Quote Originally Posted by Vyker View Post
Grr, this got lost a couple pages back, but let me ask you this -- what difference, if any, exists between the following two people:
- A character with a given selection of stats, feats, skills, spells, and equipment which makes him really good.
- A character with a given selection of stats, feats, skills, spells, and equipment which makes him really good plus a satisfactory backstory which explains it all.

I'm asking because I understand many points being made by many folks, but I don't understand yours. What makes the first character worse in-game than the exact same character who also happens to have a favorite color? Are they somehow incapable of doing the same things?

The fact that you asked this question from that perspective is going to get you all manner of grief here.

Most roleplayers will say the backstory is paramount, without one you don't actually have a character. Those other things are all secondary.