Character Backgrounds for Damara & Vassa - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Character Backgrounds for Damara & Vassa

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
kev777
May 31, 2010 18:28:35 Hi, I'm trying to find backgrounds for characters from Damara & Vassa. I really thought that the FRPG would have them, but it doesn't .

It looks like I might have to make one up for it.

Any suggestions?

#2
The_Silversword
Jun 01, 2010 4:16:55 Brian R. James submited a reginal benefit for his Vaasa article, but for whatever reason it was cut.

"It gave the PC either Damaran or Dwarven as an additional language and granted the PC a reroll on a failed Endurance check."

Works for me. I like the bonus language, I thought they should of done more of that in the 4e FRCG or Players Guide, everyone should get a bonus reginal language. Not sure about Common, its basicaly a trade tongue, so really I dont think a PC would know it, unless they had a mercantile background or was a noble or something.
#3
iakhovas
Jun 02, 2010 17:30:09 You may want to check out the Realmslore: Vaasa article Kev777. It contains several PHB2 Character Backgrounds for a variety of classes and races.

www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/d...
#4
gomeztoo
Jun 03, 2010 0:30:56 All PCs speak Common, as it is necessary to play the game without needing a translator every time you meet a NPC...

For some of my PCs I spent a language slot or bonus language (from backgrounds) on Damaran or Chondathan, but I haven't used it often (depends on DMs - a few times, when my PC started speaking explicitly in the local language, I did get a benefit).

I think it wouldn't hurt if a PC is given a regional bonus languague at creation.

If you seek a regional background benefit (rather than a background description), you can also use the one from Narfell in place for Damara.

Gomez
#5
drunken_master_nowak
Jun 04, 2010 11:23:28
I thought they should of done more of that in the 4e FRCG or Players Guide, everyone should get a bonus reginal language.

I give all my PCs their regional language (Chondathan, Damaran, etc.) as a bonus in addition to Common. Common is only used when there is no shared language between two parties, and then it only conveys the most basic information. I am of the school of thought that language should have a more significant role in the game.

It's a shame that they don't appear to be releasing many more background benefits like those found in the FRCG, that go beyond a simple "+2 bonus to an associated skill". I like BRJ's unreleased Vaasan benefit; I'll be implementing that in my game if a PC wants to choose it.

#6
The_Silversword
Jun 05, 2010 0:45:43 I completely agree Drunken Master Nowak, Language should have a more significant role. It really diminishes the fact that there are a variety of different peoples and cultures in Toril if everyone understands everybody else. I try to play that up more in my games, thecharacters are in a strange town and they want to buy some equipment or lodgings for the night? So sorry, the guy cant understand you. I think thats far more realistic and makes it seem more like theyre in foreign territory, which of course they are.

I think Languages should be set up more like skills too, I mean just because a character knows Elven, doesnt necessarily mean that they are 100% fluent. So I think there should be a roll in there or something, dont roll high enough, oh so sorry that Elf cant understand your badly accented Elvish.

Another thing to consider is that there are many different dialects of these languages, just because a character knows Elven doesnt necessarily mean theyer going to understand what theses Drow are talking about. Some people might think it just makes the game more confusing, but I think its far more realistic, and could lead to some interesting roleplay encounters.
#7
Jorunhast
Jun 07, 2010 11:35:51 I'd completely agree if we were talking older editions. Differences in dialects, not to mention regional slang and incorporated words from neighboring cultures... all of that adds a wonderful and rich opportunity for roleplaying.

Also, I agree that "common" has always struck me as a sort of trading language. Simple and effective for trade/bartering, but probably not capable of supporting communication of really complex ideas.

That may be a little too realistic for 4E, though.

But getting to the request of the original poster, and because it looks like he doesn't have DDI, Damara and Vaasa are still fairly isolated even in the post-Spellplague era. For most PC types, you could probably use the character backgrounds from 2nd and 3rd edition sources without any trouble at all. Heck, the original H1-H4 Bloodstone series, and FR9 Bloodstone Lands, all incredibly rich if you can still find them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 kev777 May 31, 2010 18:28:35	Hi, I'm trying to find backgrounds for characters from Damara & Vassa. I really thought that the FRPG would have them, but it doesn't . It looks like I might have to make one up for it. Any suggestions?
#2 The_Silversword Jun 01, 2010 4:16:55	Brian R. James submited a reginal benefit for his Vaasa article, but for whatever reason it was cut. "It gave the PC either Damaran or Dwarven as an additional language and granted the PC a reroll on a failed Endurance check." Works for me. I like the bonus language, I thought they should of done more of that in the 4e FRCG or Players Guide, everyone should get a bonus reginal language. Not sure about Common, its basicaly a trade tongue, so really I dont think a PC would know it, unless they had a mercantile background or was a noble or something.
#3 iakhovas Jun 02, 2010 17:30:09	You may want to check out the Realmslore: Vaasa article Kev777. It contains several PHB2 Character Backgrounds for a variety of classes and races. www.wizards.com/dnd/Article.aspx?x=dnd/d...
#4 gomeztoo Jun 03, 2010 0:30:56	All PCs speak Common, as it is necessary to play the game without needing a translator every time you meet a NPC... For some of my PCs I spent a language slot or bonus language (from backgrounds) on Damaran or Chondathan, but I haven't used it often (depends on DMs - a few times, when my PC started speaking explicitly in the local language, I did get a benefit). I think it wouldn't hurt if a PC is given a regional bonus languague at creation. If you seek a regional background benefit (rather than a background description), you can also use the one from Narfell in place for Damara. Gomez
#5 drunken_master_nowak Jun 04, 2010 11:23:28	I thought they should of done more of that in the 4e FRCG or Players Guide, everyone should get a bonus reginal language. I give all my PCs their regional language (Chondathan, Damaran, etc.) as a bonus in addition to Common. Common is only used when there is no shared language between two parties, and then it only conveys the most basic information. I am of the school of thought that language should have a more significant role in the game. It's a shame that they don't appear to be releasing many more background benefits like those found in the FRCG, that go beyond a simple "+2 bonus to an associated skill". I like BRJ's unreleased Vaasan benefit; I'll be implementing that in my game if a PC wants to choose it.
#6 The_Silversword Jun 05, 2010 0:45:43	I completely agree Drunken Master Nowak, Language should have a more significant role. It really diminishes the fact that there are a variety of different peoples and cultures in Toril if everyone understands everybody else. I try to play that up more in my games, thecharacters are in a strange town and they want to buy some equipment or lodgings for the night? So sorry, the guy cant understand you. I think thats far more realistic and makes it seem more like theyre in foreign territory, which of course they are. I think Languages should be set up more like skills too, I mean just because a character knows Elven, doesnt necessarily mean that they are 100% fluent. So I think there should be a roll in there or something, dont roll high enough, oh so sorry that Elf cant understand your badly accented Elvish. Another thing to consider is that there are many different dialects of these languages, just because a character knows Elven doesnt necessarily mean theyer going to understand what theses Drow are talking about. Some people might think it just makes the game more confusing, but I think its far more realistic, and could lead to some interesting roleplay encounters.
#7 Jorunhast Jun 07, 2010 11:35:51	I'd completely agree if we were talking older editions. Differences in dialects, not to mention regional slang and incorporated words from neighboring cultures... all of that adds a wonderful and rich opportunity for roleplaying. Also, I agree that "common" has always struck me as a sort of trading language. Simple and effective for trade/bartering, but probably not capable of supporting communication of really complex ideas. That may be a little too realistic for 4E, though. But getting to the request of the original poster, and because it looks like he doesn't have DDI, Damara and Vaasa are still fairly isolated even in the post-Spellplague era. For most PC types, you could probably use the character backgrounds from 2nd and 3rd edition sources without any trouble at all. Heck, the original H1-H4 Bloodstone series, and FR9 Bloodstone Lands, all incredibly rich if you can still find them.