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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Vyvyan Basterd" data-source="post: 5024786" data-attributes="member: 4892">Like: "My half-orc was made fun of by the other children in town. They threw biscuits at him and called him names. He gathered up the lobbed biscuits to help feed his poor family. He took the nickname "Biscuit" to remind him of his shameful youth." <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />I allowed this one, strange as it was. Maybe because it wasn't the usual "my parents are dead" trope.IME, players feel the same and usually don't write grand accomplishments for their PCs. I would consider a background containing a major accomplishment though and think of fun ways to incorporate it into the game.Setting up the starting point is, IMO, key to helping players springboard a good background. Even if the starting point is the town where you plan to start the campaign or more detailed like your military campaign.If they don't know something exists, then yes I could see a slight problem, although the character could just be delusional. Not knowing if it's possible shouldn't stop anyone from wanting to be something. Who says a goal has to be rational? I mean wanting to delve into the bowels of the earth to fight deadly creatures isn't a very rational thought for the average person.I don't usually appreciate multiple paragraphs of backstory either. I would rather prefer the relevant points.I ask for a short background with vague reference points. Then I will help the player link his idea to the world.And I love to "Say Yes!" I try to feel the player out on why he was motivated to write a background as the "Chosen of Thor." If his intent was to just be extremely dedicated to his deity, no issues. If it was to try to gain an advantage, lets just say that gods are demanding of their chosen and expect more out them than the average mortal. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />I like these.Mine do and they've known for a long time what a Basterd I am. <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /></blockquote>

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