Background Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Background Skills [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
pukunui
03-06-07, 12:46 AM Hi folks,

I want to give new PCs in my campaign an extra little something to represent their "background" and/or "hobbies" with regard to the skills department.

There are a couple of options, though, and I'm not really sure which one to go with ... and there may even be options of which I am not aware.

NB. I have also house-ruled it so that cross-class skill ranks only cost 1 skill point, but the max rank caps remain in effect (with any potential half-ranks rounded down).

These are my current options:

1) 4 skill points at 1st level + 1 skill point every level thereafter in addition to any other skill points (from class/race). These can only be used on certain "background" or "hobby" skills.

2) Same as above but only the 4 points at 1st level - not the 1 skill point at every subsequent level. [The rationale here is that the 4 points represent investment in a pre-adventuring background/hobby and that if PCs wish to continue advancing that background/hobby, they can spend some of their regular skill points at level-up.]

3) No extra skill points but PCs can choose 1-2 "background" or "hobby" skills and treat them as class skills no matter what class(es) they end up choosing.

4) Award PCs a +2 modifier to two skills related to their backgrounds.

Any thoughts? Any other ideas? I have currently got option #1 in my rules, but I'm beginning to think it might be a bit too much and/or too complicated.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Jonny
pyropetey9
03-06-07, 12:56 AM when i collected everyone's character background, i read through it and picked two skills that would have been extra important for those characters to that point, and gave a +2 bonus to each of those skills. it's closer to your option 2 than either of the others, and i like all of the options you present. i think it adds to the game nicely without having an effect large enough to unbalance things.

and just to dump a bucket of water on things before i get flamed, my way doesn't deny my players any control over their characters. the bonuses are drawn from the histories my players write, and are gifts that need not be given at all, so everyone was pleased regardless of the skills.

sorry for that, i'm just paranoid.
pukunui
03-06-07, 01:19 AM when i collected everyone's character background, i read through it and picked two skills that would have been extra important for those characters to that point, and gave a +2 bonus to each of those skills. it's closer to your option 2 than either of the others, and i like all of the options you present. i think it adds to the game nicely without having an effect large enough to unbalance things.That's actually a pretty decent idea. I'll add that to my list of options. Thanks!
pyropetey9
03-06-07, 02:31 AM always happy to be of help
Redclock_the_Untimely
03-06-07, 03:07 AM Love Idea #4, but of coarse I'm biased toward rewarding a good backstory. Then again my most recent character has ranks in Profession: baker and Craft: muffins so my ideas may be taken with a grain of salt. :cookie:
pukunui
03-06-07, 03:32 AM Love Idea #4, but of coarse I'm biased toward rewarding a good backstory. Then again my most recent character has ranks in Profession: baker and Craft: muffins so my ideas may be taken with a grain of salt. :cookie:
LOL.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
pukunui 03-06-07, 12:46 AM	Hi folks, I want to give new PCs in my campaign an extra little something to represent their "background" and/or "hobbies" with regard to the skills department. There are a couple of options, though, and I'm not really sure which one to go with ... and there may even be options of which I am not aware. NB. I have also house-ruled it so that cross-class skill ranks only cost 1 skill point, but the max rank caps remain in effect (with any potential half-ranks rounded down). These are my current options: 1) 4 skill points at 1st level + 1 skill point every level thereafter in addition to any other skill points (from class/race). These can only be used on certain "background" or "hobby" skills. 2) Same as above but only the 4 points at 1st level - not the 1 skill point at every subsequent level. [The rationale here is that the 4 points represent investment in a pre-adventuring background/hobby and that if PCs wish to continue advancing that background/hobby, they can spend some of their regular skill points at level-up.] 3) No extra skill points but PCs can choose 1-2 "background" or "hobby" skills and treat them as class skills no matter what class(es) they end up choosing. 4) Award PCs a +2 modifier to two skills related to their backgrounds. Any thoughts? Any other ideas? I have currently got option #1 in my rules, but I'm beginning to think it might be a bit too much and/or too complicated. Thanks in advance. Cheers, Jonny
pyropetey9 03-06-07, 12:56 AM	when i collected everyone's character background, i read through it and picked two skills that would have been extra important for those characters to that point, and gave a +2 bonus to each of those skills. it's closer to your option 2 than either of the others, and i like all of the options you present. i think it adds to the game nicely without having an effect large enough to unbalance things. and just to dump a bucket of water on things before i get flamed, my way doesn't deny my players any control over their characters. the bonuses are drawn from the histories my players write, and are gifts that need not be given at all, so everyone was pleased regardless of the skills. sorry for that, i'm just paranoid.
pukunui 03-06-07, 01:19 AM	when i collected everyone's character background, i read through it and picked two skills that would have been extra important for those characters to that point, and gave a +2 bonus to each of those skills. it's closer to your option 2 than either of the others, and i like all of the options you present. i think it adds to the game nicely without having an effect large enough to unbalance things.That's actually a pretty decent idea. I'll add that to my list of options. Thanks!
pyropetey9 03-06-07, 02:31 AM	always happy to be of help
Redclock_the_Untimely 03-06-07, 03:07 AM	Love Idea #4, but of coarse I'm biased toward rewarding a good backstory. Then again my most recent character has ranks in Profession: baker and Craft: muffins so my ideas may be taken with a grain of salt. :cookie:
pukunui 03-06-07, 03:32 AM	Love Idea #4, but of coarse I'm biased toward rewarding a good backstory. Then again my most recent character has ranks in Profession: baker and Craft: muffins so my ideas may be taken with a grain of salt. :cookie: LOL.