Creating
a Character History
"Creating a believable and fun character history is a significant
key to enjoying your NERO event. Knowing
your character’s persona can give you wide reaching roleplaying possibilities.
Written character histories are not required to play NERO but they will
provide you with background and us with plot." (NERO 8th Edition Rulebook,
p. 106)
As the rulebook says, your character history
can be the key to understanding why you character thinks and acts the way he
does. Every legendary hero has a
background, and some time in their earliest beginnings where they had to learn
the skills that made their famous deeds possible.
Your character may someday become one of the legendary heroes, and it can
be important to know where he came from originally.
The NERO rulebook provides a description of
how to write a character history, listing what is good to include, and what is
not a good idea. Because we
understand that not everyone has access to a rulebook at this time, we have
created this page to assist players in creating their character’s background
history. We will try to outline the
information that is provided in the rulebook, and provide a questionnaire for
you to complete that will submit your history to the plot teams for approval.
"Understand that the committee has the right to overrule your
choices if they would violate game rules or give your character too much of an
advantage in the game." (Rulebook,
p. 106) Also below are links to
show what the rulebook’s examples are of both a good and a bad character
history.
We hope this page is a resource to you and
is able to assist you in generating your character’s history.
Understand that it is only the plot teams who will have access to reading
your submissions, so information you may not wish to have general knowledge will
not become so. We do, however, reserve the right to use your history for
plot purposes at any given camp.
1. Avoid the common clichés of fantasy. (And that includes when you name your character.
There have been several Vlad Taltos, Rand al’Thors, Belgarions, Elrics,
and Skeeves. You think you’re the
only person in the world to read these books?)
2. Avoid a listing of heroic deeds you have done.
After all, if that were true, why are you entering the game as a lowly
first level character with almost no skills?
3. Avoid including amazing magical effects or special items
pertaining to your family. Believe
it or not, those tend to be all too common, and not likely to yield anything
from a plot team.
4. Think about your own life history as a guideline.
What is your family like? Your
schooling? Your friends? Your
jobs?
"My name is Deathbringer Bloodblade Darkshadow.
My father was a Count and my mother was the heir to the throne of the
Elven Kingdom.
When I was but a baby, my parents were
killed by a marauding band of bandits from Rotaria who left me and my twin
brother to die. They captured my
beautiful sister and sold her to Eastern barbarians where she now serves in the
harem of their evil leader Konad.
My brother was later kidnapped by gypsies
and I had to fend for myself. I
proved my worth and strength at an early age when I killed an armed troll with
my bare hands.
I taught myself to be the best swordsman in
the kingdom. However, I keep my
abilities secret as I do not wish for my enemies to find me.
I now travel mysteriously from town to town,
dressed all in black. I appear
without a sound and disappear as a mere shadow flicking through the night.
When I enter the tavern, the crowd goes silent as I sit alone in the
corner with my back to the wall.
I do not have many friends but I do have the
respect of all. Although I do not
seek permanent female companionship, I secretly enjoy the lavish attention that
the women give me.
I search for my long-lost brother who I know
can help me regain my birthright, rescue my sister and wreak my vengeance
against any Rotarian I come across. I will be able to recognize him and my sister by our
distinctive family birthmark--a scarlet rose on our left elbow.
Oh yeah, I am also searching for my
father’s sword Doomblade which will only work for members of my family.
This sword was created by the finest dwarven craftsmen specifically for
my father after he single-handedly saved the dwarven kingdom from the attacking
hordes of mountain trolls and death elementals who once plagued the peaceful
people. This sword allows me to
double any proficiencies I may already have. (Plot committee: Can I have this?)
Although I have often been asked to join
with other adventuring groups, I keep to myself and to mine own self I am true.
I do adventure from time to time when the cause is worthy."
"My name is Trin Hallison. I
am the eldest son of Lorin and Frinda Hallison.
I have two younger brothers and two older sisters.
I was born in the mining city of Ironvale in
the duchy of Ravenholt in the kingdom of Evandarr in 576.
My father was the head cook of one of the mines in the area and my mother
worked in the payroll department. They
held different shifts so that at different times I was raised by both my father
and my mother.
My father had served in the army of
Westmarch under Goodwyn Northridge as a short swordsman.
I have many fine memories of afternoons spent with my father practicing
sparring--I never could beat him! (I
could, however, beat my younger brothers and sisters, and I gained even more
experience playing with them.)
My mother knew a few healing spells which
came in useful when we kids hurt ourselves in our games.
She tried to teach us to read and write, but only my sister Burra took an
interest.
At the young age of ten, while on a picnic
with my family, I found a cave and began exploring.
I soon was lost in the darkness and I was certain that every sound was a
goblin or a troll out to get me. I
spent a few hours crying in the darkness before I was discovered and ever since
I have had a great fear of caves and extreme darkness even though I know my
fears are unfounded.
When Vandal Northridge became Baron of
Westmarch, things changed a bit in Ironvale--the town guards became more surly
and some of the nobles he appointed cared more for fattening their pockets than
for the commoners to whom they were supposed to be helping.
I believe that all nobles in their hearts are the same even if they
pretend to be caring. I would never work for nobility.
When I was old enough, I became apprenticed
to a local cooper, making barrels for the town.
It was boring work but it brought in the money my family needed.
It was during this time that I became fascinated with magic, for next
door to the cooper’s was the local Healer’s Guild.
The healers there noticed my interest in their activities, and one--a
nice old lady named Hindy--often delighted me with her tales of adventures in
Ashbury where she had fought many monsters in her younger days.
It was she who finally taught me how to
perform first aid, and it was she who taught me my first spell.
My father died permanently when I was 14.
It was a very traumatic experience for all of my family.
He had died previously--a few times while in the army and once when a
large boulder fell on him, but he had been successfully resurrected each time.
This time he had a terrible disease, and the Healers’ Guild could do
nothing for him. I cried myself to
sleep every night as he lay in bed in pain as the disease took over his body.
Finally, I could take no more, and I placed a pillow over his head and
held it down until he stopped breathing. I
finally put him out of his misery. I
have never told anyone of this and I feel very guilty about it. I made a vow to myself that I would never kill again, and
that any enemy I would ever encounter would be captured if at all possible, and
if dying would be first-aided.
When I turned 16, I felt that it was time to
strike out on my own, and I decided to head to the area that Hindy had told me
about. I decided to move to the big
city where life is more exciting. I
have now arrived in the city of Ashbury, where I hope soon to obtain a job and
maybe--just maybe--find some adventure!"