And yet, I've seen a fair amount of anecdotes, on this very forum in fact, about having 4 different characters ready, or even with people not bothering to name their characters before reaching 2nd level. Of course it's not an issue with everyone, but some people take the mortality to the extreme and there is an issue of "Warrior Bob, Warrior Rob, Warrior Sod, Warrior Dod", whose distinctive features are that they wear full plate, use battle axes and have 16 STR until one of them reaches a level where they won't be killed by a first stray arrow. And yes, perhaps the people who'd get upset that their Fighter Charles died so fast, and they didn't even get a chance to visit home village, perhaps simply shouldn't play Old School D&D - but that is indeed a legitimate issue with old school mortality, something that can off put some players (without them being "wankers" or "whiny cunts", but simply people who invest too much into their character where perhaps they shouldn't do so due to the nature of the game). Because they come to a game, try to prepare as best for this whole "role - playing" schindig as they can, and then suddenly need to invent a new character 10 minutes into the game...if they play again this session at all.

And no, I don't have an issue with high mortality/danger of combat myself - hells, I'm mostly a Warhammer/BRP player after all.

Quote from: Planet Algol;700405I have absolutely no problem playing a PC with personality regardless of their level or expectations of mortality. . . . To claim that old school mortality precludes personality/backstory until level x is a binary, and false, argument.

A-fuckin'-men.

Quote from: Planet Algol;700378... pawn moving wargamer.

I am, not ashamed of it one bit, and I usually do a lot more than 2-3 sentences backstory.

Quote from: Rincewind1;700411And yet, I've seen a fair amount of anecdotes, on this very forum in fact, about having 4 different characters ready, or even with people not bothering to name their characters before reaching 2nd level. Of course it's not an issue with everyone, but some people take the mortality to the extreme and there is an issue of "Warrior Bob, Warrior Rob, Warrior Sod, Warrior Dod", whose distinctive features are that they wear full plate, use battle axes and have 16 STR until one of them reaches a level where they won't be killed by a first stray arrow. And yes, perhaps the people who'd get upset that their Fighter Charles died so fast, and they didn't even get a chance to visit home village, perhaps simply shouldn't play Old School D&D - but that is indeed a legitimate issue with old school mortality, something that can off put some players (without them being "wankers" or "whiny cunts", but simply people who invest too much into their character where perhaps they shouldn't do so due to the nature of the game). Because they come to a game, try to prepare as best for this whole "role - playing" schindig as they can, and then suddenly need to invent a new character 10 minutes into the game...if they play again this session at all.

And no, I don't have an issue with high mortality/danger of combat myself - hells, I'm mostly a Warhammer/BRP player after all.

I agree 100% with the above post.

Quote from: dragoner;700419I am, not ashamed of it one bit, and I usually do a lot more than 2-3 sentences backstory.

For some reason now I want a rule in my next RPG book that goes along the lines of.

"Create a character background of one sentence. Add one sentence for each of your characters deaths and one sentence per 5 character levels achieved collectively amongst your DOA characters. Add one sentence for every character you have created that was killed by a 1hp kobold. Suicide deaths do not count."

This will at least eventually keep the player busy during the downtime of being dead... again...

Quote from: Omega;700425For some reason now I want a rule in my next RPG book that goes along the lines of.

"Create a character background of one sentence. Add one sentence for each of your characters deaths and one sentence per 5 character levels achieved collectively amongst your DOA characters. Add one sentence for every character you have created that was killed by a 1hp kobold. Suicide deaths do not count."

This will at least eventually keep the player busy during the downtime of being dead... again...

I would add "if a wizard all deaths by cats must be included" given they are the MOST dangerous thing alive to a typical wizard.

Quote from: Rincewind1;700411And yet, I've seen a fair amount of anecdotes, on this very forum in fact, about having 4 different characters ready, or even with people not bothering to name their characters before reaching 2nd level. Of course it's not an issue with everyone, but some people take the mortality to the extreme and there is an issue of "Warrior Bob, Warrior Rob, Warrior Sod, Warrior Dod", whose distinctive features are that they wear full plate, use battle axes and have 16 STR until one of them reaches a level where they won't be killed by a first stray arrow. And yes, perhaps the people who'd get upset that their Fighter Charles died so fast, and they didn't even get a chance to visit home village, perhaps simply shouldn't play Old School D&D - but that is indeed a legitimate issue with old school mortality, something that can off put some players (without them being "wankers" or "whiny cunts", but simply people who invest too much into their character where perhaps they shouldn't do so due to the nature of the game). Because they come to a game, try to prepare as best for this whole "role - playing" schindig as they can, and then suddenly need to invent a new character 10 minutes into the game...if they play again this session at all.

And no, I don't have an issue with high mortality/danger of combat myself - hells, I'm mostly a Warhammer/BRP player after all.

I agree 100% with the above post.

Quote from: Rincewind1;700341I'm not talking about writing a bloody novel, but whatever, screw you too and the rest of "Internet tough guys" brigade.

Being practical means posing as a "tough guy"?

Quote from: Rincewind1;700392Are you experiencing some educational regress tonight, or have you stopped at primary school invectives' wit? Though judging by the lack of usual swears, I suspect it's simply sobriety hitting hard. So what'll we next, going the "Oh I'm adjusting my level to yours" routine or "My my, swear words cause you to pearl clutch"?

Also I didn't know that

This is probably the single most important issue with "Old School Mortality" - the lack of personality/backstory until the character reaches "x" level, because what's the point to bother, if he might be Mario 5.0 in a moment?

is an overfetishisation of backstories.

It sure is, considering the absurd strawman you've set up. I never said "Don't create a backstory for a new PC", I said keep it short and simple.

QuoteBut apparently, if you invest at start more into your character than encumbrance, level and attributes, you are a wanker.

If the greasy palm fits, wank it.

QuoteThe only wankers I see in this thread are those who are trying to prove how tough they are by playing RPGs like Real Men (TM).

Did someone just rub sand in your pussy or something? Does it still hurt?

Quote from: Omega;700425For some reason now I want a rule in my next RPG book that goes along the lines of.

This will at least eventually keep the player busy during the downtime of being dead... again...

I just don't get the hate towards wargamers; as far as pc backstories, sure I don't want to read a novella, but there is nothing wrong with a page to give me motivations, or ideas on how to torture them if they are players ... muahaha
/evil GM laugh

NPC's as well, I'll often copy parts of the roleplay dialog into their sheets, like when the party bought an android that was a steward, but just a re-skinned warbot:

... so basically the rich players bought an obstinate, lethal npc?

That still makes me laugh.

Quote from: Elfdart;700431Being practical means posing as a "tough guy"?

It sure is, considering the absurd strawman you've set up. I never said "Don't create a backstory for a new PC", I said keep it short and simple.

Quote from: Elfdart;700339First of all, if you waste time writing a background for a newly-created PC that is more than two or three sentences long, then you are a wanker plain and simple.

:rolleyes:

If you are that "practical", go learn carpentry rather than play pretend games. Also I never wrote that you wrote that you don't want backstories at all, so as far as strawmen go - physician, heal thyself.

QuoteDid someone just rub sand in your pussy or something? Does it still hurt?

Actually it doesn't, but how's the head up your arse? Because if you took it out of it for a moment, you'd perhaps notice that this "practicality" is exactly what I meant could be a legitimate issue for some players, as per OP's note.

Quote from: dragoner;700434I just don't get the hate towards wargamers; as far as pc backstories, sure I don't want to read a novella, but there is nothing wrong with a page to give me motivations, or ideas on how to torture them if they are players ... muahaha
/evil GM laugh

NPC's as well, I'll often copy parts of the roleplay dialog into their sheets, like when the party bought an android that was a steward, but just a re-skinned warbot:

... so basically the rich players bought an obstinate, lethal npc?

That still makes me laugh.

The longest backstory I've ever seen as a GM was 5 pages long, and I admit - I didn't read it at all. If my players make one at all, I expect it to be page long tops, and better have adventuring hooks/NPCs there, or I'll probably not read it as well. And I've never demanded a backstory from players (the last ones I received were about a year - two ago, when my last true CoC campaign started).

Quote from: Black Vulmea;700083Like marriage.

Well, I cannot top that response. I'm off to have a drink and go to bed.

Quote from: Elfdart;700431Being practical means posing as a "tough guy"?



It sure is, considering the absurd strawman you've set up. I never said "Don't create a backstory for a new PC", I said keep it short and simple.



If the greasy palm fits, wank it.



Did someone just rub sand in your pussy or something? Does it still hurt?

I assume this tripe was your poor attempt at a joke? If not, how pathetic.

Quote from: Rincewind1;700437The longest backstory I've ever seen as a GM was 5 pages long, and I admit - I didn't read it at all. If my players make one at all, I expect it to be page long tops, and better have adventuring hooks/NPCs there, or I'll probably not read it as well.

Five pages is too long, but usually it is a paragraph or three; but it grows, GM notes, reasons for this or that. I think even in the first RPG's I played, it was almost always a paragraph at least; but hell, if someone can't put a paragraph together ... scary. How are they going to role play?

Backstory =/= Personality.

A character can have one without the other.

Quote from: dragoner;700419I am, not ashamed of it one bit, and I usually do a lot more than 2-3 sentences backstory.

My typical limit is a paragraph, maybe 3 paragraphs if I am playing Mage or Lot5R. Regardless I like your idea upthread.