Standard Backgrounds World of Darkness Classic: Backgrounds Master Index Supernatural acquaintances, which may have their own backgrounds, though the Storyteller may Note: This document is uses 20th Anniversary allow otherwise at their discretion. Editions where available, and does not contain the backgrounds for Wraith: The Oblivion or Mummy, X (none) No allies to help in times of nor does it contain any backgrounds from need Orpheus, as any Orpheus backgrounds that are • One ally of moderate not Orpheus/Wraith- specific are better covered (1) power/two “sidekicks” elsewhere, i.e. Detective Licence vs M20’s •• Two Moderate Allies, Four Certification, or Personal Trainer covered by (2) Sidekicks or one powerful ally ••• Three Moderate allies, or a Mentor. In the case of Mummy and Wraith, my (3) combination of lesser ones group doesn’t play them, so I didn’t include them. •••• Four moderate allies, six Further, some House rulings on eligibility are (4) sidekicks, or a combination of applied within. Further, to reduce confusion with all 3 the Alertness Talent, our group refers to the ••••• Five Moderates or an Awareness talent as Arcane Awareness. (5 – Normal assortment of lesser and Limit) greater ones Special Backgrounds ••••• • Six moderates, a small gang of Certain Backgrounds may have special functions, (6) sidekicks, one or two really and will be denoted by the following: powerful friends ••••• •• Seven moderates, a staff of (+) – These Backgrounds may exceed 5 dots, (7) sidekicks, or a handful of strong whether through pooling or special circumstance. companions Backgrounds beyond 5 dots should only be ••••• ••• Eight moderates, a bunch of granted with special approval from the ST. (8) followers, or a few major badasses. ($) – These Backgrounds cost double the usual ••••• •••• Nine moderates, a private points (2 background points or 2 freebies, 2x the (9) militia, or a pack of major XP cost for backgrounds set by the Storyteller) friends. (P) – These backgrounds may be pooled. ••••• ••••• Ten capable allies, a small army, (10 – max) or a truly deadly gang. Note that Allies are friends, contacts and Standard Backgrounds associates – they are not minions to be dragged These backgrounds can be taken by any mortal or along for every romp into enemy territory. This is supernatural that does not have an explicit better reflected instead by the Retainers restriction stated in their rules (i.e, certain background. Shapechangers may not take Resources or Influence.) Alternate Identity With this background, you have an established Allies (+, P) alternate identity. The number of dots in this Allies represent people who have your back in background represents how well your ID holds up, times of need – Friends, People with connections, and how complete it is. This background may be errand runners, or even minor supernatural taken multiple times to show multiple identities. beings. This background generally refers to mundane human or animal allies – Not • A fake ID that kinda looks like you
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•• A passable fake ID, plus supporting Archive documents Your character has access to a collection of ••• Respectable ID papers and supporting newspapers, books, magazines, or old photos they documents that’ll pass casual can turn to for info about past events. The inspection information could be general, such as newspaper •••• An established alternate identity clippings of important events, or arcane and ••••• A fully supported identity with complete history, support documents, specific, such as zoological journals about witnesses, fake family photos, primates in New Guinea. The exact nature must alternate homes, etc. be agreed upon by the storyteller before play, and the storyteller is final arbiter on what information it might contain. You are sufficiently familiar with Animal Companion this archive that you could sort through it in an This background represents useful pets or work hour, at most. The personal nature of the archive animals, as opposed to run of the mill pets – a makes it specifically tailored to your character’s Rottweiler that can crush soup bones, or a cat needs, but you must constantly add to it to keep it that is sensitive to supernatural presences. current.
• A very loud cat that is sensitive to • A small collection of books or clippings unnatural presences (8-dice Arcane covering people and events from the awareness pool) last five years •• A big, mean dog •• A moderate collection of materials ••• A horse, raised from a colt taking up an attic corner, going back 10 •••• A horse and a big dog, several dogs, or years equivalent. ••• Several bookshelves or enough boxes ••••• You own a stable, or you train to cover an entire wall, going back 25 attack/seeing eye dogs professionally years •••• The archive fills a spare room of your house or apartment with a wide Suggested Stats: Animal Companions variety of materials going back 50 Big, Mean Dog years Strength: 4, Dex: 3, Stamina: 3, Perception: 4 ••••• Museums and private dealers make Abilities: Alertness: 3, Athletics: 2, Brawl: 3, periodic offers for your vast collection, Dodge: 3, Empathy: 2, Intimidation: 3, Stealth: 2 which reaches back as far as 100 to Health: OK, -1, -1, -2, -2, -5, Dead 150 years. Attack: Bite (5 dice), Claw (4 Dice)
Willpower: 5 Well-Trained Horse Armoury Strength: 5, Dex: 2, Stamina: 4 This background represents a large stockpile of Abilities: Alertness: 3, Athletics: 2, Brawl: 3, weapons and associated paraphernalia. Note that Empathy: 2, Intimidation: 2 this background does not represent the necessary Health: OK, OK, -1, -1, -2, -2, -5, Incapacitated qualifications and licenses required to allow their Attack: Trample or kick (6 dice), bite (3 dice) Willpower: 3 possession, merely the possession itself, and Aware Cat without other backgrounds (such as Influence, Strength: 1, Dex: 3, Stamina: 3, Perception: 3 Certification and Rank), a character may find Abilities: Alertness: 5, Athletics: 3, Brawl: 2, themselves losing the points invested into this Intimidation: 2, Stealth: 4, Empathy: 2, background very quickly if they aren’t careful, Subterfuge: 2 especially in a chronicle set outside the trigger- happy United States.
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• You have an excellent starter armoury, The number of individuals provided by this including many legal weapons background depends on the kind of individuals copmonly available on the street, and involved – a motley band of drunken gang bangers extra weapons relevant to regional versus paramilitary shock troops. Note that these culture. individuals are not “your” servants – they belong •• You have access to enough legal to a particular organization, of which you must weaponry to outfit a street gang of 10 also be a member. Further, once their job is done, men these individuals return from whence they came ••• You could start your own small militia, and have access to weaponry that (provided their alive… You may have to clean up exists in a legal grey area for the region any casualties yourself.) •••• You have an armoury appropriate to a X (none) You’re on your own SWAT team, including some military • Two typical individuals hardware, and could outfit 10 men (1) with such advanced weaponry •• Four typicals or two elites. ••••• Your armoury could outfit a (2) paramilitary force, can clean and repair ••• Six typicals almost any personal weapon, and have (3) access to significant quantities of illegal •••• Eight typicals or four elites weaponry. (4) Backers ••••• Ten typicals This is similar to the Allies background, but (5 – Normal represents unknown forces with a stake in the Limit) Character’s activities. These Backers are secret ••••• • Twelve typicals or six elites forces that support the character for reasons of (6) their own. (Note: See Patron below) ••••• •• 14 typicals (7) • One backer of moderate influence and ••••• ••• 16 typicals or eight elites power (8) •• Two backers, both of moderate power ••••• •••• 18 typicals ••• Three backers, one of them quite (9) influential ••••• ••••• 20 typicals, 10 elites •••• Four backers, one very influential (10 – max) ••••• Five backers, one of them extremely influential.
Backup (+, P) Base of Operations (P) This background represents a large pool of skilled, This background represents a secure location, but mundane, personnel you can call in an controlled and owned by your character. In this emergency. Unlike Allies, these people are largely place, you may rest, train and plan in relative faceless, have limited skills, and are effectively safety. This background has three different expendable “mooks” – Generic, faceless nobodies. categories that points may be split between – They could be gun-wielding grunts that come to effectively, this background has a minimum of 3 cover a characters escape, a group of drunken dots, and a maximum of 15, with 1-5 in each students that serve as a distraction, or a rock category. star’s roadies. With the storyteller’s permission Luxury – Quality and comfort and appropriate justification, this background may • Thrift Store and low cost furniture even cover spirits or animals. •• Modest decoration, basics of first world lifestyle where appropriate
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••• Relative comfort and a host of - Be connected to a potent supernatural or amenities mythical figure (God, Hero, Fae Noble) that fits •••• Luxurious respite, unique in both the characters concept design and appearance ••••• A degree of ostentation usually - It may not influence combat directly (Knives may reserved for the extremely wealthy or remain sharp, one bullet may be left at a critical celebrities. moment, but no bonus to aim or the like) Size: The approximate size and floorplan • A small apartment or underground - Not be obviously inhuman or impossible, and chamber, 1 or 2 rooms must have a rational explanation •• A large apartment or family home, 3-4 - have a corresponding weird quirk, also story- rooms based, that mirrors the blessing (odd breeze, one ••• A Warehouse, Church or large home, eye and an affinity for ravens, etc.) 5-8 rooms •••• A mansion or network of tunnels, 9-15 - If the character breaks faith with their patron, rooms or chambers the blessing disappears. ••••• A sprawling estate or vast network of subway tunnels, 20+ rooms. The blessing shares a clear connection with the Security: How tough it is to break into the base. figure that favours your character – A man blessed Each dot adds 1 to the difficulty of any roll to by Pan always goes home with the best-looking penetrate the base, or 1 to number of person in the club, a guy nicknamed Lucifer can successes to gain access. talk people into anything, and his skin seems a • Locks on the doors, but little else little red. •• Doors have deadbolts and windows are barred, perhaps a guard dog that barks • Small favours, clothes always look ••• Modern locks, bars on windows, clean, kitchen always tidy, you find the electronic security measures such as odd dollar on the ground alarms and CCTV •• Little things, you always find parking, •••• Reinforced walls, Sectionalized access, win a little whenever you play lotto panic rooms and hidden chambers ••• An affinity for things, cooking always ••••• Protected by a remote location, tastes good, you never get lost geographical boundary •••• Uncanny, kids shut up as soon as you (Waterfall/mountain pass), and tell them to, suggestions always sound possibly even occult protections. reasonable ••••• Major, your wallet and bank account always have a dollar left, always have Blessing one final bullet, you know secrets This background represents something out there nobody should be able to know, etc. that has left a mark on your character. Blessing The Storyteller may require certain characters to ties a character to forces greater than themselves take “complementary” backgrounds alongside this – a minor quirk of fate. Choose one non-combat, (i.e. Totem, Past Life, Madness Network, etc.) story-based ability that blesses your character with an unusual talent. The higher the rating, the Certification more useful that talent becomes. Note that the This background represents official papers that blessing must follow certain guidelines – it must: allow your character to pursue some regulated activity – hunting, driving, operating heavy - be based on the characters beliefs about the machinery, medicine, etc. Unless the character world (Magical Paradigm for mages) has somehow gained the permit without proper - Tie into their personal history training, this background cannot be higher than the relevant ability (i.e. a Medical Licence requires 4 dots in Medicine.) This background may be
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Standard Backgrounds taken multiple times, representing multiple types representing the depth, detail and scope of the of licence. information within. The nature and scope of the database is at the storyteller’s discretion, and like X Drivers Licence, Government ID, Contacts, this background may be taken multiple nothing special times to represent multiple databases. An Ex-Cop • Hunting Licence, Business Licence, Passport to an open country, etc. might still have access to crime records, while a •• Teaching Certificate, Bodywork bank teller might have access to bank records Licence, basic firearms permit with their boss’s passwords. ••• Concealed weapon permit, HAZMAT • A database with basic personal info (A disposal licence, Church Ordainment, phone company’s database of unlisted private investigator licence, private numbers, a business’s Loyal Customer pilot permit list with names, emails and phone •••• Class C weapons permit, Medical or numbers) Legal professional, professional aircraft •• Local government databases (City licence, government intelligence Police, Vehicle Registration, property operative records) ••••• Diplomatic Immunity, licence to kill ••• Sensitive personal data (Credit
Histories, Bank Statements, social Contacts (+, P) security information) •••• With time, you can call upon This background represents people who know nationwide resources – the FBI’s things. They may lack the personal investment criminal database, Medical Histories on that Allies or Backers have, but they can help dig a nationwide basis. Gaining data from up information, spread messages, and maybe call these massive databases may take in small favours – though they’ll expect the same between 4 and 48 hours of you of course. Each dot in Contacts represents ••••• You have access to state and federal a major contact, a proper individual you know databases, providing everything from (and who the Storyteller gives a proper profile and ATM Transactions to sealed military personality), as well as a number of minor records, and even worldwide law or contacts.) When calling on these minor contacts, financial databases such as INTERPOL. roll an appropriate social attribute + Contacts. Results may take one to five working Note that these contacts are all in the same field – days, but provide a wealth of detail. street artists, doctors, military – and the Destiny background must be taken multiple times for Note: This is the Mage: 20th anniversary version of separate fields of contact (i.e. Contacts (Military) the Destiny background. For simplification, the ••• and Contacts (Legal) •• are not the same Hunter: The Reckoning Background of the same background), further these contacts are not name has been renamed Providence in this reliable with sensitive information – for the most document. The Fate background is a similar trait part, they’re just run-of-the-mill folks that will from the Werewolf 20th anniversary book. spread you “average” information. For sensitive or This background represents the divine pulls of secret information, see the Spies background fate on a character, marking you as having a grand below. part to play in coming events – and you know Each dot in this background represents one major you’re fated to be special. Once per game session, Contact. while facing a challenge or tight spot, you may call upon this sense of destiny. If you’ve spent all of Database your Willpower points before this crisis, roll your This background represents access to a Destiny dice pool against Difficulty 8. Each success commercial or civil database, with the rating you roll instantly restores one point of Willpower.
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At some point, however, you will face your final formation of their group (cell, pack, cabal, etc.) A destiny. When that time comes, the Storyteller fate is always significant, but likely to be dark and declares that this is your moment of destiny, and infamous as it is to be full of glory. In addition to you lose access to this background. Should you whatever fame or infamy this prophecy brings to survive this background and achieve something you, once per game session, after failing a roll or memorable, this background goes away and may coming short in the number of required successes, be replaced by another background or effect you may roll your rating in this background (Storyteller’s discretion.) If you fail, destiny came (Difficulty 8). Each success is added to the failed calling, and you weren’t up to the task. roll, and if it succeeds the player should describe the fortuitous events that caused them to succeed • A minor destiny, 1 die – However, if the action the player seeks to take •• Significant, 2 dice goes against the prophecy given, the Storyteller ••• Important, 3 dice •••• Destined for greatness, 4 dice may disallow the use of this background. ••••• Destined for Legend, 5 dice If Fate is pooled, each player may call on this background once per game session. If the action Fame failed involves the entire group in some way, the For a story-based reason, you’re famous in player may draw on an amount of fate up to the mundane society. Maybe you’re a musical star, a highest individual fate in the group. If acting politician or athlete, or a youtube-famous e-star. alone, they may only draw on the lowest (to a Among folks in the know, you’re a celebrity, the minimum of 1). Further, in a pack with pooled greater your rating, the more famous you are. fate, the character may raise their personal fate Authorities may be less likely to mess with you (or with XP, to a maximum of the highest fate in the more likely, if they’re out to make an example.) group (thus, the highest cannot raise theirs, and if Fans will give you deference, and people may all members have the same fate, nobody may believe things from you they otherwise wouldn’t. raise it). However, this comes with a caveat – People know • Your group will be involved in an event who you are, and may bring stalkers, haters, that will make you known amongst all critics and thieves. And of course, with Fame of your society, though only the comes the need to maintain it, or face the organization with which you are Hollywood nightmare – irrelevance! involved knows of your fate. •• Your group will be the cause of an • Known in a subculture, perhaps you’re event that greatly impacts your a has-been star. organization, such as the destruction of •• A local celebrity, known in the a long-time enemy or highly admired community individual. Those of your society ••• Someone of note, known by portions throughout the city or local geography of the population at large know your fate. •••• A national or minor international figure ••• You will be responsible for an event ••••• You’re famous almost everywhere. that impacts your society across the continent, perhaps singlehandedly saving or destroying a Caern or Node. Fate (P) All of your society in your hemisphere th Note: This is the Werewolf 20 Background. For might know of the prophecy th the similar Mage 20 background, see Destiny •••• Your group will affect the entirety of above. Or for the similar Hunter: The Reckoning your society, perhaps defeating a great background, see Providence below. Wyrm creature or disgracing a Methuselah. This background represents a prophecy that accompanies your character from birth, or the
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••••• You or your group will be a direct walks into a room, people take notice. factor in the fate of the world, one way Arrangements are made, favours are offered, and or another. There are none among people may bend over backwards for you. Similar your organization that haven’t heard of to Fame, this background may combined with your destiny. social attributes to use its pull, while mental Note: To make this background more apt to fit attributes may be used to spot or secure with multiple Archetypes, the terms information through your networks. “Organization” and “Society” are used. It is up to the Storyteller what this reflects – Among X (none) No influence to speak of Werewolves, the Organization is the Sept and the • Folks within your profession Society is the Garou Nation. Among Vampires, it is (1) recognize you most likely the city Elysium and Sect, and Mages •• You’ve got various associates their Chantry and Tradition. For groups such as the (2) and a small degree of clout ••• People within your field respect Imbued or Demons, the Storyteller should use their (3) your abilities own judgement. •••• You’ve got quite a bit of clout Favours (4) ••••• You’re a force to be reckoned Members of an organization, generally of which (5 – Normal with you are part, owe you certain favours and Limit) concessions. Similar to Contacts or Allies, these ••••• • You command influence in represent individuals of power and influence. But (6) national political affairs unlike Contacts or Allies, these individuals are only ••••• •• Your actions influence various offering you help because they owe you. Once a (7) allied nations favour is used up, it’s gone. Note: This background ••••• ••• You command vast respect appears in several books. In Freak Legion and (8) across whole cultural regions Project Twilight, each dot represents one favour, ••••• •••• Your dominance extends across while in World of Darkness: Mafia, the (9) whole socio-political spheres background is exponential. The table below (the EU, UN, etc.) presents both sets of rules, for the storyteller’s ••••• ••••• Your influence extends across (10 – max) the mortal world, and may discretion. In general, a supernatural organization confer some respect in others. like Project Twilight or the Technocracy should be at a 1:1 ration, whereas more mundane groups – The Mafia, the Triad, the Military – may call for Information Network the higher rate. This background represents a network of informants that come to you, bringing you secrets • 1 favour •• 2 favours to trade. Many may be irrelevant to the problems ••• Three supernatural/four mundane you have right now, in which case you might trade favours them away for secrets you can use, or wait until •••• Four supernatural/seven mundane time permits you act. Facts and data you harvest favours may not be relevant yet, but may come to ••••• Five supernatural/ten mundane relevance later. (Note that the Storyteller may favours elect bundle this background’s ability in with the Influence (+, P) Contacts background, rather than making players While Fame represents how well known you are spend points for it by itself) in mundane society, Influence represents your At the beginning of each Chapter of a story, roll a power. This background represents a certain number of dice equal to the number of dots you amount of social deference you receive even have in this background against Difficulty Eight. If without rolling. When a high-influence person you succeed, the storyteller will give you a
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Standard Backgrounds random rumour you’ve acquired from one of your ••••• ••••• Given enough time (and contacts. One success is a hint, three includes (10 – max) assistance), you can access some commentary on the reliability, and five almost anything that’s been should reveal a secret valuable enough to elicit a written down and stored. You favour from another supernatural creature in the might not Understand it, but city. you can probably find it Note: The Storyteller should exercise their Library (+, P) judgement on what kind of data is included in a This background represents access to a wealth of Library for Non-Mage Characters, as well as information vital to the character – A collection of whether they will allow pooling for mixed- dusty old tomes, DVD’s or even a massive cosmology characters – A Vampire is likely to have computerized database. Because the background little material of use to a Mage, while an Imbued is based around a store of information useful to Hunter is unlikely to have any information on your character, it may help you research your Edges and the Messengers, except for the most chosen Abilities and Advantages. You’ll need to esoteric and ancient documents written by the add to your library when learning new topics, but Hengeyokai on the Kue-Jin. provided you have the appropriate material you Mentor may research topics regarding the traits with a An individual has taken interest in you and successful Mental Trait + Library Roll, though such provides training, guidance and occasional research requires both time and effort. assistance. This background’s rating reflects how When pooled, the Library Background is equal to helpful your mentor is for you, though may not the rating of the highest contributor, plus one for necessarily reflect their power – While for each contributing member – After all, with so shapeshifters, each dot in this background much material, there will be some overlap. (i.e. translates directly into rank, for a Mage, a 3,4,2,2 would equal seven, not 11) powerful individual might put no effort into teaching, or a middling Scientist might be a X (none) A few trashy magazines are no particularly good teacher. use to you. • You have a few new-age • Unreliable or inexperienced / Rank 2 (1) paperbacks. •• Helpful yet eccentric / Rank 3 •• Lots of fiction, little of use. ••• Good and Noteworthy / Rank 4 (2) •••• A wise, helpful and respected teacher / ••• There’s some useful stuff in Rank 5 (3) here if you dig. ••••• A powerful elder or expert in the field / •••• Your collection of Occult data is rank 6 (4) respectable. ••••• You’ve got a pretty decent (5 – Normal collection of diverse lore. Military Force (+, P, $*) Limit) This background represents command of an ••••• • You enjoy a huge personal armed group, from a gang of thugs to elite (6) archive. military forces. Note that ratings of six or above ••••• •• Your database features generally require some kind of government (7) extensive written, recorded and sponsorship. virtual information. ••••• ••• You’ve got full access to a A note on Military Force and Backup: This (8) national archive. Background exists in Vampire: The Masquerade ••••• •••• You enjoy unrestricted access books dealing with powerful vampires, Elysium: (9) to personal, national and The Elder Way, and may not be appropriate for classified databases. most chronicles. See instead the Backup
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Standard Backgrounds background, which is far more suitable for Orders get reversed, contracts issued or average characters. After all, it is extremely terminated, hits dropped and strings pulled. unlikely for a group of five hunters to lead an Magic or disciplines will not reveal the reason for entire nation’s Armed forces! By the Elysium rules, these indulgences, but there’s clearly some points in this background are 1:1, however the alliance or common ground involved, though the Storyteller may decide to make them cost 2 or 3x if meaning of this is elusive. they are allowing purchase in a lower-power Note: This background is extremely similar to the chronicle, though some Storytellers may desire to Backers background above, from Project Twilight. play a high-military chronicle where Vampire This background comes from Mage 20th Hunters besiege the strongholds of the Inconnu or anniversary, and thus if the Storyteller decides to the Technocracy besieges Tradition bastions. use only one, this background is the most recent, • 15-Person mob, generally and should supersede. Not to be mistaken for the (1) unorganized and untrained. Imbued-Specific background of the same name, Street gang or student rebels. representing the Heralds influence. Alternatively, •• 25-person team, generally with the Storyteller may treat this as a more “Active” or (2) some combat training; police, “Supernatural” version of the Backers – while crime family Backers might represent an organization like the ••• 40-person platoon, all combat Society of Leopold, Strike Force Zero or Project (3) trained, SWAT team or army Twilight, Patron might represent the Technocracy, reserves. •••• 75-person troop, all veterans. the Camarilla or the Garou Nation. (4) Mercenary soldiers, Terrorist • A shadowy someone pulling occasional unit strings ••••• 100-person company, Elite •• A helpful benefactor who chooses to (5 – Normal troops; special forces company, remain concealed Limit) intelligence unit ••• A superior or Elder who helps you for ••••• • Several companies with a mix of mysterious reasons (6) weapons; mechanized infantry, •••• A powerful party who appears to air assault group favour you ••••• •• Military division, thousands of ••••• A high-ranking mage, Technocrat or (7) trained soldiers. Prince who seems dedicated to your ••••• ••• One branch: A country’s entire wellbeing… For now. (8) army, navy, air force or similar ••••• •••• National: An entire country’s (9) military Providence ••••• ••••• Forces worldwide Note: This is the Hunter: The Reckoning (10 – max) background Destiny, re-named due to conflict Characters may allow higher numbers of mortals with the Mage: The Ascension background of the with lower training, generally one-up-one-down – same name with differing function. i.e. 2 dots may be a 40 man mob, while 4 may be a 100-man SWAT team. This background represents the mark of destiny on your character, marking them as having a vital Patron part to play in shaping the future. Your character The Patron background reflects a powerful party may be aware of this manifest destiny, or they who’s watching out for your character’s interests. may be unaware until another individual points it Only the Storyteller knows what this party’s plans out. Regardless, they carry their destiny like a are, and what their interest in the character might standard that must be respected, feared or envied be. At the beginning of the chronicle, at least, this by those who recognize their significance. A benefactor exerts force in mysterious ways: “Blessed One” must be watched closely and
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Standard Backgrounds criticized when seen not following what is •••• High: Major, count, bishop, governor, believed to be their “True Path”, and others may department head even try utilize their “Higher calling” to their own ••••• Command: General, prince, ends, though nobody has a clear idea of what archbishop, corporate VP, dean awaits these individuals, and fate is not Resources unwavering – destined people have been known This background represents your material wealth to die before fulfilling their roles, though rarely in – both material and income. The higher this an inglorious manner. background, the richer you are, though it must be carefully managed. A fool and his money are For each dot your character possesses in this easily parted, and if a character never turns up for background, they may make one re-roll per game work, they won’t retain that resources 5 for long. session. If a single roll fails or does not achieve the successes that you hoped for, you may roll again. X (None) Working poor: You live Only one re-roll is allowed per action, and re-rolls paycheck-to-paycheck. are even allowed in situations where Willpower • Working class income, small does not apply, such as an Imbued conviction (1) apartment and cheap vehicle gamble. •• Lower middle class: Condo or (2) apartment, plus vehicle, some • You have a funny feeling about your savings and money for future occasional indulgence •• You are bound to make an indelible ••• Middle class: You either own or impact on the lives of many others (3) have decent equity in some ••• Your destiny is powerful, perhaps a property plus a vehicle, respected innovator or leader – investments and savings. You Winston Churchill, Nikola Tesla could maintain a 1-dot standard •••• Your destiny is one of Arthurian Legend of living indefinitely. ••••• The course of the world may be •••• Well-Off: You own a large revolutionized by your fate (4) house, some property, and at least two vehicles, as well as notable savings and Rank investments. While Influence represents control and Fame ••••• You are the 1%, multimillionaire represents how well known you are, Rank (5 – Normal with substantial holdings and represents some distinction in mundane society, Limit) investments. such as military rank or political office. Naturally, ••••• • Hollywood; you want it you got while this background grants certain perks, it also (6) it requires responsibility – A Governor can’t go ••••• •• Billionaire’s club. You can hunting Werewolves in the woods for a week! (7) influence entire businesses or industries This background may have the same effects as the ••••• ••• Bruce Wayne. You own Influence background, but only on individuals (8) companies beneath the ranks denomination (A captain ••••• •••• Tony Stark. You own Industries. commanding sailors) (9) • Minor rank: Army sergeant, squire, ••••• ••••• Doctor Doom. You own deacon, school board member, junior (10 – max) governments. manager •• Low: Junior officer, knight, prior, city Retainers councillor, senior manager, professor Unlike Allies or Familiars, Retainers have no ••• Medium: Captain, Baron, Abbot, Mayor, middle-management, tenure. supernatural skills or combat abilities, but unlike Backup and Spies they aren’t faceless guns or
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Standard Backgrounds information streams. Each retainer represents a it gives them leverage and advantages. What they devoted servant, employee, mind-controlled thrall do with the secrets is up to them – they could be or minor supernatural construct who does your bartered for favours or cash, or used to take down bidding with a decent sense of loyalty – Perhaps a enemies, or something else entirely. The player lab assistant, apprentice, lover or devoted friend. and storyteller should work together to determine Retainers have strictly mundane skills, they can’t what sort of secrets the character possesses. generally heft a machine gun or take on Vampires. • Small but noteworthy – A secret affair, If you train a Retainer character up, they become a hidden sexual orientation, a minor an Ally instead. Even Constructs or Spirits are crime essentially normal individuals with certain special •• A moderate secret – the human effects and origins, but no special powers beyond identities of a Werewolf pack, location perhaps flight or unusual strength. of a criminal on the run, a significant crime. Each dot in this background represents one ••• A substantial, or equivalent number of retainer, though at the Storyteller’s discretion the lesser secrets. A matter of life or death, character may instead take less, but greater or utter ruination for someone. The retainers – i.e. a 3-pt retainer for a talented location of a lost artefact somebody bodyguard. needs to stay lost. •••• A heavy secret, or equivalent amount Roots of lesser secrets. The location of a Your character has especially deep ties to their national fugitive, a vampire’s book of local community – They are a benefactor or contacts, the location of a Gurahl. confidant, someone that they may tell their ••••• An enormous secret or equivalent problems or expect reliable help from. In return, number of lesser secrets. A high-level they might look out for your character, so long as Pentex plot, the location of a legendary they remain there for them. Your character still cursed artefact, the secret weakness of cannot reveal matters of the Supernatural to an Incarna spirit. them without seeming insane. Combined with Allies, bystanders and contacts, this can make a Spies (P, +) truly connected character. This backgrounds represents a collections of • You watch over a small group, such as informers and agents. These people may not a single family or friend group necessarily like you – some may even hate you – •• You protect a specific community, such but for whatever reason, you have something as a housing complex or high school they want, whether that be money, sex, drugs, or ••• You are the patron of a small power. In return for whatever that indulgence neighbourhood, no more than a few may be, they’ll tell you what you know. blocks •••• You are the patron of a large Spies may represent disgruntled associates, neighbourhood of several dozen blocks dismayed staff, desperate addicts, or even loyal or a small social or ethnic group idealists to your cause and folks who owe you ••••• You watch over a significant ethnic or favours. Some may even have strange devices or social group in your city tiny critters to report back to them. This trait lets you ferret out information (Intelligence + Spies); Secrets circulate misinformation (Manipulate + Spies); The character possesses information that would impress people from a distance (Charisma + be considered desirable – or damaging – by Spies); or be aware of potential threats before someone else. While such knowledge may they manifest (Perception + Spies.) sometimes place the character in danger, mostly X (None) No special informants
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• One or two spies in helpful • Acknowledged; your peers recognize (1) places – the police, the mob, your name when it comes up. Wall Street, etc. •• Credible; you’re considered •• Four to Six informants in noteworthy. (2) various helpful areas ••• Respected; your word carries weight ••• A handful of spies in helpful •••• Admired; most people in your group (3) places, plus a few in hard-to- look up to you. reach areas (The Pentagon, the ••••• Revered; you’re considered a paragon CIA, the UN, etc.), or one or two of your group’s principles. in highly secure areas (A classified government bureau, a supernatural organization) Stronghold •••• Infiltrators in a whole sphere of Note: This background is similar in theme, if not (4) influence (National function, to a high-security Base of Operations government, the underworld, background above, and Storytellers may elect to stock market) or a handful in a disallow it for better rule cohesion, or combine this Supernatural Group – Vampire background’s rules with the Security portion of clan, Werewolf Tribe, Mage that background. Chantry, Hunter-Net, etc. ••••• Eyes and ears throughout the This background represents a room or facility your (5 – Normal mortal world, or several in the character has invested time and resources in for Limit) supernatural realm their plans and protection. It’s filled with maps, ••••• • A small news industry or tools, books and computers useful to plan, secure (6) intelligence agency on your and defend the place and maintain the watch. payroll, and some perspective More importantly, it’s designed as a supernatural on supernatural affairs as well. bomb shelter, rigged with traps and security ••••• •• Hundreds of mundane contacts devices, and stocked with enough food, supplies, (7) and plenty of supernatural “Friends” as well and perhaps weaponry (dependent on Armoury) ••••• ••• You have an entire intelligence to outfit the hunter and perhaps several other (8) agency fielding and processing besieged people. info for you For each dot in Stronghold, design one trap, ••••• •••• Big Brother reviewed by the storyteller to ensure it’s (9) ••••• ••••• Big Brother on a global scale reasonable and within the character’s means. This (10 – max) background also provides a dice pool from which you can draw when the hideout is attacked. These dice can be added to any roll used to harm or Status repel intruders in the scene, as long as the Similar to influence, this background represents storyteller agrees the application makes sense in your status among your supernatural peers – Your context. Once dice are assigned, they are spent rank in the Camarilla, among your Mystic for the scene – Thus, with five dice, you might Tradition, Convention or Craft, or rank in an assign two to the flame-thrower trap in the organization such as the Society of Leopold or corridor and one to hold the door, but not three Project Twilight. Note that Shapeshifters cannot in each. take this background for status in their tribes or nations – it is instead replaced by their Renown • A workroom in a house, with high- speed internet and provisions for one attributes. Similarly, Imbued Hunters or Mortals or two people over a few days. must be part of a relevant secretive society in •• Your citadel can feed and supply two order for this to apply. to five people for a week
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••• Food for six to eight people for two weeks and state-of-the-art security •••• A sealed environment the size of a large house, it can withstand assault for a few months, if it’s you alone, or a dozen people for a month, though times will be lean and cramped. ••••• The fortress is a bunker. You and a handful of others could live there for several months.
Quick Index: Standard Backgrounds Allies Mage 20th 1 Alternate Identity Mage 20th 1 Animal Companion HTR: Hermit 2 Archive HTR Players Guide 2 Armoury Hunters Hunted II 20th 2 Backers Project Twilight 3 Backup Mage 20th 3 Base of Operations Hunters Hunted II 20th 3 Blessing Mage 20th 4 Certification Mage 20th 4 Contacts Mage 20th 5 Database HTR Judge 5 Destiny [Mage] Mage 20th 5 Destiny [Hunter] (See: Providence) Fame Mage 20th 6 Fate Werewolf 20th 6 Favours Mafia, Project Twilight 7 Influence Mage 20th 7 Information Network VTM: Nosferatu Revised 7 Library Mage 20th 8 Mentor Mage 20th 8 Military Force VTM: Elysium 8 Patron Mage 20th 9 Providence HTR: Core (as Destiny) 9 Rank Mage 20th 10 Resources Mage 20th 10 Retainers Mage 20th 10 Roots HTR: Innocent 11 Secrets Changing Breeds 20th 11 Spies Mage 20th 11 Status Mage 20th/multi 12 Stronghold HTR: Defender 12
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Mundane Backgrounds These backgrounds represent abilities that only Continued Exposure Mundane mortals can take for the most part, Your character has an ongoing and relatively though the Storyteller may allow certain peaceful contact with a supernatural creature of supernaturals to make use of some – While a some form. This entity is not supremely powerful, Vampire or Werewolf has no such notions of Soul nor is it necessarily your friend, but the two of you Mates, a Mage is human enough, and a share an understanding that allows for continued Changeling certainly believes. Many of these contact which is not overly hostile – you don’t try backgrounds are from the Hunter: The Reckoning kill it, it doesn’t try kill you, though there’s no books, and thematically geared towards “Humans guarantee that it won’t lie, try manipulate you, or at their peak matching monsters”, and thus it even outright sell you out to a more powerful would be unwise to let Supernatural Characters creature, though if you play your cards right the take them – either because they ape abilities contact should remain relatively congenial. Supernaturals may already have access to (sometimes at greater cost), or because they All such contacts are “Low level” creatures, allow Supernaturals to take capacities nonsensical neither very powerful nor influential in their own or redundant to them. For the purposes of this circles when play begins. At the storyteller’s section, Imbued Hunters are considered mortal. discretion, you may choose to have several one- or two- point connections rather than a single multi-point one.
Berserk • Contact with a barely civil creature The character has unresolved rage festering away once a mont at their subconscious, and when pushed just right, •• A nocturnal (And sometimes their temper boils over to explosion point. Maybe dangerous) acquaintance you run he can’t stand to see a woman abused, or maybe across every few weeks questioning his sexuality is intolerable. Whatever ••• You feel relatively safe in your it is, when exposed to that stimulus, make a encounters every week or so Willpower roll. If the roll fails, or you decide the •••• You have a clear understanding with the contact, ensuring mutual safety in character goes with the urge, they can perform your weekly encounters. one action of rage-fuelled ultraviolence. The next ••••• Perhaps foolishly, you consider the time he hits someone (within a reasonable time creature a friend, and see it every few frame), add his Berserk Rating to the damage days. pool. This damage does not apply to firearm or missile attacks, but may apply to sudden acts of strength like snapping handcuffs or crushing a Everyman wooden chair. However, this does not come Despite being involved in the supernatural and without a cost – The character suffers bashing actively pursuing (or fleeing) its agendas, your damage due to their utter disregard for their own character retains a great degree of normality. safety, the amount depending on the dots in this They pay their bills on time, and there’s no background, though such damage may be soaked strange credit card charges for Kalashnikovs. with Stamina and applicable armour (i.e. Whenever someone tries to find the character armoured gloves against merciless beating.) through any means other than physically tailing them, each dot increases the difficulty of the test • 1 bashing damage by +1, and storytellers can assume that characters •• 1 bashing damage with at least 2 dots in this background can take ••• 2 bashing damage care of most mundane, bureaucratic details – •••• 2 bashing damage ••••• 3 bashing damage paying bills, renewing drivers licence – “Off-
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Standard Backgrounds stage,” though exceptional events cannot be magic, Vampiric Disciplines such as avoided with this trait, and certain backgrounds Thaumaturgy, or Demonic Summoning. cannot be taken along with Everyman without ••••• You grew up in a culture – such as reconciling it in their history – i.e. Fame, Rank. Gypsy or Native American – that took the supernatural for granted. You now • You have a good credit rating and understand something of what you nothing abnormal on file saw and heard. •• You’re so average you’d baffle a statistician… If he ever noticed you ••• Your files and records haven’t been Grace under Pressure examined since they were established This character reflects intense training or •••• The mailman overlooks your house indoctrinating, or better common sense that has ••••• You could stop paying taxes and not be made your character more able to react in a crisis. noticed for years. This background imposes a minimum on your initiative roll – the number that comes up on the Exposure die before it is added to your Wits + Dexterity. If the number rolled is less than or equal to your Your character has had a run-in with the dots in Grace under Pressure, you may re-roll the supernatural even before they became a part of die (though you don’t have to) and choose one of their life. Maybe she saw a pack of wild animals the two results. tear up a shopping mall, or was part of a cult centred on something more than deluded faith. • Calm. You can reroll a 1 They never understood the encounter fully and •• Laconic. You can reroll a 2 or less shut it out, but now they understand that past ••• Tranquil. You can reroll a 3 or less experience for what it was. This information gives •••• Posessed of great sang-froid. You may them insights into the Supernatural from time to reroll any initiative result of 4 or less time. ••••• Unshakeable. If you wish, you may attempt to better any initiative roll of 5 At certain times, as determined by the Storyteller, or less. you may make a Wits + Exposure roll (Difficulty 6) to draw upon your prior experience where relevant and better understand your current Guide situation. A mystical animal or minor spirit has chosen to help you along with your fate. Generally, such • You accidentally stumbled on some entities are very interested in the welfare (or freaky shit once, but you got out fast. darker matters…) of humans, but have some •• You have an abiding interest in the motive to attempt to encourage particular supernatural, and have even behaviours in their companions. Crafty, attempted your own magic spells or knowledgeable in magical concerns, and rituals – Maybe they didn’t do anything possessed of inhuman senses, these beings have that would persuade a sceptic, but you felt the potential for power much to offer their patrons. ••• You have undertaken extensive However, Guides may expect special treatment religious training, including study on from their patrons – food, shelter, theory and cases of Demonic companionship, even strange supernatural Possession and manifestation. You may necessities. Perhaps even blood… not take it seriously, but you have some ideas of the tools to use when it • Weak guide: A talking, relatively non- becomes real. combative animal with a few occult •••• You have witnessed the manifestation skills of major Supernatural powers – Vulgar
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•• Minor Guide: An exceptionally bright Pawn small animal or spirit with detailed You have a monstrous patron that helps you fight occult knowledge Paranormal Creatures or achieve your goals. ••• Apt guide – A large, intelligent animal Unfortunately, this benefactor wants you to or a smaller supernatural creature eliminate your rivals. Every enemy you kill or •••• Strong guide – An animal or spirit with weaken for it cements its power. Your monstrous a few magical abilities of its own ••••• Powerful Guide – a creature with patron indirectly aids you with your goals where magical talents, vast knowledge, and they complement its own, and may even bail you probably a reputation. out of the fire if you do something stupid. But the moment you become a threat, all the powers that protect you will turn on you. The storyteller Iron Willed decides if and when your character’s benefactor Your character doesn’t let pain slow them down. aids them, and when they cross the line against it. Even before, they could call upon her will to accomplish an amazing feat when she should have • Your “master” is more smart than stayed down, whether because she was raised by powerful. You’re its best pawn, and it may have to play you personally hard knocks, just had to survive, or endured •• You have attracted the attention of a gruelling military training. Now that your modestly powerful creature. It has at character knows the truth about the world, their least one or two other catspaws, tenacity is doubled. When an opponent thinks roughly as powerful as you (though not they’re down, that’s when your character has necessarily in the same way) them right where they want them. ••• You’re one of many pawns in the mastermind’s game, so it can probably For each dot in this background, your character keep you at safe distance. It can offer can ignore one wound level and any effects of you some protection from the police “lesser” levels. The dice and movement penalties and other creatures – as long as usually imposed at those levels are not applied to another power player doesn’t back your character. The bonus is not automatic, them. though. A successful Willpower Roll, difficulty six, •••• Learning even the name and nature of must be made to receive the benefit for one turn. your icy manipulator is an epic task. It For each turn after the first that you wish to can covertly supply you with money, continue negating wound penalties, the difficulty weapons and political leverage – as increases by one (7 in second, 8 in third). Once a long as it decides you’re valuable. roll is failed, the background may not be used for ••••• You’re just one shiny cog in a vast and the remainder of the scene, though the character probably ancient machine. The powers that propel you may be the hidden may still spend Willpower to ignore wound rulers of your city – if not your state. penalties. At level 5, your character can even stave of Incapacitation for a time the same way. She can’t attack or make physically demanding actions, but she can walk, speak, and perhaps use some advantages. Soul Mate Your character has found true love, and the • Ignore Hurt thought of their beloved gives them strength to •• Ignore Injured get back up when they’re down and out. After all, ••• Ignore Wounded they know who they’re fighting for. Once per •••• Ignore Mauled session, you can add a number of dice equal to ••••• Ignore Crippled, stave off your Soulmate background to one action and its Incapacitated. accompanying roll, but only if it directly affects
the well-being of your beloved. The benefit does
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Standard Backgrounds not apply to all actions performed in a multiple Roll your character’s Steel Nerves rating whenever action; just one, nor does it apply to all rolls in an they would suffer a short- or long-term extended action; just one. The storyteller is the derangement. Your character resists the ailment ultimate arbiter on when the bonus is applicable, completely with even a single success. Note that though you may try to convince them that it is. this background only applies to derangements gained from exposure to trauma or horrible sights There is a price to pay for love’s rewards. If your – Not those gained through Hunter Virtues over 7, character’s love is threatened, they cannot ignore Attributes over 5 or similar supernatural it and must do everything in their power to dysfunctions. protect them. They spend the following days, weeks, months or even rest of their life consumed • Gruesome horror movies don’t even by depression and self-loathing for failing to make you blanch protect them from harm. In game terms, •• You could watch autopsy films unfazed Willpower Rating (not pool) is decreased for the ••• You could eat a chili dog at a murder duration by the amount of your character’s scene Soulmate score, to a minimum of 1. They also lose •••• You could endure Torture without losing your wits its benefits for that period of time. If the loss is ••••• You could cope with the death of a permanent, the storyteller may allow the points family member at monstrous hands, at to be re-invested elsewhere (Such as in the least for the short term. Berserk background), and failure to prevent serious or mortal harm to a beloved may impose a derangement, at the Storyteller’s prerogative. Berserk HTR: Avenger 14 Continued Exposure HTR: Innocent 14 • You and your beloved have just Everyman HTR: Innocent 14 embarked on your grand amour. Exposure DTF: Damned & Deceived 15 / HTR: Core You’re still at the giddy romantic stage Grace under Pressure HTR Judge 15 •• You’ve been with your lover up to a Guide Sorcerer/ Hunters 15 year, and are starting to believe this Hunted II 20th love is true Iron Willed HTR Defender 16 ••• You and your lover are probably living Pawn HTR Avenger 16 Soulmate HTR Judge 16 together, and have been for a while. Steel Nerves HTR Judge 17 Her flaws are no longer cute, but you’ve gained a rich appreciation for her virtues that offset these foibles. •••• You and your beloved have been together so long you rely on each other the way you count on the sun rising. ••••• Words fail.
Steel Nerves You have a firmly established sense of self, a bulwark against what would drive a “Normal” person – even a “Normal” Hunter – over the edge. The stress of the day-to-day life in the World of Darkness, such as losing a job or even loved one, and the terrible sights you are exposed to such as mutilated corpses, take less of a toll than they might.
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Standard Backgrounds Credits To White Wolf and Onyx Path, for the World of Darkness, WoD 20th, and everything in between – without it, I’d probably find something more antisocial to consume my life.
To my players, for putting up with all of my shit MK Stencil Sans font By Manfred Klein
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