Is 750 word too long for a backstory?

[Talakeal]

I would say some people care for backstory, some don't, and that's ok.

I personally like PC backstory, both as a player and a DM, but I recognize that isn't everybody's thing. I would prefer everyone at the table had the same love of it that I do, but I am not going to force it on people who don't.

Personally, I think its something similar to the old GNS divide. Those who are really into world-building and lore enjoy backstory, those who prefer drama see it as an impediment to having fun in the moment, and more gamist players see it as a pointless chore. This is, of course, a generalization.

What I do see as a problem, and this goes both ways, both players and DMs, is people who care about THEIR story and shutdown everyone else. Excessively long backstories can be a warning signof this in a PC, and refusing any backstory can be a warning sign of this in DMs.


Now, maybe I am just hardened to this after having gone through so many creative writing workshops in college, but 750 pages is not a novel. Its not a novella. Its not a short story. Its barely even flash fiction. I read and write several forum posts longer than that each day (this one is almost 300 words). That can fit on a single page, depending on the spacing, at a normal font size. It takes a few minutes to read, tops. Even if it is the worst written piece of cliched trash ever, who cares? You are really willing to spend 3-6 hours a week with this person engaging in games of imagination, but can't read 750 words of their prose? Seriously?

[Tawmis]

Now, maybe I am just hardened to this after having gone through so many creative writing workshops in college, but 750 pages is not a novel. Its not a novella. Its not a short story. Its barely even flash fiction. I read and write several forum posts longer than that each day (this one is almost 300 words). That can fit on a single page, depending on the spacing, at a normal font size. It takes a few minutes to read, tops. Even if it is the worst written piece of cliched trash ever, who cares? You are really willing to spend 3-6 hours a week with this person engaging in games of imagination, but can't read 750 pages of their prose? Seriously?

This made me chuckle. I know ye meant 750 words.

[Talakeal]

This made me chuckle. I know ye meant 750 words.

Lol. Fixed that.

[Hytheter]

If nothing else I'm sure we can all agree 750 pages would be overdoing it.

[Mastikator]

If nothing else I'm sure we can all agree 750 pages would be overdoing it.

So 749 pages is the limit then.

[LibraryOgre]

So 749 pages is the limit then.

I am going to be SO HIGH LEVEL!