Backgrounds

[keterys]

Eh - it's a real bone to throw for people who want skills that aren't normally on their class skill list.

 

[Hereticus]

Any character that is richly role played, probably has a well-described background.

I haven't added a PHB2 background to my character yet, but will ask about it during our game tomorrow.

Woohooo... another +2 for my Arcana!

After I suggested backgrounds, my players looked at me funny. "We already have backgrounds more detailed than this," one reminded me. "Do we get the +2 to a skill anyways?"

That's great for your game, that the players have created detailed backgrounds.

Earlier today our DM said... "If it's in the book, you can have it."

So I will either take a +2 to my Arcana, or choose an odd language.

 

[Hereticus]

For instance, 2 of the characters are paladins that come from a faction dedicated to killing all things arcane, so I would think them knowing a whole heck of a lot about arcane makes sense.

Also one of these 2 paladins has spent the past 25 years running from a group of assassins, so perception would probably be trained by now as well.

Do you think that adding to a class skill list (not giving them more selections just adding to the possible selections) is broken?

Excellent job.

Reward them by allowing them to pick their own bonuses for creating backgrounds.

And now you have interesting storylines to weave throughout the campaign that you know your players are interested in!

 

[cmbarona]

I'll chime in with the list of voices who don't use backgrounds, mainly because it's just one more thing to keep track of and we have a handful of new players. I do, however, encourage rich background and character development, so it's handy to have a list of suggestions I can point to for the stumped player.

 

[Ryujin]

Honestly backgrounds showed me as a new dm just how in control I am. I suppose I was asking if its horribly broken to give my players (or my character) 2 extra options for their class skills.

For instance, 2 of the characters are paladins that come from a faction dedicated to killing all things arcane, so I would think them knowing a whole heck of a lot about arcane makes sense.

Also one of these 2 paladins has spent the past 25 years running from a group of assassins, so perception would probably be trained by now as well.

Do you think that adding to a class skill list (not giving them more selections just adding to the possible selections) is broken?

It might not be overly unbalancing, but why would these characters not have spent their own starting feat(s) on obtaining these skills, if they were that important to their survival? After all, someone only has lived so much life and learned so many things over its course.

 

[keterys]

You don't get all that many feats, really.

 

[Ryujin]

You don't get all that many feats, really.

No, you don't. Everything is finite for a reason.

 

[Flipguarder]

It might not be overly unbalancing, but why would these characters not have spent their own starting feat(s) on obtaining these skills, if they were that important to their survival? After all, someone only has lived so much life and learned so many things over its course.

Feats work to add to the total number of skills you have, not to change or add to the number of options you have in skills to train at 1st level, thats what this benefit from backgrounds (i think) is for

The in game logic about life training kinda works both ways. the character in mind 43 and is from a faction of mage killers who has studied arcane magic for 15 years, in order to kill arcane users. He then spent 18 years Living in a big city trying to run a gang.

As a ranger, supposing this background would give him access to training streetwise and arcana instead of two other class skills doesnt seem that problematic. The ranger class is based on a stereotype of those who would take the class, not all characters who go for it are going to fit that stereotype.

Idk maybe Im just over-justifying my position but it doesnt seem that game-breaking.

 

[fba827]

my players are good at creating backgrounds (either all at once at the start of a campaign, or over time adding to it), in fact they are able to do so more richly in the context of the campaign world than the generic-campaign ones offered in the PHB2, as such, we've more or less simplified background benefits to:

Choose either (And background benefit can not be changed/retrained, what you choose is the bonus that you have for the life of the character):
a) One skill (any skill) and gain a +2 to it
b) Choose one skill not on your class list and add it to your class list
c) choose one bonus language

(that is the mechanical aspect of the PHB2 benefits, without the obligatory background "classifications").

And then, just come up with a justification as to how it fits in with your background (<-- doing it this way allows us to use backgrounds more tailored for the specifics of the campaign's setting and more individuality in the choices. But if someone wants to use one of the ones out of the PHB2, they are not precluded from doing so since those are general enough to work too)

 

[FrozenChrono]

Hey Flipguarder

Most gamers would multiclass in order to gain their first trained skill or two outside of their class list. If you consider that means

They get the MC benefit (like sneak attack damage 1/encounter)
They get access to the skill for training
They get training in the skill


Just giving them access to a skill for training is way way way less than a feat. Not very powerful. Also consider that you're giving access to all of the characters. No one's going to feel "underpowered" because they can't retroactively pick a class skill, so the only issue is will it break encounters you have set up for them? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say no, it probably won't.

If you factor in that you only have 3 party members, two of which are the same class, giving them a little versatility in the skills they have trained shouldn't might make things a bit easier when you're doing skill challenges and whatnot.