Sins of our Fathers
Written by Tyson J. Hayes on 2010/03/02 – 00:00 -
Whether we like to admit it or not, our parents played a large role in forming us into the people we are today. Sons look to their fathers and daughters to their mothers. So why is it that we almost consistently put no thought into family when designing our characters? Why do we omit that glaring fact in our characters history? Even if we’ve gone to the trouble of putting some names on paper, how do we breathe some life into these people?
Pick Some Traits
Your characters’ parents have likely influenced them on some base level. Personally my father is a frugal man and instilled these values into me to the point of annoying my fiancée regularly about money. What traits does your character have that can be traced back to his roots?
Consider the Upbringing
I’ve heard loads of stories from people that were brought up in various churches. Their parents made them go every Sunday and were deeply religious people. These stories tend to come out one of two ways; the person is now vehemently opposed to everything even remotely religious, or is a stronger member of their faith. Was there a ritual your character had while growing up that they remember well? How does that affect them?
Sliding along the Axis
Always consider the upbringing of a character when choosing their alignment or general disposition. If, for example, you’re playing an evil character, what in their life may have caused them to choose the paths that they did? While we are talking about parents, they aren’t always to blame. Other family members have just as strong of an influence on us as our parents.
Have you ever designed a character with their family history in mind? What was the result of your work?
Tags: character development, family, tyson j. hayes
Categories: Players |
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By Cole on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I usually try to integrate the family into the background of my characters. Like you, I think they are very important in defining a person.
Below is one such example:
Angelino Cornicen, The Bard
By River on Mar 2, 2010 | Reply
I enjoy crafting a well-rounded character, and I agree that family is an important backdrop for our characters. My current character, Dalus, has parents with jobs and theories on raising children, four siblings with spouses and jobs, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Each family member has a name, a personality, and a place in Dalus's life. (This detailed family knowledge turned out to be somewhat useful during our very first gaming session. Go figure.)
Beyond the obvious bonus of extra material, developing this detailed backstory for Dalus has given him a source, so to speak. A reason to be the way he is. It gave me a better understanding of how he interacts with society and with peers before he ever set foot on the gameboard.
By River on Mar 3, 2010 | Reply
I enjoy crafting a well-rounded character, and I agree that family is an important backdrop for our characters. My current character, Dalus, has parents with jobs and theories on raising children, four siblings with spouses and jobs, and a multitude of nieces and nephews. Each family member has a name, a personality, and a place in Dalus's life. (This detailed family knowledge turned out to be somewhat useful during our very first gaming session. Go figure.)
Beyond the obvious bonus of extra material, developing this detailed backstory for Dalus has given him a source, so to speak. A reason to be the way he is. It gave me a better understanding of how he interacts with society and with peers before he ever set foot on the gameboard.