I found it helpful once, but it put a little bit of pressure on the dm I feel like. Do you use it for supplemental stuff like contacts, family etc, or do you use it for everything?
I usually just write up a short background without any help. That said, if I was stuck I’d definitely look at it for prompts and ideas to get things started. On the DM side, I don’t know that it would necessarily be much more pressure than any other kind of background generation. There’s more detail, but you only really need to pick one or two things to help the story along. In some ways it might be easier, since it gives you a lot of hooks to choose from.
I don't have a problem with a player using it if they need the prompts, but I always find it's just easier to make up a detailed backstory myself then (if I'm a player) work with the DM to fit it in.
As a DM, I work everyone's backstories into the campaign so they feel connected to it. The random NPC that was found dead, just might be their 3rd cousin, etc. The main villain, may be one of their family members, etc. The Political intrigue of the Kingdom should be reflected in their backgrounds. That way too, if the players all roleplay and have their characters ask detailed questions about each others backgrounds, they can gain clues to the campaign that they would not otherwise have been able to figure out.
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Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
I use it to supplement: I write my backstory first, then I go in with XGtE and roll through the whole thing, and toss anything from it that doesn't work with what I already wrote. I also tell the DM what stuff I'm more vs less willing to change (and note that if XGtE gave me an extra skill or money or something I'm happy to downgrade it to just a 'this happened in the past' without an associated extra skill or funds). But it helps me flesh out backstory characterization.
I found it helpful once, but it put a little bit of pressure on the dm I feel like. Do you use it for supplemental stuff like contacts, family etc, or do you use it for everything?
I usually just write up a short background without any help. That said, if I was stuck I’d definitely look at it for prompts and ideas to get things started.
On the DM side, I don’t know that it would necessarily be much more pressure than any other kind of background generation. There’s more detail, but you only really need to pick one or two things to help the story along. In some ways it might be easier, since it gives you a lot of hooks to choose from.
I don't have a problem with a player using it if they need the prompts, but I always find it's just easier to make up a detailed backstory myself then (if I'm a player) work with the DM to fit it in.
As a DM, I work everyone's backstories into the campaign so they feel connected to it. The random NPC that was found dead, just might be their 3rd cousin, etc. The main villain, may be one of their family members, etc. The Political intrigue of the Kingdom should be reflected in their backgrounds. That way too, if the players all roleplay and have their characters ask detailed questions about each others backgrounds, they can gain clues to the campaign that they would not otherwise have been able to figure out.
Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
I use it to supplement: I write my backstory first, then I go in with XGtE and roll through the whole thing, and toss anything from it that doesn't work with what I already wrote. I also tell the DM what stuff I'm more vs less willing to change (and note that if XGtE gave me an extra skill or money or something I'm happy to downgrade it to just a 'this happened in the past' without an associated extra skill or funds). But it helps me flesh out backstory characterization.
Birgit | Shifter | Sorcerer | Dragonlords
Shayone | Hobgoblin | Sorcerer | Netherdeep
I use it sometimes. It's nice for filling in gaps, but it's also fun for me to forgo some control over my character concept.