Background Point-Buy

[italianranma]

I want to create a kind of point buy system that allows characters to have backgrounds that effect play. I'm not playing d20 so I don't need specific numbers from that system, but I do need to have a system where the reletive power gained from one point is equal no matter where it's spent.

Taking a look at backgrounds in the Exalted book by White Wolf, I've got a good starting point, but in a Dungeons and Dragons-esque setting not all are appropriate and I need help covering all the bases.

Allies - This covers having NPC allies with PC abilities. The characters could call on these allies every so often, and use their abilities. The NPC's would sometimes require favors of the PC though

Magic item - This would allow a character to start with some kind of magic item. Obviously the more points here the more powerful the item.

Organization - This would represent the power given by being in an organization such as a guild or govenment body. I've got this section divided into Guilds, Nobility and Royalty, and Military.

Wealth - this would effect how much wealth a character started with.

That's all I really have so far. The only thing that doesn't really fit in there is wealth I think: If you're part of the Nobility or Royalty, you should probably start out with a lot of wealth. I understand that you can have poor nobles and the like, but if PCs have a finite number of points, and need to divide them between a Noble background and Wealth, it's kinda counter productive for them.

 

[Corsair]

One thing I like about MnM is that it rolls all these things into general character creation, rather than keeping background separate. So the millionaire playboy (batman) spends his points on Wealth, Benefit [Famous], and the Equipment feat (many many ranks of the Equipment feat), while Superman just spends his points on super strength, et al.

In a fantasy setting I'm not sure I'd codify it into a system though, just do it ad hoc at the start of the campaign.

 

[Nifft]

I like the Exalted resource dots. When Star Wars Saga Edition comes out, I look forward to seeing how they handle the Noble's resource thingy.

Actually, I'm putting any resource house rules on hold until I see SWSE. Let's hope it won't disappoint!

Cheers, -- N

 

[Jondor_Battlehammer]

Both wealth and magic items should increase as the PC gains power, in order to keep them balanced as they level. For example, the wealth feat may give the PC his level x 100 in gp, and the magic item will increase by an effective +1 every 4 levels the PC has. If thes two backgrounds stay static, they will either be overpowered at low levels and meaningless at highr levels, or they will be meaningless from the start.

 

[italianranma]

Both wealth and magic items should increase as the PC gains power, in order to keep them balanced as they level. For example, the wealth feat may give the PC his level x 100 in gp, and the magic item will increase by an effective +1 every 4 levels the PC has. If thes two backgrounds stay static, they will either be overpowered at low levels and meaningless at highr levels, or they will be meaningless from the start.

Oh, they will. This is just a mechanic for starting characters. Also, my campaigns don't feature ressurection, so when a character dies he must roll a new character. This character isn't nearly as experianced as his comrades are, but gets more points to spend on character creation.

Backgrounds post creation will have to be improved (or degraded) during play.

 

[italianranma]

I like the Exalted resource dots. When Star Wars Saga Edition comes out, I look forward to seeing how they handle the Noble's resource thingy.

Actually, I'm putting any resource house rules on hold until I see SWSE. Let's hope it won't disappoint!

Cheers, -- N

I like the resource dots too when I'm playing Exalted, but something about knowing exactly how many gold pieces my rogue kept hidden from the rest of the party gives me a great deal of satisfaction.

I'm a little OC on this I know, but every adventuring item has a set value: the price fluctates. The wealth background allows characters to purchase a set value of items, their starting gold depends on the market.

 

[Firebeetle]

I've been working on various background systems since 3.0 came out. I've used a point-based flaw and feat system. That worked OK, but not as well as hoped. These flaws were things I did myself, each with a point value. 4 points would buy you a feat, each point could be traded for a skill point up to half your starting points. I'll see if I can find the file and post it here.

I'm now looking at a straight flaw/feat system were the feats you can purchase feats one-for-one for flaws. Limit of two flaws. Essentially the Unearthed Arcana system. The feats you can purchase are limited to a "background list" of feats.

Further, the age of the character will be divided by a ratio, (1 for humans, 4 or 5 for elves, etc.) which gives a number of skill points. The player then the player chooses a profession that character has had. They may spend these skill points on related skills to whatever this profession was.