Backstories are required for Character Creation and Approval. Please submit all Backstories to characterguides@cotvlarp.com.
A Backstory should be a minimum of half a page long.
A Backstory should describe who your character is, where your character comes from, what faction your character is in, and your character's reason for going to Thorpe Territory.
We welcome as much detail as you wish to provide. This will aid us in working with you to create a character that is sure to get the most out of our game.
If you have questions for the Character Guides, please include them at the end of your Backstory.
Character Guides will not share any information you have in your Backstory with anyone outside of Staff.
All questions asked by Character Guides must be answered before a character can be approved.
Character Guides reserve the right to withhold approval on a Backstory for any reason. Suggested revisions will be given to the player when necessary. A Backstory must be approved in order for a character to be allowed to play.
Based on the work of, and in partnership with, Daniel Meiwes.
Creating a character can be difficult for any game. Please use the below guide if you need some additional help in shaping your character concept. If you find yourself needing further collaboration with a rough idea of a character, please email Character Guides and we would be happy to help! The goal is to have a character that is well-defined enough to play! Please also keep in mind that all key details of that character must be submitted to CGs for approval.
What was your character’s upbringing like? Do they have any family? What kind of company do they keep?
Are they religious? Do they have any superstitions?
What is their profession? What are their skills?
What are their priorities, ambitions, and/or goals?
What is their reputation? What are their achievements?
Do they have any chronic struggles?
Knowing that moving to Hargrove means being cut off from all relations, friends, and resources, what is making your character go west?
What do they hope to gain from moving to Hargrove?
What are they afraid of? Are there any fears about moving to Hargrove?
This must happen before any character is brought into game space. Any key details in a player's character backstory that was not okayed by CGs will not be considered as a valid part of a character's backstory by Plot. This is not only to ensure that the lore of this game is upheld, but also that all characters are properly vetted for contradictory information or violation of CG policies. Any information that was not approved by CGs will be considered as the character lying. As such, NPCs may counter or expose that lie and the character will have to deal with the consequences. If any unapproved aspects of a backstory create conflict or become problematic, Plot has the right to send in an NPC specifically to deal with the situation IG. The player will also be asked to speak with a Game Runner about why they decided to withhold these details from CGs. If a character intends to lie about their background to other players for personal plot reasons, please first clear the false aspects with CGs so that this does not happen. Minor details left out of a backstory are fine, but such things as previously knowing an NPC or named person in the lore, a great achievement in Elan, importance of the character's family, and other such key details that could influence the game are absolutely essential to CG approval. Plot Team depends on CG vetting in order to run an equitable and functional game.