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Rules

Background Mechanics

Backgrounds grant two ability boosts (one limited, one free), skill training, a Lore skill, and a 1st-level skill feat representing pre-adventuring life.

Every character selects one background during character creation, representing their life before adventuring. Backgrounds provide:

What Every Background Grants:

  1. Two Ability Boosts: One is from a limited set (e.g., STR or DEX), one is free.
  2. Skill Training: Gain training in one or two specific skills.
  3. Lore Skill: Gain training in a specific Lore subcategory (e.g., Warfare Lore, Mercantile Lore).
  4. Skill Feat: Gain a specific 1st-level skill feat associated with the background's skills.

Ability Boosts from Backgrounds: The limited boost choices signal the background's physical or mental focus. A martial background offers STR or DEX; a scholarly background offers INT or WIS.

Skill Feats from Backgrounds: The granted feat gives immediate utility. For example, the Acolyte background grants Assurance (Religion), which lets you take 10 on Religion checks with no risk of failure.

Backgrounds and Character Concept: Backgrounds inform your character's origin story and connections. They are mechanical but also narrative — a Criminal background implies underworld contacts; a Scholar background implies academic access.

Choosing a Background: Match your background to your highest ability scores and class skills where possible. A Rogue with a Criminal background stacks Thievery training and relevant lore.