I'm extremely picky when it comes to choosing who I roleplay with, so for me a backstory's primary function is to help me evaluate how a writer treats their character and a narrative, and the nature of the backstory also helps conceive possible avenues of interaction if I become interested. Thus I can gain a pretty clear idea as to what kind of roleplayer they are and whether or not we'll be able to mesh together reasonably well.
Are the events in the backstory consistent? Are those events plausible? Do they respect lore? Is the backstory centered solely around a character's success and their achievements? What, if any, seems to be the central idea behind the character? How extensively does this writer emphasize their character's "special" abilities? How much attention is given to flaws or failures? Are these flaws or failures presented with melodrama or angst? How justified are their character's attitudes towards certain topics? How reliant is their backstory on NPCs? Is this backstory presented as an objective retelling of events in sequence, or as a self-indulgent biography meant to garner awe or sympathy?
So yes, backstory is pretty important for me because it helps me decide who I'd like to interact with and also signify who, as roleplayers, I wouldn't get along with very well.
Are the events in the backstory consistent? Are those events plausible? Do they respect lore? Is the backstory centered solely around a character's success and their achievements? What, if any, seems to be the central idea behind the character? How extensively does this writer emphasize their character's "special" abilities? How much attention is given to flaws or failures? Are these flaws or failures presented with melodrama or angst? How justified are their character's attitudes towards certain topics? How reliant is their backstory on NPCs? Is this backstory presented as an objective retelling of events in sequence, or as a self-indulgent biography meant to garner awe or sympathy?
So yes, backstory is pretty important for me because it helps me decide who I'd like to interact with and also signify who, as roleplayers, I wouldn't get along with very well.
