What kind of character backgrounds require DM approval?

[PJtheFey]

I'm not talking about qualifying for PrCs.

I mean like, say a person wants to play a character from a far distant region (for example, Koryo), or in my case, a character that lives on the surface as of the time it comes IC, but grew up in the Underdark. Do we need to ask the DM team for a special stamp of approval?

I'm currently waiting on having my background approved for said character, however I'm starting to wonder if it is even necessary since the character is one of the races that can be both on the surface or in the UD. It was actually a player (not someone on the DM team) that prompted me to get the character approved, because surface/UD interaction is a touchy subject on this server.

I just want to bring the character IC soon because I have the week off, and thus lots of time to devote to the game, but looking at the character backgrounds section, it looks like it can take 2-4 weeks before anyone from the staff looks at histories.

[DM Narshe]

It's not really a requirement to have a background approved just to start a character. Characters should try to fit within certain canonical parameters though and you must roleplay your character sheet.

Certain things that would require DM approval would be extraordinary things pertaining to character backgrounds, such as nobility, whether they've had divine experiences, etc. Things of that nature. Those seem to be the most common anyways.

Being a race that can be either UD or Surface, we generally ask that you pick one or the other and stick with it. Background though, if you want to be raised in the Underdark and have the character exist primarily as a Surfacer, it'd probably be best to keep any Underdark experiences brief and underplayed.

Let me explain that a bit. We typically offer regional bonus languages to characters that have a significant background with the area, such as Thayan for example. A history including the Underdark would prod more towards Undercommon, but we're usually hesitant to hand out those languages unless earned -on- the server, not just in background of a bio.

Metaknowledge things could be an issue as well. Having been to Menzoberranzan once or twice in your characters past could arguably bring a small knowledge of the place, but not detailed workings of the city. These kinds of things are good to ask whether they're okay as well.

Some character concepts come from other planes, such as the Astral realms as well. They're also difficult to approve immediately and often need some kind of mitigating.



I hope that answers some of it for you. If not, please post. I'll try to address something more specific.

[PJtheFey]

In the case of my character, she wants no part of the underdark and will be glad that she finally made it to the surface at the start of game play. The reason for bringing her up like this is twofold.

#1 - I, as a player, really enjoy playing characters that are suddenly placed in a completely new environment so that even common things can be sudden causes for joy or alarm.

#2 - I want her introduction story to surround another PC (Belladonna) rescuing her from the Underdark so that the character has an immediate character driven story line to fall into, and can grow into a useful part of a guild etc. it's a much meatier welcome into gameplay than listening to stories about punching dire bears and slashing goblins for several weeks by the campfire before making and real personal contacts.

We were hoping to RP all this out and get this character situated for permanent residence on the surface, so far the character hasn't even gone IC yet or talked to mystra.

Assuming that the character is okay to start playing (it sounds like she is based on her response because she doesn't have any plans of returning to the underdark and its cursed elves), is it okay to talk to mystra and select Sshmath as the starting point and make her way up via a rescue storyline on the first day, or should I pick surface? I don't know how the system works in terms of any branding of a character as a surface or UD PC.

As I said after the first day of gameplay she's going to be full time on the surface.

[DM Narshe]

Pick surface.

It's still a fairly unorthodox situation. UD-originating toons are typically meant to stay UD-based.

As long as you keep the backstory of UD minimal and treat her more like a character simply new to the area, you probably won't have any trouble.