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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Khaalis" data-source="post: 1414596" data-attributes="member: 2167">Our house rules for this have been thus. Our group likes detailed backgrounds that are more than just fluff. We got tired of the scenario where a character who grew up working in the family buiness or whatever yet had no skills to show for it. People dont train from day one to be their 1st level class. We also felt that we did not mind characters having a few more skill points to spend, as we found it difficult to make DC's or have decent skill selections with the limited skill points. Also note this derived from a number of games begining pre-1st level as well.So....1) All classes got +2 SP per level.2) Background (0-Level): Each PC chooses an NPC class that represent their 0-Level Background (adolescence). Gain 1st level skills points (without the x4 modifier) for that NPC class spent on the NPC class' class skills, as well as all other related abilities (BAB, Saves, HD). The BAB and Saves remain static until a class chosen at 1st level supercedes the current value.3) Heritage Skill Options: Choose one of the following Heritage Skill options at 1st level. All choices must be relevant to the PC's culture. • +2 inherent bonus to two Craft, Knowledge, or Profession skills.  • +2 inherent bonus to one Class skill.   • +1 inherent bonus to two Class skills. • +1 inherent bonus to one Class skill and choose one appropriate Cross-Class skill to become a Class skill*. • +1 inherent bonus to one Class skill and swap two Class Skills for appropriate Cross-Class skills*.  • Choose two appropriate Cross-Class skills to become Class skills*.*: These skills become class skills regardless of the class currently being trained, thus they remain class skills even if the PC multi-classes after 1st level.4) Optional (If using such feat systems)Background Feats: Choose any 2 Background, Heritage, Origin, Regional, Racial, or Talent feats as bonus feats at 1st level in addition to any gained from race or class.  Background, Heritage, Origin, Regional and Racial feats are defined as any feat specified to be associated to a specific locale, race or heritage (such as those in the Forgotten Realms or Sorcerer Origin feats from Forgotten Heroes-Sorcerer). Talent feats are those that have a Special Restriction that limits them to be taken at first level (such as the Talent feats in Arcana Unearthed and feats such as “Brawny” in Swashbuckling Adventures or Background Feats from AEG’s Feats).These never broke a game's balance for us. Some may call it much, but we called it mechanics balanced flavor.Example 1: Thorn spent his younger years dreaming of and training to become part of the Cormyrian Purple Dragons and thus has trained most of his young adult life to be a Warrior. However, when applying for the Dragons and taking the entrance examinations, it was found that he had an innate talent for magic and was instead drafted to the War Wizards for training thus becoming a 1st level Wizard.At Creation, Thorn is a Warrior NPC and a 1st level Wizard and thus gains:BAB: Thorn's BAB would begin at 1st level as a +1, but would not again increase until it would normally become +2 (thus at 4th level Wizard or 2nd level Fighter).HD: Thorn begins play with 8+Con HP. Since the Warrior HD is higher than the Wizard’s 4+CON it remains 8+con HP for 1st level.Saves: Thorn begins at 1st level with a +2 to Fortitude and a +2 to Will.  However, his fortitude save will not increase again until it would normally become a +3 (thus at 9th level Wizard or 2nd level Fighter).Skills: Throm has a 14 Intelligence. * Warriors gains 4+INT skill points. From his background he applies his 6 skill points: Handle Animal 2, Intimidate 2, Ride 2.* Wizards gain (4+INT)x4 skill points. From his training with the War Wizards he applies his points: Concentration 4, Intimidate 2, Spellcraft 4, Knowledge (Arcana, Local, Nobility) 4 each, Profession (Guard) 2.* Bringing his total at 1st level to: Concentration 4, Handle Animal 2, Intimidate 4, Ride 2, Spellcraft 4, Knowledge (Arcana, Local, Nobility) 4 each, Profession (Guard) 2.* Thorn also having trained as a warrior but tested with an aptitude for magic chooses to apply the “+1 inherent bonus to one Class skill and choose one appropriate Cross-Class skill to become a Class skill” Heritage Skill Option, gaining a +1 bonus to Spellcraft and adding Intimidate as a continuous class skill.FEATS: Thorn being human gains 4 feats at 1st level and chooses them as follows. • 1st Level Feat (all PC’s): Magical Aptitude • Human Bonus Feat: Combat Casting • 2 Bonus Region/Racial/Talent Feats: Brawny & 1 Cormyrian featExample 2:  If for example Thorn began as a Warrior and then became a Fighter at 1st level...BAB: Thorn's BAB would begin at 1st level as a +1.HD: Thorns HP would be 10+CON, the better starting HD of a 1st level Fighter d10 versus the starting d8+CON for a Warrior which represents the increased training acquired for the class.Saves: Thorn would begin play at 1st level with a +2 bonus to Fortitude.Skills: Throm has a 14 Intelligence. * Warriors gains 4+INT skill points. From his background he applies his 6 skill points: Handle Animal 2, Intimidate 2, Ride 2.* Fighters gain (4+INT)x4 skill points. From his training with the Purple Dragons he applies his points: Climb 3,  Handle Animal 2, Intimidate 2, Profession (Guard) 4, Knowledge (Local, Nobility) 4 each, Ride 2, Swim 3* Bringing his total at 1st level to: Climb 3,  Handle Animal 4, Intimidate 4, Profession (Guard) 4, Knowledge (Local, Nobility) 4 each, Ride 4, Swim 3.* Thorn also having trained by the Purple Dragons chooses to apply the “Choose two appropriate Cross-Class skills to become Class skills” Heritage Skill Option, gaining Knowledge (Local and Nobility) as continuous class skills.FEATS: Thorn being human gains 5 feats at 1st level and chooses them as follows. • 1st Level Feat (all PC’s): Dodge • Human Bonus Feat: Mounted Combat • Fighter Bonus Feat: Weapon Focus • 2 Bonus Region/Racial/Talent Feats: Brawny & 1 Cormyrian feat</blockquote>

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