It was different from Traveller’s character generation in that it was interlaced with roleplaying, to the point of a discussion about how you balanced adventuring with work. The list made for a nice backstory springboard, but I never really used it much.

I’d argue that it does not. So when a player retroactively writes some bit of backstory, even if it is for temporary advantage, it is in the best interest of the GM and the game to say “yes, and” or “yes, but”. He isn’t gaming the system anymore then the noble with the gifts from the gods is. For many players, they quite reasonably don’t trust the GM to make their backstories matter unless they are made at a time when the game starts to have focus.

I’ve had many characters who had detailed backgrounds tying me to a place and a community and the first thing the GM did was move us away from that starting place never to return. If that happens to often why would a player bother to make a static history?

The Player is choosing a reward that ends up mattering in the game, “I claim the reward of cheaper swords, in exchange, I have a npc I care about and whom I owe favors for the favors he’s done me.” That is a hook that makes the game better.

It might be better to have a static backstory before the game begins, but if the player isn’t giving you that, this second method should be embraced. The first method allows you to make a story that is about the character, the second allows the player to make a character that is about he story. Far better than a character with no connections to the story.

One time I had a player who refused to work with me on any kind of backstory in a campaign in which I had rewarded the other players with up to five freebie skill points for theirs. As a “reward” he got a skill point in Profession (farmer) as a rock-picker, but that’s as far as I ever went.

I think the solution to the “smith gives me a discount” problem is something along the lines of, “The smith says, ‘Of course, a discount for my good buddy AverageFighter! Hey, AF, since you’re around, could you go pick me up some of those orcish swords? I hear there’s orcs in the hills to the west, and I’d like to study their weaponsmithing. The new sword you want should be done by the time you get back.’”

Then the player isn’t getting something for nothing. It’s the same as if the player had roleplayed doing a favor for the smith, and then later you chose to have the smith give them a discount. It just happens in the reverse order.

The “I trained with an expert in that” problem is harder to equalize immediately, but you could later have that character expect favors. If you do that sort of thing often enough, players will start realizing they can’t get free bonuses without some kind of consequence.

Dasis – I see your point and would say that the only minor difference in my eyes is that a back story is static. It cannot be changed once the session begins (or should not be changed in most cases). Now when a player does what you described and roleplays the PC trying to get on the sword smith’s good side that isn’t really a back story. It is a dynamic in game event (and should be encouraged). There is effort on the player’s part and it should be rewarded. Other than that difference you are spot on.

The way I see it, even if a player writes a back story that gives them huge advantages (“I’m a noble and I have a stable with a Pegasus given to me as a gift from the gods.”) that is still a static element. I as the GM can work with it (“A rival has attacked your castle while you were away on business. Your pegasus was killed when the stables accidentally caught on fire. Your family has been cast out of the royal courts and their titles seized. The gods demand that you seek vengeance for this crime and deliver their justice to the offender for destroying their generous gift to you. It is as much a test of faith as it is a test of your skills. The gods bestow upon you a single silver arrow. You’ll know when it is time to use it.”)

The player may have tried to abuse the back story option, but I can still reward them in the form of a quest designed with them in mind, a goal for their PC, and a nifty item that is probably going to lead to a cool spotlight moment for the PC.

Compare that to a player who says “What is the obstacle? I didn’t write a back story, but my PC just happens to have been good friends with an expert in that particular subject and he trained my PC well. I should be allowed to roll with bonuses to overcome the obstacle.” (yes, that happened once at the table although I wasn’t the GM). For that kind of situation I’m not going to reward the player for reacting to the obstacle by trying to sidestep the system. I’d probably respond with something like “Oh yes, you are an expert in that but you were trained in the Western style of the elves, and this particular widget is done in the southern style of the dwarves. Your assumption though has lead to a serious mistake. You better roll. The penalty is…”

One is an attempt to provide substance to the game world, and the other is meta gaming if you can even call it that.

Last, Free ranks in craft, profession, and knowledge i think really help the process with background creation in characters. The bigger point is for the DM to write these points down then use them in game. It is always fun to watch the dumbfounded fighter, realise a use for the profession fisherman. “So what my knotts are stronger in this rope allowing me to climb with an extra +2… cool”

You could also detail one decent-sized area of the world upfront, and recommend that your players make characters from that region.

Troy: Re: names:
I just realized yesterday my 2nd lvl cleric had no name! whoops! So, in a pinch I named him Hubert Manson (“Hugh Man” or just “Hey Hugh” for short).

Plus, what kind of incentive am I giving that player to create a background? Aren’t I discouraging those players who do write up backgrounds? I want to let the players know that if they put in the time and effort to hand me a background, then I am going to make sure that they are rewarded in some way. I’m not going to reward a player for telling me the PC’s background when it is convenient. It sends a mixed message.

Another way of doing it may be to bribe the players for backgrounds by offering free skill points/class skills in return. This may turn into “gaming the GM” by making up an outlandish background to explain a ridiculous depth and breadth of skills.

Now that I’m partial to Savage Worlds, I’m a fan of the “if it’s in your background, you can do it” school of thought. Basically, if it makes sense that your character should be able to do something, he can. This does require buy-in from the players, and an understanding that debating the GM over what is acceptable is discouraged.