Character Backgrounds Now that the character’s numbers have been generated, it’s time to flesh out a background. This Player’s Option book introduces several new elements to developing characters’ histories and personalities. Two of these elements, traits and disadvantages, are detailed in chapter six. Briefly, traits are minor benefits or advantages that players can purchase with character points. These include: internal compass, keen eyesight, light sleeper, lucky, and precise memory.

Disadvantages are minor hindrances or inconveniences that yield bonus character points. Some disadvantages are: allergies, clumsy, colorblind, greedy, lazy, unlucky, and a number of phobias. Players might want to look ahead to the traits and disadvantages section of chapter six to get an idea of which traits and disadvantages they want to work into a character’s background.

Background Events

Another new aspect of character creation is determining the events that turned a player’s character into an adventurer.

Below is a list of 20 sample events that might have sent a character on a life of adventure. After all, every character needs some reason to live such a dangerous life. The list can be expanded, and details can be added about each event. Recommended nonweapon proficiencies that could fit with the listed background event are included for reference and inspiration. Roll 1d20 to randomly determine a background, or choose one that suits the character.

Accused of a crime: The character is publicly accused of a crime he did not commit. It might be a case of mistaken identity, or the character could have been framed for a crime. The character was forced to flee and become an adventurer rather than face certain punishment. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Apprenticeship: The character entered into an apprenticeship—an arrangement where a practiced craftsman taught him a skill in exchange for money or services. Apprenticeships need not be limited to mundane trades; characters can enter into apprenticeships with other adventurers. Many a fighter began his career as a mere squire, and more than one young person with a talent for the Art signed with the local hedge wizard. Suggested NWPs: Vocational skills such as animal handling, animal training, blacksmithing, boat piloting, cobbling, engineering, gem cutting, sculpting, weaving, and so on. Adventuring skills such as blind-fighting or spellcraft also might be learned.

Enslaved: The character was a slave or indentured servant. The details of the character’s escape are left to the player and the DM. It is likely such a character will carry a grudge against those who owned him or will strive fervently to free other slaves. Suggested NWPs: Survival, hunting, fishing, foraging, bowyer/fletcher, and weaponsmithing.

Exiled: For some reason—bad behavior, an unacceptable profession, an incompatible alignment, shady associates, etc.—the character is banished from his family. Or perhaps the character is cast out from the society in which he was raised. The offense could be a breach of some tribal or community law or religious taboo. With nowhere to turn, the character is forced to live by his wits. The PC might develop many skills, including thieving abilities. Suggested NWPs: Fire-building, fishing, tracking, hunting, healing, herbalism, set snares, and survival.

Failed business venture: Perhaps the character was a cobbler and opened a shoe store. Maybe he owned a tavern, was a brewer, or made a living painting portraits. No matter the character’s profession, his business venture failed and he had to pursue another line of work—as an adventurer. Suggested NWPs: Any appropriate to the character’s previous profession.

Fell in love: The character becomes attracted to someone, and their relationship propels the character toward an adventuring career. Perhaps the love interest is an adventurer, whom the character accompanies on quests. The love interest might be outside the character’s social class, and either or both families could protest or attempt to end the courtship. The outcome of the romance is left to the player and the DM. Questing to find a lost love or to avenge the loss of one can make for powerful role-playing and exciting adventures. Suggested NWPs: Dancing, etiquette, gaming, musical instrument, and so on.

Fled a disaster: The character’s homeland suffered a tremendous disaster—an earthquake, flood, plague, or war. The character managed to escape, perhaps just barely. Without a home to return to, the character becomes an adventurer, maybe with the goal of preventing the spread or future occurrence of the disaster that cost his home. Or it could be he searches for loved ones lost when the disaster struck. Suggested NWPs: Hunting, fishing, set snares, fire-building, and survival.

Found or stole a valuable item: The character uncovered or stole something of value or interest to others. It could be gold; jewelry or gems; a minor magical item; a map to a dungeon, lost city, or treasure hoard; a prized horse and carriage; or a glass slipper. Whatever the item, someone wants it back. The previous owner might believe the character stole the item—whether the PC actually did. Or the owner might try to reward the observant character for recovering the item. Either way, this item can be the cause of a long-term relationship between the character and the owner. This background event also helps explain how a 1st-level rogue gained his abilities. Suggested NWPs: Appraising, forgery, gem cutting, heraldry, and other skills that allow the character to notice the item’s true worth.

Homeless: The character has no place to live. Perhaps he sold the homestead to raise money for an adventuring career. Maybe his property was seized by unscrupulous means. The landlord could have foreclosed, or the land could have been confiscated by the crown for back taxes. With nothing to hold the character in one place, he sets out on a life of adventure—and, perhaps, revenge. Suggested NWPs: Agriculture, mining, carpentry, and local history.

Ideological differences: The character wasn’t comfortable in the society in which he was raised. The character could be religious in an agnostic culture, lawfully-inclined in a chaotic society, or disgusted by his homeland’s evil practices. One example of the latter is Drizzt Do’Urden and his loathing of the drow culture from which he came. The character leaves his society behind to find one that suits him better. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Joined the circus: Many are fascinated by the color, excitement, and romance of a traveling troupe of performers. The character was one such person, and he left home and hearth behind to take up a life with entertainers. Suggested NWPs: Juggling, jumping, musical instrument, tightrope walking, throwing, singing, dancing, tumbling, and ventriloquism.

Kidnapped: The character was kidnapped as a young child. The kidnappers could be evil relatives, people wandering through the character’s homeland, monsters, or simply strangers who want to raise a family and can’t have children of their own. The details are left to the player and DM. As many kidnappers might not make effective parents, the character likely would become self-sufficient. Perhaps the character is obsessed with finding his natural parents or discovering where he is from and who he really is. Suggested NWPs: Survival, hunting, fishing, foraging, bowyer/fletcher, and weaponsmithing.

Killed someone: Either through intent or accident, someone dies and the character is accused. The authorities and the victim’s relatives are after the character, and if caught, the character will likely face death. Suggested NWPs: Skills such as disguise, survival, and forgery would be useful in evading capture.

Made an enemy: The character has an eternal foe. This foe could be a business competitor, a rival for a lover, a relative overcome by jealousy, or a villain the character defeated but did not kill. Whatever the case, this enemy caused the character to flee and take up the adventuring life. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Orphaned: The character’s parents died when the character was young. Causes include: sickness, war, assassination, accident, or mysterious disappearance. Parents who mysteriously vanished might be alive, but they’ve been gone so long that everyone, including the character, believes them lost forever. Perhaps the character was raised in a group home or in a state or religious institution. Maybe the character became a street urchin with budding thief skills. The particulars are left for the player and the DM. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Ran away from home: The character fled home early in life. Possible reasons include: boredom, wanting to see the world, breaking free from an unhappy home life, and wanderlust. Perhaps someone searches for the character, and the character believes someone is hounding him. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Reformed: The character was a criminal who decided to change his lifestyle. Perhaps he saw how his villainous acts hurt others, or maybe he became a victim, too, and decided it was time to change professions. Because the character is likely wanted in one or more communities, he had to take on the adventuring life, traveling from place to place with no plans to settle down. Such an individual might go out of his way to help those victimized by crimes or to prevent young people from pursuing criminal careers. Suggested NWPs: Appraising, forgery, disguise, gaming, and gem cutting.

Touched by magic: The character became an adventurer because something magical happened in his life. Perhaps he was ripped from his home world or plane because he unknowingly triggered a portal. Maybe he was an animal who became a man because of a wizard’s experiment. Or he could have been a priest killed in a disaster and reincarnated into a new form—and he must start a career from scratch. The possibilities are endless. Suggested NWPs: Any.

Went to sea: The character is from an ocean-going community or culture and decides to seek his fortune on the waves. The many lands and peoples he encounters open his eyes to the diversity in the world. Suggested NWPs: Boat piloting, rope use, seamanship, navigation, and weather sense.

Witnessed a crime: The character saw, heard, or has evidence that a terrible crime took place. However, turning in the culprits is not possible. The culprits might be powerful in local politics, they could be foreign spies or saboteurs, or the crime may be so out of character for them that simply no one would believe the character’s outrageous accusation against them. In any case, the culprits would not be made to pay for their crimes and thus would be free to take vengeance against the witness. Perhaps the player character’s family sent him away to avoid retribution. Or maybe the character fled on his own to protect others. Suggested NWPs: To flee the criminals, the character might need to learn disguise, reading lips, running, endurance, ventriloquism, navigation, boat piloting, charioteering, and seamanship.

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