The importance of character stories...

[Drake]

It seems to me that people put too much weight on a character's story. I'm not just talking about a basic character history... Those are relatively easy, four or five paragraphs pointing out the major points of a character's life. What I'm talking about are the stories, multi-chapter extravaganzas written out less like a history and more like a novel.

Now this is fine, for people who like to write stories. But writing stories and role-playing are two entirely separate, thought related, things. But it seems like some people seem to assume, perhaps even demand, that every other 'Good Role-Player' (or everyone who wishes to join Faction X or fly Ship X) will write these long complex semi-novels.

I ask you now: Why?

I mean, some people enjoy writing fiction, and most people playing on the RP server should enjoy role-playing. But while we should expect that people on the RP server enjoy their RP, and demand some level of RP from everyone (whether they like it or not... if they don't, they really shouldn't be on this server), stories are entirely different. Writing stories and role-playing with other people are not the same thing. Most writers do not role-play, and many role-players do not enjoy writing (play-by-chat RP is not writing, and while play-by-post RP is similar, you're still interacting with others, not just writing a story of your own).

Now, I agree that certain things should require some form of explanation in the form of a backstory, such as unusual ships/loadouts/whatever, but anything which can be explained can be explained in a few paragraphs of background. Just because someone enjoys writing and comes up with a great(?) three-chapter story, why should they be treated any differently than those who might not be so long-winded, but have a basic story which explains their character?

For that matter, assuming someone isn't flying/shooting anything restricted/huge (like a cruiser or battleship), what's wrong with a freelancer/mercenary/unaligned trader/whatever who led a very normal life, inherited his/her ship, and leaves all the interesting bits to whatever RP events may happen now that they're a part of the game?

Disclaimer: All just personal opinions, based on general impressions I've gotten from the forum, not directed at anyone or any faction in particular.

Opinions? Thoughts? Flames?