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Ideas for a Background

Hello everyone. I'm creating a new PC to play the main campaign of the Original Campaign. Since the pre-existing background is very weak I decided to write one of my own, but can't really find an appealing idea for it.

Some infos: the character is a male human paladin of Torm, 18 years old, from some little town or village in the northern Sword Coast.

I hope someone here with more imagination than me could be able to help with interesting ideas for this character's backstory.

Thank you in advance for your answers.

Comments

  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    To make you background richer you should add:
    a- Something he wants more than anything (example: becoming a knight, pleasing his father etc)
    b- something he fears more than anything (example: losing his best friend, facing his own failures...)
    c- add a short description of how he acts and his personality .

    That makes up for a well rounded 1st level character.
  • Darigaaz87Darigaaz87 Member Posts: 135
    DJKajuru said:

    To make you background richer you should add:
    a- Something he wants more than anything (example: becoming a knight, pleasing his father etc)
    b- something he fears more than anything (example: losing his best friend, facing his own failures...)
    c- add a short description of how he acts and his personality .

    That makes up for a well rounded 1st level character.

    Thank you, these are good advice about how to create an interesting background, but I need ideas about the story itself, like who he was before entering the Academy in Neverwinter, why was he summoned directly by Lady Aribeth, things like these.
  • DJKajuruDJKajuru Member Posts: 3,300
    Alright,lemme try one ....
    The son of a disposed noble who still has friends in high places who could sponsor his paladin training and, subsequebtly , a spot amongst aribeth's most promising at the Academy. Serving Torm is well and good but his heroism comes from the fact that he lost his sister for the plague ,so it affects both his paladin duties and his personal feelings. hasnt heard much about lady Aribeth, except that she is the stuff of legend and you are probably unworthy of meeting her until youve proven yourself.
  • Darigaaz87Darigaaz87 Member Posts: 135
    DJKajuru said:

    Alright,lemme try one ....
    The son of a disposed noble who still has friends in high places who could sponsor his paladin training and, subsequebtly , a spot amongst aribeth's most promising at the Academy. Serving Torm is well and good but his heroism comes from the fact that he lost his sister for the plague ,so it affects both his paladin duties and his personal feelings. hasnt heard much about lady Aribeth, except that she is the stuff of legend and you are probably unworthy of meeting her until youve proven yourself.

    This is a splendid idea, thank you @DJKajuru :smile:
  • CerabelusCerabelus Member Posts: 385
    You grew up in a small town with your Father and Sister working the farm and hunting, in the little spare you all have your Father did his best to train both of you after your Mother and other villagers were killed by Orc bandits.

    While hunting for Deer you hear strange noises coming from the nearby road and quickly find Orcs attacking a Caravan and without hesitation you leap to their defense, you first notice the Guards are distracted and fail to notice the second wave going for the defenseless women and children, you did all you could to save them fighting harder than you ever thought possible, despite there being 5 Orcs you engaged them without concern for yourself and you manage to take down 2 of them when the Guards and another man have taken down the other Orcs and are rushing to your side, the last 3 Orcs run in fear.

    The Caravan is grateful and the other man takes off his Full Plate Helm to reveal a old man than he asks your name and why you came to their aid and you answer "I didn't really think about it...I just needed to help them" the old man smiles and asks if you come from a nearby village and you lead them to your home village and they stay for a few nights and over these nights you find out the old man is a retired adventurer and Paladin of Torm, he was traveling to his home town to retire after decades away.

    On the last night your Father calls you out to the porch and the old man is there, your Father tells you the old man wishes to sponsor you to become a Paladin of Torm and despite your Father needing you at the farm the old man has convinced him that while you train you can earn money in the City and send it to help your family, the next day after a teary goodbye you travel with the Caravan and when they reach the City the old man takes you to the Church and your training begins.

    Several months later the Church starts hearing stories about a Plague in and around Neverwinter, your thoughts dwell on your Father and Sister knowing the Village is near Neverwinter and you can't stand by training in safety while your Village is likely to be affected so you head straight to the meeting room where you find the main door slightly open and 10 high ranking Church officials discussing the Plague and how the Bandits and Orc tribes are taking advantage of the chaos and the Church is spread thin.

    You didn't interrupt the meeting nor ask permission to leave you simply wrote a letter explaining your intentions and packed your bags and left...straight for Neverwinter.
  • Darigaaz87Darigaaz87 Member Posts: 135
    This is a very nice and detailed story, a very good starting point for my character backstory. Thank you @Cerabelus :smiley:
  • CerabelusCerabelus Member Posts: 385
    edited September 2018
    your welcome :)
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