Tired of having the same ol’ tragic backstory with tragically slain parents that set you on a path to vengeance? Try one of these!
The afterlives of D&D’s many worlds are littered with the souls of player characters’ families, often tragically slain before their sole surviving descendant is even finished with character creation. And, I mean, it makes sense. Vengeance for a loved one is a powerful motivator. It’s a compelling story hook for a reason – its a very primal drive that powers many of our favorite stories.
But, if you’d like to have a tragic backstory without adding to Celestia’s “family of a player character” wing, here are some alternatives to try out.
Lost the Family Estate
This tragic backstory comes with all the weight of your family getting Batmanned without needing to be Batman. Instead of losing the family, you could play as someone whose family was usurped from their home by nefarious forces. Whether a power-hungry rival noble, a mind flayer’s manipulation, or a devilish deal gone sour – there are plenty of reasons your character might be needing to find and/or make their own place in the world. After all, they’ve got a family to provide for!
Instant drama AND plenty of hooks your DM can use to pull your backstory into the centerstage.
Captured By Pirates
In a fabtasy story getting kidnapped by pirates is often the start of many an adventure. But it can also be the start of your character’s heroic saga. Separated from their family and raised at sea, only to be searching for the people who were once your own. Or treasure.
But this kinda background gives you built-in reasons to adventure. And has dramatic reveal potential in spades—any NPC could be a long-lost family member; or a member of the crew you grew up with.
Kidnapped Family
Get the Batman vibes, but with the possibility to actually change the outcome. Have a beloved family member (blood or otherwise) be captured by a nefarious rival and held prisoner. Somewhere safe if you don’t want the first thing to be “go out and rescue them.”
This is usually broadly applied with like a Count of Monte Cristo situation, where it has been a while and no one ever expects to see them ever again but you still hold out hope—but can also fuel an initial adventure. Though it’s usually one or the other; kidnapped forever ago or like, yesterday.
Lost in the Wilds
You and one or more of your family could have been separated in dangerous circumstances. Like a planar storm or an elemental conflagration. Or maybe a tarrasque attack or something—and your PC ended up alone in the wilderness. This is where you might have picked up the old Outlander background.
This gives you something to both be searching for and trying to find answers about. Plus you could have discovered something in the wilds.
Lovelorn/Star Crossed
Or just go with good old fashioned star-crossed lovers. Two souls who long for nothing more than to be together, but who are unable to for some reason. Be it because they are from two houses, both alike in dignity, or because a war divides their people and a mountain divides them apart. Either way, having a tragic love interest to pine away for is great fuel for scenes. And great fodder for adventure books.
Does your character have a tragic backstory?
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