howandwhy99
Adventurer
Basically, I'm asking what you think as a DM about players who continue to create their PC's background as the campaign progresses. Do you allow it? Do you think it hurts your games? helps them? what do think?
(Yes, this thread was inspired by the "What's an "interesting" character anyway?" thread)
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If you're looking for more detail, here is an example. Personally, I would start the game with a fairly generic background at 1st level with a couple plot hooks for the DM to play with.
But later, maybe I'm getting bored or some of these plot hooks have played themselves out, I progress the background. Generally I just fill in gaps that weren't included above, but are really aimed at cool things I think would be fun to do.
I hope you get the gist. The character is developed both ingame and by writing extra backgrounds that expand on his youth. Now, if I can simply go and do what interests me in game, I prefer that method, but long lost siblings, forgotten alien abductions, even past ties to an organization the PC might want to join, I think can all be accomplished using additional backgrounds.
On the other hand, I could see this done poorly. Another example:
So,
- If some players use only in-game events to progress their character, are they shortchanged when others use extra backgrounds to progress more?
- What of the potential of manipulating the campaign world of the DM by including things a player would normally have no control over, be it Vecna or Zorb above.
- Is this the player's purview - his background, a concern of the DM's to allow only certain backgrounds, or maybe all the players who are the ones who actually choose what the group does?
To reiterate, What do you think about PC backgrounds progressing along with the campaign? Would you simply veto portions you didn't like or remove them altogether? In my experience these are normally attempts by the player to reinvest their interest in the game. I think they also have the potential to add to the experience for everyone.
I used to give the advice, "If you're bored with your current character, spice up their background and include hooks you are interesting in doing." Perhaps it should be the standard, "start a new character" instead? This is difficult in one of my games as new characters always start at 1st.
(Yes, this thread was inspired by the "What's an "interesting" character anyway?" thread)
=-=-=
If you're looking for more detail, here is an example. Personally, I would start the game with a fairly generic background at 1st level with a couple plot hooks for the DM to play with.
This should be enough fodder for a good DM to create any number of things, a price on his head (as an escaped slave), a foe (Vorl the Mad), or even a quest (to find his lost family), just to mention a few. All these can be dropped in subtly during game without overshadowing whatever else is going on in the campaign.Turnkey the Thief was raised as a slave. He has distant memories of having a normal family when he was a young child, but has yet to fully remember any significant details. His master Vorl the Mad was cruel and forced him into a life of crime. When Turnkey was old enough he escaped and has been fending for himself ever since.
But later, maybe I'm getting bored or some of these plot hooks have played themselves out, I progress the background. Generally I just fill in gaps that weren't included above, but are really aimed at cool things I think would be fun to do.
Here I'm not really telling the DM to do anything, but I'm hoping he will include Vecna in the campaign and perhaps a tie between my PC and him - something suitably ominous. I could have put in a much more obvious tie in, like a gift from the Harpers, or a treasure map leading to some place called "Acererak".When he worked for Vorl the Mad, Turnkey mainly pilfered from the rich under his master's watchful eye. But sometimes he was a courier taking packages to strange people and picking up others. One memorable contact was an exceptionally tall wizard with one good eye. During one courier run Turnkey opened a package for this wizard which had been moving under its wrappings. Inside he found a large red eye. Even more amazing it turned and looked at the little thief and Turnkey trembled in fear. He felt as if his soul was utterly open to the living eye. Sometime latter he came back to his senses, wrapped the package back up, and ran to drop it off. His tardiness was noted and this eventually led to his running away.
I hope you get the gist. The character is developed both ingame and by writing extra backgrounds that expand on his youth. Now, if I can simply go and do what interests me in game, I prefer that method, but long lost siblings, forgotten alien abductions, even past ties to an organization the PC might want to join, I think can all be accomplished using additional backgrounds.
On the other hand, I could see this done poorly. Another example:
I think this is okay. But later the player adds on:When the moons and stars aligned, Hytotimous the golden warrior was born the chosen babe in his tribe. He is destined to bring unity to the Horselords of the Blinding Sands. Trained by the wisest elders and fiercest warriors, Hytotimous left his homeland to test his courage and prove himself to his people.
This is a little overdone, but I hope you get the point. If the DM doesn't ratchet down this PC and lose the endless questing, Hytotimous is going to overwhelm whatever the rest of the party wants to do. In fact, they're might end up following the "chosen one" around for the rest of the campaign.Now Hytotimous has reached the age of 25, he must follow his destiny to search for the 12 artifacts of Zorb who once used them to ascend to Godhood. Long ago Zorb turned evil and cursed the lands of his people - causing his followers to be ever thirsting for water, though they live in dry steppe and desert. When Hytotimous finally succeeds he believes he will become a God among men and king of his people.
So,
- If some players use only in-game events to progress their character, are they shortchanged when others use extra backgrounds to progress more?
- What of the potential of manipulating the campaign world of the DM by including things a player would normally have no control over, be it Vecna or Zorb above.
- Is this the player's purview - his background, a concern of the DM's to allow only certain backgrounds, or maybe all the players who are the ones who actually choose what the group does?
To reiterate, What do you think about PC backgrounds progressing along with the campaign? Would you simply veto portions you didn't like or remove them altogether? In my experience these are normally attempts by the player to reinvest their interest in the game. I think they also have the potential to add to the experience for everyone.
I used to give the advice, "If you're bored with your current character, spice up their background and include hooks you are interesting in doing." Perhaps it should be the standard, "start a new character" instead? This is difficult in one of my games as new characters always start at 1st.
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