Pathfinder 1E Giving some Advantages & Disadvantages to PCs who will begin as Slaves

[Evan Bacon]

Hey there, I'm hoping you can give me some feedback about the Advantages & Disadvantages I'm planning on giving my PCs in a new game where they'll all begin as Gladiator Slaves based on where they were born and how long they've been slaves.

Here are my ideas:

Born into slavery by parents who were both slaves themselves or by single parents who had a child by a free person
Advantage: +2 bonus against Disease, Sickness and Nausea.
Advantage: +2 bonus to Fortitude
Advantage: +1 bonus to one Class Skill of your choice
Advantage: Need only 2.3^rds the amount of sleep as a normal member of their race
(rounding to nearest .5).
Humans, for example, would only need 5.5 hours of rest to gain the benefits of a full rest instead of 8 hours like normal.
Likewise, Elves would only need 2.5 hours of rest instead of 4 like normal.
Advantage: +4 bonus to Intimidate against new guards
Advantage: 1 bonus Feat – Has to be justified in background and approved by DM
Disadvantage: -4 penalty to Will against Illusions
Disadvantage: -4 penalty to Will against Compulsions
Disadvantage: Start with 1,500 gp fewer than the normal amount for Level 4 characters.
4,500 gp in this case, not 6,000 gp

Born in the slums of Bergovitsa and kidnaped into slavery recently
A: + 1 bonus to two Class-Skill of your choice
A: Additional +1 bonus to one non-Class-Skill of your choice
A” +4 to use Diplomacy to Gather Info in Bergovitsa
A: +2 Damage bonus against Guards and Guard Animals
A: 1 bonus Feat – Has to be justified in background and approved by DM
D:: -4 penalty when using social-skills against upper-class citizens.
D: Requite 1.5 amount of sleep as standard to your race for a full rest.
D:: Start with 1,000 gp fewer than the normal amount for Level 4 characters.
5,000 gp in this case, not 6,000 gg

Born in the slums of Bergovitsa and kidnaped into slavery many years ago
A: +2 bonus against Disease, Sickness and Nausea
A: +2 to bonus to Fortitude, Reflex or Will of your choice.
A: +1 bonus to two Class-Skills of your choice
A: +4 bonus to Intimidate against new guards
A: +2 Damage bonus against Guards and Guard Animals
A: Need only 2.3^rds the amount of sleep as a normal member of their race
(rounding to nearest .5).
A: 1 bonus Feat – Has to be justified in background and approved by DM
Disadvantage: Start with 1,500 gp fewer than the normal amount for Level 4 characters.
4,500 gp in this case, not 6,000 gp
Disadvantage: -4 penalty to Will against Illusions

Born in the wilds outside Bergovitsa and kidnapped into slavery recently
A: +4 bonus to Handle Animal against guard animals
A: +2 bonus to Heal (self & others)
A: +1 bonus to three Class-Skills of your choice
A: +1 bonus to two non-Class-Skills of your choice
A: 1 bonus Feat – Has to be justified in background and approved by DM
A: Standard Amount of Gold
D: Requite 1.5 amount of sleep as standard to your race for a full rest.
Born in the wilds outside Bergovitsa and kidnapped into slavery many years ago
A: +2 bonus to Handle Animal against Guard Animals
A: +1 bonus to two Class-Skills of your choice
A: +1 bonus to two non-Class-Skills of your choice
A: +2 Damage bonus Guards and Guard Animals
A: Need only 2.3^rds the amount of sleep as a normal member of their race
(rounding to nearest .5).
A: 1 bonus Feat – Has to be justified in background and approved by DM
D: Start with 1,000 gp fewer than the normal amount for Level 4 characters.
5,000 gp in this case, not 6,000 gp
Disadvantage: -4 penalty to Will against Illusions

What do you think? What should I add? What should I get rid of? Accepting all opinions!

Thanks a lot!

 

[Starfox]

Too many advantages IMO.

I'd keep it on the level of Pathfinder talents - a +1 bonus on one saving throw or skill, or a +2 bonus is a certain situation. examples (chose one for each character):

* +2 Fortitude save against disease
* +2 Con checks against starvation
* +1 bonus on Sleight of Hand (Pick pockets), and it becomes a class skill

 

[Ramaster]

It seems to me that you are over thinking it.

Make them pick one advantage:

- Endurance as a bonus feat (for the ones that had to do physical labor).
- Skill focus as a bonus feat on an int-base skill (for those where mentors or instructors).
- On of those "+2 to one skill, +2 to another" (to represent all the other diverse backgrounds)

And give them this disadvantage: You don't get the Favored Class bonus.

 

[gamerprinter]

Agreed with both responders to this thread - waaay too many advantages and disadvantages. 1 each seems for more appropriate.