05 – Backgrounds

<< Dispositions                   Characteristics >>

            A character’s Background reflects how he spent his time before becoming an adventurer. They are meant to round out a character’s skill set.  


Character Creation Steps

1. Grab a blank Character Sheet

2. Choose a Racial and Cultural Template (20 points)

3. Choose an Archetype (25 points)

4. Choose a Disposition (15 points)

5. Choose a Background (10 points)

6. Choose Characteristic Sets (5 Sets; 50 points)

7. Choose additional Abilities (Skills, Talents, or Perks; 30 points)

8. Choose 50 points of Matching Complications

9. Purchase Equipment with 250 SP

 

Character Sheet Notes

            The easiest way to record to the Background is to note its abilities in the Skills, Perks, & Talents section on the second page of the Character Sheet. The parenthesized values refer to the Characteristic Roll used as the Skill Base which should be recorded in the Roll column of the Skills, Perks, & Talents section of the Character Sheet. Some skills may simply list a number followed by a dash (e.g., 8-); this value should be recorded in the Roll column as well.  

Academic Template 

Cost      Abilities

1          Any KS or SS +1

2          SS: Geometry 11-

2          SS: Natural Sciences 11-

2          KS: History 11-

3          Language: Literate (All Alphabets)* or Any three KS or SS skills +1

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Actor Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Acting (PRE Roll)

3          Disguise (INT Roll)

3          Mimicry (INT Roll)

1          PS: Thespian 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Adept Template 

Cost      Abilities

5          Essence Shaping (EGO Roll)

var        Personal Focus

Cost   Spell Application         Example

1       Small OAF (Fragile)       wand, feather, book

2       Small OAF (Breakable)   baton, crown, tome

2       Medium OAF (Durable)  rod, sword

3       Long OAF (Durable)       staff, spear

3       Worn OIF (Fragile)        necklace, circlet

4       Worn OIF (Breakable)     ring, bracers, torque

var        Spell Familiarity: Choose 5 spells from any Arcana, -1 spell per point spent on Personal Focus

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Alchemist Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Inventor (INT Roll)

3          SS: Alchemy (INT Roll)

2          KS: Arcane Lore 11-

2          PS: Alchemist 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Arcanist Template

Cost      Abilities

2          Inventor 10-

1          KS: Arcane Lore +1

1          Language: Arcan +1

2          PS: Scrivener 11-

2          SS: Cryptography 11-

2          Thaumaturgy +1

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Archer Template 

Cost      Abilities

2          +1 OCV with Bows

2          Far Shot:  +2 OCV to offset the Range Modifier with bows

3          Fast Draw (Bows; DEX)

2          PS: Bowyer 11-

1          PS: Fletcher 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Aristocrat Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Bureaucratics (PRE Roll)

1          KS: Heraldry 8-

2          KS: Noble Society 11-

3          High Society (PRE Roll)

1          Social Status:  Aristocrat (Rank 1); +100sp Starting Wealth

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Athlete Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Athletic: +1 with DEX Rolls, Climbing, and Breakfall

3          Breakfall

3          Climbing

1          +1m Running; increase Characteristic

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Barbarian Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Climbing (DEX Roll)

2          Favored Weapon:  +1 OCV with single weapon type

3          Stealth (DEX Roll)

2          Survival (INT Roll) or Survival +1

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Beastmaster Template

Cost      Abilities

4          Animal Handler (PRE Roll) with 2 Animal Categories

            Choose from Birds, Bovines, Canines, Equines, Felines, Raptors, Reptiles and Amphibians, Ursines

3          KS: Fauna (INT Roll)

3          Riding (DEX Roll)

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Bladesman Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          +1 OCV with Blades

2          Precision Blade:  +2 OCV to offset the Hit Location modifier with Blades

3          Fast Draw (Blades; DEX Roll)

2          PS: Weaponsmith 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Charioteer Template 

Cost      Abilities

2          Choose KS: Military 11- or KS: Chariot Racing 11-

3          Combat Driving (DEX Roll)

3          Mechanics (INT Roll)

2          TF:  Carts and Carriages

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Craftsman Template

Cost      Abilities

3          PS: Specific Craft 12-

3          KS: Specific Craft Lore 12-

3          SS: Specific Craft Materials 12-

1          Trading 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Dedicant Template  

Cost      Abilities

5          Channeling (Single Enaros)

2          KS: Enarosian Religion 11-

3          Orison Familiarity: Choose 3 Orisons from your chosen Enaros

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Detective Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Criminology (INT Roll)

3          Deduction (INT Roll)

3          Interrogation (PRE Roll)

1          Eavesdropping 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Dilettante Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Charm (PRE Roll)

3          Gambling (INT Roll)

3          High Society (PRE Roll)

1          KS: Noble Society 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Grifter Template 

Cost      Abilities

3          Bribery (PRE Roll)

3          Forgery (INT Roll)

3          Persuasion (PRE Roll)

1          PS: Appraiser 8-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Healer Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Healing (INT Roll)

3          SS: Medicine 12-

2          KS: Poisons 11-

2          PS: Apothecary 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Horseman Template

Cost      Abilities

5          Riding (DEX Roll +1)

2          Animal Handler: Equines (PRE Roll)

2          PS: Groom 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Hunter Template

Cost      Abilities

2          KS: Fauna 11-

2          Survival (Temperate/Subtropical Plains or Forests, or Mountains) (INT Roll)

3          Stealth (DEX Roll)

3          Tracking (INT Roll)

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Leader Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Tactics (INT Roll)

3          PS: Leader (INT Roll)

1          Oratory 8-

3          Persuasion (PRE Roll)

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Man-At-Arms Template

Cost      Abilities

8          +1 with HTH or Ranged Combat

2          Choose 1:

            WF: Blades, Polearms and Spears

            WF: Bows, Thrown Javelins and Spears

            Favored Weapon: +1 OCV with Favored Weapon

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Merchant Template

Cost      Abilities

5          Trading (PRE Roll +1)

2          PS: Appraiser 11-

3          PS: Merchant (INT Roll)

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Philosopher Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Philosopher:  +1 with Science Skills

3          SS: Cosmology (INT Roll or 12-)

2          SS: Natural Science 11-

2          SS: Geometry 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Sailor Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Combat Piloting: Watercraft (DEX Roll)

3          Navigation (INT Roll)

2          PS: Sailor 11-

2          TF:  Wind-Powered Boats

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Smithy Template

Cost      Abilities

2          PS: Blacksmith 11-

3          PS: Armorsmith (INT Roll)

3          PS: Weaponsmith (INT Roll)

2          SS: Metallurgy 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Soldier Template 

Cost      Abilities

2          Favored Weapon: +1 OCV with Favored Weapon or WF: Polearms and Spears, Thrown Javelins and Spears

2          KS: Heraldry 11-

2          KS: Military 11-

2          PS: Soldier 11-

1          Tactics 8-

1          Military Rank 1

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Technician Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Expert:  +1 with Lockpicking, Security Systems, and Concealment

3          Inventor (INT Roll)

2          KS: Locks 11-

2          KS: Traps 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Thief Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Choose Lockpicking (INT Roll) or Security Systems (INT Roll) or Stealth (DEX Roll)

3          Concealment (INT Roll)

1          PS: Appraiser 8-

3          Streetwise (PRE Roll)

Total Cost of Template:  10

 

Trapper Template

Cost      Abilities

3          Inventor (INT Roll)

3          Security Systems (INT Roll)

2          PS: Trapper 11-

2          KS: Traps 11-

Total Cost of Template:  10