Character Backgrounds

To flesh out your character you may add in a character background. Backgrounds offer you a way to tie in game mechanics to your backstory, and/or give a little backstory inspiration to your character sheet. You can choose from the list of predetermined backgrounds below, or create your own with the custom background options. Backgrounds offer a way to give your own little unique spin on your character by allowing you to reinforce your race and class features, or reach outside them in a way that fits your character specifically.

Custom Background

To create your own background you should try and think about what your character has experienced within their life. You can either do this first, and then make your background features reflect those experiences, or you can do it after and use the background features as inspiration to create your character's story. Once you have figured that out you may choose to add features as your background features. Choosing background features uses a points system, the point cap is 10 at level 1 and you gain an additional 2 points per level if you are starting out at a higher level. Background point costs are as follows:

Abilities, features, and stats:

Your character may have developed non standard attributes from their pre adventure life, or have dabbled in the studies and practices of another class.

• Attribute increase: 2 points per increase (limit 3)
• Skill/Armor/Weapon/Item/Language Proficiency: 1 point (limit 3 per category)
• Skill/Armor/weapon/Item/Language Expertise: 5 points (limit 1)
• Feat: 7 points
• Level 1 base class feature: 10 points (You must meet the attribute requirement for the class)
• Prestige class level: 5 points (limit 1)
• Magical level: 7 points (limit 1)

Magical Learning and Magic Items

Your character may have picked up on some specific magical tricks during their life that is tied to their magic class.

• Spell Conduit: 5 points
• Spell Conduit Charge Die Upgrade: 2 points (exponential for number of times increased)
• Spell Conduit Recharge Rate Upgrade: 2 points(exponential for number of times increased)
• Spell Scroll: 1 point (limit 3)
• Spell Learned: 3 points (limit 5)
• Spell Level Increased: 2 points per spell level learned (capped at spellcaster level)
• Minor Magic Item(non conduit): 3 points
• Component bundle for spell(5 uses/1 slot): 1 point per spell level*

Weapons and Ammunition:

Most adventurers have some sort of weapon, some even have dozens and the ammo to go alongside them.

• Basic/simple weapons bundle: 1 point per 4 items
• Combat weapons bundle: 1 point per 2 items
• Martial weapons bundle: 1 point per item
• Elite weapons bundle: 2 point per item
• Exotic weapon: points equal to exotic number X item tier cost (bladestaff would cost 8 {exotic 4 times 2 points for elite tier})
• Ammunition container (filled): 1 point
• Additional ammo bundle(half container): 1 point
• Custom weapon/ammo quality: 5X item point cost per quality tier added.(limit 3 custom items total)**
• Custom weapon/ammo property: 10X item point cost per property added.(limit 3 custom items total)***

Armor and Shields:

Whether it is to protect your own skin, or so you can stand guard to protect others, armor and shields are valuable tools for any adventurer.

• Armor piece with no Heavy value: 1 point per 2 pieces
• Armor piece with Heavy: 1/2 point per heavy value
• Exotic armor piece: 2X exotic value added to regular cost
• Custom armor quality: 5X item point cost per quality tier added.(limit 3 custom items total)**
• Custom armor property: 10X item point cost per property added(limit 3 custom items total)***
• Custom tailoring: 2 points (WIP DONT PICK)
• Buckler or shield: 1 point
• Tower shield: 2 points
• Custom shield quality/property: 5X point cost per quality tier increased.(limit 3 custom items total)**
• Custom shield property: 10X point cost per property added (limit 3 custom items total)***

Pack variations

backpacks and their contents come in many varieties. All packs can contain 10 slots worth of items unless otherwise stated. These are some of the common ones:(limit of 1)

• Explorer's pack (2 points) : This pack contains everything you need for a long time out in the wilderness. 20 rations, 2 waterskins, a map tube, bedroll, two person tent, 50 feet of rope, 3 torches, a campfire kit and mess kit. You may replace any of these items with a healers kit, hunting trap, climbers kit, lantern or shovel as well. Also includes 5 slots worth of non armor or weapon items.
• Artisan's pack(1 point): Tools and material bundles take up half the space they normally would in an Artisans pack. Can not contain weapons or Armor.
• Soldier's pack (2 points): Can contain up to 5 weapons basic tier or below and up to 2 weapons martial tier or below OR 2 weapons martial tier or below and 2 weapons combat tier or below. Also contains one (INSERT ARMOR OPTIONS HERE) and up to 5 non armor or weapon items.(Exotic weapons, and heavy armor are excluded.) You may replace a weapon included in this pack with one filled container of ammunition and may replace additional weapons with bundles of ammunition.
• Diplomat's pack:
• Mercenary's pack(3 points): Contains 1 Elite weapon, 1 martial weapon and up to 2 simple/basic/combat weapons or bundles of ammunition. Also contains a mess kit, two person tent, and up to 8 slots of armor (heavy armor takes up slots equal to Heavy value). This pack also contains 10 slots worth of non weapon or armor items.
• Travelers pack(1 point): Contains a set of clothing, a robe or cloak of your choice, a pair of shoes or leather boots, 5 rations, a waterskin, a bedroll, a lantern or 3 torches, and a tool or instrument of your choice
• Clergy pack: This pack contains all of the various tools and baubles of a member of the clergy. A holy symbol or book
• Scholars pack(1 point): Contains a book or notebook, 5 map tubes with parchment, 2 vials of ink, 3 quills, a magnifying glass. For an additional point cost this pack may have a magical focus and a component pouch added. The component pouch can contain 10 slots of spell component bundles, or 5 slots for bundles and 5 slots for components that have a specific value of 10 Silver or less. Component bundles take up half the space they normally do in a component pouch.
• Custom pack(2 points): This pack contains one weapon below martial tier, one piece of armor or a shield(can be replaced with a second weapon), and 20 slots worth of items.

Miscellaneous items equipment and vehicles:

For any additional items you may need that were not covered above. These items can consist of, material bundles for crafting or spellcasting. Survival or exploration equipment such as torches, rope, pitons. Tools, or other random trinkets such as cooks utensils, carpentry tools, ball bearings, caltrops, holy symbols, etc.

• Extra items: 1 point per 3 "slots" of items
• Sack: 1 point, can carry 5 slots of items
• Backpack: 2 points, can carry 10 slots of items
• Crate/Box: 2 points, can carry 25 slots of items, heavy, difficult to carry more than short distances
• Chest: 3 points can carry 20 slots of items, includes padlock to secure, heavy, difficult to carry more than short distances
• Cart: 5 points, can carry 50 slots of items, or up to 3 medium creatures. Requires an animal to pull when full.
• Wagon: 7 points, Can carry 100 slots of items, or up to 5 medium creatures. Requires an animal to pull. (2 if full)
• Covered wagon, Can carry 80 slots of items, or up to 5 medium creatures. Requires an animal to pull (2 if full). Partially protects from the weather.

Animal companions:

• Mounts, pets, friends, or battle companions, animals can fill many roles in an adventurers li
• "Shoulder/Pocket" pet: 2 points
• Domestic pet: 3 points
• Mount: 4 points
• "Guard" pet: 5 points
• Battle pet: 7 points
• Battle mount: 10 points.
• Exotic pet: 2X point cost

God Touched bonuses

Your character may be particularly blessed by one of the gods of Skjaald. At the cost of required actions on their behalf they have granted you gifts that you are bringing into this adventure. This grants you bonus points to your character background, but you must meet the requirements or risk facing their retribution in the future. Templates for God touched requirements, and bonuses are as follows:

• Specific prayer requirement: +1 point (limit 2)
• Specific diet requirement: +2 points (limit 1)
• Specific lifestyle requirement: +2 points (limit 3)

Whether or not something meets the threshold for the points awarded is up to DM discretion. Please work with them to determine your bonuses.

Fate Touched bonuses

Specific traits of your character have led you to gain things others would not have. Sometimes even bad traits and habits have good outcomes. Examples of Fate Touched traits and bonuses are as follows:

• Minor Fear(discomfort/distrust, Save DC 5): +1/2 point (limit 4)
• Fear (save DC 10)r: +1 point
• Major Fear(terror, Save DC 15): +2 points
• Physical/Mental malady: +2 points (limit 2)
• Major Physical/Mental malady: +5 points
• Attribute -1 sacrifice: +1 point
• Attribute -2 sacrifice: +3 points

Whether or not something meets the threshold for the points awarded is up to DM discretion. Please work with them to determine your bonuses.



* Only components that do not have a specific currency value can be included in the component bundles. For all value specific components use item slots from the packs or miscellaneous items sections.
** If the item in question is normally taken in a bundle you multiply by the portion of points of the bundle the weapon takes up individually. Ex. a basic/simple weapon would be 1/5(0.2) points, while a martial weapon would be 1/2(0.5) points. Quality tier increase costs stack multiplicatively (5X, 25X, 125X etc)
*** If the item in question is normally taken in a bundle you multiply by the portion of points of the bundle the weapon takes up individually. Ex. a basic/simple weapon would be 1/5(0.2) points, while a martial weapon would be 1/2(0.5) points. Additional properties costs stack additively (10X, 20X, 30X)