Hi, I want to make a backstory for my character and I am trying not to make it too overpowered. I would like to say I am fairly knowledgable in wow lore so I try my best to not lorebreak and find existing lore to support my oc no matter how outlandish it may seem. Having said that I am still not to sure on the line between having an interesting, unique oc, and going godmod.
So what I am asking is for tips to preventing getting to overpowered, whether its certain restrictions you set for yourself in terms of creating a character or where you may draw the line. Something more practically helpful than just “don’t be a noob.”
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If you want, I can give you the backstory to this character and you can take notes. I’m not really good on tips but, I do like what I come up with.
don’t be a noob
Okay, but really. Great question to ask! In general, remember this rule: every benefit comes with a cost. That’s true for character personalities and their powers. For powers specifically…
- Always and most important with literally anything… OOC Communication. Communicate expectations, and how you’d like your character to be treated. Be willing to compromise, but only so much that it doesn’t cost you your character concept. Examples below.
- Very clearly define what your character can and cannot do. For my more OP characters, I have lists that specify exactly what their powers are. And if you want your character to do something that challenges that list, then really, really stop and consider, “can my character actually do that?”
- Consider the mechanics of those abilities, and what limitations they have. Do they require preparation? Material components/reagents? A particular focus or other object?
- Power comes at a cost. What cost? How does this cost impact their combat ability? Putting an example below.
- Consider having them have a more tame personality. Optional, but don’t have them flaunt their power, and maybe even be combat-averse. A “I’ll only fight if I absolutely have to” type deal.
- Give them problems they can’t solve with “raw power”. Something they have to use the things they’re less-skilled at to solve.
- Combat systems help smooth out any potential for god modding. Granted, they accomplish this by robbing players of agency over their characters. You can still play a powerful character and lose in a combat system to a weaker character by RPing that your character wasn’t really damaged, but opted to stop fighting.
Examples
As an example for #1, my rogue was asked to assassinate another character, who was an untrained civilian. So, I spoke with that character’s player, and that player wanted their character to have equal combat skill to my rogue (see rule 7). I said, “I hate to be rude, but that’s not an accurate representation of my character”, and we negated the RP. However, in an RP between my demon hunter and my friend’s character, we agreed that my demon hunter can be as powerful as I like. She still adheres to all the rules, but that’s where she gets to be as OP as I like.
As some examples for #3, my demon hunter’s nervous system is on the frits after years of fel mutations, so she’s susceptible to random bouts of spasms, particularly when exposed to a painful memory that her demon(s) can use against her. Also, if one knows the “true name” of her demon, they simply have to say it, and she shuts down entirely. (Not really a canonical thing, but I like it as a weakness). My warlock basically sold his soul for his power. Which is a “delayed” payment.
As an addendum to point 6, my demon hunter’s main antagonist for years knew the true name of her demon. So, my demon hunter couldn’t come within audible range of her enemy, because the enemy could just permastun my demon hunter with a single word. She had to find alternate solutions than “i’mma glaive it”.
Hope that helps!
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Yeah sure, I would love to hear what you have.
Also thanks Falothorin, thats pretty sound advice and your ocs sound interesting
Volei of the House of Vol
Volei, the eldest sister in her family. She studied as a priest when she entered adulthood. Eventually becoming top of her class. It was easy enough as she seemed to have a natural gift for healing. Her upbringing we easy enough as the family always had money to buy her anything she needed. The House of Vol is a nobel name of the Sin’dorei and well respected. Her family bought anything her and her sisters would ask for. However, Volei didn’t want anything physical. She would always ask to go out and help people around the world. When she became an adult and her parents saw she had a natural talent for healing, they agreed to let her go on one condition. That she would come back in one piece and tell stories of her travels. Together with her sister Vola, they would travel. Coming back to the family alone to see her parents and sister, Volia. She would tell them stories of her adventures and where she has been and where she plans to go next.
On one occasion, she heard rumors of someone seeking the void as a way to help grow the defense of the Silvermoon. She told her parents and sisters that she plans to do what she can to help if it means saving lives. Doing what research she could, she eventually found herself talking with the magister, Umbric. Following his lead into unlocking the secrets of the void Volei and her family were exiled. Even though they were exiled, they persevered. Through years of research and searching for the answer, they finally found their way to Telogrus. Durzaan, attempting to consume the elves, was defeated by Alleria and the Alliance champion. Changed forever they have become the Ren’dorei. Volei did not come out of this unscathed. She hears voices and whispers constantly and seems to have lost her natural talent for healing and instead now has greater control over the void. She has been practicing her new found talents and is now studying to become a Shadow Priest.
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Your character sounds pretty great and I love her back story. Thanks!
Just 1 of 4. I have the other stories for the other 3 in my head. Just haven’t written them down yet.
Yeah that sounds about right, felt that
Her sister Vola is a thief who became blind due to the transition to the void but has better hearing and also hears whispers. She uses the sounds of things around her and relies on the whispers to guide her as she moves around and fights. She isn’t happy with Volei since she dragged her into the situation.
The third sister Volia always resented her other sisters since they could leave as they pleased. She was born normally but is just much weaker than the others. She wasn’t really affected by the transition to the void. She wants to join her sisters on the battlefield. She ends up giving her life to the Lich King to become a Death Knight.
There is one more sister. Volity. I have an idea of how I want her story to go but I’m still working on it.
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You know, when you’re just composing backstories and not actually worrying about IC interactions, I follow this general rule of thumb - for every positive, write two negatives. Rudy is an amazing duelist with unmatched skill in duels and a charismatic individual. She’s a talented mechanic and transmutation-specialized alchemist, too.
She cannot hold her liquor at all. She has a sometimes crippling need to be well-groomed at all times. She has claustrophobia, something nobody has figured out IC yet. She has trouble maintaining her focus, which has led her to make hasty decisions in battle that has cost lives. Also something that has not come up IC yet - she can’t swim. She has enemies in Ravenholdt and within The Uncrowned that sometimes work against her. Even though she’s skilled, I made it so that she fumbles easily - anytime Rudy rolls a 5 or a less in combat, I have her drop her weapons. A 1, and she injures herself. She gets seasick and airsick. She can’t handle anymore than 2Gs worth of force or she passes out. Due to being repeatedly poisoned, she has severe allergic reactions to poisons, and can no longer use them on her weapons.
Stuff like that makes your characters balanced out, even if you write them as OP in other categories.
Just a little note of clarification. There is a difference between “god-moding” and being “Overpowered”. They do not mean the same thing. It’s a common misconception.
“God-mode” is when you are basically controlling someone else’s character by actions. Such as striking a blow and immediately killing someone in a duel. Or giving thoughts and feelings to someone else’s character by saying they are scared of you or love you without giving them the option to voice their own opinion on the matter. This is highly frowned on for good reason. (It’s just poor manners or rude, to be honest)
“Over powered” means your character is not going to be affected by anything the other character does in a negative way. Such as a duel (emoted and not agreed ahead of time) where no blows land or any harm comes to them. This is sometimes, but not always referred to as a “Mary-sue” character. That is someone who is so perfect in every way that everyone loves/respects them and no one can be better than they are in any way. (Hint: No one likes this kind of character, especially if it is not their character!)
I think a good rule of thumb is never write your character as more formidable than you can make them.
It’s just embarrassing otherwise. I still recall this one villain of a warlock who’d constantly be evil and menacing. And the guy could not beat me in a duel to save his life.
So his character came off like this delusional punk, losing bar fights he himself picked. Now if that character choice was intentional- it would’ve been hilarious. But the guy’s subsequent temper tantrum kinda suggested it certainly wasn’t.
Don’t write a check with your mouth you can’t pay with your hands. Solid advice for all unfriendly social interactions, in game or IRL.
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