Do Sorcerers need to weave their Bloodline into their Backstory?

[Sleet Storm]

I would like to hear some opinions on this...

[Marc Radle]

I don't know that the *need* to necessarily, but I think in most cases they probably *should*. After all, it would seem to be a pretty significant aspect of the character to not incorporate into the backstory in some way or another ...

[David knott 242]

Or it can be a major mystery of the character's background. The character knows of no connection between himself and his bloodline -- that leaves a juicy hook for the GM to exploit over the course of the campaign.

[LazarX]

It's not mandatory. Sometimes the bloodline is no more a part of the story than the street address he lives in. Living with his powers though, that's always a big part of the backstory.

[EvilMinion]

Of course not. The whole point of a bloodline is some connection that could be generations away.

Sure alot of folks like to say its alot closer and known, so they can use it in their backstory... but its equally valid to assume its so far back that they might not have any idea its there at all.

Which, as the previous poster points out, can lead to all sorts of interesting story stuff that the GM can introduce.

If the player wants to come up with a detailed history of how it got there, fine. But no reason he should have to.

Some folks like to limit backstory to stuff their character would actually be aware of, or things that are within their lifetimes... which bloodlines rarely are.

[Matthew Morris]

Heck, the bloodline can influence him in ways he doesn't know. With all the bloodlines and subtypes, it mught be amusing to have a character think he's from one bloodline at low levels, only to 'discover' he's not.

For example...

The character thinks he's serpent bloodline. He's a natural at diplomacy his charm spells are more effective (representing snakes hypnotic swaying) and his touch instills the primal fear of snakes in people. It's only when he develops protection from good, scortching ray and the ability to call down hellfire that he begins to question...
(Of course the player knows he has the infernal bloodline.)

[Adamantine Dragon]

The only "need to" if they actually want to play a "role playing game".

Otherwise, it's superfluous.

By the way "backstory" is not the same as "what the character knows about himself".

Backstory is the history of the character and can and SHOULD include things the character may not be aware of.

[Wiggz]

Sleet Storm wrote:

I would like to hear some opinions on this...

I suppose, though the backstory could just as easily be something they are completely ignorant of. We've run Sorcerers (and those with Eldritch Heritage feats) as people obvlivious of their heritage except as it manifests itself and we've run it as people for whom it defined the character. We've even had it used as adventure hooks from time to time.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

David knott 242 wrote:

Or it can be a major mystery of the character's background. The character knows of no connection between himself and his bloodline -- that leaves a juicy hook for the GM to exploit over the course of the campaign.

This.

[Shadowdweller]

Depending upon the DM and the type of game the players want to run, there might not even be a point of a backstory :( Not the sort of game I prefer, but...

I would otherwise tend to think a bloodline might color the type of magical effects that manifest when a character is just learning that they have some magic potential (before being able to master it to the point of actually casting spells). Even though an individual might be completely ignorant of family history. I suppose the thing to keep in mind is: If your DM is the sort of person who introduces story elements based on backstory AND you choose not to describe any particulars regarding the bloodline of your sorcerer.... the DM has a high probability of writing something for you. Which may or may not be to your taste :)