Help with back story [Archive] - Wizards Community

Help with back story [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Lunar_Shadow
09-08-06, 05:30 PM Lunar Shadow was only a young child when his village was attacked by a horde of gnolls. Luckily for him, Lunar’s parents ran off into the forest in a last ditch effort to save there son. Unfortunately there effort was in vain, for they were killed by a couple of gnolls that stumbled upon them. The gnolls were just about to kill Lunar when a Gold dragon, who had been hunting outside her territory, dropped out of the sky and killed the two gnolls, snapping them up in it’s huge jaws. The dragon saw Lunar and, due to the destruction of her nest and her maternal instincts, picked up gently and flew him back to her cave in the mountains. There he was raised alongside a halfling named Solar Shadow. For years he and his foster family lived happily. He finally left the cave when the Gold Dragon, whose name was (Insert motherly Draconic name here), was killed in a fight with a powerful Red Dragon named (Insert Evil type of Draconic name). He went to find the elves so he could learn about his heritage. After a few months of searching he found them and learned the magic of the Elvin wizards, although he had some slight trouble adjusting to the civility of the elves. He trained for two years and set out into the world on his own agenda to gain fame, fortune, and power with his stepbrother and two other adventurers he had met in a tavern. Lunar is a bit hot headed and will tend to show off. Due to him being raised by both A gold dragon and the elves, Lunar will do what he wants, but if he does something that harms an innocent, he will try to make it right when he can. (Like steal a sword when he did not have the money to buy it then pay the shop owner back when he has the gold to do so) Due to his families eradication at the hands of gnolls, Lunar will usually kill them on the spot no questions asked.

Your opinonf please.
Tunjunz
09-08-06, 05:40 PM I think you posted this in the wrong section you should have posted it in the cliche section lol! sorry about the nastyness just thought i would say it before anyone else! not that i could do any better.
Lunar_Shadow
09-08-06, 05:52 PM Please give me some creative criticism
LCD2YOU
09-08-06, 05:56 PM Ah,

I'll be honest here. It wouldn't "fly" in my world.

1: It's trite. Like an episode of "Lassie", it has been done to death.

2: Gold Dragon? Why not wipe out all of the gnolls?

3: Red Dragon powerful enough to kill "Mom" but not strong enough to find you?

4: Refinding one's own heritage? What is this?

I think you can do better. As Tunjunz stated, it is so cliche'. What is this aignst central? If this were a country song, the only thing left out was the love of your PC's life dying because he was drunk and got into an accident killing her along with the dog.
chava
09-08-06, 05:56 PM Why not just have the motherly gold dragon teach him magic?

Gold dragons are excellent mages (plus it would give you an excuse it understand the basics of "DRAGON MAGIC").

And then when he grew up he wanted to start a horde of his very own... heehee (I love having a reason in game to collect the equivalent of a dragon's hoard.)
Lunar_Shadow
09-08-06, 06:02 PM Okay, this is my first charachter. And I am actually sitting on a really good chunk of change. (About 300 Plat at third level). Also, I am not that good of a writer. Also, the dragon thing was so that me and the halfling rouge had a reason to have similar names. (His is Solar Shadow) The dragon dying thing was so that the DM did not have to do a story arc for me. Also it was so I had a reason to leave. Like I said, crappy writer. If somone would like to rewrite it go ahead, but please keep it true to the orginal to an extent
LCD2YOU
09-08-06, 06:09 PM Okay, this is my first charachter. And I am actually sitting on a really good chunk of change. (About 300 Plat at third level). Also, I am not that good of a writer. Also, the dragon thing was so that me and the halfling rouge had a reason to have similar names. (His is Solar Shadow) The dragon dying thing was so that the DM did not have to do a story arc for me.Well first, if this really is your first character, stick with the basics. I know Dragon Disciple seems really nifty, but if you're not comfortable with the basics.

Instead of living with the gold dragon as mom, the dragon took you to some people who knew she was different (she was in human guise) and respected almost feared her and took you in. They were halfings and they raised you.

You have a birthmark. You swear it's a Dragon. Others, including Solar's mom, think you have a very neat but over active imagination.

Here are a few places to start. Flesh out a little more of your PC's beginning and take it from there.
chava
09-08-06, 06:12 PM Just because the dragon is still alive the DM doesn't have to make a story arc. Dragon live for a LONG time, humans don't. As such, your dragon mom could have just as easily convinced to to leave and stop hoarding of her gems (just as she would have one of her own hatchlings).

And just because you are not STARTING with money doesn't mean that your character doesn't want a horde, he wants one and thus he/she is adventuring in order to create one.

Most of the DMs I work with like me to have a background, but they like it to be main highlights so then if they NEED a character hook later on they can use some of that swanky DM discreation to pull in characters from your past (ie maybe mama dragon is knocked off whist you are adventuring by an evil wizard bc she had the Egg of Bahamut in her hoard and he needed it to raise a dracolich - your charcter then has a bunch of reasons to hunt down evil wizard).

Mainly talk with your DM, see if he wants a detailed background or a shorter one that is a little less angsty and more streamlined. Mainly don't try to use your bg to 'convince' your DM to start with freebies, bc that more than anything upsets those that want nice, balanced games.
Lunar_Shadow
09-08-06, 06:20 PM DM is fine with it, also I got no bonuses for it. Solar also needed an excuse to learn Draconic. As with the 300 Plat, I earned it. We started at 1st level with like 3 gold apiece. Also, the I can't pick Dragon Disciple, I forgot to change my sig. I am goinf for Eldritch knight.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Lunar_Shadow 09-08-06, 05:30 PM	Lunar Shadow was only a young child when his village was attacked by a horde of gnolls. Luckily for him, Lunar’s parents ran off into the forest in a last ditch effort to save there son. Unfortunately there effort was in vain, for they were killed by a couple of gnolls that stumbled upon them. The gnolls were just about to kill Lunar when a Gold dragon, who had been hunting outside her territory, dropped out of the sky and killed the two gnolls, snapping them up in it’s huge jaws. The dragon saw Lunar and, due to the destruction of her nest and her maternal instincts, picked up gently and flew him back to her cave in the mountains. There he was raised alongside a halfling named Solar Shadow. For years he and his foster family lived happily. He finally left the cave when the Gold Dragon, whose name was (Insert motherly Draconic name here), was killed in a fight with a powerful Red Dragon named (Insert Evil type of Draconic name). He went to find the elves so he could learn about his heritage. After a few months of searching he found them and learned the magic of the Elvin wizards, although he had some slight trouble adjusting to the civility of the elves. He trained for two years and set out into the world on his own agenda to gain fame, fortune, and power with his stepbrother and two other adventurers he had met in a tavern. Lunar is a bit hot headed and will tend to show off. Due to him being raised by both A gold dragon and the elves, Lunar will do what he wants, but if he does something that harms an innocent, he will try to make it right when he can. (Like steal a sword when he did not have the money to buy it then pay the shop owner back when he has the gold to do so) Due to his families eradication at the hands of gnolls, Lunar will usually kill them on the spot no questions asked. Your opinonf please.
Tunjunz 09-08-06, 05:40 PM	I think you posted this in the wrong section you should have posted it in the cliche section lol! sorry about the nastyness just thought i would say it before anyone else! not that i could do any better.
Lunar_Shadow 09-08-06, 05:52 PM	Please give me some creative criticism
LCD2YOU 09-08-06, 05:56 PM	Ah, I'll be honest here. It wouldn't "fly" in my world. 1: It's trite. Like an episode of "Lassie", it has been done to death. 2: Gold Dragon? Why not wipe out all of the gnolls? 3: Red Dragon powerful enough to kill "Mom" but not strong enough to find you? 4: Refinding one's own heritage? What is this? I think you can do better. As Tunjunz stated, it is so cliche'. What is this aignst central? If this were a country song, the only thing left out was the love of your PC's life dying because he was drunk and got into an accident killing her along with the dog.
chava 09-08-06, 05:56 PM	Why not just have the motherly gold dragon teach him magic? Gold dragons are excellent mages (plus it would give you an excuse it understand the basics of "DRAGON MAGIC"). And then when he grew up he wanted to start a horde of his very own... heehee (I love having a reason in game to collect the equivalent of a dragon's hoard.)
Lunar_Shadow 09-08-06, 06:02 PM	Okay, this is my first charachter. And I am actually sitting on a really good chunk of change. (About 300 Plat at third level). Also, I am not that good of a writer. Also, the dragon thing was so that me and the halfling rouge had a reason to have similar names. (His is Solar Shadow) The dragon dying thing was so that the DM did not have to do a story arc for me. Also it was so I had a reason to leave. Like I said, crappy writer. If somone would like to rewrite it go ahead, but please keep it true to the orginal to an extent
LCD2YOU 09-08-06, 06:09 PM	Okay, this is my first charachter. And I am actually sitting on a really good chunk of change. (About 300 Plat at third level). Also, I am not that good of a writer. Also, the dragon thing was so that me and the halfling rouge had a reason to have similar names. (His is Solar Shadow) The dragon dying thing was so that the DM did not have to do a story arc for me.Well first, if this really is your first character, stick with the basics. I know Dragon Disciple seems really nifty, but if you're not comfortable with the basics. Instead of living with the gold dragon as mom, the dragon took you to some people who knew she was different (she was in human guise) and respected almost feared her and took you in. They were halfings and they raised you. You have a birthmark. You swear it's a Dragon. Others, including Solar's mom, think you have a very neat but over active imagination. Here are a few places to start. Flesh out a little more of your PC's beginning and take it from there.
chava 09-08-06, 06:12 PM	Just because the dragon is still alive the DM doesn't have to make a story arc. Dragon live for a LONG time, humans don't. As such, your dragon mom could have just as easily convinced to to leave and stop hoarding of her gems (just as she would have one of her own hatchlings). And just because you are not STARTING with money doesn't mean that your character doesn't want a horde, he wants one and thus he/she is adventuring in order to create one. Most of the DMs I work with like me to have a background, but they like it to be main highlights so then if they NEED a character hook later on they can use some of that swanky DM discreation to pull in characters from your past (ie maybe mama dragon is knocked off whist you are adventuring by an evil wizard bc she had the Egg of Bahamut in her hoard and he needed it to raise a dracolich - your charcter then has a bunch of reasons to hunt down evil wizard). Mainly talk with your DM, see if he wants a detailed background or a shorter one that is a little less angsty and more streamlined. Mainly don't try to use your bg to 'convince' your DM to start with freebies, bc that more than anything upsets those that want nice, balanced games.
Lunar_Shadow 09-08-06, 06:20 PM	DM is fine with it, also I got no bonuses for it. Solar also needed an excuse to learn Draconic. As with the 300 Plat, I earned it. We started at 1st level with like 3 gold apiece. Also, the I can't pick Dragon Disciple, I forgot to change my sig. I am goinf for Eldritch knight.