What is a character history?

A character history is a summary of what your character is all about. What has he/she done for the past 5-10 years or more? Where have they been? How did you end up at Coral Gate? Why do you choose to stay here? How do you feel about good? Evil? Fence sitters? Will you help others in need? Will you coldly walk past them and even kick up some dust in their face? What about thievery? Is it ok to just steal? Be a Robin Hood type? Do the ends justify the means? Are you willing to risk your own life for what you believe in?

What about your characters family? Where are they now? Do they know about what you are doing? Are you from a completely different world and ended up here by some magical means? Do you have friends? Enemies?

All of this will help create a real and believable character! When you meet other town’s people you will have confidence in what you are doing, because your character is real! At least for the weekend.

Coral Gate is a role-playing game. Therefore having an in depth character history can really add to the fun of the game. When you know where your character has been for many years before the game began, it gives you lots to talk about with other players. Your character will feel more real and alive, and the better the detail you know, the easier it is to role-play accordingly.

Racial Choices

Humans, Half Elves, Mur’Kor & Mur’Ai: These are the only race that can base a character history starting in the slums of Coral Gate. These races may create a history that they were born and raised in the slums and were inland when the plague that wiped out shanty town last year struck. Submitted human character histories will be given a choice of an npc contact either from shanty town or Coral Gate proper.

These races may also choose to be from a different land all together.

All other races: All other races may choose to create a history based around Coral Gate game history, or a background of their choice.

Please remember that a character history is to add depth to your character, not write in advantages for a character! Once a history is submitted and approved, we will provide in play tidbits of information specific to Coral Gate that will hopefully finish out the character background.

Sample Histories

Poorly done history

Vladamir the Light Born Defender was in the Imperial Army since he was 15. Now that is he 19 he has left the Army and wandered the land, ending up in Coral Gate. Vladamir dislikes Shalbir and anyone who is evil or corrupt. Vladamir tries to help anyone in need, even the beggars of the town, but Vladamir is no fool and he will not hesitate to kill so that he can protect others. 

Well-done history

Vladamir the Light Born Defender eagerly signed up for the Imperial Army at the young age of 15. He served honorably in many battles, and used his skills as a Defender to try and protect Imperial interests. He became disillusioned with the politics of the Empire, and instead elected to leave the army after 4 long years. He had heard about Coral Gate, and thought he would prefer to dispense justice here, rather then in the heart of the empire, because he feels he can really make a difference here. 

His time in the in the military taught him many things about life and humanity. He was touched by the compassion of those who helped others while sacrificing themselves, and he knows that most of the races of the world are good at heart, if only given the chance to show it. He understands that “most” does not mean “all” and his sword and shield will have to be used from time to time.

Vladamir comes from a distant province far to the west of Coral Gate. His family still resides there, and they are proud that he has chosen to serve in the military. He has a younger sister who was always wild as they grew up, and the last word he heard from his parents is that she had left home at sixteen, following a charismatic human warrior. She has not been heard from since. Vladamir’s mother is very worried, and she said that the human was not honorable, and that Vladamir’s sister ran off in the middle of the night.

Some of Vladamir’s most memorable battles include the battle of Rage Canyon. In this battle he and a small party of Imperials were nearly overrun by Mageocracy soldiers and fiends. His commander ordered them to hold the pass at all costs. Many of his friends died, but at the very end Commander Briggs led a counter attack that took them all the way to the heart of the enemy. Vladamir still remembers the look of surprise on the disfigured face of  “Balum”, the so called Mageocracy commander when they stormed through his personal guard. Vladamir himself wounded Balum before the Savant used magic to escape. Vladamir thought he heard Balum say something like “…..Curse you.” But in the din of battle he can’t be sure.

Since that day Vladamir has occasionally been struck by horrid nightmares, about his family and sister. On these nights he hardly sleeps and feels weak and out of sorts for a day or two more. He tried to use his innate ability as a Lightborn to cure himself, but to no effect. On his way to Coral Gate, he took shelter at a camp along the river, with what can only be described as questionable characters. They treated him fairly and with respect, perhaps due to his heavy armor and mace, but nonetheless, they were honorable. At this river camp, a strange gypsy woman sat around the fire telling stories about old legends and the other such things. At some point however, she noticed me, and seemed to almost look past me, or maybe it was behind me. Later that night, I found her alone, and asked her what had drawn her gaze. She told me that I was “carrying a burden” and that she could not help me. She made a couple of crazy signs with her hands, and said she had to go. I shook my head, and let her go.

I have had many more battles and stories as I worked my way to Coral Gate. (Here the player would write 4 or 5 more details about their character. Do you have hobbies? Like to play cards? Like to craft and create things with your hands? Have a weakness for pretty ladies or gentlemen?)

Producer’s Notes: The more “broad detail” you can include, the better.  You can also see that with this kind of history you can really role-play your character with other characters. Having stories, background and history already known before you play will add greatly to the game experience for you and other players!

Setting Character Goals: It is a good plan to set achievable goals and/or dreams for your character.

Goal for 1^st event: “ I want to find some friends to travel with for safety! People who I can learn to trust and count on. I also want to earn enough experience to max out this event, so I can purchase more skills for next event. Lastly I want to learn about the politics of Shanty Town, because I feel sure there is more then meets the eye.”

Goal for 3^rd event: “ I want to continue to max out my character points each event, and began to look for the spells I need to add to my spell book. I need to learn how you transfer spells from old spell book pages into my actual book so I can memorize them to cast. I will also continue to study the politics of Shanty Town, and learn more about the different groups I am seeing. Lastly I want to gather the components for the Alchemist’s Apprentice from Coral Gate, who in return said he would give me several very useful potions.“

You can continue to build on this based on what happens to your character during the game. By having a plan of action before each event, you can make sure you don’t feel like you are ever just standing around. By always “being” your character, its amazing what a difference it makes during the game. The best players always almost always do this, believe me, it works. This is what’s meant by “keep it in play.”

Feel free to post on the forums or email a Producer Kat, Rand or Tom) if you have any questions at all.