(03-13-2017, 03:02 PM)Aya Wrote: I see a lot of time being spent on a back story and discussion of it that would probably be more productively put toward simple RP.
I've said it before, and I am sure I will again: character backstory is one of the least important aspects of roleplaying. Precious few people will suddenly become interested in RPing with a character because of their backstory, few will even be interested in learning anything beyond the most basic elements.
It can provide inspiration for story writing. It can provide depth of knowledge about a character.Â
But when it comes with actual RP, most people care a lot more about the here and the future than the "back then". If you want to RP, stop thinking about it, and just get out there and do it!
I am going to be blunt and just say I am fully in disagreement with you that a back story means nothing. Think of it like a tree trunk. The backstory grows and branches out to help discover if your character will have strengths and weaknesses, fears, past trauma, and more. You can always just mess around in a character creator and find something you like and build from there but then you will wonder the personality and how they got to be like that.
Everyone is free to of course RP what they want but please don't say a back story has no real importance. I mean,if you are constantly changing the background of your own character to fit the theme of this months fashion then yeah,a back story will probably just be a hassle. If not? Thinking on one can really help but a character.it doesn't even need to be elaborate and can always be branched out as time goes on ideas come. You can even trim old ideas for new ones.