comrade raoul
Explorer
I'm considering the houserule that, in addition to a feat, characters may choose a single "background" during character creation. A background represents one's life prior to one's career as an adventurer, and comes with both minor advantages and disadvantages that might impact one's career in small but not irrelevant ways.
Below are some sample backgrounds. Can others think of more?
Amazon
You are from a matriarchal tribe of warrior-women. Men from patriarchal societies feel uncomfortable around you, but also underestimate you in a fight, which you know how to take advantage of.
Effect: You suffer a -2 penalty to all Diplomacy, Bluff and Sense Motive checks made against men from patriarchal societies (unless they know you well enough to see past differences in culture). However, you also gain a +2 bonus to your first attack roll against such a male opponent.
Arena Slave
At least some of your formative years were spent as a captive in a gladiatorial arena. You didn’t have a chance to learn as much, but practiced with unusual weapons.
Effect: You begin play with half the normal skill points, but are proficient in an exotic weapon of your choice.
Nobly Born
You were raised as a member of the aristocracy. You have the refined social graces suitable for courtly life and access to more resources, but your sheltered upbringing has made you less rugged than others.
Effect: Diplomacy and Knowledge (nobility and royalty) are class skills, and you start with twice the usual amount of starting gold. However, your maximum hit points are reduced by 2.
Peasant Hero
You were brought up by the rural poor. You don’t have much money to your name, but before you became an adventurer, you were apprenticed in a trade, and you’ll never lose the common touch.
Effect: You begin with half the usual amount of starting gold, but gain a +2 bonus to one Profession skill of your choice, and to all Charisma-based checks when dealing with rural common folk.
Below are some sample backgrounds. Can others think of more?
Amazon
You are from a matriarchal tribe of warrior-women. Men from patriarchal societies feel uncomfortable around you, but also underestimate you in a fight, which you know how to take advantage of.
Effect: You suffer a -2 penalty to all Diplomacy, Bluff and Sense Motive checks made against men from patriarchal societies (unless they know you well enough to see past differences in culture). However, you also gain a +2 bonus to your first attack roll against such a male opponent.
Arena Slave
At least some of your formative years were spent as a captive in a gladiatorial arena. You didn’t have a chance to learn as much, but practiced with unusual weapons.
Effect: You begin play with half the normal skill points, but are proficient in an exotic weapon of your choice.
Nobly Born
You were raised as a member of the aristocracy. You have the refined social graces suitable for courtly life and access to more resources, but your sheltered upbringing has made you less rugged than others.
Effect: Diplomacy and Knowledge (nobility and royalty) are class skills, and you start with twice the usual amount of starting gold. However, your maximum hit points are reduced by 2.
Peasant Hero
You were brought up by the rural poor. You don’t have much money to your name, but before you became an adventurer, you were apprenticed in a trade, and you’ll never lose the common touch.
Effect: You begin with half the usual amount of starting gold, but gain a +2 bonus to one Profession skill of your choice, and to all Charisma-based checks when dealing with rural common folk.
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