BACKGROUNDS

A collection of numbers and abilities doesn’t make a character. It’s the story behind that collection that makes a character. When you create your hero for a new campaign, you do so after that character has experienced at least a couple of decades of life. In that time, the character has friends, family, and contacts, been educated in some way, learning skills, figured out his or her strengths and weaknesses, and after all, that, is in a place where the adventure has found them. Characters can be from the lowest levels of society to the highest.
As usual, there are a few options for determining your background. First, if your GM agrees, you can choose the one you want without rolling. Second, you can choose one of the groups and then roll randomly on that table. Lastly, you can roll everything randomly, leaving your background up to chance. This sort of thing can be fun, because you can get a result you wouldn’t expect, such as a rogue who used to be a member of the guard or a warrior who grew up as part of a druidic order.

Social Class	Starting Silver Phedara
Lower	150+3d6 Silver Phedara
Middle	175+3d6 Silver Phedara
Upper	200+3d6 Silver Phedara

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Backgrounds Charts

First D6 Roll	Second D6 Roll	Background Group
1-3	1-2	Arcane
1-3	3	Noble
1-3	4	Outlander
1-3	5-6	Religious
4-6	1	Commoner
4-6	2-3	Criminal
4-6	4	Guild
4-6	5-6	Military

Arcane

Mystics, mages, warrior mages, or anyone who’s spent a number of years studying the magical arts. Usually trained by someone who’s mastered the mystic arts, those from this group could have been isolated from the rest of the world while training in a far-off wizard’s tower, given private lessons by another family member, the Sand Shrews, or attended a clergy or prestigious school where magic is taught. Characters of the mage class are often from this background, but not necessarily.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Apprentice/Student	Middle	INT(Historical Lore), PER(Searching), or INT(Research)
2	Healer	Middle	INT(Healing), CON(Running), or INT (Natural Lore)
3	Hedge Wizard	Lower	COM(Persuasion), INT(Brewing), or INT (Arcane Lore)
4	Mage-Hunter	Middle	COM(Interview), DEX(Initiative), or INT (Arcane Lore)
5	Researcher	Middle	INT(Cryptography), WILL(Morale), or INT(Research)
6	Scholar	Middle	INT(Arcane Lore), INT(Evaluation), or INT(Writing)

Commoner

This group makes up the largest population in society, and while they typically run farms, work as unskilled laborers, or something equally physically demanding, every now and again a hero rises from their ranks to defend their hometown, stand up to some ancient evil, or to strike out on the road to make a name for themselves. Often looked down on by those of higher standing, a commoner can easily be as clever, quick, strong, or skilled as anyone else.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Carter	Lower	COM(Animal Handling), STR(Might), or STR (Driving)
2	Farmer	Lower	COM(Animal Handling), COM(Leadership), or INT (Natural Lore)
3	Hunter	Lower	INT(Natural Lore), PER(Seeing), PER(Hearing), or PER(Tracking)
4	Laborer	Lower	CON(Stamina) or STR(Might), PER(Empathy)
5	Miner	Lower	INT(Engineering), PER(Smelling), or STR(Might)
6	Servant	Lower	COM(Etiquette), CON(Running), or INT(Cultural Lore)

Criminal

From con-men to ruffians, and highwaymen to street thieves, the criminal element is everywhere. Whether robbing houses, picking pockets, or accosting travelers, these characters are doing what they need to survive. Large cities may have a thieves’ guild to protect members and enforce some sort of order, but in other places, criminals operate alone in small groups.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Bandit	Lower	DEX(Stealth), FITE(Bludgeons), or STR(Intimidation)
2	Burglar	Lower	DEX(Stealth), CON(Running), or STR(Climbing)
3	Charlatan	Middle	COM(Deception), COM(Interview), or DEX(Sleight of Hand)
4	Enforcer	Lower	COM(Persuasion), WILL(Self-Discipline), STR(Intimidation)
5	Pickpocket	Lower	DEX(Sleight of Hand), CON(Running), or DEX(Stealth)
6	Ruffian	Lower	Dex(Stealth), FITE(Bludgeons), or STR(Intimidation)

Guild

A part of the growing population of well-to-do merchants, traders, and skilled laborers that have risen above the common folk and threaten to grow as wealthy as nobles. They are thought of as feeling superior to commoners, but not good enough for the upper classes. Regardless, they provide services that are valuable and earn a good wage. As members of a guild, individuals don’t have much power, but the guild protects its own if something happens.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Artisan	Middle	COM(Bargaining), DEX(Crafting), or INT(Brewing)
2	Crafter	Middle	COM(Bargaining) or DEX(Crafting), INT(Evaluation)
3	Inn/Shopkeeper	Middle	COM(Bargaining) or PER(Seeing), COM(Etiquette)
4	Manufacturer	Middle	COM(Bargaining), DEX(Crafting), INT(Engineering), or STR(Smithing)
5	Skilled	Middle	COM(Bargaining),COM(Performance), DEX(Acrobatics, INT(Writing), or STR(Driving)
6	Trader	Middle	COM(Bargaining), or INT(Cultural Lore), STR(Driving)

Military

People who have decided to live by the strength of arm, whether as a city guard, forest ranger, military scout, or the like. Within military companies there is a need for every type of skill, from armorer to warrior, and from archer to quartermaster. Someone with a military background has been trained to fight with others at their side and certainly maintains connections with those with whom they served—assuming the character wasn’t drummed out or everyone else in the company died somehow.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Cavalry	Upper	DEX(Riding), COM(Animal Handling), or WILL(Courage)
2	Guard	Lower	COM(Interviewing), CON(Running), or PER(Searching)
3	Officer	Middle	COM(Leadership), Intelligence(Military Lore), or COM(Persuasion)
4	Ranger	Lower	INT(Natural Lore), INT(Navigation), or PER(Tracking)
5	Scout	Lower	INT(Cartography), PER(Seeing), or PER(Hearing)
6	Soldier/Mercenary	Lower	INT(Military Lore), FITE(Spears), or STR(Intimidation)

Noble

The upper class is small but wealthy and very powerful. You were born as a member of the upper crust with all of the wealth, connections, and benefits that it entails. You’ve been told your entire life that you owe the common people protection, just as they owe you their work and fealty. Perhaps you take this duty seriously, perhaps not. Many members of the nobility are indeed noble, while others are lazy, self-absorbed, or black sheep.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Ambassador	Upper	COM(Persuasion), COM(Etiquette) INT(Heraldry), or INT(Cultural Lore) or INT(Historical Lore)
2	Courtier	Upper	COM(Etiquette), COM(Performance), COM(Seduction), INT(Heraldry), or INT(Cultural Lore)
3	Dilettante	Upper	COM(Gambling), INT(Research), INT(Evaluation), or CON(Drinking)
4	Heir	Upper	COM(Etiquette), INT(Heraldry), or INT(Historical Lore)
5	Lady/Lord/Viceroy	Upper	COM(Leadership), INT(Military Lore), or INT(Historical Lore)
6	Rake	Upper	CON(Drinking), COM(Seduction), or STR(Intimidate)

Outlander

Those who come from another land, the wilderness, or prefer to wander the world rather than stay in one spot. Outlanders may be on the road by choice or to escape conflict or flee from the law. The only valuables they have are those they’re able to carry…at least until they can find a new place to settle down and build a life. Most outlanders understand they may not be welcome in a new community, so they are careful to watch for the trouble their presence may bring.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Exile	Lower	COM(Bargaining), INT(Cultural Lore), or COM(Gambling)
2	Explorer	Middle	CON(Stamina) or INT(Cartography), or CON(Stamina)
3	Raider	Lower	STR(Intimidation), CON(Rowing) or DEX(Riding)
4	Refugee	Lower	CON(Stamina), CON(Running), or INT(Cultural Lore)
5	Vagabond	Lower	COM(Persuasion), WILL(Self-Discipline), or INT(Natural Lore)
6	Wanderer	Lower	CON(Stamina), Con(Rowing), or INT(Navigation)

Religious

Religious orders include a number of different roles and a character with this background spent much of their time working with the church, druidic order, monastery, or other religious organization. While most characters from a religious background are devout, that’s not a requirement and maybe cover for other, less-savory interests. The truly pious take their place as counselors, advisors, healers, and community leaders.

D6 Roll	Background	Social Class	Focuses to Choose One from
1	Church Officer	Upper	COM(Etiquette), PER(Tracking), or INT(Research)
2	Druid	Lower	INT(Natural Lore), PER(Empathy), or INT(Religious Lore)
3	Friar	Lower	COM(Persuasion), COM(Bargaining), or INT(Religious Lore)
4	Initiate	Lower	INT(Religious Lore), INT(Research), or WILL(Faith)
5	Monk	Lower	DEX(Calligraphy), DEX(Acrobatics), PER(Empathy), or WILL(Faith)
6	Priest	Middle	COM(Leadership), INT(Religious Lore), or WILL(Faith)

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Background Descriptions

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TBA on WA. Can be found on Page 15 of Fantasy Age Companion Book. It Involves all previous ones too, so don't worry about missing anything.

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Create Your Own Background


Not all possible backgrounds can be covered by the lists above. In order to make your own background, think of the following:

1. What is the Social Class?
2. What is the background in question? - Do please have a written up explanation, or argument in favor of it, compared to one on the list.
3. What are the two focuses you'd choose one of?

Do this, get it approved by a GM, and even more possibilities are possible. FAIR WARNING: GMs will first recommend you backgrounds that already exists. This ruling only exists to cover options that are NOT already in existence. When you get GM permission, screenshot it, and keep it for reference. The permission MUST BE GIVEN IN SERVER, NOT PMs.COM