Background stories are more than flavour text

There is a reason (there are a number of reasons, actually) why I ask players to write up a background for their characters. First and foremost is that I think it can really help the *player* understand the character a little better. In my opinion, the more you delve into who your character was before s/he Reckoned, maybe play around with some fleeing memories of Past Lives, the better you get to know the character. I have always found it helpful to make up a little background, even if it's only a character being played for one night, that was handed out at the door. It is very difficult to effectively play a character who has *no* background - where neither the player nor the character have any idea who they are or where they have come from.

It's also really important to the story of the game. The better you understand your own character, the more interesting some of the interactions you will have with other characters.

Third, if the Storyguide doesn't have a background (even if it's just in point form, even if it's just a single paragraph), s/he has to 'make it up' when someone Investigates your character or her history. And sometimes, Storyguides don't like doing that, because it's an awful lot like commandeering your character, which is, in some Storyguide's opinions, pretty terrible.

So that's why this Storyguide offers you up to 5 Zeal for your background (what do you have to do to get the 5? Write a good background that's MORE than point form or more than 1 paragraph; although if you can write a comprehensive background in the form of Hemingway's six word story (and I challenge you to do so!), I'll be suitably impressed): because your Storyteller doesn't want to have to commandeer your character.

Doh, does this mean I didn't get past a C- on my report?
Can I get a makeup exam?

hmmm ... Now i am intrigued a backstory is on it's way, alone with a couple tries at a 6 word story. ^.^

"Aw damn. Those WERE the droids..."