Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="howandwhy99" data-source="post: 5873712" data-attributes="member: 3192">NPCs and cultural definitions are what Backgrounds and Themes are for, which is what I think you're getting at. Allowing players to create their own might mean this whole enterprise of grouping becomes a delivery system for just "more cool powers." However that freedom for players should not dissolve the meaning of these groupings in the game world."I come from Airashai, the land of the Snow People. They are known for..."The feats and skills a PC begins with may be customizable to the point of seeming meaninglessness, but only if - as part of themes & backgrounds themselves - they aren't tied into the content of the setting."In Airashai there are three kinds of warriors: the Sahdornai who run quickly into battle with fists, knee-spikes, and giant seal tooth daggers; the Harrangi who quietly sneak to surround enemies before throwing their whale spears; and the Kor-Lor who wear heavy blubber, frostwyrm shields, and attack together as a flesh wall."If having a feat didn't as well give it context in the world, then for the player/character it has lost its meaning by which it was generated within the setting. That history may be known to some and possible to be discover through play, but it is just as easy to begin with all of this known as well. By creating one's own theme or background players can be part of the setting construction during character creation."Where did you learn the Airashai echo-casting tradition of 'the cold North Wind'? They are rumoured to only teach this practice to one boy and one girl per tribe in a generation." If a player wanted to customize their own Theme or Background like I have above, I would incorporate it into the setting. From then on dealing with these powers in game becomes meaningful in relation to the Airashai. This is not only for their creating player, but for every other player too. Any of them may desire to learn those feats or skills and now they know at least one place where they may do so. On the other hand, the PCs may simply want to hire these guys because they uniquely do what they do. Plus the players have a clue about what to expect if they ever find a knee-spike lying around in some dusty dungeon somewhere. The context gives meaning.</blockquote>

Verification