Star Wars Role Playing Game
Character Background Question Set

By Evan Hansen (hansene@umich.edu)
With some inspiration from a similar document by Kevin Perrine

This document is designed to be a guideline towards PC background creation. I've based parts of it off of a
similar document created by someone else a few years back. I re-did it because I thought that it was both
a little incomplete and that I could order it more naturally, rather than randomly. By no means will it work for
every gaming group, and it is certainly not for everyone. But it provides some solid, basic questions by which
to judge how much detail your character has in his or her background. From the perspective of a gamemaster,
there is nothing more frustrating than having a player without direction. As a player, there should be nothing
more frustrating to you than being unsure of how your own character would act. Hopefully, these questions
will give you (or your players, GMs) something to consider when going through creation process. There is no
given length that denotes a good background or not. If you have put thought into it, and if you feel as though
more information would be more burdensome rather than helpful, you've probably done it well. Best of luck!

Quick Facts
  • Name (and any nicknames or aliases)
  • Age
  • Species
  • Sex
  • Height and weight
  • Eyes and hair (if applicable)
  • Career / Player Type

Physical Characteristics
  • Describe the natural physical characteristics your player has. This includes length and style of hair, facial features, facial hair, et cetera.
  • Describe other characteristics such as tatoos or piercings. Why did your character get these things?
  • Describe his or her general style of dress. What clothing does he or she prefer?
  • Does your character have any physical quirks? This can include non-visible things like voice, laughter, et cetera, but also obvious things like a limp or scar.

Personal History / Life Story

Note: Throughout this section, at least one of these topics should provoke the telling of at least one meaningful story in your character's past. There is, of course, no limit on good thinking. So write as much as you wish.

  • Where was your player born? (Note: GMs need to know this so they can blow it up with the Death Star. Just a little GM humor.)
  • What is the background of your character's family? Are they wealthy or poor? Is there a family business? Do all the family members seem to enter into one line of work?
  • Is there a significant family or childhood event that shaped your player's life?
  • What is the level of your player's education?
  • Does your character have a partner or any children?
  • Describe a past personal romance that had a significant impact on your character's life.
  • Elaborate upon your character's career -- why did he or she pick that career? Is there a story behind the choice? Does he or she enjoy it or hate it?
  • Offer a brief job history if it may lend anything to the history.
  • Does your character have exceptionally good friends and/or enemies from his past? (Note: Most characters, except intentional recluses, should have at least one or two of each)
  • How might those relationships have impacted your past? Are there reasons why you would expect to never see them again (Living on different planets is not a good reason)?
  • Does your character have a bounty on his or her head of any sort? Obviously, describe the history if this be the case.
  • Is your character religious?
  • Is there a single thing or person that your character would do anything -- even kill -- for? Money, a girlfriend, a parent, et cetera are all valid options.
  • Does your character have any serious hobbies? (GM Option: If the GM feels that this character's hobby contributes significantly to the story, the development of this character, or any other aspect of the game, the GM can award a bonus in that area, at the time of creation, to the PC)
  • Where does your character live now and why? Did the PC live on any planet, other than this or where he or she was born, for a large part of his or her life?
  • Have you ever met any of the other PCs in this campaign? How? What is your current relationship with them -- positive or negative, friend or enemy, lover or close friend, et cetera?

Personality
  • Briefly describe how your character's personal history has impacted how he or she lives his or her life at this time. Is the character wild, daring, shy, trigger-happy, calm, rash, or something else? Only one-dimensional characters would be only one of these types, so please be descriptive.
  • What are notable social habits your character has? Does the PC have any traits that might be exceptionally polite or rude, et cetera?
  • What are some "personality quirks" your character has?
  • Is there anything that people find especially annoying or endearing about you character?
  • How does your character view him- or herself.
  • Is your character prone to mood swings or one certain mood?

Objectives and Future Plans
  • What motivates your character? (options include money, love, attention, faith, a story from the past, et cetera)
  • What is your character's single greatest hope? Fear?
  • What will your character be doing in 10 years -- assuming your gamemaster doesn't kill him or her? (That's GM humor. Laugh, dammit.)

Force Sensitive Specifics
  • When did you first notice your abilities?
  • How did you advance your learning?
  • If it was by way of an outside source -- teacher, holocron, et cetera -- how did you meet or acquire him/her/it?
  • Describe your personal philosophy on the Force. (You may use relevent Force users to your time period to explain this ideal.)
  • Have you made any steps into the Dark Side? If so, how did this first happen?

Other
  • Provide other information at will.
  • List and describe any weapons, vehicles, or significant personal posessions you have. Your GM will likely not like telling you that you had to list your ship on your equipment list and stranding you on a planet due to its omission.