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<blockquote data-quote="Janx" data-source="post: 5022130" data-attributes="member: 8835">I agree with this. All I want for a PC background is a simple justification for why you're a fighter and not a farmer, and maybe some names of NPCs you know (ie. family members).Too many times I see backgrounds trying to introduce a plot hook for the PC, or build some long term goal like &quot;I want to be a necromancer&quot; or setup the PC as some sort of bad ass.The problem is, the PC is 18 years old.&nbsp; Compared to what's coming, nothing interesting has ever happened in that character's life.&nbsp; And 18 year olds don't know what they want to be when they're older, let alone &quot;become an evil necromancer&quot;. And at 1st level, the PC is hardly a bad ass, so stop trying to write what your stats don't support.Your character will be cooler and you'll have more feeling for your character when all the drama happens IN game.&nbsp; When your backstory at 10th level is all the stuff that happened in the last 9 levels.Basically, skip trying to write melodrama that your parents were killed when you were young and your sister was kidnapped before your were 1st level.&nbsp; Instead, let the DM run the world, you actually meet and interact with your parents and sister in a few sessions, then he kills your parents and kidnaps your sister.If you though having a hook of something bad happening to your PC pre-game was good and dramatic, having something bad happening to your PC in-game will have far more weight and impact and drama.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Janx, post: 5022130, member: 8835"] I agree with this. All I want for a PC background is a simple justification for why you're a fighter and not a farmer, and maybe some names of NPCs you know (ie. family members). Too many times I see backgrounds trying to introduce a plot hook for the PC, or build some long term goal like "I want to be a necromancer" or setup the PC as some sort of bad ass. The problem is, the PC is 18 years old. Compared to what's coming, nothing interesting has ever happened in that character's life. And 18 year olds don't know what they want to be when they're older, let alone "become an evil necromancer". And at 1st level, the PC is hardly a bad ass, so stop trying to write what your stats don't support. Your character will be cooler and you'll have more feeling for your character when all the drama happens IN game. When your backstory at 10th level is all the stuff that happened in the last 9 levels. Basically, skip trying to write melodrama that your parents were killed when you were young and your sister was kidnapped before your were 1st level. Instead, let the DM run the world, you actually meet and interact with your parents and sister in a few sessions, then he kills your parents and kidnaps your sister. If you though having a hook of something bad happening to your PC pre-game was good and dramatic, having something bad happening to your PC in-game will have far more weight and impact and drama. [/QUOTE]

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