Saturday, September 12, 2015

Background work

One of the things I am working on behind the scenes is a book of backgrounds. The idea is you could roll up a back ground or two for your character to get starting skills and a hook idea for your character.  For the Referee it is a pre-made book of NPC's covering major and minor people the characters may run into.

I plan on putting a couple into the next Cauldron (yes it IS still coming) but in the meantime here is a preview of one such entry...the assassin.



ASSASSIN
Hiring killers is the task of any king, guild, or rebel...but when the job needs to be quickly, quietly and without the usual noise and mass destruction of an army, their the assassin works quietly and alone. In darkness, and with stealth the assassin seeks not glory nor fame and the best ones are not even known to have committed the crime.

Attributes
ST10 IQ11 DX13(11) EN8 MV6; AR-2 (leather) DM 1d6 (daggers)

Skills
Hide/Spot Hidden+1, Stealth +1, Thief +1, Dagger+1, Athletics+1

Ability
Quick Draw- Once per turn you are able to produce a weapon or item of dagger size or smaller you possess on your person into your hand without sacrificing an action that turn to do so.

Equipment
2 daggers, padded vest and worn clothing, dark travel cloak, padded leather boots, small sack, belt pouch. 2D6x10 coins.

Hook
Wandering is a part of your life. Those who know of you can always find a way to reach you but you never stay in any one place to long, for those who know how to find you may also be the ones who ultimately betray you. So you venture town to town picking up the odd job or task as necessary to provide a relevant cover and to see if your real skills might provide a bit of ready coin.


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3 comments:

  1. Edtc137September 13, 2015 at 9:21 AM

    I really like this idea, as it can be a pain to come up with a quick and believable NPC in the heat of the moment when the players are looking for someone you never thought of adding to the story. It is nice to have some basic personality traits to roll from - will the NPC be surly or scheming, etc.? It also might be nice to have a series of tables to roll from to get a deeper background quickly, that funnels to information on: origins (farming village, urban setting, nomadic tribe, etc.) -> background skills (animal handling, fast talking, horse archery) that might be associated with that origin -> family associated with that background, although this might be more detail that people want.

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    1. Fenway5September 14, 2015 at 6:47 PM

      Thanks--they certainly are a help for me as a quick NPC. I agree a "deeper background" table would be fun...sounds like a good idea to me! Traditionalists do not seem to like these ideas as they prefer the normal "build a character" model. I like the traditional route...but also like some random tables to roll on and see what kind of inspiration comes form the results. I think there is room for both!

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  2. MrufSeptember 18, 2015 at 9:46 AM

    I'm seriously interested in reading this supplement. I'm collecting all Conan-like releases. This one lokks good (love Conan GURPS and 3d6 resolutions). Could you estimate when "a witch shall be born"? :)

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