Thread 96322750

DMs, what were character backstories you had to reject for any reason?

>>96322750 (OP)
Honestly I'm just happy whenever my players can be arsed to make a proper backstory at all, and I know they're not retarded enough to show up wanting to play a sentient broccoli or some shit. So I never really reject backstories.

>>96322750 (OP)
>Be Me
>Be running a homebrew Fallout campaign loosely based on some GURPS rules
>Repeatedly tell my players to make characters on par with Vault Dwellers, if not vault dwellers themselves.
>In short, their characters are basically supposed to be nobodies with like one weapon, a clip or two of ammo, and enough food/water to last no more than a few days.
>That Guy got invited to group by a friend who swore he'd be a good player
>That Guy gives me a backstory involving his character being an Enclave Officer and starting the game with power-armor, a plasma rifle, and access to an Enclave bunker with enough supplies to last a decade
>Tell That Guy to tone it down. He can be Enclave if he wants, but should think about being a defector or a scientist from a failing branch, and looking at starting gear like a laser pistol and a few stim paks
>That Guy says he'll change his character
>Game day comes around
>That Guy's new character is a Brotherhood of Steel paladin with power armor and a gatling laser

Pic related is a map I found and was gonna use for the campaign, just to prove I'm not talking out of my ass.

>le me
>be running a dnd
>have players
>le players had characters
>le characters had backstories
>one player whose character had a backstory made it not fit the story I wanted to tell
>I rejected the character backstory

thx 4 listening 2 ted talk
geef reddit updoots plz

>>96322750 (OP)
I had to reject a PC backstory because he wanted all the other PCs to have been rape victims of his, who conveniently suffered total amnesia of the event, "but the memories would traumatically resurge at a climactic moment."
I eventually kicked him, not because he was a sick perv, but because he wouldn't pay attention during game or even make an effort to learn how to play, and that pissed me off.

>>96326196
I would say yes but to keep it a secret and then:
>go the entire campaign without the traumatic moment ever coming up
>when the moment does come up it is revealed that the players character was delusional all along

>>96322775
I blame memes for the reason why players make joke characters that end up not being funny nor fun to play.

>>96326196
Any reason why he wanted his character to have canonically raped his party members?

>>96324708
Why would you feel the need to prove this

>>96327431
Lots of nonces like to shout no games at the earliest opportunity

>>96326100
>you wanted to tell a story
Fuck yourself
They make the story
You make it happen

>>96328015
Don't worry anon, we can tell apart the nogames from the smell. You're clearly not it.

>>96322750 (OP)
Not exactly a character backstory, but:
>About to run an AD&D 2e campaign
>That Guy turns to me and says "I want to play this"
>Hands me a piece of paper with "Chaotic Good Drow Ranger" written on it
>Follows up with "But actually it's this"
>Crosses out "Good" and writes "Evil"
>Immediately out him for making a Drizzt expy
>He rips up the paper and plays an human fighter instead
This was in 2013.

>>96324708
Can confirm that GURPS character-creation is actually THIS bad when it comes to enforcing a common power-level for the party. Point-buy games in general struggle with this, but GURPS is particularly bad at it because it's trying to do so much at once. Access to Fallout-Tier technology like Power Armor is relatively cheap when the system is designed to also accommodate stuff like Mass Effect or Halo Forerunner technology, stuff like energy shields, teleportation, relativistic weapons, etc.

I had a similar GURPS issue a year or so back where we were trying to use GURPS to run a teen superhero game, and it turns out that giving yourself ABSURD levels of starting wealth costs relatively few of your starting points, so our game ended up with basically everyone being rich kids that could solve half their problems by just casually throwing money at them.

>>96322750 (OP)
I hate character backstories unless it's game appropriate. God damn dude, if we're playing D&D, have a simple ass premise and let's play. If we're playing VtM or Wraith then a backstory is necessary and important. But Stars Without Number or D&D? You're a level 1 nobody with no powers or skills. Your backstory is 3 sentences, max. It's always just one player who wants his or her character to be special. There's a whole group. Play together and become special. Don't ask to start off that way.

>>96328035
>They make the story
So what do you do when the players have no sense of direction or drive? Its been an issue at our table for a little while. It happened during my game and its currently happening with my friend's game. Just seems like we are content to twiddle our thumbs while everyone waits for someone to tell them what to do. In retrospect I regret making a dumb brute character this go around because it feels out of place for the character 2 steps above retardation to be the one to make the plans.

>>96332762
Not the anon you're asking, but... As a DM, I always tell my players they have characters who WANT or NEED something badly enough that they're willing to risk their lives to get it. I don't care if that thing is money to pay off a debt, searching for a lost sibling, having to break some kind of curse that's been placed on them, whatever; as long as it's something that will make them want to actually get off their asses and engage with the world to find a solution.

I have rejected several player backstories for giving me characters who don't want or need anything and basically have no reason to adventure. I don't care if your backstory is short or long, but it has to make your character want to DO something. If Bob the Shopkeeper is happy just staying at home running his shop, maybe Bob the Shopkeeper isn't a good character for a dangerous high-stakes fantasy adventure campaign.

>>96326100
>geef reddit updoots plz
I'll give you this, instead: *rips a greasy pepperoni fart down your throat*
>>96332626
I think Gygax himself once joked he'd never seen any actually evil drow PCs.

>>96322775
I had a good time with my gross-out dwarf brawler in pathfinder (society). Was a bit inspired by those gross battle dwarves in that Drizzt novel. Was fun, but I had a different character that I enjoyed more. Want to play something like him again. Was blacklisted by another player because of it.

>>96332762
A lot of people either have little leadership skills or just don't want to lead, passively letting things happen to them. Be proud. Be brave. Be dumb. Your brute is a man of action, but if no one steps in to help things go smoothly, who is really to blame?

>>96332848
>I have rejected several player backstories for giving me characters who don't want or need anything and basically have no reason to adventure. I don't care if your backstory is short or long, but it has to make your character want to DO something. If Bob the Shopkeeper is happy just staying at home running his shop, maybe Bob the Shopkeeper isn't a good character for a dangerous high-stakes fantasy adventure campaign.

This should be required advice in the rules book of every game that isn't a slice-of-life thing.

>>96332723
No, this problem is definitely unique to GURPS. I haven't ever had a problem with guaranteeing similar power levels for characters in my point buy games without having to do anything in particular.

>>96332762
> can’t assume that the player will have the motives mentioned in the backstory, because the ai wrote it for him and he probably didn’t even read it
> i just say it’s dull and there’s a dungeon nearby
> if they don’t go, the monsters come to town and attack them but didn’t bring their treasure

>>96332861
>*rips a greasy pepperoni fart down your throat*
go back to Gaia Online, this is fucking 12 year old type shit. just call him a faggot and call him a day, jesus christ I hate newfags

>>96334251
You sound like you could do with this: *rips a greasy pepperoni fart down your throat*

>>96322750 (OP)
The most common backstories I reject is when we start at level 1, and someone wants to play a character who obviously has way too much experience. One wanted to play a legendary pirate captain who'd travelled all over the world.

I provide a lot of information when I start a new campaign, though. I've been through this many times and I like to think I have a pretty good handle on what people need to know to make the characters I'm asking for.

>>96328035
If you want to control how the game goes, you can GM yourself, you lazy parasite.

>>96322750 (OP)
One that had the character be a low-ranking member of the Shadow Thieves in Athkatla before his guild dues turned into a debt and turned into debt slavery and turned into being put on a ship bound for Icewind Dale and got wrecked due to not paying the Umberlee Toll and he escaped which is fine and dandy except for the fact the game was set in Eberron.

>>96334435
You only gain experience points by killing monsters, so there's no limit to how much stuff you could have done before reaching level 2, retard

>>96334440
Nope, you'll do as you're told bitch

>>96324708
>GURPS
What was the TL and starting point budget? Hard to believe that he could get away with all that on the point budget of an average vault dweller (who should only be around 25-50 points). If you gave your players too many points or starting funds, and didn't enforce things like limits on skill/attribute/wealth levels, LC restrictions on starting gear, etc., then that's partly on you.
But it does sound like you at least reviewed his character and gave him a chance and enough pointers to fix things up, at least. But he just really didn't want to be an average joe; he wanted to be a badass in power armor.
>prove I'm not talking out of my ass
That proves nothing. Reverse-image search sends me to another person's Fallout TRPG campaign: https://forums.modiphius.com/t/homebrew-welcome-to-the-dominion/14821. So you could've just yoinked it from there.

But I'm not doubting you. Just genuinely curious. Tell us what happened to the guy after the game started? Did you boot him? Take his power armor away? Let him live out his power armor power fantasy?

>>96324708
You can't run a game with vague guidelines. You have to give the players a list of items, and tell them "Your gear is a selection of exactly N items chosen from this list, and only this list."

If you want a particular result in your game, you have to actually enforce that result. Grow a fucking spine.

>>96334523
In what system?

All systems, stupid communist faggot.

>>96334636
I accept your concession.

Accept my cock bitch

test

>>96332861
I didn't offer any less than OP did, nor any less than the typical DM's written or spoken account of their "sessions".
Die in a fire.

>>96322750 (OP)
This is a player-side story, but I had one game where the DM accidentally retconned my character into being a noble.
>Make character from international crime syndicate
>He gets sent to a merchant family (itself a front) to spend some time building a cover identity
>DM uses AI to parse everything
>Because my character talks about the merchant family as "the family," the AI thinks he's a noble
>NPCs start talking about how my character is highborn and treat him like a noble
>In a mid-session dialogue, one NPC even starts ranting about how my family is known for its stubborn pride
>I thought we were humble merchants
Was pretty funny to get turned from a cartel grunt to a landless noble.

>>96334478
>which is fine and dandy except for the fact the game was set in Eberron.
lol. The backstory itself is pretty good, though. Was that for an online game?

>>96339047
>Was that for an online game?
Yeah, it was simple enough to adapt.

>>96339052
Kind of figured. Online games really seem to draw players who pre-make their character sheets and backstories. At least that backstory doesn't come across as a walking red flag.

>>96339066
Nah he didn't know that most D&D settings are actually on different planets or universes rather than being distant continents.

>>96339086
>New player heavily researches setting, makes character tied into it
>Adjusts his character when DM corrects misunderstandings
Based

>>96334478
I usually wait for the DM to give us some details about the setting and where we're meeting to get an idea of how to write a backstory for this reason.

>>96322775
>and I know they're not retarded enough to show up wanting to play a sentient broccoli or some shit
you just gave me my next character

>>96339066
What? No they don't. How can you make a character before knowing what game you're playing?

>>96341906
You'd see the game in posts looking for players.

>>96342509
So how is that different from your DM telling you what game you're playing? I don't get it

>>96332723
>I had a similar GURPS issue a year or so back where we were trying to use GURPS to run a teen superhero game, and it turns out that giving yourself ABSURD levels of starting wealth costs relatively few of your starting points, so our game ended up with basically everyone being rich kids that could solve half their problems by just casually throwing money at them.

That sounds hilarious.

>>96322750 (OP)
Got a fun one recently:
>Announce one shot set in a specific town.
>Player hands me a detailled backstory how his PC got kicked out of said town.
>Ask him how he plans to participate.
>Player is oblivious to the fact that his PC might need to be in the town to join a quest that is set in said town.
Or a feisty one:
>Asks me for a script about how I was planning to incorporate her (very detailed) backstory
>For a BFRPG dungeon crawl oneshot.

Not really about the back stories, but still notable:
TDA
>Player showing up with a D&D 5e character sheet
BFRPG
>Player decides beforehand it's too difficult
>Brings a LvL 5 character instead of the three LvL 1 PCs I asked for
>Thinks this should go without saying because "every game handles it this way"

>>96334530
>msg from Anon: 'hey Anon ur front door is locked'
>msg from Anon: 'u there'
>3 missed calls from Anon
>msg from Anon: 'wtf gives'

lol delusional

>>96342519
If I'm looking for an online game, I can search based on the game being played. For example, I can make a 5E character and look specific for 5E games only.

Online game post looking for players won't have the DM play a different game than the one listed.

>>96343409
Right, so it's just like when the DM tells you what game you're playing, and you make a character in preparation for that system.

>>96339440
Not so loud anon. The fa/tg/uys will think you're playing freakshit and tell you to kill yourself.

>>96334610
Nah fuck that. If you get told "vault dweller or equivalent" and THEN get told "laser pistol and a few stim paks," and you bring almost the strongest loadout in the game universe then you are either too autistic or too much of a cunt to be desirable as a player.

>>96339047
>DM uses AI to parse everything
Jesus fucking Christ.

>>96344983
Quite grim isn't it?

I didn't reject it but
>Run a dungeon oneshot
>Made it all physical out of felt, had painted minis, that kind of thing
>Told the players they can make backstories but they weren't that important
>Just delving into a mummy's pyramid
>First two players make 1-2 paragraph long backstories
>Have some neat stuff to inspire room stocking
>Another player sends me a 13 page backstory
>Can't be assed to read it, first page is all about how he is from a hobbit village
>Day of, give him his hobbit mini
>He looks at me incredulously
>"Did you read my backstory, I'm a HUMAN that lives with hobbits"
Game was fun, but that still pisses me off

>>96344983
The only reason I even played in that game was because I didn't realize how extreme the use was. At first, I thought he just used it for character portraits and text RP (which was irrelevant fluff), and struggled a bit with improv.
Then he got upset my character was arguing with the town guards for being incompetent. He ended up sending me a Discord message that was obviously written by ChatGPT. It made me realize that he couldn't function without AI, so I decided to leave the campaign.

Ironically, he marketed the campaign as being heavy on role-play and creativity.

One of my oldest friends, the one who introduced me to D&D in fact, wrote a character who was a rape victim for the first game of D&D that I ran, and his goal was to hunt down his rapist. I got into an argument with him and forced him to make another character because I thought it was too dark and tasteless.

Many years later I found out he was the victim of childhood abuse, and that character was either a cry for help or him trying to work out his trauma.

>>96344882
No. The fault lies with you, and you alone.

>>96339047
I don't get it, how do you arrive at noble from that? In "Merchant -> Noble", what is "->"?

>>96347842
Because my character was part of a merchant family. Basically, my character was saying "I am Vito of the Corleone family" and the AI read "Corleone family" to imply that I was part of a noble house.
It was that stupid.

>>96347448
Or he was just a Berserk fan

so anyone with a surname is a noble then. imagine being a dumbass robot and you can't even do logic, the one thing robots are supposed to be good at KEK

>>96327431
nogames fear the "nogames" sayers
>>96332723
whenever I play GURPS I just put all my points into making a retarded buff caveman who can hit galactically hard. GURPS rewards you for making a character that's many tech levels below the others so I always get unbelievable gainz. GURPS I find also is just really enjoyable to make a mellee build in. This character fits in absolutely no setting but he's great fun for everybody every time.