Your background represents what your character did before becoming an adventurer, reflecting their upbringing, training, or former way of life. It helps suggest skills they might know and provides a small starting benefit. Remember, this is a starting point, not a destiny.
Acolyte
You spent time serving in a temple, monastery, or other religious institution, learning its rites and ways.
Benefits
- Start with the Divine Lore skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Persuasion skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- You begin play with a holy symbol of your faith.
Guard
You served as a watchman, soldier, mercenary, or bodyguard, familiar with discipline, duty, and likely combat.
Benefits
- Start with either the Melee Combat skill OR the Ranged Combat skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Vigilance skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- You gain a uniform or token representing your former service (e.g., a city watch cloak, a mercenary company badge).
Hermit
You lived in seclusion, whether for spiritual reasons, academic pursuits, or simply to escape society.
Benefits
- Start with the Survival skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with either the Herbalism skill OR the Alchemy skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- You gain either an Herbalism Kit OR basic Alchemical Reagents worth 5 SP.
Hunter / Trapper
You lived off the land, tracking game, gathering resources, and navigating the wilderness.
Benefits
- Start with the Survival skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with either the Ranged Combat skill OR the Stealth skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- You gain a set of 3 simple animal traps.
Merchant
You were involved in trade, whether as a shopkeeper, caravan guard, or traveling peddler, learning the arts of negotiation and appraisal.
Benefits
- Start with the Persuasion skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Insight skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Choose one: Gain established contacts within the merchant community of one specific town or region (work details out with GM) OR gain an additional +20 SP starting wealth.
Noble
You come from a family of privilege, accustomed to a certain degree of authority, social grace, and perhaps intrigue.
Benefits
- Start with either the Persuasion skill OR the Command skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Lore (Heraldry) skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Choose one: Gain a set of fine clothes and a signet ring bearing your family crest OR gain an additional +50 SP starting wealth.
Urchin
You grew up on the streets, relying on wit, speed, and stealth to survive in an urban environment.
Benefits
- Start with the Stealth skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with either the Sleight of Hand skill OR the Thievery skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Choose one: Gain detailed knowledge of the layout and secret passages of one specific city district (granting situational bonuses decided by GM) OR gain contacts within that city’s underworld (work details out with GM).
Artisan
You spent years learning and practicing a specific trade, becoming skilled with the tools and materials required for your craft (e.g., blacksmith, carpenter, weaver, potter, tailor, etc.).
Benefits
- Choose one specific Crafting skill specialty (e.g., Crafting (Weaponsmithing), Crafting (Leatherworking)). Start with that skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Persuasion skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost), useful for dealing with suppliers and customers.
- You begin play with a set of basic Artisan’s Tools relevant to your chosen craft specialty.
Navigator
You have experience guiding travelers across treacherous terrain or open waters, using maps, stars, landmarks, and keen observation to find the way.
Benefits
- Start with the Navigation skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Survival skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost), aiding in reading terrain and weather signs.
- Choose one: Gain a set of Navigator’s Tools (compass, sextant, etc.) OR gain detailed maps covering one specific large region (GM determines scope).
Pilot (Sea)
You are experienced in handling watercraft, understanding the nuances of wind, currents, sails, and oars to guide vessels safely and effectively.
Benefits
- Start with the Piloting (Sea) skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Navigation skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost), essential for directing a vessel’s course.
- Choose one: Gain a Spyglass OR gain established contacts within the sailors’ or dockworkers’ community of one specific port city (work details out with GM).
Scholar
You dedicated significant time to academic study, poring over books, scrolls, and manuscripts to gain deep knowledge in a particular field of study.
Benefits
- Choose one specific Lore skill specialty (e.g., Lore (History), Lore (Arcana), Lore (Law), Lore (Monsters)). Start with that skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost).
- Start with the Investigation skill initiated (saves 10 XP cost), reflecting research abilities.
- You begin play with a Writing Kit and 2-3 books or scrolls related to your chosen field of study (GM determines exact titles/value).
GM Note: Creating & Balancing New Backgrounds
Backgrounds help define a character’s life before adventuring, suggesting skills they likely learned and providing a small starting boost. When creating new backgrounds tailored to your specific campaign setting, aim for benefits that are flavorful, thematically appropriate, and roughly balanced against the standard options provided (Acolyte, Guard, Artisan, Scholar, etc.). Keep these guidelines in mind:
- Benchmark Comparison: Look at the existing backgrounds. Does your new background offer significantly more or less starting advantage than initiating two relevant skills and gaining a minor piece of related gear or information?
- The Benefit Package: A balanced background typically provides a small package combining:
- Initiated Skills: The core mechanical benefit is usually granting two initiated skills. This means the player doesn’t have to pay the standard 10 XP cost per skill to learn them at their base (stat-derived) value, effectively giving them 20 starting XP directed towards thematic competencies. Choose skills that logically fit the background’s description.
- Minor Gear/Perk: Include one additional minor benefit, such as:
- A piece of non-magical starting equipment relevant to the background (e.g., basic tools, a uniform remnant, maps, books, a specific non-combat item). The value should generally be modest (e.g., under 50-75 SP).
- A narrative advantage like established contacts in a specific community, detailed knowledge of a small area, or a minor title/reputation (work details out with the player/GM).
- A small amount of bonus starting Silver Pieces (e.g., +20 to +50 SP), generally less impactful long-term than tools or contacts.
- Offer Choices (Optional): Providing a choice within the benefits (e.g., “Skill A or Skill B,” “Tools or Contacts”) can increase player agency and flexibility without significantly altering the balance.
- Thematic Link: Ensure the skills and the minor perk directly relate to the background’s description and concept. A Hermit gets Survival, a Scholar gets Lore, etc.
- Avoid Ongoing Bonuses: Backgrounds primarily provide starting advantages (XP savings via initiated skills, initial gear/contacts). They generally should not grant ongoing statistical bonuses (like +5% to a skill, extra HP, etc.) – those are typically the domain of Species traits.
By following this structure (roughly 2 initiated skills + 1 minor perk), you can create diverse and flavorful backgrounds that give characters a helpful nudge towards their concept at creation without unbalancing the starting point compared to other characters.
[ Back | Contents | Next]
You are welcome to print a copy of pages from this book for your personal use. Please note that mass distribution, commercial use, or the creation of altered versions of the content for distribution are strictly prohibited. This permission is intended to support your individual gaming needs while maintaining the integrity of the material.
File Created: 05/05/2025 Last Modified: 05/05/2025