Building A Backstory
What’s your favorite color?
What movies do you like?
Who are your heroes in life?
Boxers or Briefs?
Simple questions right? Guess what? That’s part of your own Backstory – the things, people and history that influenced in your life and are part of you.
These things silly or serious, happy or sad are a part of you. Just as you have traits and such, so can your character in role-playing. Also known as a character background.
Having a backstory can give life to the character, helps define “who” he or she is, and their place currently in the world, and their future. This also helps with interactions with others. Just as you meet interesting (and not-so interesting people in RL, such as it happens on a RP server).
And no, you do not -have- to have one, but it does help “get into” character. Depending on what type of character you are playing, it can be a nice asset.
Even just writing some character traits on an index card can be a nice guide. It depends on what works for you but try to be somewhat prepared if anyone actually ask where you are from, or what you may have done at some point in “life”. It can also help you draw line in the sand in conduct and establish boundries.
It’s nice to know “why” you are “here” – wherever “here” is. *grin*
Remember, not everyone is Thrall’s lovechild, Baron Rivendare’s cousin, or heir to the the King of Stormwind… Really! Avoid stereotypes and such and take your class unique within the lore and your imagination. Not every rogue is a scoundrel and not every paladin is pious, just use moderation and common sense here. Use your professions as well if you want to add a bit more to your backstory. Make it an adventure.
This is an overview of some basic questions to ask to help give your persona some stability. These are just a sampling, so take from it what works but don’t burden yourself too much – keep it simple. See what may “click” for him/her and how you may approach it in-game. Also seek out information about the lore in the game – it can provide some great reference material.
The following are examples to think about:
Where are “you” from?
Where you were raised and grew up.
(Factors: climate, homeland, areas and items of interest)
What was “your” upbringing?
The role family and such played in your life, if any.
(Factors: economics, social views, ethics, reputation, religion, politics, family structure, ancestors, friends, family of note)
What do “you” like or dislike?
The things that move you, good or bad.
(Factors: fears, joys, hobbies, personalities, colors, animals, etc…)
What do “you” do and what have you learned?
What and how you learned.
(Factors: skills, trades, type of education if any, teachers)
Who has contributed to “your” life?
Creatures and people in your life so far.
(Factors: family, friends/enemies, lovers, instructors/mentors, leader in politics and religion, role models, creatures, etc.)
What event(s) made set “you” on “your” path(s)?
Pivotal/turning points in life.
(Factors: family, conflicts, encounters, politics, war experience, childhood event(s), historical event, death, curse, duty, etc… .)
What drives “you”?
Your present and past motivations for your actions. Your Goals.
(Factors: childhood events, family, love, hate, war, peace, curse, prophecy revenge, organizations, rivalry, enemy, deathwish, adventure, fame, fortune…)
Tip: Don’t overdue it, use moderation. Even “regular” folk can be great heroes.
1 comment
There was an ad campaign for the horribly off-target Star Wars Galaxies MMORPG that would feature crowd scenes from the movies and point to one of the extras and say “what’s THIS guy’s story?” In SWG, it was kind of a bad idea, because quite often, his story was “He’s a moisture farmer. He’s a droid repairman. She’s a cantina dancer.” And that was the end of the story.
In WoW, though, everyone’s characters have been touched by war in the last few years — indeed, it would be hard to find someone who has NOT lost a loved one in the three wars or in the flight from Argus — and with all of the bad stuff thundering toward the survivors, everyone’s story is going to be one of war, adventure, heroism and loss.
You don’t have to be Arthas’ boyhood friend — but you could be a former squire for the Knights of the Silver Hand who rode away from Stratholme at your master’s side when Prince Arthas gave that unforgivable order. Today, you’ve grown to adulthood (or risen as a member of the Forsaken). You have been a witness to history, but weren’t a prime mover.
The Warcraft series is full of such moments — every level of the RTS, in fact, offers a bunch of these — and all those individual units are fair game as a WoW player character. Pick a favorite level, and look for a unit that has an interesting story, and you’re off and running.
(Ringo is one of the dwarven riflemen from the second level of the human campaign in Warcraft III, part of the party that was hunting the black dragon Searinox. His injuries after that battle are why he missed the rest of the Third War and set him up as a level 1 dwarven hunter in WoW.)
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