tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post1146051714293796066..comments2024-03-28T17:48:19.196-05:00Comments on The Other Side blog: BackstoryTimothy S. Brannanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-18675758099438986922010-10-29T11:50:23.564-05:002010-10-29T11:50:23.564-05:00mortengreis: Thanks for the links, I'll check ...mortengreis: Thanks for the links, I'll check them out!Timothy S. Brannanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02923526503305233715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-41863865613381301552010-10-29T03:06:51.119-05:002010-10-29T03:06:51.119-05:00For me it depends on the type of game. For convent...For me it depends on the type of game. For convention-gaming I don't mind some extra backstory, since there is not much time to develop one during the game, but when it comes to playing campaigns at home, I am more interested in devloping the backstory during play.<br /><br />For me backstory is interesting once it enters the play, rather than being a passive element written on the back of a character sheet and usually only known to a single player.<br /><br />Therefore I usually ask the players to keep their backstories brief, and then add some sort of mechanic, that allows them to introduce their backstory during the game.<br /><br />I have a series of different rules to allow the players to add their backstory as an active element during the game.<br /><br />As flashbacks:<br />http://mortengreis.wordpress.com/2010/09/01/house-rule-minor-or-spontaneous-flashback/<br /><br />By introducing the origins:<br />http://mortengreis.wordpress.com/2010/09/14/house-rule-farmboycitykid-character-background-as-an-active-factor/<br />and more origins:<br />http://mortengreis.wordpress.com/2010/09/15/house-rule-background-and-origins/Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-76856349621169889952010-10-29T00:10:30.048-05:002010-10-29T00:10:30.048-05:00I like character background. I like players to co...I like character background. I like players to come up with something. One of the reasons I like Barbarians of Lemuria is that it encourages background development.Narmerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08635665594860371230noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-81282279522523433922010-10-28T20:30:47.856-05:002010-10-28T20:30:47.856-05:00Often I try to encourage players to give me a pict...Often I try to encourage players to give me a picture and a bit of back story, but I never force the issue. And in games like my current one (which has had a very high fatality rate) I border on discouraging background for new characters.The Red DMhttp://theredboxblog.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-47063004997745927682010-10-28T19:27:03.396-05:002010-10-28T19:27:03.396-05:00It varies. Sometimes my characters have a fairly ...It varies. Sometimes my characters have a fairly developed backstory and sometimes not at all. It's sort of based on what sort of "concept" I had. <br /><br />When I'm GM-ing, I don't have any set requirements either. I like for player's to give me a little bit of background to set-up where we are at the start of the adventure, but it doesn't have to be more than name, where there from, and former occupation.Treyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04647628467658839351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7913319789564397699.post-31546004507176488262010-10-28T19:11:27.328-05:002010-10-28T19:11:27.328-05:00I'm not much for killing PCs. There are a lot ...I'm not much for killing PCs. There are a lot more interesting ways to defeat them. Sure, heroic last stands are great and all, but for routine combat encounters I'd rather a defeat not result in death. Capture, embarrassment, frustration and losing valued items are all acceptable.christianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09650456794111980661noreply@blogger.com