Gifted and Talented Kid

As a child, you showed academic potential and a unique cleverness, particuarly in a specific subject, leading to you being knighted with the infamous "Gifted and Talented" title. With this comes extremely high expectations from parents and teachers. You most likely are still of a young age, at a time when you should be in idyllic ignorance. But you know things far beyond your prime in your subject of interest, as much or even more than those who have studied it for lifetimes probably. What subject are you most gifted and talented it? Are you properly recognized for it, or do people talk down on you instead? Do people alienate you as a result, whether elevating you on a pedestal or singling you out as an outlier?

As GT kids grow older, they cease to have the same command of awe as they did in youth. With aging comes the consequences of things like undiagnosed or untreated mental illness, the pressures of social dynamics and the awkward traumas of puberty. Where you once excelled, you may struggle to apply that talent towards school and official assignments. If you are an older GT kid, how has this affected your life? Has your skill atrophied or are you still confined in its practice? Have you continued to meet the high expectations of school? Or did the piling pressure drown you out at last?

Skill Proficiencies: You can choose one skill with which to gain proficiency. When you use this skill, you can add your proficiency bonus twice instead of once.

Tools: You can choose three tools.

Languages: You know 1 additional language of your choice.

Equipment: A school backpack with pens and other stationary, books of handwritten notes, a Gifted and Talented program certificate, school clothes and a pouch containing 15 gp.

Feature: GT Kid Burnout

Your gifted and talented skills may not always be successful in the academic world, but your unique way of thinking never leaves — you just need to find new ways to apply it. Decide your subject of expertise (e.g. Language Arts, Math, Music, etc). When making checks associated with that subject, and you can propose an unconventional but plausible way of utilizing that skill (dependent on the DMs discretion), you can essentially give yourself the Help action and gain advantage on that skill check.

Suggested Characteristics

Parents and teachers constantly pressure you to do your best — you may feel that that pressure helps you succeed, or you may resent their lofty expectations.

d8 Personality Trait

1. I have an idiosyncratic method of writing notes that no-one can decipher.
2. I have a tendency to space out.
3. I avoid talking about my family.
4. I must be perfect. If I fail, especially at what everyone knows be to be talented at, then I will shame myself and my parents — especially my godly one.
5. I'm constantly experimenting.
6. I never write down notes—instead, I keep them in my head.
7. I've been forced to stay inside studying all my life, so I find others' life stories fascinating.
8. When I'm thinking hard, I start humming under my breath.

d6 Ideal

1. Knowledge. I seek knowledge wherever I can. (Neutral)
2. Independence. I don't care what others want; I want to live my life how I want. (Chaotic)
3. Worth. Others place their faith in me. I must prove I'm worthy of that faith. (Lawful)
4. Superiority. I use my gifts to obtain knowledge of others so I know how to best exploit them. (Evil)
5. Improve. I want to use my talents to create or build a better system/place than there was before. (Good)
6. Ambition. I must be the best at what I do. (Any)

d6 Bond

1. My family pushes me to do my best, and I'm thankful for that.
2. My family pressures me to surpass myself. I'll never meet their expectations.
3. My teachers taught me everything I know. I owe them a lot.
4. My teachers takes credit for my vast knowledge, but they barely did anything.
5. I caught they eye of a Greek God or immortal with my subject of expertise. They say they can help me achieve greatness.
6. I'm tired of the pressures from people at home or school. I want to be around people who don't expect anything from me.

d6 Flaw

1. I'm already under pressure so much pressure; any more and I will break.
2. I've grown to resent my area of expertise.
3. I always assume I'm the smartest in the room.
4. I can't handle letting people down when I failed, so I stopped trying in the first place.
5. I often space out when in deep thought, sometimes to the point that I'm not paying attention.
6. It doesn't matter how many times people compliment me because I will never meet the high expectations I place on myself.