Scumbags, Babygirls, and Pookiebears: 4 Ways to Share a Backstory With Another Player

Linking backstories can be hard. You can only be someone’s brother, sister, best friend, or parole officer so many times before you don’t know how to grow the relationship in game beyond “well, we are INSERT WHATEVER HERE” so that’s it. So, your good pal Webby over here at Gen Z DMG (which can stand for many things) has documented a couple ways to add color to the outline of a relationship you and another player’s character have in your backstory. There are of course many more, but these ought to get the creative juices flowing: 

• Bonus way number 0: Whatever is up with these two below.

• Babygirl pookiebear gaming: This person does not get the kills, does not do the hard work, and genuinely has a good time just hanging out with the boys that are at your party. What’s their value, hanging out? Yes! They can “get silly”, they “go with the bit”, and they hold onto so much loot. Does this mean they’re useless, no. Does this mean they can’t be really powerful, no. Does this mean they don’t have a backstory that is so tragically beautiful and bashingly enthralling it brings tears to the eyes of everyone at the table, no. All this dynamic starts as, is just a player who is the best bud, baby girl, pookie bear, of a character is outwardly and understandably capable, and they’re cool with their partner having the spotlight. Maybe this person starts the fights so their friend can prove themself publicly in combat and watches them pummel ingrates while they drink a cute mint julep and eat curly fries a couple tables over. Whatever, this person is fun, a good friend, and cool with not having all eyes on them for a long time. Plenty of reasons why that could be in your backstory :)
  

• Scumbags: Play a criminal duo, but not in a “edgy loner” way, see that article here. In this duo, you’re brash, vagabond, scumbags who like to talk fast, empty glass, and kick ass. This duo is not just pure chaos, but think of them as your parties’ flamboyant fist and kiss. These two scheme; playfully antagonize the straight-laced characters; break into stores that are priced too high for your party; and help ensure you all know you’re on an adventure.. The scumbags put the “fun”  in “fun-criminal-traveling-adventurer-and-maybe-warrants-out-for-their-arrest characters”! Use these characters to explore some of the inherent angst and destructiveness youthful exuberance and whimsy can enact on a society. Talk with your GM and check in with your party regularly so you don’t make these two main characters annoying beyond enjoyable. 

• Samesies! But Different: Play the same class and subclass as another player! Have someone to do pushups with if you’re the muscles, a person to jam with if you need the sound of your own voice to be shared as a medical necessity, or someone to book nerd with in some ancient library. In a game where people stress out about being creative, don’t worry about that upfront, let the creativity come from the way you build relationships with other players. Just copy someone’s character role, and have these two have a built in relationship over their similarity in training and interests. 
  

• Exes: Play a catty divorced couple. That’s it, just bicker with a bud as you discover whether the love you once had is able to come back, or not and you have to learn to live with someone knowing you so vulnerably. Also, maybe they co-parent one of the party members. A family in a found family is a funny thing. Played well, this can be the source of so much humor, tragedy, and “will they, won’t they” interactions that your fellow players and dms will start laying down on their stomachs with their feet up in the air kicking with excitement whenever you two get a moment alone!

There we go, approximately 4 ways to connect a backstory that is not just being siblings, (which is perfectly fine, and a real fun way to play) for those looking for something different. 

Let us know how you have connected to other players in a shared backstory in the comments!