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<blockquote data-quote="Thornir Alekeg" data-source="post: 3697440" data-attributes="member: 15651"><p>As a DM I like getting character histories that don't box me in. Length can vary quite a bit. I've received good histories that are only 2-3 paragraphs long, others that are 2 pages. </p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><strong>A summary of a good history to me:</strong> (Sorceress PC) Discovered her ability to do magic. Her noble family was horrified that one of their children manifested this disgusting ability and tried to prevent her from using it. PC ran away from home making her way so far by doing small jobs as a seamstress or maid, whatever she could find while also trying to figure out what to do with her life. The lure of magic has been irresistable to her, but her parents attitude towards it makes her scared to tell others about her ability.</p><p>This gives me some opportunities to bring the PCs history into the game. In the game I ran with this, the family hired a couple of people to find her and bring her home. Sometimes she would arrive in a town to find drawings of her circulating with a reward posted. One time the rest of the party ran interference with the two men while she slipped away. </p><p></p><p style="margin-left: 20px"><strong>Not so good history to me:</strong> PC's family was killed by [insert monster type here]. In the attack the family heirloom magical greatsword was taken by the raiders. PC has a strong hatred for these creatures and wants to do nothing more than recover his family sword and eradicate the creatures from the land. </p><p> When I've played with players with this kind of history, I've found too often they try to control the direction of any adventure based upon their character's needs, not caring about what others might be interested in doing. It can be good roleplaying, but lousy gaming. </p><p style="margin-left: 20px">DM to party: You are approached by a merchant to escort his caravan</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Player: Will we encounter [creature x]?</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">DM: It is not likely, they don't usually raid this far south</p> <p style="margin-left: 20px">Player: Forget it, I'm heading north to kill me some [x], who is coming with me? </p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Thornir Alekeg, post: 3697440, member: 15651"] As a DM I like getting character histories that don't box me in. Length can vary quite a bit. I've received good histories that are only 2-3 paragraphs long, others that are 2 pages. [indent][b]A summary of a good history to me:[/b] (Sorceress PC) Discovered her ability to do magic. Her noble family was horrified that one of their children manifested this disgusting ability and tried to prevent her from using it. PC ran away from home making her way so far by doing small jobs as a seamstress or maid, whatever she could find while also trying to figure out what to do with her life. The lure of magic has been irresistable to her, but her parents attitude towards it makes her scared to tell others about her ability.[/indent] This gives me some opportunities to bring the PCs history into the game. In the game I ran with this, the family hired a couple of people to find her and bring her home. Sometimes she would arrive in a town to find drawings of her circulating with a reward posted. One time the rest of the party ran interference with the two men while she slipped away. [indent][b]Not so good history to me:[/b] PC's family was killed by [insert monster type here]. In the attack the family heirloom magical greatsword was taken by the raiders. PC has a strong hatred for these creatures and wants to do nothing more than recover his family sword and eradicate the creatures from the land. [/indent] When I've played with players with this kind of history, I've found too often they try to control the direction of any adventure based upon their character's needs, not caring about what others might be interested in doing. It can be good roleplaying, but lousy gaming. [indent]DM to party: You are approached by a merchant to escort his caravan Player: Will we encounter [creature x]? DM: It is not likely, they don't usually raid this far south Player: Forget it, I'm heading north to kill me some [x], who is coming with me? [/indent] [/QUOTE]
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