I was making my game and I was thinking that I wanted to give him some backstory and a personality but I don't know if that's a turn off for people and they want the mc to be basically just a dude that bangs chicks and doesn't have any personality or backstory to him. What do you guys prefer?
MC with personality and backstory or none?
- Thread starter Mr. Mayhem
- Start date
If your story's gonna be a cliche, and your characters are gonna be cliche, by all means, give me a cliche MC. But is that the kind of game you wanna make?
I take that your MC is male. Well, giving him a strong backstory and personality usually require giving him some clear objectives as well. Unfortunately, some potential players could end up finding your MC unappealing or even annoying if he doesn't resonate with them. When happens to me that I cannot relate to a main character, it's even worse if I had to give name that character in the first place. That's a risk.
As an alternative, you could give him a backstory but only a basic personality, leaving enough room to allow the players to choose their own path.
Finding a middle ground would be safest, but in making a game, the rule of thumb is: try to please yourself first. Do what you wanna do, the way you want to. There will be always people that will enjoy what you do and people that will not fancy or even despise your game. You cannot satisfy everyone, but you can satisfy yourself and in doing so, you improve the quality of your work and reduce the risk of giving up.
I take that your MC is male. Well, giving him a strong backstory and personality usually require giving him some clear objectives as well. Unfortunately, some potential players could end up finding your MC unappealing or even annoying if he doesn't resonate with them. When happens to me that I cannot relate to a main character, it's even worse if I had to give name that character in the first place. That's a risk.
As an alternative, you could give him a backstory but only a basic personality, leaving enough room to allow the players to choose their own path.
Finding a middle ground would be safest, but in making a game, the rule of thumb is: try to please yourself first. Do what you wanna do, the way you want to. There will be always people that will enjoy what you do and people that will not fancy or even despise your game. You cannot satisfy everyone, but you can satisfy yourself and in doing so, you improve the quality of your work and reduce the risk of giving up.
- Oct 13, 2016
- 3,608
- 7,594
I prefer some backstory, but not that detailed, just the important points, if he struggled, if he had a happy childhood etc.
the same with personality, I can like that we know about his strong and weak points, but the most important is that as a player I know I can decide from now on what route he will take, so Its not set on stone. I don't like it if I can't shape the Mc or I "need" to follow a certain path, because that's what the Mc want, for me I want to decide that, even if it can go against his past experience.
the same with personality, I can like that we know about his strong and weak points, but the most important is that as a player I know I can decide from now on what route he will take, so Its not set on stone. I don't like it if I can't shape the Mc or I "need" to follow a certain path, because that's what the Mc want, for me I want to decide that, even if it can go against his past experience.
- Jun 10, 2017
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- 16,232
Well, if you want your game to have a story, then each character need to have a deep background and a personality.
It's them that give a global motive to each character, and explain why they say this or react like that. In the end, it's because of those background and personalities, that the story stay consistent and believable ; even when it's something totally unrealistic one, like by example a vampire MC fighting aliens.
It's also an help for you, since you don't have to pass time wondering what the characters will do right now. Because of his background and personality, face to a situation, the character only have a limited number of options, and only few of them are right according to the story you try to tell us.
It's them that give a global motive to each character, and explain why they say this or react like that. In the end, it's because of those background and personalities, that the story stay consistent and believable ; even when it's something totally unrealistic one, like by example a vampire MC fighting aliens.
It's also an help for you, since you don't have to pass time wondering what the characters will do right now. Because of his background and personality, face to a situation, the character only have a limited number of options, and only few of them are right according to the story you try to tell us.
- Jun 21, 2017
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I would say it's up to you; if your writing style is to give a lot of detail in the game, then give the characters that same level of detail.
- Jun 28, 2017
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It's lazier and easier to make an empty shell of a character and throw him into interactions with trope female characters in derivative ways. Having a backstory and defined characters is always better even if you don't shove it in the faces of the players, you can pace elaborating on it in a way that fits the game.
Make the characters and their situations interesting and fascinating rather than familiar/relatable or something people have seen before.
Make the characters and their situations interesting and fascinating rather than familiar/relatable or something people have seen before.
- May 19, 2017
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- 6,295
It depends on your target audience.
If the fans you're going for are the type who "self-insert" then too much back-story could get in the way.
If the player is intelligent, and the MC does a lot of stupid shit, then the player might be like "why would I do that" and it could be hard for them to put on the MC suit, if it doesn't fit.
Like when you're watching porn, and the dude's cock hooks to the right like a banana. The viewer is like WTF, they rate the video 1 star, and give it a bad review, because their dick bends to the left, and it freaks them out.
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If your target audience is "non-self-inserters" then backstory is good. These type of fans are more voyeuristic, they like watching the MC's story just as it happened, good or bad.
Some of them might self insert when it suits them, and eject at the first sign of trouble. If the story doesn't fit, they can deal with it.
If the fans you're going for are the type who "self-insert" then too much back-story could get in the way.
If the player is intelligent, and the MC does a lot of stupid shit, then the player might be like "why would I do that" and it could be hard for them to put on the MC suit, if it doesn't fit.
Like when you're watching porn, and the dude's cock hooks to the right like a banana. The viewer is like WTF, they rate the video 1 star, and give it a bad review, because their dick bends to the left, and it freaks them out.
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If your target audience is "non-self-inserters" then backstory is good. These type of fans are more voyeuristic, they like watching the MC's story just as it happened, good or bad.
Some of them might self insert when it suits them, and eject at the first sign of trouble. If the story doesn't fit, they can deal with it.
The best kind is when the player gets to customize their characters background, age etcetera themselves, but that is also the most ambitious and difficult kind to make.
If you're gonna have a set background it's a lot better if it's well-written, thought out and connected to the rest of the game than having some half-assed, tacked on cliché. In the latter case it's much better to opt out of background entirely and leave the character a blank slate for the player to imagine whatever background they want.
If you're gonna have a set background it's a lot better if it's well-written, thought out and connected to the rest of the game than having some half-assed, tacked on cliché. In the latter case it's much better to opt out of background entirely and leave the character a blank slate for the player to imagine whatever background they want.
- May 10, 2017
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ARE YOU A GOOD WRITER?
A good writer is the difference between a beloved protagonist and one who is loathed or hated.If you are not an experienced writer than there is no shame in making the main character a stock trope character and then progressing from there after you have some experience.
A good writer is the difference between a beloved protagonist and one who is loathed or hated.If you are not an experienced writer than there is no shame in making the main character a stock trope character and then progressing from there after you have some experience.
- Mar 8, 2018
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- Jun 24, 2018
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I always prefer to know his personality/backstory. I think it's pretty important to know why the MC is taking the decision he's taking. A lot of time I see inmersive player saying "This is stupid. Why do I have two choose between these two options instead of having this third option with the thing I really want to do? Why I am being forced to choose? Why the MC didn't thought about doing this third option I want?" and the answer is as simple as say: because you (the player) aren't the MC and the MC has his own story and personality different than you (the player) and that makes him think and do the things he thinks and does which are also diffent than the things you think and do.
But the most important thing is doing a game to please yourself first. Doing this shit can be pretty exhausting and if you aren't happy with it, there is a big chance for you to drop the game.
But the most important thing is doing a game to please yourself first. Doing this shit can be pretty exhausting and if you aren't happy with it, there is a big chance for you to drop the game.
This.
And as others said, there's no good or bad with white blanket mc or deep story one, there just for different types of games.
If you feel like you are not going to be able to write a interesting character, it may be worst a bad character than a blank character.
But there's the other problem: Lets put an example; If you then make exquisit deep stories for the girls, and the MC nearly doesn't speaks or thinks, and is just a random bloke trying to get into their panties because his back story is his dick, he will just look like a creep.
So no easy solution; Just balance and good writting. (even if is a silly story, always need to be a good silly story)
- Oct 3, 2017
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I depends on the type of games:
Games like stationmaster or free cities dont really need a background as you are playing a sandbox and not a story.
Story based games do need a background explaining why stuff are as they are:
The important thing is to only add what is important for the story.
I myself dont like main charaters with a mind of there own.
And with that i mean main charaters that make there own choices.
Lets use billy from superpowered as example:
He is well written:
He wants to be a hero.
He got lucky with his dna and has no limet to the amount of power he can get and because of money he doesnt get monitors 24/7.
Basicly he got free reign aslong he doesnt do something stupid that would attracted heroes to attack him.
His personaly is well written enough that him not seeing his villian behavior or lack of proper use of mind control can be blamed on his dislision of being a hero(he is a glory houd who just want to be a famous hero and compleetly lacks morals tho you can make him heroic or vilianus given how easly he justify mind controling his teacher into fucking his friend he is anything but a hero... Seriously he lacks morals even when you play him heroic.)
His powers makes him horny 24/7 which create's an interesting gameplay challange.
Getting too horny makes him jerk off in public(Which is one of the few ways to lose if it happen to often)
Or fate of irena.
The dialog is enjoyable and while not my kind of game(i dont like linear visual novels)
The mind control/break is done well and the story is nice to read.
Lab rats 1 and 2 also has good background stories.
The key about creating a background (for me atleast) is to use simply facts and shove your opions where the sun doesnt shine.
I hate it when the main charater deside he wants to fuck his mother.
I the player make the desicions.
The main thoughts and words shoud be limeted to facts.
Likewise a stupid main charater like the main charater from the headmaster just made me want to shoot him.
His intro was so bad.
All but saying on stage that he is training 18yo girls as sex slaves
If he wasnt the main charater who would probley be shot for it.
From:
You can ask an audience to believe the impossible, but not the improbable.
I find that the best stories are those where the main charater has no opinions of its own.
Instead the player makes the decisions.
Dialog shoud be kept to a minimum and avoid uneccery details.
For example:
That is a green rock.
Yeah i know i got eyes.
That is just wasting my time.
Marian lives on alms street 12.
Meaby i shoud visist her this sunday.
This is subltle use of thoughts to tell players about the next trigger.
And you shoud give them the option to ignore the trigger and change the story baised of there choice.
Likewise avoid choices that lead to a game over.
If i lose because i pick the wrong choice i just get frustated at the fake choice.
Losing because i dont have the right stats?
Perfectly fine.
Losing because i wasnt fast enough?
Perfectly fine.
Losing because only one dialog choice continue's the story.
Take this writter behind the shed and put him out of my misery.
To take a none porn game example:
In dragon age origian i cared for jowel my ingame mage friend.
I spend some time helping with with his love life.
In dragon age 2 you have a sister and a brother and one of them dies withing the opening scene.
I never got to get to know them so i had no attachment to them.
I know they where hawk's family but i was never given any reason to care.
Short version(and again this is all personal preference):
I find that background helps me invest in my charater as having a reason to care.
Likewise a personaly can help me relate to the main charater.
However the challange for any writter is to not favor one playstyle over an other.
Many games are bad because the only right way to play is how the writter wants the story to go.
For example i cant stand waifu acadamy because it has next to no gameplay and several game over choices.
If i want to read a story i go read a story.
I want to play a game.
The main charater is also unlikeable.
He motivation is to rape and mind break inocent girls to get revenge on the people that harmed his father?
Dude i am all for revenge but leave the inocent alone.
I wish you luck.
And remember: You cant please everyone.
Games like stationmaster or free cities dont really need a background as you are playing a sandbox and not a story.
Story based games do need a background explaining why stuff are as they are:
You must be registered to see the links
The important thing is to only add what is important for the story.
I myself dont like main charaters with a mind of there own.
And with that i mean main charaters that make there own choices.
Lets use billy from superpowered as example:
He is well written:
He wants to be a hero.
He got lucky with his dna and has no limet to the amount of power he can get and because of money he doesnt get monitors 24/7.
Basicly he got free reign aslong he doesnt do something stupid that would attracted heroes to attack him.
His personaly is well written enough that him not seeing his villian behavior or lack of proper use of mind control can be blamed on his dislision of being a hero(he is a glory houd who just want to be a famous hero and compleetly lacks morals tho you can make him heroic or vilianus given how easly he justify mind controling his teacher into fucking his friend he is anything but a hero... Seriously he lacks morals even when you play him heroic.)
His powers makes him horny 24/7 which create's an interesting gameplay challange.
Getting too horny makes him jerk off in public(Which is one of the few ways to lose if it happen to often)
Or fate of irena.
The dialog is enjoyable and while not my kind of game(i dont like linear visual novels)
The mind control/break is done well and the story is nice to read.
Lab rats 1 and 2 also has good background stories.
The key about creating a background (for me atleast) is to use simply facts and shove your opions where the sun doesnt shine.
I hate it when the main charater deside he wants to fuck his mother.
I the player make the desicions.
The main thoughts and words shoud be limeted to facts.
Likewise a stupid main charater like the main charater from the headmaster just made me want to shoot him.
His intro was so bad.
All but saying on stage that he is training 18yo girls as sex slaves
If he wasnt the main charater who would probley be shot for it.
From:
You must be registered to see the links
You can ask an audience to believe the impossible, but not the improbable.
I find that the best stories are those where the main charater has no opinions of its own.
Instead the player makes the decisions.
Dialog shoud be kept to a minimum and avoid uneccery details.
For example:
That is a green rock.
Yeah i know i got eyes.
That is just wasting my time.
Marian lives on alms street 12.
Meaby i shoud visist her this sunday.
This is subltle use of thoughts to tell players about the next trigger.
And you shoud give them the option to ignore the trigger and change the story baised of there choice.
Likewise avoid choices that lead to a game over.
If i lose because i pick the wrong choice i just get frustated at the fake choice.
Losing because i dont have the right stats?
Perfectly fine.
Losing because i wasnt fast enough?
Perfectly fine.
Losing because only one dialog choice continue's the story.
Take this writter behind the shed and put him out of my misery.
To take a none porn game example:
In dragon age origian i cared for jowel my ingame mage friend.
I spend some time helping with with his love life.
In dragon age 2 you have a sister and a brother and one of them dies withing the opening scene.
I never got to get to know them so i had no attachment to them.
I know they where hawk's family but i was never given any reason to care.
Short version(and again this is all personal preference):
I find that background helps me invest in my charater as having a reason to care.
Likewise a personaly can help me relate to the main charater.
However the challange for any writter is to not favor one playstyle over an other.
Many games are bad because the only right way to play is how the writter wants the story to go.
For example i cant stand waifu acadamy because it has next to no gameplay and several game over choices.
If i want to read a story i go read a story.
I want to play a game.
The main charater is also unlikeable.
He motivation is to rape and mind break inocent girls to get revenge on the people that harmed his father?
Dude i am all for revenge but leave the inocent alone.
I wish you luck.
And remember: You cant please everyone.
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