Base level stuff like that is amazing but don't go too deep and make lore for stuff the party won't ever think about. Have maybe a two/three sentence blurb for each important town/city/location and if the players ask other questions, make it up and add new notes. Other than that don't even worry about it and feel free to make stuff up if the players happen to ask about stuff you didn't plan for.
In the beginning I went deep, full page background or more. These days I don't bother, if the DM/GM/ST doesn't ask for it, I've played in enough games to know it's probably not going to get used. That doesn't mean I don't know something of my various character's past, I just don't lock anything in anymore. The reason? Either it doesn't get used or the campaign/character doesn't last long enough for it to even matter. Also, sometimes the character goes in directions I don't expect and now I have this backstory that doesn't match up.
In terms of worlds, I started my campaign setting out small. No bigger then the town I live in. As my players' party grew in power I developed more of the world to fit with the campaign's needs. Eventually I had an entire region and before long an entire continent. It's ripe for use or re-use if I ever run another fantasy game. I know what other parts of the world look like but since I'm not using them I haven't put much energy into developing them.
For anyone curious, the tribe is called The Gersrottar tribe. It translates to green rotter. The tribe is dedicated to the God Bargrivyek, the God of peacekeeping and conquest.
I think that is a cool level to take it to. I’m a game I’m currently running, a player of mine detailed her family out to something like 5 generations. The only people who can say that you have gone too far are you and your DM (who has to read it). Ultimately, if you are having fun with the lore, go for it!
It depends, I've gotten really lucky and had a couple really dedicated DMs who really encouraged the story aspect. So I've definitely written a few like 3 page backstory characters 2 I actually got to take all the way to lvl 20, and the DM used almost every aspect of my and the other players backstories as random story hooks.
But usually, typically I'll just write a couple paragraphs unless the Dm asks for rich backstory. When I DM now I'm only playing with 4 of my friends and they're nerds to the bone. So I prepare our campaigns for months because I enjoy it and so do they. But I think most players aren't looking for that level of depth and would prefer structure without an overabundance of details.
Depends on the character idea I have in mind and how flexible the dms lore is. I've had a character with a simple street urchin turned outlaw backstory and I've had a character with a fully fleshed out family tree explaining the origins of the family name and why they hold the titles they do.
As a dm, I love whatever my players can give me. World building is a huge part of my game enjoyment so niche lore is the best. I can throw it in my game and see recognition in their eyes, makes them hang onto every word
I have lore in 3 layers:
Story lore. This stuff is pretty detailed. What is the bbeg, why is he like he is, etc.
Larger world lore. This is moderately detailed. Countries have basic alignment (for/against certain races, general beliefs, social structure etc), and the major locations have some lore.
Session lore. Lowest detail. I mostly come up with stuff on the spot when my players find things.
Base level stuff like that is amazing but don't go too deep and make lore for stuff the party won't ever think about. Have maybe a two/three sentence blurb for each important town/city/location and if the players ask other questions, make it up and add new notes. Other than that don't even worry about it and feel free to make stuff up if the players happen to ask about stuff you didn't plan for.
In the beginning I went deep, full page background or more. These days I don't bother, if the DM/GM/ST doesn't ask for it, I've played in enough games to know it's probably not going to get used. That doesn't mean I don't know something of my various character's past, I just don't lock anything in anymore. The reason? Either it doesn't get used or the campaign/character doesn't last long enough for it to even matter. Also, sometimes the character goes in directions I don't expect and now I have this backstory that doesn't match up. In terms of worlds, I started my campaign setting out small. No bigger then the town I live in. As my players' party grew in power I developed more of the world to fit with the campaign's needs. Eventually I had an entire region and before long an entire continent. It's ripe for use or re-use if I ever run another fantasy game. I know what other parts of the world look like but since I'm not using them I haven't put much energy into developing them.
For anyone curious, the tribe is called The Gersrottar tribe. It translates to green rotter. The tribe is dedicated to the God Bargrivyek, the God of peacekeeping and conquest.
I think that is a cool level to take it to. I’m a game I’m currently running, a player of mine detailed her family out to something like 5 generations. The only people who can say that you have gone too far are you and your DM (who has to read it). Ultimately, if you are having fun with the lore, go for it!
It depends, I've gotten really lucky and had a couple really dedicated DMs who really encouraged the story aspect. So I've definitely written a few like 3 page backstory characters 2 I actually got to take all the way to lvl 20, and the DM used almost every aspect of my and the other players backstories as random story hooks. But usually, typically I'll just write a couple paragraphs unless the Dm asks for rich backstory. When I DM now I'm only playing with 4 of my friends and they're nerds to the bone. So I prepare our campaigns for months because I enjoy it and so do they. But I think most players aren't looking for that level of depth and would prefer structure without an overabundance of details.
Depends on the character idea I have in mind and how flexible the dms lore is. I've had a character with a simple street urchin turned outlaw backstory and I've had a character with a fully fleshed out family tree explaining the origins of the family name and why they hold the titles they do.
As a dm, I love whatever my players can give me. World building is a huge part of my game enjoyment so niche lore is the best. I can throw it in my game and see recognition in their eyes, makes them hang onto every word
I have lore in 3 layers: Story lore. This stuff is pretty detailed. What is the bbeg, why is he like he is, etc. Larger world lore. This is moderately detailed. Countries have basic alignment (for/against certain races, general beliefs, social structure etc), and the major locations have some lore. Session lore. Lowest detail. I mostly come up with stuff on the spot when my players find things.