Not to be finished, publishing for archive.

Backstory

   Ah, the backstory. Such a complex and delicate part of a character that forms where they stand and who they are. What's not to love?
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   Depending on who you are, the backstory could be your favourite part of creating an OC you love, or it can be the black hole for unfinished OC's to fall into and never come out of. Either way, in most circumstances, the backstory is what makes or breaks your beloved character, and is one of the most important aspects to think about. But, where is a backstory needed, if it is even needed... at all? Look no further, as this will explain where a backstory is most needed, and how much detail you should put into it. Below I will list the general types of Warriors OC's, and what should be put into their backstory.

*~*~*~*Mascots*~*~*~*
Mascots are a type of Warriors OC that is used often to represent an owner's general 'theme,' for lack of a better word. There are 3 types of mascots: Mascots that are what the creator would be as a cat, mascots that are just... mascots. Not based on the creator, but an oc that is generally what they go by, and mascots that are a mix of the two.

Mascots that are strictly based on the creator don't necessarily need a backstory, as the backstory more or less has already been filled out through the creator's life and usually only has designs and names that fit the warriors universe. This doesn't mean the mascot cannot have a backstory, just remember!

Mascots that are not based off the creator don't need to have a backstory, as they generally just represent what you do. However, this does not mean they cannot have a backstory. Your mascot could also have a story about them, you could roleplay with them, do anything, really. Take my general mascot, Lilywing. She is used to represent me, though not based on me. She has a story (that I plan to write if I stop procrastinating-). So, these mascots can have a backstory or they don't have to. It's just what you plan to do with it that matters. This also applies to mascots that have aspects based on the creator.

*~*~*~*Roleplay OC's*~*~*~*

Roleplay OC's... they're pretty straightforward. It's a base character you start out with, and you roleplay them to create a story. These OC's don't need a backstory... your roleplaying will create it for you! That's the amazing thing about roleplaying. You can craft personalities and backstories, relationships, etc through roleplaying, whether it be on forums or just a group chat with friends. It's a great way to create characters if done correctly. But, this book isn't about roleplaying, so we'll touch on that subject another time.

One tip, however. If your OC is starting out as a warrior or apprentice, or any rank than kit, you should at least have a skeleton of a backstory. Doesn't have to be too big, just enough to get your character's lore going. This is especially important if your character is a medicine cat or leader.