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Sticky Topic Topic: Bio-Degradeable - Help when writing your background story. (Read 739 times)
DeadInMySights
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« on: June 11, 2008, 05:56:49 PM »

One of the most fearsome tasks a writer can undertake is the background story of his or her character.

Be it male or female, Orc or Elf, Dwarf or Human, Assassin or Knight, the background story is the thing that makes your character who they are. The bio is the most important thing in the RP arsenal.

So how do we go about it?

Well, unfortunately there is no "Tried and Tested" method. Your character will be unique (More or less) and it is up to -you- to define that character, to mould it into your own.

Start off simple. It's like rolling a snowball down a skii-slope. Eventually the ball grows and becomes a formidable boulder (And begins to kill people!).

Step One.

Start with the origins of your character, as the place they are from will say a lot about them. For example, a man from Altdorf (Reikland) will instantly be seen to be an average human, wearing peasant clothes and trying to make his way in the oppressive regime of the Emperor.

Now you elaborate. Perhaps Man from Altdorf decided to join the Civil Guards at age 19? Good, so now we can picture him in his armour, slightly rusted silver breastplate and an old halberd. Red and blue colours of the Empire.

Is he an Officer or a Grunt? This will say a lot about his intelligence and mannerisms. An officer will be smart and noble. Maybe cruel, but that's the way the Empire rolls. A grunt will be less intelligent, but more street-smart, and his language will be a lot more common and colloquial. Little things like that matter a lot in the RP world.


Step Two

Now you've managed to sort out where he or she was from, and what they did in their youth, you need to move on to what shaped them into being (Or what led them to being shaped into being) what they are today.

This link with the past is vital, as it offers a deep insight into your character.

For example, Guardsman Jones, when out on duty one day patrolling the city gates, met an odd man, tried to arrest him and he fled. He gave chase, followed him to a cultists den out in a nearby village. Experienced Chaos. Liked it. Joined in.

That's a short version obviously, but the main theme is there - The catalyst for the modern day Jones, who is now a Chosen of Tzeentch or a Marauder.

REMEMBER - We were all converted to Chaos (With the possible exception of the original Founders, who sort of discovered it) and as such it's important to remember the event well. That turning point, and the details of it, will speak volumes about your character's nature.

A character that fights Chaos for a long time before falling may prove to be a very strong willed person, but a man that submits instantly may prove to be a zealot later in life. The distinction is important.


Step Three

What has your character been doing up until this point, having embraced Chaos? Have they been marauding the Northern Lands killing people and raping cattle? Have they been working undercover? Have they been leading fleets of ships against the Imperial Navies?

The choice is yours, but these series of events should probably include how the character found the Unholy Legion.

Example:

Traitor Guardsman Jones finds the legion when during a petty raid on a Northern town he runs into a strike group from the ASC. The leader there brings him along against his will and he is forced to attack the Imperial garrison of another, larger town. He proves himself in combat, and the impressed ASC leader, instead of killing him as a witness, brings him back for assessment. He passes and joins as a member of the Eternal Torment, gaining his Chosen Armour.

You try it. It's simple stuff, when you break it down.

Three Paragraphs per section is a nice amount. Some choose to elaborate on certain events and turn it into entire stories (Like i do) - For others, the Bio is just something to get out of the way until Real RP can be done.

It's up to you!

REMEMBER! I'll be happy to help anyone that PM's me with writing issues or concerns, or simply wants me to read over their work and offer some friendly advice.

It's the very least i can do for my Brothers in Arms.

Send me a PM, guys!

I await your stories.

Good luck!

Regards,

V.

-- I will update this with more help if anyone takes an interest in it.

Cheers!
« Last Edit: August 20, 2008, 08:02:42 AM by Kutulu » Logged
Squiggie
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« Reply #1 on: June 12, 2008, 08:04:32 AM »

An excellent guide for us less talented writers   :twisted:

Thanks for posting!
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Oi! Don' be finishin' off dat Dorf!!! Fangs 'ere likes 'em still squirmin'!


Lauren
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« Reply #2 on: June 12, 2008, 04:11:21 PM »

Well. It's about time you wrote something like this.

I'm sure we'll all find this useful - especially me, considering you chucked me in at the deep end when I started out. Writing bio's is the biggest bitch when making a character. This will be really useful to anyone new to roleplay - this should be stickied or something.


Laurana.
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Zemok
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« Reply #3 on: June 13, 2008, 02:20:53 AM »

This goes farther than roleplay really.  Any serious piece of writing you do, you have to know the character before you can tell a tale of them.  Whether it is for roleplay or for a novel.

Otherwise you end up halfway through your story and realize your characters suck.
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Chiriok
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« Reply #4 on: November 04, 2008, 09:28:24 PM »

I have no trouble coming up with backgrounds.
It's the stuff that comes after the background that gives me fits.
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Blarlack
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« Reply #5 on: November 04, 2008, 09:31:12 PM »

Looks like the guild has another Necromancer in its midst... :P

Still, this is a very useful post to read.
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Grimwall
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« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2008, 09:23:05 AM »

I have not done a write up yet but I will be making one soon. I have never been the best at it and I know someone will be my spell checker. LOL
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