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Message: <blockquote data-quote="The Crimson Binome" data-source="post: 6854642" data-attributes="member: 6775031">Backgrounds have meaning, because they explain where you learned the skills that you have, but they're mostly there as an RP guideline to thinking about your character as more than just a killer/adventurer. Contrast with the approach from any of the earlier editions, that didn't address Background as a separate step, and you would either just put points wherever they were mechanically advantageous (3E) or just have the "skills" associated with only your class (as the DM saw fit).If you can think of a Background that justifies giving you the two exact skills and tools that you want, then the Background sub-system has done its job. If you've ever played an RPG before, then you already know how to tie your character together, so this step is just a formality.It's kind of like that whole sub-system with the ... formalized NPC interaction... and the Bonds or Ideals or... whatever. It's all just formalized language to try and get you to treat NPCs as real people with their own motivations. If you already know how to do that, then you can just cut to the chase and play the character without dealing with those... steps.</blockquote>