Backgrounds

Your background provides narrative and mechanical information about who you are, what walk of life you come from, and where you might be headed. When you create a character at level 1, you choose your background from the list below. Seven of the nine backgrounds grant you additional skills if you take a profession with the corresponding occupation tag. Note that your background also determines your starting wealth.

Starting Gear

All backgrounds also grant you the following starting gear: Your profession and background may specify that you gain additional equipment.

1. A) 2 one-handed melee weapons, or B) 1 two-handed or hand-and-a-half melee weapon, or C) 1 one-handed melee weapon and a shield (buckler)

2. A) 1 shortbow and 20 arrows, or B) 1 crossbow and 20 bolts, or C) 3 javelins

3. or you can forego equipment in both 1. and 2. for an amethyst wand

4. A) 1 quarterstaff, or B) 1 hatchet, or C) 2 daggers, or D) 2 knives, or E) 1 cestus, or F) 1 brass knuckles

5. 2 trinkets

Background Description and Occupation Tags

If you choose a Profession with the same tag as your Background, you gain additional skill as noted in the Background.

Background	Occupation Tag	Description
Born Warrior	Militant	Blood, toil, and sweat have marked you a proven soldier.
Criminal	Underworld	You deal in activities not endorsed by the law.
Entrepreneur	Mercantile	You own, supply, or represent a successful business.
Knave	None	Having tried multiple professions, nothing is quite a fit.
Noble Title	Aristocratic	By birth or deed, you are a minor noble in a nation.
Outlander	Wanderer	You live on the fringes of society, perhaps in the wilds.
Student	Academic	You endlessly toil to deepen a field of academic study.
True Believer	Religious	You are a devotee of a specific religion or faith system.
Urchin	None	You've grown up on the streets, always fending for yourself.

Background List

Born Warrior

You possess a natural talent for combat and have an unshakable bravery that inspires those around you. With your strong body and quick reflexes, you are a formidable force, always ready to defend those in need and vanquish evil wherever it may lurk.

Skills

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 4 points into any individual skill. You may exceed this limit by gaining Skill Points from another feature.

• Athletics: Applied Force, Athletics, Sprinting

• Influence: Intimidating, Leadership

• Knowledge: Geography, History, Medicine*, Military Vehicles* [land]

• Luck: Fortuity, Scavenging

• Stamina: Forced March, Menacing, Distance Running

• Survival: Animal Handling, Dungeoneering, Navigating*, Sheltering

Occupational Bonus

Tag: Militant

If you take a profession with the militant tag, gain +2 Forced March

Starting Wealth

Gain 5d20x2 sc (or take the average, 104 sc).

Criminal

You live on the fringes of society, always looking for opportunities to turn a profit through illegal means. Whether it’s through thievery, blackmail, or shady deals, you have a knack for manipulating the law to your advantage, constantly staying one step ahead of the authorities.

Skills

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 6 points into individual skills with the Subterfuge tag, and up to 3 points into skills with any other tag. You may exceed this limit by gaining Skill Points from another feature.

• Acrobatics: Balancing, Contorting, Tumbling

• Athleticism: Athletics, Sprinting

• Crafting*: Brewing, Cooking, Jeweling, Painting, Pottery, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Influence: Deceiving, Gossiping, Intimidating, Persuading

• Knowledge: Art, Law, Politics of [choose region]

• Luck: Fortuity, Scavenging

• Observation: Appraising, Eavesdropping, Intuiting, Investigating, Perceiving

• Performance: Entertaining, Savoir Faire

• Subterfuge: Disguising*, Evading, Forging*, Lockpicking*, Sleight of Hand

• Survival: Dungeoneering, Sneaking

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

Tag: Underworld

If you take a profession with the underworld tag, gain +2 Intuiting.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 4d100 sc (or take the average, 202 sc).

Entrepreneur

You have a keen eye for opportunity and an understanding of commerce. You’re always seeking out new and innovative ways to make a profit, whether it’s through trading goods, investing in businesses, or developing new products. Your business savvy has made you one of the most successful individuals in your town, and you’re always looking for new opportunities to expand your wealth and influence.

SKILLS

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 6 points into any individual skills with the Crafting* tag, and up to 3 points into any individual skills with any other tag. You may exceed this limit by gaining skill points from another feature. Skills followed by an asterisk are tool-dependent.

• Crafting*: Alchemy, Brewing, Calligraphy, Carpentry, Cartography, Cobbling, Cooking, Glassblowing, Jeweling, Leatherworking, Masonry, Painting, Pottery, Smithing, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Influence: Deceiving, Empathy, Gossiping, Persuading

• Knowledge: Art, Economics, History, Law, Politics of [choose region]

• Luck: Fortuity

• Performance: Entertaining, Instrument* [choose one], Savoir Faire

• Observation: Appraising, Eavesdropping, Intuiting, Perceiving

• Subterfuge: Forging*, Sleight of Hand

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

Tag: Mercantile

If you take a profession with the mercantile tag, gain +2 additional Skill Points in Appraising.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 10d20x2 sc (or take the average, 210 sc).

Knave

You command a versatile set of skills and an equally versatile personality. A classic jack of all trades, and master of none, you’re equally skilled charming your way out of a sticky situation, picking locks, or evading attackers with your quick wits and nimble movements. You’ve learned to adapt to whatever situation life throws at you and have a pension for being able to handle any job with some amount of success due to your sheer adaptability.

SKILLS

Gain +4 Savoir Faire.

MULTIPLE PROFESSIONS

As a knave, you enter two professions of your choice. Gain the starting equipment, Skill Points, and abilities of both professions. Each time you gain a professional rank, choose which profession you want to advance.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 5d20x3 sc (or take the average, 156 sc).

Noble Title

You might have been born into wealth and privilege, with a strong family lineage and a respected name; or alternatively, through luck or deed, you have been bestowed a title among the aristocracy of your region. With your education, wealth, and connections, you have the capacity to shape the world around you, whether it’s through politics, diplomacy, or simply using your family’s wealth and influence to fund worthy causes and projects. You strive to maintain the honor and prestige of your family name, to protect your position, and to ensure your continued prosperity.

SKILLS

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 4 points into any individual skill. You may exceed this limit by gaining Skill Points from another feature.

• Crafting*: Alchemy, Calligraphy, Cartography, Painting, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Influence: Deceiving, Empathy, Gossiping, Intimidating, Leadership, Persuading

• Performance: Dancing, Entertaining, Instrument* [choose one], Savoir Faire

• Knowledge: Arcana, Art, Astrology, Astronomy, Economics, Geography, History, Law, Medicine*, Military, Politics of [choose region] Religion [choose one]

• Observation: Appraising, Eavesdropping, Intuiting, Investigating, Perceiving

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

Tag: Aristocratic

If you take a profession with the aristocratic tag, gain +2 Gossiping.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 10d20x3 sc (or take the average, 315 sc).

Outlander

You come from a different place, with different customs and beliefs than those around you. Perhaps you hail from a far off nation, or maybe you are more at home in the wilderness than in an urban environment. Your unique perspective makes you a valuable asset, as you bring fresh ideas and new ways of thinking to the table. However, it can also make you an outsider, seen as strange or untrustworthy by those who don’t understand your ways.

SKILLS

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 6 points into any individual skills with the Survival tag, and up to 3 points into any individual skills with any other tag. You may exceed this limit by gaining skill points from another feature.

• Acrobatics: Balancing, Contorting

• Athleticism: Applied Force, Athletics, Sprinting

• Crafting*: Carpentry, Cartography, Cobbling, Cooking, Leatherworking, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Performance: Instrument* [choose one]

• Knowledge: Astrology, Astronomy, Geography, Medicine*, Vehicles* [land]

• Observation: Intuiting, Perceiving

• Stamina: Distance Running, Forced March

• Survival: Animal Handling, Dungeoneering, Foraging, Nature, Navigating*, Sheltering, Sneaking, Tracking

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

If you take a profession with the wanderer tag, gain +2 Navigating*.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 5d20x2 sc (or take the average, 104 sc).

Student

You are constantly seeking knowledge and understanding, driven by a thirst for discovery and a desire to make a difference in the world. Whether you’re studying magic, history, or the natural sciences, you are always eager to learn and to put your newfound knowledge to the test, eager to make a name for yourself and achieve great things. With your unwavering determination and quick mind, you are well on your way to becoming a respected master in your field.

SKILLS

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 6 points into any individual skills with the Knowledge tag, and up to 3 points into any individual skills with any other tag. You may exceed this limit by gaining skill points from another feature.

• Crafting*. Alchemy, Brewing, Calligraphy, Carpentry, Cartography, Cobbling, Cooking, Glassblowing, Jeweling, Leatherworking, Masonry, Painting, Pottery, Smithing, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Influence. Deceiving, Gossiping, Persuading

• Knowledge. Arcana, Art, Astrology, Astronomy, Economics, Engineering, Geography, History, Law, Medicine*, Military, Politics of [choose region], Religion [choose one]

• Performance. Dancing, Entertaining, Instrument* [choose one]

• Observation. Appraising, Eavesdropping, Investigating

• Subterfuge. Disguising*, Forging*

• Survival. Animal Handling, Navigating*

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

If you take a profession with the academic tag, gain +2 additional Skill Points in History.

STA RTING WEALTH

Gain 5d20 sc (or take the average, 52 sc).

True Believer

You are guided by a strong faith in your chosen deity or belief system. You see the world through a lens of reverence and devotion. When able, you pursue acts of charity and stand up against those who would do harm to your beliefs.

SKILLS

Gain 12 Skill Points, which you can spend on any of the following skills. With this feature, you may put up to 4 points into any individual skill. You may exceed this limit by gaining Skill Points from another feature.

• Survival. Animal Handling, Navigating*

• Crafting*. Alchemy, Brewing, Calligraphy, Cooking, Jeweling, Painting, Pottery, Weaving, Woodcarving

• Influence. Deceiving, Empathy, Gossiping, Intimidating, Leadership, Persuading

• Knowledge. Arcana, Art, Economics, Geography, History, Law, Medicine*, Politics of [choose region], Religion [choose one]

• Luck. Fortuity

• Observation. Intuiting, Perceiving

• Stamina. Forced March

• Performance. Entertaining, Instrument* [choose one], Savoir Faire

OCCUPATIONAL BONUS

If you take a profession with the religious tag, gain +2 Religion [choose one].

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 5d20x2 sc (or take the average, 104 sc).

Urchin

You’ve had to fend for yourself from a young age, relying on your wits and cunning to survive in a harsh and unforgiving world. Growing up on the streets, you’ve learned to be quick on your feet; to pick pockets and slip away from danger without being detected. Despite the hardships you’ve faced, you’ve developed a fierce independence and a sense of humor that has helped you get by, and you always have a trick or two up your sleeve to help you out of a tight spot.

SKILLS

Gain 24 Skill Points, which you can spend on any skill of your choice. With this feature, you may put up to 6 points into any individual skill. You may exceed this limit by gaining Skill Points from another feature.

NO PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

As an urchin, you do not get to select a profession at 1st level.

STARTING WEALTH

Gain 5d20 sc (or take the average, 52 sc).

Additionally, as an urchin you gain the following equipment: backpack, leather armor, 2 tools or kits, clothes (simple), rations (5), waterskin, utensils, sewing kit, bedroll, blanket, flint & steel, torch (10)