RPG Creations > AMA Section
AMA for everyone: What goals do you have for a backstory?
Vision:
All my threads have halted a bit (may need to join another one soon) and I had a question that has been jumping around in my brain since the recent voice chat. Whilst I don't like my characters to have a massively tragic backstory I do realize that I do want them to have something I can play off of to give them some personality flaws. For example, Diana is essentially afraid of her own semblance, which over time has given her a really poor view of herself. So rather than a tragic backstory, I try to have characters that have lived pretty well but have some personal emotional trauma.
So the question is: when you're writing a character's backstory what do you try to achieve with that story?
ReaperJoe:
My primary motive for writing backstories is to give purpose behind my characters’ actions. For instance, Smokey wants to hunt big Grimm so he can collect bounties and pay off his father’s contract. Essentially, it should be a beginning point for a character arc.
In general, though, I feel backstories are somewhat overrated in RPGs like this. The most interesting part of any given character’s story is the part that takes place during play. That’s my opinion, at least.
arcus_gray:
It depends on the character. For Cerulean I wanted the most standard backstory ever after Rust was so edgey. But for the most part I have a personality in mind and then think up a backstory that would cause a person to behave that way.
Using Rust as an example again I knew I wanted an unapologetically violent character to act as a villain for others so I gave him a backstory in which he used extreme violence as a way to be left alone.
That said for a lot of characters I come up with a weapon first, which due to weapons being an extension of the user I ask myself "What kind of person would use this weapon?" and then I come up with a backstory that would lead someone to behave in that manner.
Then there is Gray, who is just my negative traits from when I was younger amplified.
nathan67003:
I just try to make it work with the present character.
Kingnoname1:
A strong foundation for the rest of the character, compelling character motivation for plot development and out of character interest in seeing their arc completed.
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