Re: Backstory

From: Darren Hill <rpglists_at_...>
Date: Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:08:14 -0000


On Fri, 14 Jan 2005 23:01:06 -0000, Jane Williams <janewilliams20_at_...> wrote:

>
>> > (Yes, I am
>> > perfectly capable of writing tens of thousands of words of
>> backstory,
>> > I just prefer to do it after I've got to know the character a bit).
>
>
>> Except the rules limit you to 100 words
>
> I thought one of the points of the 100 word description is that it
> *isn't* back-story? It's where you are now, not where you've been? Page
> 21, in the box, under "backstory".

Sounds like you got me there :) But I think I did later address this point in a way that shows that I'm not opposed to bringing in backstory, as long as it can be shown to be relevant.

>> My guess is, it's intended that it be the main rating not the
>> augmented one (which does beg the question, how do they
>> know?).
>
> My guess would be that after you've been sparring with a group of people
> every morning for two years, and fighting alongside them for real almost
> every day, they've got a pretty good idea how good you are.

That would answer that, yes :)

>> But if you have any kind of test to make, you'd get
>> to use augments in that.
>
> That would appear to be two answers in opposition to each other?

I don't think so. They know how good you are from sparring and other activities, but a test is a moment of great importance and drama - at this point, all the other elements that drive you (or hinder you) come into play. Is the person giving the test a former mentor who you need to prove yourself to, is your family's fate dependent on you gaining that promotion or whatever, is that clan secret going to be vital for you to track down your nemesis, and so on.

Darren

Powered by hypermail