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The Ultimate RPG Character Backstory Guide: Expanded Genres Edition

Prompts and Activities to Create Compelling Characters for Horror, Sci-Fi, X-Punk, and More

About The Book

Take your skyship pirate, haunted waif, or alien scientist to the next level with this fun, interactive book of exercises to help you build your RPG character’s backstory—made specifically for the genres you love to play.

You can now explore new RPG character ideas with this character backstory guide to the most popular RPG genres beyond fantasy, from sci-fi to horror and superhero to western-themed games.

This latest guide from One Shot creator and RPG expert James D’Amato helps you build out an existing character or create a new one, with these activities that provide plenty of RPG fun before you even hit the gaming table. With activities to help you flesh out characters for fantasy, sci-fi, horror, x-punk, superhero and western campaigns (with an extra chapter of neutral exercises you can use whenever you like), this book has everything you need, whether you’re looking to start a new character, build out an existing character you’re currently playing, or explore new character ideas and genres.

About The Author

James D’Amato is the author of The Ultimate RPG Series, cofounder of the One Shot Podcast Network, and host of the One Shot and Campaign: Skyjacks podcasts. He trained at Second City and iO in Chicago in the art of improvisational comedy: he now uses that education to introduce new people to role-playing, and incorporates improvisational storytelling techniques to create compelling and entertaining stories for RPG campaigns and one-shot adventures.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Adams Media (June 14, 2022)
  • Length: 336 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781507217924

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Raves and Reviews

“This book offers dozens of prompts on everything from family to fears and other emotions...It’s an excellent choice for tables that play in more than one genre.”

Forbes

"James D'Amato has put together a fun and accessible activity book that makes you really think about who your character is and what they're all about."

Guide Fall

Resources and Downloads

More books from this author: James D’Amato

More books in this series: Ultimate Role Playing Game Series