Just got through writing up character background for the new campaign I just joined, and I thought I'd post it here. Comments or yoinkage welcome 
(The charisma substats are a GM house rule. Five stats, sum to Cha. Leadership = well, leadership. Charisma is friendliness. Manipulation is the ability to get people to do what you want. Appearance is physical beauty, and comeliness is sex appeal)
----
Character description:
A large well-built man, standing almost 6'4, with a shock of black hair. He closely resembles one of the tall, insufferably healthy peasant lads to be found in any mountain village, or an army recruiting poster. His broad open face would seem almost innocent, were it not for the long scar that runs down the right side, lending it a vaguely sinister cast. At first glance his common features make him look ordinary, but the longer you look at him the more you realise just how big this man really is, as if the divine constructor had misread the plans and built him somewhat over scale. Somewhat incongruous with his obvious peasant background is the heavy gold ring encircling his left finger, now with the flesh grown up around it. He is normally cleanshaven, though short blonde stubble is frequently visible, and has oddly grey eyes.
Less visible:
* Entire left side of torso is covered with little white rings of burn scars, now fairly faded
* Tattoo on inside left forearm: 'Maria'. Flowery script, encircled by greenery.
* Missing several toes on right foot.
For perceptive characters:
Beneath the jovial show his eyes sometimes seem haunted, as if he's running from something and doesn't know what.
Stats:
Str: 17+1 = 18 (He's just plain big)
Dex: 12 (Confident in his body, but nothing exceptional)
Con: 17 (Big and rudely healthy)
Int: 14 (He often seems muddled but a sharp mind lurks beneath, observing)
Wis: 8 (A naturally weak will, combined with psychological problems that the years of alcoholism have not helped)
Cha: 14
Com: 2 (Very 'clean' looking, not at all sexual)
Lead: 2 (He inspires friendship, but not confidence)
Cha: 4 (Naturally friendly and outgoing)
Man: 2 (Little appreciation of what other want to hear)
App: 4 (A very well formed body, marred only by the scars)
Character History:
Levold was born in a small farming village in the foothills of insertplaceia. His family were fairly well off by the standards of the area, owning their own farm of fair size, but the young Levold had little patience with the hard work and utter boredom of farm life, and often bungled the simplest tasks. Food was never short though, and he rapidly grew and filled out. By the age of 15, when his despairing parents tried to apprentice him to the village blacksmith, he was already one of the largest men in the village. Blacksmithing proved more interesting than farming but it still wasn't the life of excitement and easy money that Levold craved, and at the age of 16 he ran away with a travelling band of mercenaries when they passed through the village.
The mercenary life was far harsher than Levold had been led to believe, and many times he wished he had never come. But the band travelled far from his home village, and soon he was too old to be accepted by anyone as an apprentice - fighting was the only trade he had. For his size and brawn he was placed in the front line of halberdiers, and was drilled mercilessly in its correct use by the platoon sergeant. The scar on his face was from the drillmaster's sword, acquired when he failed to parry fast enough. During this period most of his income came from looting, and this is where he acquired the gold ring. Three years after he ran away he was finally able to return to his village to visit, though he had sent several letters which had gone unanswered. He was devastated to discover that his family had never forgiven him for leaving, and viewed his employment as no work fit for honest men. His father refused to accept the gift of gold he had hoped would allow his aging parents to finally retire, saying that he would never accept the gold of murdered men.
Stung by this rejection he threw himself into drill with a dedication that those who knew him as a child would not have believed him capable of. His rapidly improving skill, combined with natural strength and clean appearance, was enough to win him a place in a more prestigious mercenary company, one that treated its soldiers like men and gave steady wages for honest duty, rather than forcing the men to loot the dead and the homes of the defeated. His good nature and honest appearance meant that he was often on guard duty and public patrol, and rarely had to fight in battle. His relations with his family began to improve and he grew to enjoy the easy camaraderie of the barracks and the respect he won from the citizens. He was, for a few years, happy.
Memory of his last campaign has been blotted from his memory. He turned to drink so he wouldn't have to remember, and knows only that he has seen none of his companions since, and does not wish to remember. His fortunes rapidly fell, and several times he was arrested for public drunkenness. Most of his possessions were sold for wine and food save only his weapons, that the discipline he learned in the company would not let him give up, and his ring, which he could not get off. He moved to another city but his past followed him, and he found it impossible to find a steady job. He hasn't seen or wrote him family since his downfall, not able to face them in his current state. Whilst staggering through an ally returning from his latest job - picking through lumber from a demolished house to pick out valuable nails - he was ambushed from behind and woke up in a cell, from where the story begins…
Other Game Info:
Levels: Fighter 6
Alignment: N with G tendencies
Hit Points: 45
Skills:
Name Ranks Points Bonu
Bluff 3 6 +5
Climb 2 4 +6
Craft (smith) 3 3 +5
Diplomacy 3 6 +5
Bluff 2 4 +4
Intimidate 3 6 +5
Sense Motive 1 2 +0
Heal 2 4 +1
Perform (sing) 1 2 +3
Knowledge: tactics 2 4 +4
Wilderness lore 1 2 +0
Profession: Farmer 2 4 +1
Spot 3 6 +2
Feats:
Improved Unarmed Strike
Weapon Focus: Halberd
Weapon Specialisation: Halberd
Expertise
Improved Trip
Improved Disarm
Enhanced Disarm
Improved Initiative
Equipment: None. His flophouse got ransacked as well.
(The charisma substats are a GM house rule. Five stats, sum to Cha. Leadership = well, leadership. Charisma is friendliness. Manipulation is the ability to get people to do what you want. Appearance is physical beauty, and comeliness is sex appeal)
----
Character description:
A large well-built man, standing almost 6'4, with a shock of black hair. He closely resembles one of the tall, insufferably healthy peasant lads to be found in any mountain village, or an army recruiting poster. His broad open face would seem almost innocent, were it not for the long scar that runs down the right side, lending it a vaguely sinister cast. At first glance his common features make him look ordinary, but the longer you look at him the more you realise just how big this man really is, as if the divine constructor had misread the plans and built him somewhat over scale. Somewhat incongruous with his obvious peasant background is the heavy gold ring encircling his left finger, now with the flesh grown up around it. He is normally cleanshaven, though short blonde stubble is frequently visible, and has oddly grey eyes.
Less visible:
* Entire left side of torso is covered with little white rings of burn scars, now fairly faded
* Tattoo on inside left forearm: 'Maria'. Flowery script, encircled by greenery.
* Missing several toes on right foot.
For perceptive characters:
Beneath the jovial show his eyes sometimes seem haunted, as if he's running from something and doesn't know what.
Stats:
Str: 17+1 = 18 (He's just plain big)
Dex: 12 (Confident in his body, but nothing exceptional)
Con: 17 (Big and rudely healthy)
Int: 14 (He often seems muddled but a sharp mind lurks beneath, observing)
Wis: 8 (A naturally weak will, combined with psychological problems that the years of alcoholism have not helped)
Cha: 14
Com: 2 (Very 'clean' looking, not at all sexual)
Lead: 2 (He inspires friendship, but not confidence)
Cha: 4 (Naturally friendly and outgoing)
Man: 2 (Little appreciation of what other want to hear)
App: 4 (A very well formed body, marred only by the scars)
Character History:
Levold was born in a small farming village in the foothills of insertplaceia. His family were fairly well off by the standards of the area, owning their own farm of fair size, but the young Levold had little patience with the hard work and utter boredom of farm life, and often bungled the simplest tasks. Food was never short though, and he rapidly grew and filled out. By the age of 15, when his despairing parents tried to apprentice him to the village blacksmith, he was already one of the largest men in the village. Blacksmithing proved more interesting than farming but it still wasn't the life of excitement and easy money that Levold craved, and at the age of 16 he ran away with a travelling band of mercenaries when they passed through the village.
The mercenary life was far harsher than Levold had been led to believe, and many times he wished he had never come. But the band travelled far from his home village, and soon he was too old to be accepted by anyone as an apprentice - fighting was the only trade he had. For his size and brawn he was placed in the front line of halberdiers, and was drilled mercilessly in its correct use by the platoon sergeant. The scar on his face was from the drillmaster's sword, acquired when he failed to parry fast enough. During this period most of his income came from looting, and this is where he acquired the gold ring. Three years after he ran away he was finally able to return to his village to visit, though he had sent several letters which had gone unanswered. He was devastated to discover that his family had never forgiven him for leaving, and viewed his employment as no work fit for honest men. His father refused to accept the gift of gold he had hoped would allow his aging parents to finally retire, saying that he would never accept the gold of murdered men.
Stung by this rejection he threw himself into drill with a dedication that those who knew him as a child would not have believed him capable of. His rapidly improving skill, combined with natural strength and clean appearance, was enough to win him a place in a more prestigious mercenary company, one that treated its soldiers like men and gave steady wages for honest duty, rather than forcing the men to loot the dead and the homes of the defeated. His good nature and honest appearance meant that he was often on guard duty and public patrol, and rarely had to fight in battle. His relations with his family began to improve and he grew to enjoy the easy camaraderie of the barracks and the respect he won from the citizens. He was, for a few years, happy.
Memory of his last campaign has been blotted from his memory. He turned to drink so he wouldn't have to remember, and knows only that he has seen none of his companions since, and does not wish to remember. His fortunes rapidly fell, and several times he was arrested for public drunkenness. Most of his possessions were sold for wine and food save only his weapons, that the discipline he learned in the company would not let him give up, and his ring, which he could not get off. He moved to another city but his past followed him, and he found it impossible to find a steady job. He hasn't seen or wrote him family since his downfall, not able to face them in his current state. Whilst staggering through an ally returning from his latest job - picking through lumber from a demolished house to pick out valuable nails - he was ambushed from behind and woke up in a cell, from where the story begins…
Other Game Info:
Levels: Fighter 6
Alignment: N with G tendencies
Hit Points: 45
Skills:
Name Ranks Points Bonu
Bluff 3 6 +5
Climb 2 4 +6
Craft (smith) 3 3 +5
Diplomacy 3 6 +5
Bluff 2 4 +4
Intimidate 3 6 +5
Sense Motive 1 2 +0
Heal 2 4 +1
Perform (sing) 1 2 +3
Knowledge: tactics 2 4 +4
Wilderness lore 1 2 +0
Profession: Farmer 2 4 +1
Spot 3 6 +2
Feats:
Improved Unarmed Strike
Weapon Focus: Halberd
Weapon Specialisation: Halberd
Expertise
Improved Trip
Improved Disarm
Enhanced Disarm
Improved Initiative
Equipment: None. His flophouse got ransacked as well.
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