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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Imaculata" data-source="post: 7936323" data-attributes="member: 6801286">It kind of differs from campaign to campaign how much I do with character backstories. With large scale campaigns, character backgrounds mostly serve for the players to flesh out their own characters. But bits and pieces of the character's background may eventually make their way into the story. However, I don't bend over backwards to force backstories into the plot. I tend to discuss my plans for a characters' background with the player. I respect my players and their agency over their own characters. I don't want to be the annoying DM who kills off characters from player backstories, or transforms them into villains, without the players themselves having any say in that.  Nor do I want to add things to their backstory that the players don't agree with. It is kind of a given that details will need to be added, in order to make the backstory feature into the campaign plot, but I always talk this over with the player.On the other hand, I also have shorter campaigns that put a heavy focus on character backstories and plot. With these sort of campaigns I inform my players up front that their backstory will be featured in the campaign, and ask them to write their backstory accordingly. For example, if I'm running a Call of Cthulhu campaign, I ask my players to come up with fears and shocking secrets that can mess with their characters during the campaign.</blockquote>