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<blockquote data-quote="evilbob" data-source="post: 6333487" data-attributes="member: 9789">The trick with backgrounds is that they should only provide the barest minimum mechanical benefit just to get people to look at them.&nbsp; Any more than that is too much.&nbsp; I think they're at a good level so far - 2 skills, that's it - and I would think they'll never stray from that.The real bonus for backgrounds is the non-mechanical benefit:&nbsp; making you think about your character and giving you ready-made hooks and quirks that make playing them more interesting than just reading stats on a page.&nbsp; Like the list a few posts earlier.&nbsp; Or the &quot;one unique thing&quot; from 13th Age.&nbsp; Or really any of the jillions of things people have come up with over the last 10 years to encourage more than combat.&nbsp; Yes:&nbsp; the aren't necessary, but yes:&nbsp; it's nice to have them and they can help.What I particularly like about 5.0 is that they go further than 4.0, somehow, in my opinion.&nbsp; Maybe this will change down the line but baking in choices like ideals and flaws and traits just seems to extend their reach more than a pre-made paragraph; it gives you more to work with than just a couple of bonuses.&nbsp; Again, that's just my take, though.&nbsp; (Don't hurt me!)</blockquote>

[QUOTE="evilbob, post: 6333487, member: 9789"] The trick with backgrounds is that they should only provide the barest minimum mechanical benefit just to get people to look at them. Any more than that is too much. I think they're at a good level so far - 2 skills, that's it - and I would think they'll never stray from that. The real bonus for backgrounds is the non-mechanical benefit: making you think about your character and giving you ready-made hooks and quirks that make playing them more interesting than just reading stats on a page. Like the list a few posts earlier. Or the "one unique thing" from 13th Age. Or really any of the jillions of things people have come up with over the last 10 years to encourage more than combat. Yes: the aren't necessary, but yes: it's nice to have them and they can help. What I particularly like about 5.0 is that they go further than 4.0, somehow, in my opinion. Maybe this will change down the line but baking in choices like ideals and flaws and traits just seems to extend their reach more than a pre-made paragraph; it gives you more to work with than just a couple of bonuses. Again, that's just my take, though. (Don't hurt me!) [/QUOTE]

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