On TheForce.Net, I had started a discussion concerning
violence in fiction, and early on, the topic dipped into the realm of RPGs, with a
post concerning character histories.
Let's be realistic, here. Dark and traumatic histories are dramatic, and we all love us some drama. Admit it. You do. Drama is exciting and interesting. If a character's history is traumatic, it also helps to shape who they are, and they are seen as a better person to have risen above such adversity. Tragic histories can range from being created for the sole purpose of being a tool or an object of study, or to being smacked around as a kid. Perhaps there was an incident in that character's lifetime that helped to shape who they are. Death of a loved one, parent, sibling, beloved pet, their Kanto starter. At some point in their life, there was a defining moment that helped to shape them. Perhaps it was for the good, or for the bad, or they're still trying to make sense of it. Dramatic histories are just fine for characters, if it helps to define their key traits and how they cope with the world.
However, there comes a point where the drama will be ratcheted up to insane levels, or deplorable acts are arbitrarily thrown in because the player thinks that it makes their character "more interesting." Sometimes, when looking over character sheets, the histories become more and more traumatic, with ever-increasing amounts of violence and sexual assault in this bizarre one-upmanship contest. And the players of those characters may see absolutely nothing wrong with that, as would the GM.
Though, to many, as the linked topic has pointed out, there comes a time where you should draw the line. A more "mundane" trauma can be far more interesting for a character than "I was raped lots, tee-hee."
So, what are your thoughts on developing character histories? Are there any tropes you find yourself falling into? Were there characters back in your own personal Cringe Era that were so overblown that you can't believe that no one had the sense to tell you to rewrite their history? Do you like dramatic character histories? How dramatic? Do you prefer your character to be the average Joe Schmoe off the street with nothing special about their background?
There are plenty of more discussion points than just those.
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