Career Backgrounds

⬆ Acrobat

Prerequisite: 10 Dexterity

As a former acrobatic or circus performer, you're able to leap through the air with ease.

You gain Specialty: Long Jump 1 and Specialty: Tumbling 1.

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⬆ Actor

You know how to get in character and act as someone else.

You gain Specialty: Impersonation 1 and a +1 background bonus to Deception.

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⬆ Animal Lover

You seem to have an affinity for working with wild and domesticated animals.

You gain Specialty: Animal Handling 1 and Knowledge: Nature 1.

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⬆ Anthropologist

You've spent your career studying the social structures and relics of ancient civilizations.

You gain Knowledge: World History 1 and a +1 background bonus to Insight.

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⬆ Archaeologist

Your past career involved digging up relics of ancient societies, which required you to spend extended periods of time in the wilderness. You gain Specialty: Investigation 1 and a +1 background bonus to Instinct.

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⬆ Archer

You're trained in the use of bows and crossbows, perhaps for hunting or for sport. You gain Specialty: Archery 1.

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⬆ Assassin

As a trained killer-for-hire, your job is to eliminate high-value targets and leave without a trace.

You gain Specialty: Daggers 1 and a +1 background bonus to stealth.

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⬆ Biologist

You've studied the science of evolution and nature.

You gain Knowledge: Nature 1 and a +1 background bonus to Logic.

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⬆ Blacksmith

You've practiced the art of shaping and working with metals.

You gain Specialty: Blacksmithing 1 and Knowledge: Craftsmanship 1.

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⬆ Botanist

You can easily recognize types of vegetation, including those safe to eat, and those with other properties.

You gain Knowledge: Plants 1 and a +1 background bonus to Logic.

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⬆ Bouncer

You've broken up fights and worked as a security guard to keep out unwanted guests.

You gain Specialty: Unarmed Attacks 1 and a +1 background bonus to Insight.

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⬆ Carpenter

You've practiced the art of shaping and working with wooden tools.

You gain Specialty: Woodworking 1 and Knowledge: Craftsmanship 1.

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⬆ Charlatan

Prerequisite: 12 Charisma

With your charm and careful speech, you could sell salt to a slug.

You gain Specialty: Socialization 1 and a +1 background bonus to Deception.

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⬆ Chef

You’re an experienced cook, perhaps you even owned a successful restaurant. You gain Specialty: Cooking 1 and Knowledge: Plants 1.

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⬆ Chemist

You've studied chemical properties and how various substances react.

You gain Knowledge: Chemistry 1 and Specialty: Smell 1.

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⬆ Comedian

As a professional entertainer, you know how to keep the crowd going and make a good impression.

You gain Specialty: Socialization 1 and a +1 background bonus to Performance.

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⬆ Dancer

Your experience in showbusiness grants you a +1 background bonus to Performance and Specialty: Balance 1.

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⬆ Defense Instructor

Prerequisite: 10 Wisdom

You've taught classes in the use of weapons, hand-to-hand combat, and general self defense tactics.

You gain a +1 background bonus to Defense, and any One-Handed or Two-Handed specialty of your choice from the specialties list.

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⬆ Detective

Prerequisite: 11 Intelligence

Finding hidden areas and clues is right up your alley.

You gain Specialty: Investigation 1 and Specialty: Sight 1.

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⬆ Doctor

Prerequisite: 12 Wisdom

Perhaps even you're not sure, as a licensed medical professional, what made you become an adventurer.

You gain Knowledge: Diseases 2 and a +2 background bonus to Medicine.

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⬆ Electrician

You're an expert at working with electronics and electrical systems.

You gain Specialty: Electronics 1 and Knowledge: Machinery 1.

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⬆ Engineer

Prerequisite: 13 Intelligence

Engineers specialize in specific disciplines and technologies, but overall, they're simply expert problem-solvers.

You gain a +1 background bonus to Technology, a +1 background bonus to Logic, and any Technology Specialty 1 of your choice from the Specialties list.

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⬆ Explorer

You've already had some adventures in your life, it seems. What's a little more?

You gain Specialty: Navigation 1 and Specialty: Sight 1.

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⬆ Fencer

Fencing is an intricate combat sport involving striking your opponents and avoiding their attacks.

You gain Specialty: Feinting 1 and a +1 background bonus to Agility.

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⬆ Fighter

You've been a professional boxer, or just found yourself in a lot of fights in life.

You gain Specialty: Unarmed Attacks 1 and a +1 background bonus to Agility.

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⬆ Firefighter

Prerequisite: 10 Constitution

It takes a great deal of courage to run into burning buildings and carry out search-and-rescue operations.

You gain Specialty: Axes 1 and a +1 background bonus to Determination.

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⬆ Gambler

Prerequisite: 11 Charisma

Your background winning games of chance means you're hard to fool.

You gain Specialty: Straight Face 1 and a +1 background bonus to Insight.

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⬆ Gunslinger

Your aim with handguns has been the talk of the town.

You gain Specialty: Handguns 1.

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⬆ Gymnast

You've practiced gymnastics and gained impeccable coordination.

You gain Specialty: Balance 1 and a +1 background bonus to Athletics.

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⬆ Hacker

You've had some practice bypassing computer security systems without being detected.

You gain Specialty: Hacking 1 and Knowledge: Computers 1.

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⬆ Historian

Prerequisite: 10 Intelligence

You've studied the complex history of the world and the local area. You gain Knowledge: World History 1 and Knowledge 1 in the history of the country the campaign begins in.

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⬆ Hunter

Prerequisite: 10 Wisdom

Whether for sport or survival, you've hunted to put food on the table.

You gain Specialty: Tracking 1 and Specialty: Rifles 1.

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⬆ Janitor

Some of the things you’ve had to clean up in your career would make most people retch.

You gain a +1 background bonus to Endurance..

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⬆ Lawyer

Prerequisite: 12 Intelligence

Making it through law school is a major achievement. You're familiar with the intricate workings of the law and pleading your case to the judge.

You gain Knowledge: Law 2, a +1 background bonus to Logic, and a +1 background bonus to Diplomacy.

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⬆ Librarian

Prerequisite: 10 Intelligence

You don't know everything, but you know how to look up almost anything.

You gain Specialty: Internet Research 1 and a +1 background bonus to Logic.

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⬆ Lumberjack

Prerequisite: 11 Strength

Leaping from tree to tree as they float down the mighty rivers of... wherever you're from, you gain Specialty: Axes 1 and a +1 background bonus to Instinct.

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⬆ Magician

You're a practitioner of the art of illusion and trickery.

You gain Specialty: Escape 1 and a +1 background bonus to Sleight of Hand.

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⬆ Martial Artist

The art of unarmed self-defense can be an important survival skill.

You gain Specialty: Disarming 1 and Specialty: Unarmed Attacks 1.

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⬆ Mechanic

Prerequisite: 11 Wisdom

Your career repairing cars and their many intricate components gives you Specialty: Vehicles 1 and Knowledge: Machinery 1.

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⬆ Military Veteran

You served time in the local military and gained weapons and survival knowledge.

You gain a +1 background bonus to Instinct, and any Marksmanship Specialty 1 of your choice from the Specialties list.

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⬆ Musician

You've practiced a musical instrument and perhaps performed with a band.

You gain a Specialty 1 in any musical instrument of your choice, and a +1 background bonus to Performance.

The musical instrument you choose must exist within the setting of the campaign. Consult the GM if you are unsure.

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⬆ Olympian

Prerequisite: 14 Strength or 14 Dexterity

You're one of your home nation's top athletes. You gain a +2 background bonus to Athletics, and any Athletics Specialty 1 of your choice from the Specialties list.

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⬆ Paramedic

You treat the life-threatening symptoms of medical emergencies.

You gain Specialty: First Aid 1 and Knowledge: Diseases 1.

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⬆ Police Officer

You've worked in law enforcement.

You gain Specialty: Frightening 1.

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⬆ Politician

You're adept at making compromises and working with others to get what you want.

You gain Knowledge: Law 1 and Specialty: Persuasion 1.

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⬆ Pro Gamer

You've honed your coordination and reflexes playing professional eSports.

You gain Knowledge: Computers 1 and a +1 background bonus to Reflex.

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⬆ Psychologist

Prerequisite: 11 Intelligence

You have great communication skills and have helped people through difficult times.

You gain Knowledge: Diseases 1 and a +1 background bonus to Insight.

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⬆ Public Speaker

You're used to making an impression to a large group of people.

You gain a +1 background bonus to Diplomacy.

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⬆ Religious Leader

You've been a priest or leader of some religious group.

Choose a religion to belong to. (Discuss your choice with the GM.) You gain Knowledge 1 in that religion.

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⬆ Rock Climber

Prerequisite: 10 Strength

You love exploring the world, particularly its vertical surfaces.

You gain Specialty: Climbing 1 and a +1 background bonus to Instinct.

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⬆ Runner

You're in top physical shape and can outrun most others easily.

You gain Specialty: Sprinting 1.

Increase your Speed by 1.

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⬆ Salesperson

Prerequisite: 11 Charisma

You have experience in the art of the deal.

You gain Specialty: Persuasion 1 and Specialty: Socialization 1.

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⬆ Secret Agent

You've worked as an undercover agent for the REDACTED.

You gain Specialty: Hiding 1 and Specialty: Straight Face 1.

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⬆ Sports Player

You've played in your choice of amateur sports league.

You gain Specialty: Throw Accuracy 1 and Specialty: Catching 1.

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⬆ Storyteller

You've read and retold the local legends for years.

You gain Knowledge: Folklore 1 and a +1 background bonus to Performance.

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⬆ Student

You're studying at a college or university.

Gain two levels in new or existing Knowledges of your choice.

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⬆ Stunt Driver

Prerequisite: 11 Wisdom

As a professional stunt or racecar driver, you gain Specialty: Driving 1.

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⬆ Survivalist

You've spent many a day in the great outdoors, sometimes far from civilization, and always made it back safely.

You gain Knowledge: Plants 1 and any Survial Specialty 1 of your choice from the specialties list.

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⬆ Swimmer

You've been a competitive swimmer, or perhaps a scuba diver.

You gain Specialty: Swimming 1 and Specialty: Hold Breath 1.

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⬆ Tailor

Prerequisite: 11 Dexterity

You're experienced in crafting items using fabrics, and doing elaborate seams by hand.

You gain Specialty: Sewing 1 and Knowledge: Fashion 1.

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⬆ Tech Support

You can inspect, troubleshoot, and repair both computer hardware and software.

You gain Specialty: Electronics 1 and Knowledge: Computers 1.

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⬆ Thief

Not every adventurer has a virtuous past. As a former (or current) thief, you gain a +1 background bonus to Stealth, and any Sleight of Hand Specialty 1 of your choice from the Specialties list.

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⬆ Trader

You're an experienced trader who knows the value of goods, or at least you can call up your buddy who's an expert on them.

You gain Specialty: Bartering 1 and a +1 background bonus to Insight.

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⬆ University Grad

Prerequisite: 10 Intelligence

You graduated from a university with a degree in arts or sciences.

You gain 5 skill levels in a Knowledge of your choice. (You may choose a new Knowledge or an existing one received from another background or feat.)

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⬆ Weightlighter

Prerequisite: 13 Strength

As a competitive weightlifter, you gain Specialty: Lifting 1.

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⬆ Wrestler

Prerequisite: 11 Strength

You use your strength to pin your opponents down.

You gain Specialty: Grappling 1. Increase your Size modifier by 1.

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