| Post/Author/DateTime | Post |
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| #1shadowranger25May 12, 2010 3:18:54 | I need help with an epic backstroy for my ranger. I would like a little more detail then a normal backstory, Any good ideas are greatly appreciated. My Ranger I need a good name still for a half elf. (Zynfeir, Kylar, Jalek) Ranger/Fighter Half Elf (Mother is a Elf, Father is a Human) Weapons- Elven Long Sword: Main Hand Dagger: Off Hand (In campaign it is a dagger you get for joining this Ranger Guild) Composite Longbow: Back (Quiver with 50 Arrows) Throwing Axe: Belt (Dwarven Make) Armor- Studded Leather Ranger Cloak Elven Boots Cloth Shirt Leather pants A farmers hat (Mystery why he carries it) Magical Items- A necklace with a leaf on it from the Ranger Guild (Quiet Step, No tracking, Speed +5) A amulet that he can will his animal companion to enter when it's not possible for the Wolf to go somewhere. (IF ANYONE CAN THINK OF ANY GOOD ITEMS FOR A RANGER TO CARRY PLEASE MENTION THANKS) Companion- Wolf (Jey) |
| #2tirunusMay 12, 2010 5:56:00 | Raised by a grand green dragon from birth all saw great things in you, most think it is the nature spirit reborn in you. Many kneel to you in respect of you'r heritage and they cheer, *name* The dragon raised! He wears a farmers hat a gift from his dragonly parent supposdly it was you'r fathers. |
| #3manic_manMay 12, 2010 9:44:44 | What level are you. If level 1, how epic do you want it? Eg level 1 "epic" background Your real father was an avatar of Zeus. He did the deed when your mother's husband (who was a king) was away after getting attracted to your mother (sound familiar so far?). On the day you were born, a greater pheonix arose from the earth of the palace, piercing the dark night and illuminating the city as it it was day. But your baby self obviously did not look like your king father especially the strange purple hair, so you get thrown into the ocean in a bathtub. Posideon himself manifested and guided a fisherman to the tub, rescuing you. As you grew up and reached twelve, and playing in the forest, you came across an old man, wearing a straw hat and carrying an hourglass in his hand. He was quite friendly and told you of great tales of yore and as evening approached, gave you his straw hat and told you that it was time for you to return home. BY the tuime you returned you saw the fishing village you were in was overrun by an invading orc army led by an avatar of Grumush who ordered the total destruction of your village. As you hid in the forest edge and looked as the huts of your family and friends burned to the ground, Grumush crossed into the material plane for a few seconds, manifesting as an one eyed orc the size of a titan screaming in fustration as what they were searching for was not found. Scared by the divine manifestion you ran away babbling and was rescued by some passing rangers. As they decided to take you to the city they were travelling to where the guild had its headquarters, the rangers were attacked by several massive great wyrm dragons screaming of Tiamut's coming glory and death to the opposer (probably you). As the rangers were wiped out one by one rather quickly, a dark skinned elf suddenly tapped your shoulder and took you by your hand and raced at speeds beyond human comprehension to the city your were travelling to. At the gates to the city, your way was blocked by three crones crackling that Lloth was not to disturb the weaves of the fates. Smirking, the attractive elf told you that your owed her a favor for saving your life and you should remember it. |
| #4lionlemurMay 12, 2010 10:55:51 | I need help with an epic backstroy for my ranger. I would like a little more detail then a normal backstory, Any good ideas are greatly appreciated. Rather than handing you a backstory, I would ask you to answer these questions yourself. The best backstory for YOU is going to be one you create yourself with what you feel is fun in mind. Answering these question can provide a springboard for more questions and answers and voila! soon you'll have a full-fledged backstory. 1) What are your parent's status and/or occupation? Are either of them noble? Serfs? Farmers? Merchants? Adventurers? Servants of a noble family? Huntsmen? Rangers themselves? 2) What sort of place did you grow up in? A farming community? A city? A tower in the woods? A castle? A forest surrounded by wolves? Were the majority of of folks there elven? Human? A mixture? 3) Why and how did your parents get together? Were they living together in a town where both elves and humans live? Did one of them find the other in the woods and rescue them? Were they royal heirs married to provide peace to a kingdom? Adventuring buddies who fell in love? Are you a product of **** or a one-night-stand? Something else? 4) Were you raised by both parents together? If not, which one raised you, and what happened to the other? Or were you dumped on the orphanage steps? Sent to live with a relative? 5) How did their parents and family (assuming they're around) deal with the mixed marriage? Were they supportive? Horrified? Uninterested? Not there? 6) How did you feel about your birth? Are you proud of one or the other side of your heritage? Ashamed of one side? Curious about the side you never met? 7) Do you have siblings? Are they fully elven? Fully human? Half elves like yourselves (suggesting that your mom either had a thing for humans or they were in a long term relationship)? If your siblings are either fully human or fully elven, how did they treat you while you were growing up? Are you the eldest, youngest or somewhere in the middle? 8) Are your parents/siblings/grandparents/townsfolk/mentors alive now? If not, what happened to them? Did your mother kill herself when she was shamed? Were they living happily until orcs/dragons/goblins/large balls of brightly colored string/an unknown entity wiped out their home/the villiage? 8) Why did you choose to become a ranger? Was one of your parents a ranger and you seek to emulate them? Did you just like spending time in the woods? Did a mentor take you under their wing? Since you have a ranger's guild, why did you want to join the guild? Are there other non-guild rangers in the campaign? What was your training in the guild like? Did you have a particular friend? Enemy? Favored mentor? Least liked mentor? 9) Regarding the hat, is this a mystery to your character, or just to you as a player? Did your DM gift you with it, or was it your choice? If your character doesn't know why he carries it, then just carry it around and eventually you or the DM may find a reason/way to use it. If your character knows why he carries it, but you as a player haven't figured that out yet, then ask yourself why he would carry it. Did it belong to his mom? Dad? Grandparent? Sibling? Beloved mentor? IS your character a farmer and it's just practical, to keep the sun out of his eyes? Does the hat have any magical powers? Is there a hidden note with a message regarding his birth tucked into the hatband? 10) To make your backstory more epic, consider one of the following - a prophecy regarding your birth, mysterious happening at the time of your birth, snatched from your parents (or willingly given away) and raised by a mysterious mentor (maybe human/elven or maybe a dragon or other intelligent creature) with magical powers, you were cursed as a baby or child, etc. Check the PH2 if you have access, there are plenty of backstory type items. |
| #5CCSMay 12, 2010 12:03:06 | You are a 1/2elf. From the woods. You've joined a Ranger guild. There, done. Seriously, it's your character. Wich exists in a world that only you, the DM, and the other people you play with know the actual details of. This means that nobody else can effectively write the backstory for you. If you need help though? The 1st person you should turn to is your DM. |
| #6lionlemurMay 12, 2010 13:11:32 | Seriously, we should have a game to make the most ridiculous backstory we can think of. (This is not a dis on the OP, I just think it might be amusing.) |
| #7ADHadhMay 12, 2010 13:27:09 | There is a whole board for this, it's called Character Development. (assuming you're playing 4e) Browse it for ideas. |
| #8shadowranger25May 12, 2010 19:51:46 | Thanks. I actually like the template of questions. Does it work for like dwarves and different classes? |
| #9MalakLightfootMay 13, 2010 11:30:44 | Thanks. I actually like the template of questions. Does it work for like dwarves and different classes? Sure, just replace any race or class specific reference with the relevant race or class, and you are good to go. Some questions may not apply, such as questions regarding parentage may not apply to Deva, depending on the role that Deva play in your campaign. The questions can probably be pared down to: 1) Where were you born? Do you remember your parents (or creators, past life, etc., as applicable)? Is there anything unusual about your parentage? 2) What was your youth like? Did you have any siblings or close friends? Are any of those early influences still around to influence you now? 3) How did your character come to his or her class? Was it an expected choice, or did he or she choose an unexpected path? Did the class find him or her instead? 4) What are your character's hobbies? How does he relax? 5) Does he have any quirks (such as the hat that he treasures, but never wears)? 6) How did your character get called to adventure? Did she learn everything her masters had to teach and was turned out the door? Did some calamity destroy her school, home or family? Was it simple wanderlust? 7) What is your character's attitude towards adventuring and his adventuring companions? Are they simply tools or co-workers, or are they a surrogate family? What about specific companions, is there one in particular they dislike or hold in higher regard? 8) What are your character's goals? Where does he see himself in five years? Ten years? How would he prefer to see his life end? Example: Karrad, Dwarf Ranger Karrad was born in a human freehold quite some distance from his parents' mountain home. His parents were cast out of their clan for the crime of falling in love. His father, Beldam, was the second son of the Thane, and was expected to marry appropriately. His mother, Zura, was a common soldier. When Beldam discovered that his father had arranged a marriage for him, he and Zura declared their love for each other, and were married in secret. When the Thane found out, he exiled his son and daughter in law in his rage. They wandered for many a month until Zura was heavy with child. The lovers came to the freehold of Forest's Edge, and its Lord, Duncan. Lord Duncan took them in and hired Beldam as a blacksmith. Shortly thereafter, Karrad was born. Karrad grew up lonely. None of the other children of the freehold made him feel welcome, and he was often tormented. Karrad often gave as good as he got, and the other boys eventually learned to avoid him, and the resultant bruising, altogether. Karrad's only friends were the animals of the freehold. He seemed to have a particular affinity for the dogs, and eventually became the houndsman. One morning, while Lord Duncan was hunting, Karrad and his hounds cornered a huge boar. Karrad and the boar locked eyes and, after a short struggle of wills, connected on a very deep level. Karrad helped the boar, who he knew to be named Vanir, escape, and followed shortly therafter. Karrad and Vanir took up work as bounty hunters, putting their natural skills to use. Knowing there was a price on his own head, Karrad resolved to make things right. Using the funds from his first successful bounties, he returned to the freehold of Forest's Edge, and pleaded with Lord Duncan for clemency. He offered to pay a fine for "poaching" a boar on his lands and he also offered to perform a deed in return for his and Vanir's freedom. Lord Duncan tasked him with removing a nest of Kobolds that were harassing his farmers. Upon completion of this task, Lord Duncan grudgingly forgave Karrad and lifted the bounty on his head. Since then, Karrad has gone back into the world as a bounty hunter, and has earned himself some repute. He bears no love for his people, who cast out his parents for their love, and particularly enjoys hunting other Dwarves. Karrad is determined and fierce, and he absolutely hates it when his prey eludes him, whether it be his next meal or his next pay. Karrad's black hair and beard are often wild and unkempt. He has tattoos all over his arms and chest. While he knows how to clean up, and will do so when required, he frequently lets himself go for days or weeks without a bath. Karrad prefers to speak Common. While he understands Dwarven, it does not roll off his tongue very well, so he prefers not to speak it. Vanir is a large black boar (perhaps a young dire boar) who is almost as shaggy and wild as his master. Karrad's companions often joke that they can see the family resemblance between the two. Since Karrad see Vanir as a brother in spirit, he tries not to be too offended by the joke (he feels no offense for himself, but for his parents, who might suffer by assosciation). Karrad hasn't given much thought to the future. His heart is too restless to settle down, and even if he did want to settle down, what woman would have him? The most likely scenarios in his mind is that he will either take on a hunt that kills him, or that he will get too old for the job, take his money, and open an inn somewhere. |
| #10verily36251May 14, 2010 17:30:48 | You could always try this. |
| #11The_StrayMay 15, 2010 7:59:28 | Or how about this? It's a framework that you can use, doesn't take long, and still allows you to create a lot of details for your DM to use. |
| #12thomasjtheobaldJun 03, 2010 2:43:19 | How about "Xandir" the refugee prince on a never-ending quest to save his girlfriend, and who happens to be very easily scared or worried about the outcome of certain decisions? T |