Uploaded October 2021 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Here's 7 tips on making great Character Backstories that both you and your Game Master can get the most out of, as well as an additional option I prefer that can be incorporated alongside or instead of writing a backstory out.
__________
*DID YOU KNOW I'M A NOVELIST?*
If you want to support my channel, or just want to read an action-packed Urban Fantasy about modern-day monster hunters and their sentient weapons, check out my four-novel Valducan series. They feature gun fights, sword fights, chases, monsters, and a smattering of horror. Audio book editions narrated by the badass R.C. Bray: amzn.to/3rehNnJ
I also write pulpy Sword & Sorcery thief adventures in my Tales of the Black Raven series. It's 21 short adventures packed with action, intrigue, and daring heroics (You might notice Book 2: Sea of Quills not-so-subtly placed behind me). Audio editions read by R.C. Bray. amzn.to/3faj4cX
And if you want a kickass and dark revenge story about a modern-day sorceress hunting for lost Carcosa, my novel Ashes of Onyx is available in print, ebook, and audio book: amzn.to/3sfh1IA
If you enjoyed my stories, please leave a rating or review on Amazon, Audible, and/or Goodreads
goodreads.com/author/show/4088554.Seth_Skorkowsky
__________
*MY OWN PUBLISHED RPG ADVENTURES*
A Mother's Love (Call of Cthulhu 7e): drivethrurpg.com/product/299661/New-Tales-of-the-Miskatonic-Valley--An-Anthology-of-Call-of-Cthulhu-Scenarios-set-in-the-1920s?affiliate_id=1017650
Mysteries on Arcturus Station (Mongoose 2e): drivethrurpg.com/product/350034/Solomani-Adventure-1-Mysteries-on-Arcturus-Station?affiliate_id=1017650
__________
*FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER*
I mostly ramble about movies and random other things as they occur to me:
twitter.com/SSkorkowsky
__________
*I HAVE A PODCAST NOW*
Check out the Modern Mythos Podcast where veteran RPG writer Jon Hook and I discuss gaming, especially Call of Cthulhu: modernmythos.libsyn.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_wArr3cKQhXj5GNv52s2Q-_gdM9yyq-0O-_dugpOYp3CsevyZiir5mBU
You can find the podcast on YouTube as well (You should totally subscribe): youtube.com/channel/UCmk5Y_OheFJL7-Xgvx-REJA
__________
*My Patreon* (Tip Jar): patreon.com/SSkorkowsky
Special thank you to my 159 Patrons for their support.
Guest starring Mike and Todd.
00:00 Intro
01:02 1 Provide Names
01:50 2 Make It Easy to Reference
05:05 3 The GM Has Final Approval
06:18 4 NPCs From the Past Aren't Static
07:53 5 The PC Should Continue Evolving
09:35 6 Tropes Aren't Bad
12:25 7 Link the Characters' Backstories
13:38 Buddies & Rivals
14:47 Ask a Survey of Questions
21:35 Closing
Here's 7 tips on making great Character Backstories that both you and your Game Master can get the most out of, as well as an additional option I prefer that can be incorporated alongside or instead of writing a backstory out.
__________
*DID YOU KNOW I'M A NOVELIST?*
If you want to support my channel, or just want to read an action-packed Urban Fantasy about modern-day monster hunters and their sentient weapons, check out my four-novel Valducan series. They feature gun fights, sword fights, chases, monsters, and a smattering of horror. Audio book editions narrated by the badass R.C. Bray: amzn.to/3rehNnJ
I also write pulpy Sword & Sorcery thief adventures in my Tales of the Black Raven series. It's 21 short adventures packed with action, intrigue, and daring heroics (You might notice Book 2: Sea of Quills not-so-subtly placed behind me). Audio editions read by R.C. Bray. amzn.to/3faj4cX
And if you want a kickass and dark revenge story about a modern-day sorceress hunting for lost Carcosa, my novel Ashes of Onyx is available in print, ebook, and audio book: amzn.to/3sfh1IA
If you enjoyed my stories, please leave a rating or review on Amazon, Audible, and/or Goodreads
goodreads.com/author/show/4088554.Seth_Skorkowsky
__________
*MY OWN PUBLISHED RPG ADVENTURES*
A Mother's Love (Call of Cthulhu 7e): drivethrurpg.com/product/299661/New-Tales-of-the-Miskatonic-Valley--An-Anthology-of-Call-of-Cthulhu-Scenarios-set-in-the-1920s?affiliate_id=1017650
Mysteries on Arcturus Station (Mongoose 2e): drivethrurpg.com/product/350034/Solomani-Adventure-1-Mysteries-on-Arcturus-Station?affiliate_id=1017650
__________
*FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER*
I mostly ramble about movies and random other things as they occur to me:
twitter.com/SSkorkowsky
__________
*I HAVE A PODCAST NOW*
Check out the Modern Mythos Podcast where veteran RPG writer Jon Hook and I discuss gaming, especially Call of Cthulhu: modernmythos.libsyn.com/?fbclid=IwAR1_wArr3cKQhXj5GNv52s2Q-_gdM9yyq-0O-_dugpOYp3CsevyZiir5mBU
You can find the podcast on YouTube as well (You should totally subscribe): youtube.com/channel/UCmk5Y_OheFJL7-Xgvx-REJA
__________
*My Patreon* (Tip Jar): patreon.com/SSkorkowsky
Special thank you to my 159 Patrons for their support.
Guest starring Mike and Todd.
00:00 Intro
01:02 1 Provide Names
01:50 2 Make It Easy to Reference
05:05 3 The GM Has Final Approval
06:18 4 NPCs From the Past Aren't Static
07:53 5 The PC Should Continue Evolving
09:35 6 Tropes Aren't Bad
12:25 7 Link the Characters' Backstories
13:38 Buddies & Rivals
14:47 Ask a Survey of Questions
21:35 Closing
