Character backgrounds

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

I was just looking at the new preview for Black Company that Green Ronin posted (http://www.greenronin.com/catalog/grr1409#related), which is the first 3 pages of the character backgrounds chapter. I know I've seen other backgrounds with bonus skills and feats in other books, but can't think of them off hand. What other books have similar listings for characters occupations and backgrounds?

I could really use them right now, as my group is getting together on Monday to roll up characters for the game I'm running. I can come up with a bunch on my own over the weekend, but having some that I can pull to use would give me time to do other work that needs to be done.

 

[Desdichado]

d20 Modern, obviously. d20 Wheel of Time had a very similar background mechanic. And Oriental Adventures and Forgotten Realms had very similar ideas as well.

 

[GlassJaw]

Grim Tales does as well.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Phil Reed's Character Sheet from MEG.

EN World's Journal.

there was a little overlap between them and I think that the could've been done a little better but overall, good stuff.

I personally like the whole mechanic and wish that it was soemthing that 3.5 incorporated into it's setting, but perhaps they felt that human, 1st level feat, and background bonus feat would've been a little too much.

 

[Aaron2]

I personally like the whole mechanic and wish that it was soemthing that 3.5 incorporated into it's setting, but perhaps they felt that human, 1st level feat, and background bonus feat would've been a little too much.

I wish they hadn't continued to give out extra skill points at each level. I mean if your 20th level, why should it matter so much what you were doing years ago in your youth? To give out Hide and Move Silently as permanent class skills on top of 1 extra skill point per level is just too much.

I look at it this way. If I'm a 10th level rogue, I've been practicing Move Silently for a long time. Yet if I take a level in Fighter, I have to pay double the Fighter skill points for a rank in Move Silently. Now if I was a 10th level Fighter who years ago spent a few months as a criminal, I can use my Fighter skill point 1 for 1 for Move Silent ranks. That doesn't make sense to me. Who you were is more important that who you are.


Aaron

 

[diaglo]

do you own The Herobuilder's Guidebook?

 

[JoeGKushner]

do you own The Herobuilder's Guidebook?

I think he's talking about background with game mechanic effects.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

do you own The Herobuilder's Guidebook?

Yes, but that's not what I'm looking for.

I think he's talking about background with game mechanic effects.

Yep, that's it. I don't want to just say "OK, everyone gets an extra 4 skill points. I'd like something a bit more structured that I can point to and say "Pick one of these backgrounds, and take the skill points and feat listed as bonus skills and feats." If they can't find a background that works for their PC, then we'll come up with something on our own.

I'll have to check out the backgrounds in Grim Tales and the ENWorld Journal. I don't have WoT, so thats out.

Thanks for the replies!

 

[diaglo]

Yes, but that's not what I'm looking for.



Yep, that's it. I don't want to just say "OK, everyone gets an extra 4 skill points. I'd like something a bit more structured that I can point to and say "Pick one of these backgrounds, and take the skill points and feat listed as bonus skills and feats." If they can't find a background that works for their PC, then we'll come up with something on our own.

I'll have to check out the backgrounds in Grim Tales and the ENWorld Journal. I don't have WoT, so thats out.

Thanks for the replies!

doesn't the sample character in the PHB after each class also do this?

 

[Crothian]

Arcana Unearthed has them as well.