaty (like it, hate it, believe in it etc)? Where were you on the day of Mourning? Specifics Any racisms/hatreds (national or race related)? And why? How does character feel about “other” races? And why? Religion and view of other religions? And why? Fears and secrets? Short and long term goals? Short role played story: Write a short role played story involving some portion (vitally important or not) that you feel will show a good example of who your character is, or what might define him. Examples, characters loss of a family member, destruction of their village, first actual battle, buying their first weapon, stealing their first pouch, casting their first spell, training with their old master, how they got “that” scar, beginning of their quest, why they joined/spurned the church, first pet, what they did in the last war, or what they did last Tuesday.
sh0 07-30-04, 02:33 PM	Very nice page Save-vs-DM! Originally posted by Save_vs_DM You're welcome to use my 12 question character history survey. I've found that it works well, without having so many questions that players tend to get overwhelmed. Find it here. http://evildm.datavortex.net/ehouserules.htm ... Cheers, Save-vs-DM