Becoming a Great GM with Guy Sclanders

Ep5: Getting Your PCs to Create Backstories - A Waste of Time?


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How do we as Game Masters get our new players at the table into the habit of creating backstories for their PCs? 

Perhaps we should be asking how do we as GMs make sure that we utilise the backstories created? How do we create an environment and games that are better because of our players backstories? 

In today's episode I talk all about player character backstories and how they could be useful in our games. 

Topics covered: 

  • How to balance adventures out in such a way that backstories will advance the campaign as a whole. 
  • How much in enough information from your PCs backstories & how do you communicate this to them? 
  • Is it more important to have an expansive backstory as opposed to just a filler? 
  • What is "A-HA" adventure? 
  • How to build "A-HA" adventures around your players backstories. 
  • The different types of players and how to adjust your approach to backstories to suit each player. 
  • Is there a way to pull out more more information from players who provide vague stories? 

Lastly, on a completely unrelated note, I answer a question about a campaign idea related to reptiles and amphibians! 

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Becoming a Great GM with Guy SclandersBy Guy Sclanders

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