Aaaah!! What do I do?! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Aaaah!! What do I do?!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Crackerjake
Jan 10, 2009 0:21:21 Okay, I drew up my character portrait and wrote out my backstory. I presented it to the DM, he says, "Wow, this is really well done!", and hands it back to me.

Huh?

I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory. I asked him about this and he wasn't quite sure of what to do with it, and neither am I. So now the question is, what do I do now?
#2
salla
Jan 10, 2009 0:22:27 Keep it.

If he ever asks for your background, hand it back to him. If not, you have it for your own references.
#3
rhoki
Jan 10, 2009 0:44:09
I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory.

Apparently the DM didn't agree xD

I'd just bring it to all the sessions in case he needs to reference it/ask you to reference it for whatever the reason. That's one good way to make the DM happy. Which is one good way to get all the phat lewtz :D
#4
The_Stray
Jan 10, 2009 5:52:54 This depends greatly on the DM in question. It may be something to keep an eye on, though. In my experience, DMS who don't keep ahold of player backgrounds aren't very interested in using them in game.
#5
Vatras
Jan 10, 2009 9:15:39 Keep it handy.

I am not collecting my players stories (or portraits) either, unless it's clearly a copy for my use. I only note down points of interest which may come in handy. Since I haven't done a single-shot adventure for a long time, but only campaigns which usually run several years, I have had always enough time to get details from the players should I need them.
#6
wizarddog
Jan 10, 2009 12:47:20 It may take a awhile for the DM to come up with how he will use your background. As a DM, it usually takes me some time to bring up a PC's background into the game because I have major plots going on months in advance and have to figure out how to integrate them with the PC's.
#7
liquid150
Jan 12, 2009 9:17:48 Did anybody else at the gaming table bother to draw a portrait or write a background?

If not, I think that should send a major signal on what you should do with it.
#8
Mysteria
Jan 12, 2009 9:53:03 Personally, I'd not have kept the portrait either, and I'd only have kept the character background if it was a copy intended for my use, not the original.
#9
1red13
Jan 12, 2009 20:29:58 I'm guessing that you assumed the dm would incorporate your backstory. Certainly not an inapropriate assumption. Some dms delve deeply into backstorys other not at all.

If there is more than a couple players its pretty tough to provide game time to each characters backstory without giving uneven time to each character. Its more often the game start is character development start.

Might as well keep it and maybe there will be instances to incoriporate it into the game. Beginning of the game is where a lot of details have to come together for a dm and he'll wait til later.
#10
etarnon
Jan 13, 2009 2:51:21 I really like using that stuff.

I ask all my players for a backstory copy of my own, and i tie it intricately to the campaign.

Portraits, I have no need for. Up to the player.
#11
farmer42_dup
Jan 13, 2009 3:07:19 Like others have said, the importance of backgrounds varies from DM to DM. I like some, and I always craft a fairly detailed background (seriously, down to favorite food, first love, etc.) Keep your background. At the very least, you can answer questions about your character on the fly and consistantly.
#12
dunsel
Jan 16, 2009 14:59:41 In your defense...Make a copy and hand it to him again. Tell him you have the original and this copy is for him.

In in defense...Was it more than one page? If it wasn't more than one page or 500 words, perhaps he gleaned what he wanted and logged it away for another day. IOW, he didn't want to tip his hand. Most DMs are also good at poker. If it was long, maybe he skimmed it. Refer to the above option so he has time to read it later.
#13
mufflon
Jan 17, 2009 0:15:00
Okay, I drew up my character portrait and wrote out my backstory. I presented it to the DM, he says, "Wow, this is really well done!", and hands it back to me.

Huh?

I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory. I asked him about this and he wasn't quite sure of what to do with it, and neither am I. So now the question is, what do I do now?

If you want to make the DM use your backstory in his story, you should bring it up in game. Mention it in conversation, and when a problem arises suggest seeking aid from one of your old acquaintances.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Crackerjake Jan 10, 2009 0:21:21	Okay, I drew up my character portrait and wrote out my backstory. I presented it to the DM, he says, "Wow, this is really well done!", and hands it back to me. Huh? I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory. I asked him about this and he wasn't quite sure of what to do with it, and neither am I. So now the question is, what do I do now?
#2 salla Jan 10, 2009 0:22:27	Keep it. If he ever asks for your background, hand it back to him. If not, you have it for your own references.
#3 rhoki Jan 10, 2009 0:44:09	I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory. Apparently the DM didn't agree xD I'd just bring it to all the sessions in case he needs to reference it/ask you to reference it for whatever the reason. That's one good way to make the DM happy. Which is one good way to get all the phat lewtz :D
#4 The_Stray Jan 10, 2009 5:52:54	This depends greatly on the DM in question. It may be something to keep an eye on, though. In my experience, DMS who don't keep ahold of player backgrounds aren't very interested in using them in game.
#5 Vatras Jan 10, 2009 9:15:39	Keep it handy. I am not collecting my players stories (or portraits) either, unless it's clearly a copy for my use. I only note down points of interest which may come in handy. Since I haven't done a single-shot adventure for a long time, but only campaigns which usually run several years, I have had always enough time to get details from the players should I need them.
#6 wizarddog Jan 10, 2009 12:47:20	It may take a awhile for the DM to come up with how he will use your background. As a DM, it usually takes me some time to bring up a PC's background into the game because I have major plots going on months in advance and have to figure out how to integrate them with the PC's.
#7 liquid150 Jan 12, 2009 9:17:48	Did anybody else at the gaming table bother to draw a portrait or write a background? If not, I think that should send a major signal on what you should do with it.
#8 Mysteria Jan 12, 2009 9:53:03	Personally, I'd not have kept the portrait either, and I'd only have kept the character background if it was a copy intended for my use, not the original.
#9 1red13 Jan 12, 2009 20:29:58	I'm guessing that you assumed the dm would incorporate your backstory. Certainly not an inapropriate assumption. Some dms delve deeply into backstorys other not at all. If there is more than a couple players its pretty tough to provide game time to each characters backstory without giving uneven time to each character. Its more often the game start is character development start. Might as well keep it and maybe there will be instances to incoriporate it into the game. Beginning of the game is where a lot of details have to come together for a dm and he'll wait til later.
#10 etarnon Jan 13, 2009 2:51:21	I really like using that stuff. I ask all my players for a backstory copy of my own, and i tie it intricately to the campaign. Portraits, I have no need for. Up to the player.
#11 farmer42_dup Jan 13, 2009 3:07:19	Like others have said, the importance of backgrounds varies from DM to DM. I like some, and I always craft a fairly detailed background (seriously, down to favorite food, first love, etc.) Keep your background. At the very least, you can answer questions about your character on the fly and consistantly.
#12 dunsel Jan 16, 2009 14:59:41	In your defense...Make a copy and hand it to him again. Tell him you have the original and this copy is for him. In in defense...Was it more than one page? If it wasn't more than one page or 500 words, perhaps he gleaned what he wanted and logged it away for another day. IOW, he didn't want to tip his hand. Most DMs are also good at poker. If it was long, maybe he skimmed it. Refer to the above option so he has time to read it later.
#13 mufflon Jan 17, 2009 0:15:00	Okay, I drew up my character portrait and wrote out my backstory. I presented it to the DM, he says, "Wow, this is really well done!", and hands it back to me. Huh? I thought the DM was supposed to keep the portraits and the backstory. I asked him about this and he wasn't quite sure of what to do with it, and neither am I. So now the question is, what do I do now? If you want to make the DM use your backstory in his story, you should bring it up in game. Mention it in conversation, and when a problem arises suggest seeking aid from one of your old acquaintances.