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<blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 7353486" data-attributes="member: 29398">At first, it sets the scene.&nbsp; After that, it makes sure the scene remains consistent within itself from session to session and gives the moving parts (PC, NPC, historical, geographical, environmental, etc.) a framework on which to operate.Those two types of games might provide similar depth-of-play experiences, but I think they're at different ends of the pool.Secret backstory can provide an avenue to mystery-solving (a major element in most types of play), exploration (one of the three pillars as defined by 5e), discovery (there's nothing better than the 'aha!' moment when the pieces finally come together), and longevity in the campaign.To expand on that last item: if a DM can spin out the hidden backstory in such a way as to allow the players/PCs to discover bits of it as they go along but always have the sense there's still more to it if they only dig a little deeper, the players - assuming they were engaged in the first place - are likely to remain engaged; and the campaign can go on for ages.Reading this bit gives me a sense that you not only don't trust DMs in general, you don't even trust yourself as a DM.As a player, I trust that if the DM wants to bounce us around a bit or force the story she's got a good reason for doing so and is in her own view trying to make a better game for us.&nbsp; I'm also willing to accept that it's not going to work every time, and to shrug it off when it doesn't and just move on within that same campaign.&nbsp; (oftentimes IME the DM will realize something was a bad idea long before the players do anyway, and already be prepared to move on at the fisrt opportunity)Lan-&quot;DMs are imperfect people too&quot;-efan</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Lanefan, post: 7353486, member: 29398"] At first, it sets the scene. After that, it makes sure the scene remains consistent within itself from session to session and gives the moving parts (PC, NPC, historical, geographical, environmental, etc.) a framework on which to operate. Those two types of games might provide similar depth-of-play experiences, but I think they're at different ends of the pool. Secret backstory can provide an avenue to mystery-solving (a major element in most types of play), exploration (one of the three pillars as defined by 5e), discovery (there's nothing better than the 'aha!' moment when the pieces finally come together), and longevity in the campaign. To expand on that last item: if a DM can spin out the hidden backstory in such a way as to allow the players/PCs to discover bits of it as they go along but always have the sense there's still more to it if they only dig a little deeper, the players - assuming they were engaged in the first place - are likely to remain engaged; and the campaign can go on for ages. Reading this bit gives me a sense that you not only don't trust DMs in general, you don't even trust yourself as a DM. As a player, I trust that if the DM wants to bounce us around a bit or force the story she's got a good reason for doing so and is in her own view trying to make a better game for us. I'm also willing to accept that it's not going to work every time, and to shrug it off when it doesn't and just move on within that same campaign. (oftentimes IME the DM will realize something was a bad idea long before the players do anyway, and already be prepared to move on at the fisrt opportunity) Lan-"DMs are imperfect people too"-efan [/QUOTE]

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