Heroine Backstory: How much do you think is too much?

[KireiTenkeiEmi]

Hi Lemma!

So, recently I've been conflicted about backstory for the Heroine/Player.
Backstory is a big factor about making a character feel real but I've always felt that with the Heroine, you shouldn't add too much backstory to the specific character since it's the character the player will be playing as.

I feel like the player should be able to relate to the heroine and really feel like they're in their shoes for whatever situation is happening. To me, I feel like backstory tends to take away from this. The heroine becomes another character instead of . . . Well . . . You.

What are your opinions on this?

[papillon]

You're not going to get a consensus on this, there are two quite distinct camps on the subject.

Many people very much want the heroine to feel like a complete character that they are reading about, as if they were reading any other book or watching a movie or so on. Many other people want a blank slate they can project onto to experience the story as if it were happening to them. Neither side is right or wrong, and saying that it 'should' be any way will annoy everyone else.

[Reikun]

This depends on the type of story and the type of main/player character you're trying to portray. Usually if the main character has their own personality/backstory already most players will be able to relate on some level as long as they are written believably. And while a self-insert type of main character may seem like the player would be able to get into the story on a more personal level, the disadvantage is that if you don't offer enough options it can break immersion quickly if the player doesn't have an option close enough to what their real course of action would be.

[Rosstin]

Personally I think that you have to hit a balance.

I like to make a protagonist with her own personality and motivations, but has her own personal spectrum of probable actions that make sense for her. In Queen At Arms for instance, the protagonist is committed to fighting in the war. You can't tell her to quit and become a farmer and have her do that... she just WOULDN'T. It means too much to her. However, you can certainly help her decide HOW she is going to fight that battle, whether she'll be sneaky or brave or seductive.

[gekiganwing]

Your main character's background might be relevant, but I think the following questions are more important:

1. Who is she at the point where the story begins?
2. What are her goals, conflicts, and interests when the story begins?

Think carefully about whether you'll benefit more from writing a blank slate main character (who is "you" for the reader), or whether you'll benefit more by writing an MC with a distinct personality, history, and so on.

[TrickWithAKnife]

Personally I'd write a detailed backstory for myself, and then only include what you feel is necessary in your VN. By knowing your own character so well, certain elements of their history will hopefully seep into the story, without it needing to be said directly.

[Destiny]

It depends on the character.
Sure, a character that is empty makes me maybe relate more, BUT
What about the looks?
"Star project" for example is a game that has a mostly empty background for the charakter, BUT the looks are somewhat pre-set and she is a typical tsundere character, making it hard to identify closely with her.
And in "Candy Love" you can fit the looks a little bit, only to also have a mostly pre-set character that feels somewhat "unfinished"

Characters like in Zelda or Harvest Moon are prefered instead (especially in the newest part of the latter, where you can customize the looks to fit your own) where the dialogue of the character is not given or minimalized, allowing to feel more for thge character.
Which is of course kinda hard when playing a VN with a mute MC.


But why would no one relate to a MC that has a backstory, according to you? o.o
Final Fantasy is a game series that is very popular, even though every character has a backstory (and often a very big one, too). The backstory is slowly revealed and believable which makes the characters attractive to a player. Overdramatic backgrounds are not very nice, no backstory at all (since most characters don't work well with that), too.
In the end, it is a personal decision, but you can't say in general that a backstory does ruin anything.

[noeinan]

Personally, I like the heroine to have a personality. It feels creepy if she doesn't-- on the other hand I don't think that a backstory needs to be included. (I'm talking about otome games, since I think that's what's being discussed?)

For me, though, her actions and thoughts matter a lot. There are too many times I play a game and the MC is useless, or buys into some sexist thing that I hate, etc. and it totally breaks the story for me. I don't want to play as her anymore. Other times, she does something awesome and I'm happy to play.

I guess what I'm trying to say is on the one hand, people want to be able to insert themselves into the story. On the other hand, they want to play as someone they like and admire, so going too far to make them the relate-able "everyday girl" can backfire.

My personal preference is to play as a fully developed character who is not me, rather than as an undeveloped character that I can't project onto anyway (due to some basic assumptions about what I relate to being wrong.)

[Ophelia]

I feel like the player should be able to relate to the heroine and really feel like they're in their shoes for whatever situation is happening. To me, I feel like backstory tends to take away from this. The heroine becomes another character instead of . . . Well . . . You.

I know where you coming from - but saying it like this basically means that the player cannot possibly relate to another person. Which is definitely not true, or else fiction wouldn't be as popular as it is. Not everybody is a little orphaned boy that has to defeat an evil sorcerer, but there are millions of people who can relate to him.

But regarding your question - it really depends. I wouldn't worry about how much is "appropriate" or how much players would like or not, but mainly how it fits into the story. Protagonist of stat raising sims usually don't have much backstory or personality, since the player decides a lot of aspects of their character. There are VNs where the backstory of the protagonist, his or her motivation, ambition, dreams and beliefs are crucial.
So, really, the question of the backstory should answer itself when you look at your story.

[Rosstin]

Personally I'd write a detailed backstory for myself, and then only include what you feel is necessary in your VN. By knowing your own character so well, certain elements of their history will hopefully seep into the story, without it needing to be said directly.

I wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment.