After reading Burning Wheel, I was inspired to present these questions to the players in my Warhammer 2e game earlier this year. While I've since lost interest in WFRP, I think this technique is worth salvaging for use in other games. It certainly produced some very good backgrounds and the campaign would've been better if I'd followed those leads instead of using the crutch of the published modules. Anyway, here's the message I sent my group:
3 Questions
Answer me these questions three and I'll grant your character an xp bonus. How much? It depends on your answers, but in any case it will be worth your while. Your answers to these questions are not set in stone. They are here to help you to roleplay your character. They are guidelines, not rules.
Ready? Good, you may pick up your pencils and begin. If you need any help or have any questions, please ask.
1. Who are you?
What happened to you before the campaign began? What was your family like? Are they still alive? What did they do and where did they live? Why are you in your present career?
2. What do you want?
What motivates you? Write down 3 core beliefs of your character and how it influences him.
Examples-
- I trust in Sigmar and will not fear Chaos nor allow it's followers to live.
- If I could just get enough gold, I would move to Tilea and get away from this god-forsaken place.
- One day I will go to Karak Azul and find the Axe of Truth.
- I will avenge my father's death.
- I will not die penniless like my parents did.
Anything will work as long as it provides your character with some motivation and/or a goal. Don't worry about being as specific as the examples. I can work with you on the details. Just think of these items as what you want the game to be about and what you want your character to be doing.
3. Who do you know?
Write down 3 people that your character knows and is a part of his life for good or for ill. They may or may not be tied to your motivations above. In some cases, they provide yet more motivations. They are people that you want to be involved with the story at some time or another. Again, don't get too hung up on details or names. I can help you out with that.
Examples-
- Baron Heinscheld - the bastard had my father hanged for forgetting to bow in his presence.
- Mom - she lives by herself now and I need to check up on her.
- Renfeld - drinking buddy from back home. I hear he's in the army now.
Ever since that Babylon 5 episode where Morden asks it of each of the ambassadors, I’ve thought that “What do you want?” is a question every GM should ask his players about their PCs.
Yep, that was one of my inspirations as well. The shadows ask “What do you want?” and the vorlons ask “Who are you?”.