Backgrounds (or BGs) are tricky. They're also personal and subjective. Whatever you feel is long enough to adequately give your character the kind of depth you want while explaining all of his or her traits and ambiguities is what you should apply with.
That being said, we like good backgrounds. While this does normally incur long backgrounds, that's certainly not required, or even the only way to impress us. If you submit a great background, you'll not only be accepted faster, you'll be well-liked by staff as a first impression.
We're very open with content in backgrounds, and somewhat loose with style. We like prose, of course, so try a narrative or encyclopedic approach that offers the most information about your character in a way you feel comfortable with. If you can be creative (programing for your robot character as a background, obituaries for your two-thousand year old character through the ages, or a bad ass epic ballad for your mutant), do it. That's the kind of stuff that gets you extra XP or DP.
We do not accept crap. It doesn't have to do with writing, just approach. If you go in thinking you'll make a shit background, you will. So assume the best. You're going to be fine. BG's are really kind of overrated. We at Masked prefer a RP/Event driven character anyway, so your BG does not need to be utterly inclusive.
That being said, the more you include about your character and your future for them, the better. If you give us a lot, we can include you in the grander scheme of things better. Maybe help work out a few scenes driven specifically by your character? Who knows? Regardless, give us something.
Like we said, you don't have to be a great writer to have an exceptional BG. Just the right attitude. Don't be too anything. Too serious. Too stupid. Too cliche. Just make a real person and we'll be happy. The catch is, to make a real person, you need to have a pretty long BG. Or a really precise one.
Any way you want it, we'll probably accept it. Just put some damn effort into it (not very much, but enough), and you'll get approved post-haste.
Since this is a superhero game, we not only allow Twinks (overpowered or copycat characters), we encourage them. You want the strongest man in the universe? Go for it. Want a Deadpool? You're a retard. But try it. We're not gonna deny much. More than that, we like unique backgrounds. You're not going to get denied for being to off-the-wall here. Ever.
Obviously, you need a life-story, a few things about yourself worked into a story, some explanation for your powers (science experiment, genetics, whatever…). Explain yourself well enough and you'll be fine. We're not looking for novels, but we don't mind epic tales.
In the end: Just do what you feel is right. Chances are it is.
