Improved Background

Requirements

• Purchase at Character Creation
• 1 CC point per Rank

Effects

Improved Background offers options for a starting character to have a history of involvement with an organization, financial resources, or improved equipment. This benefit may only be taken at Character Creation. Rank 1 grants distributable 2 points among Status, Fame, Income, Equipment, or Language with a 1 Rank maximum. Rank 2 grants 2 additional points among the listed benefits with a 2 Rank maximum.

Players choosing that the Sorcery Source in the Free Cities must take Improved Background 1 with one of the points spent on Status (The Black). The remaining point may be spent on Fame, Income, Equipment, Language as normal, or in Robes of The Black.

Status

Status grants standing in an Organization or group. Status may be used to influence people (Diplomacy/Intimidate/Leadership/Business) or Gather Information, gaining Rank dice on applicable skill checks. Improved Background points may be spent in multiple Organizations if desired. Each Organization will have unique benefits which are listed in the Campaign Guide.

Fame

Fame (or Infamy) functions similarly to Status granting bonuses to Social skills equal to Rank in the benefit where applicable. The higher the Rank of Fame, the more widespread the rumors or legends of the character. The social bonuses are applicable wherever the character has been heard of.

Income

Income provides a starting player with higher initial gold, which may be spent on better Starting Equipment, and a stipend they receive monthly. This income may represent a royalties, allowance, or inheritance, but generally offer the ability to have a character who is more well off financially than other starting characters.

• Rank 1: +150 Initial Gold / 30 Gold Monthly stipend
• Rank 2: +400 Initial Gold / 70 Gold Monthly stipend

Heirloom

Heirloom provides a starting player with a high quality weapon, set of armor, or a mount in addition to their normal Starting Equipment.

Rank 1

At Rank 1, choose between one of the following heirlooms:

• An additional weapon (Martial or Exotic) OR A suit of armor (Medium or Heavy)
• A Standard Horse with Mount Training 1.

Rank 2

Rank 2 improves the options from Rank 1 in the following ways:

• The chosen weapon or armor from Rank 1 is constructed from a special material (e.g. ironwood, quicksilver, or adamantine) OR exchanged for a single Magitech Weapon may be purchased, region permitting, with Storyteller approval.
• The Light Horse is exchanged for a Light Horse or Heavy Horse with Mount Training 1 OR the Standard Horse gains Mount Training 2.

Language

Language is treated as if the player is purchasing the Language benefit at the same rank. However, points spent through Improved Background at Character Creation are not subject to the Intelligence Statistic requirement of the Language benefit.

Regional Background Effects

Vicisi

Robes of The Black

These finely constructed plain black robes are instantly recognizable as they epitomize The Black, and are in fact the origination of the guild's name. These robes may not be taken with Improved Background in other regions. Members who do not take this item at Character Creation with Improved Background may purchase it later for 3 GXP or earn it in-game by proving themselves worthy.

• The robes grant 3 Armor which is Immune to natural Armor Piercing.