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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AlViking" data-source="post: 9770661" data-attributes="member: 6906980">My characters have had pretty even split between tragic backgrounds and normal if not exactly idyllic lives.  The latter tend to be driven by either wanderlust and adventure or a desire to help others.  Perhaps they feel a calling or, while they had a good childhood, just don't see where they fit in.  If you're the 4th son of a farmer and everybody is doing well there's not really enough land to divvy up for each child.  In some cases one of the parents was from a previous campaign and the character grew up hearing tales of glorious battles and deeds so they want to follow in the parent's footsteps.As far as a character being an orphan, that just gives me the opportunity to introduce family members that have been searching for them.  I always tell people that no one grows up in a vacuum, everyone has someone from their past that was important to them.  A friend, someone who was kind to them during troubled times or raised them, something.  If they don't provide details I feel free to add them later on.  I don't usually pick on family members, but that sister you thought died so you could be an orphan with no connections?  Sounds like a good choice for an ambiguously evil NPC.</blockquote>