Alright, so you’ve made a character. They’re shiny. They’re new. They’re full of possibility.
If you’re anything like me, you have at least five pages of backstory. You poured over their family, the way they grew up. Hopes. Dreams. Fears. Every detail that made them the way they were up to the minute your campaign begins. You could tell me their favorite color, what they ate on Tuesday, or what recreational sport they may play on the weekends.
Here’s the secret though: it doesn’t matter if you don’t do something with it. Those pages you wrote? The other players don’t have them. Your GM may not have read even read them all. Unless your character has their life story tattooed to their body, backstory doesn’t enter the world you’re playing in- until you introduce it.
Now I’m not saying that backstory isn’t important: quite the contrary. Backstory is pivotal in how you play your beloved character. It’s incredibly valuable reference material, and sometimes makes for the best role-playing moments in a campaign. What’s important to realize, though, is that in a campaign your character doesn’t exist outside the things they say or do in your sessions.
Is your character’s favorite food lime Jello? Have them order it in copious amounts at a tavern (only to be disgusted when the only flavor available is cherry). Have they always wanted a pet? Have them constantly talking to and try befriending creatures they come across- regardless of how hostile the animal may seem. Little nuggets like that take small amounts of time in a session and help flush out the personality of your character, without you having to deliver a report on who you’re playing. Trust me, your fellow players will find this approach more engaging, and the overall story you’re telling will be that much more fun.
This applies to the bigger parts of your backstory as well. For example, say your character was a shut-in with no access to the outside world until just before the start of your campaign. Wow- there’s so much to play with there! How do you interact with your party members (or other NPCs)? Perhaps you’re guarded and find trust in short supply. On the flip side, maybe you’re overly-faithful to the rest of your party who helped you escape. Do you know what money is and how to interact with merchants? Maybe you’re always stealing things, not because of malice but because you don’t understand how a sales transaction works. With no formal education, can you read? Do you purposely ignore signs out of pride? Constantly need people to read things for you, or do you take the time and frustration required to learn the skill as a now-adult? These are all ways to play aspects of that backstory, instead of just blurting it out as a footnote in your character description.
I know the urge to overshare at the top of a campaign. After all, we’ve spent all this energy crafting the perfect character, and we want everyone to see the work we’ve done. In my experience, this doesn’t yield the same impact as a slow release throughout the story. Having things come up organically is better for story-telling: it’s more meaningful and more engaging. Keep those secrets as long as you can- it’s fun to surprise your fellow players part way through.
Happy trails, adventurers!