Backgrounds

Backgrounds are what your character did before they became an adventurer, or what they do while not adventuring. A background is a profession, trade, role, or field of training that describes what your character knows how to do.

When Attribute Tests come up, your background may allow you to apply part or all of your Skill Bonus to the test. Chapter 7 contains additional information on Attribute Tests.

Effectively, your selected background should only influence what kinds of things your character is or was good at. Backgrounds are not set in stone, but rather a short description of how you lived before you started to adventure. If a background you want is not in the example list below, make sure the GM knows what it is.

Few backgrounds should be tied to your ancestry, although they do exist. For example, elves would never allow a member of another ancestry to be a tree keeper.

Often, a list of backgrounds can be found in the campaign guide if you are playing in one. However, you should be able to take any medieval type of profession and call it a background. You should work with your GM in understanding what kinds of backgrounds are allowed.

A background should never allow a character to participate in all skill tests. The goal is for characters to all have something to contribute, but never overtake other characters in specialized fields.

For example, if someone attempted to select “Royalty” as a background, they should not immediately gain all the benefits a royal person would actually have. They are an adventurer now, after all. However, they should be allowed to apply their Skill Bonus to Attribute Tests when things a royal might have learned come into play. Diplomacy, history, horseback riding, and courtly manners all come to mind.

Generic List of Example Backgrounds

Background	Background	Background	Background	Background
Animal Handler	Firewood Seller	Lime Burner	Sailor	Wagoner
Apiarist	Fisher	Lock Keeper	Salt Harvester	Washwoman
Armorer	Fishmonger	Mason	Scavenger	Water Carrier
Baker	Fletcher	Miller	Shepherd	Wax Worker
Basket Weaver	Flock Tender	Millwright	Shingle Maker	Weaver
Bell Ringer	Flour Merchant	Miner	Stablehand	Well Digger
Blacksmith	Forester	Net Maker	Steward	Wheelwright
Bleacher	Furnace Tender	Oyster Gatherer	Stonecutter	Woodcarver
Boatman	Furrier	Pack Mule Driver	Swineherd	Woodcutter
Bone Carver	Gardener	Peat Cutter	Tanner	Woods Guide
Bowyer	Glassblower	Pig Keeper	Teamster	Woodsman
Brewer	Goatherd	Plowman	Thatcher	Wool Sorter
Brickmaker	Gravedigger	Potter	Thatcher’s Apprentice	Caulker
Broom Maker	Groom	Quarryman	Tiler	Tinker
Butcher	Hayward	Rat Catcher	Toll Collector	Vintner
Candle Maker	Hedge Trimmer	Reed Cutter	Trapper	Well Keeper
Carpenter	Herbalist	Rope Maker	Turf Cutter	Wicker Weaver
Carter	Herdsman	Roofer	Village Watchman	Wire Drawer
Chandler	Hogsman	Saddler	Wainwright	Wool Dyer
Charcoal Burner	Hunter	Sieve Maker	Wattle Weaver	Wood Turner

Theoretically, most medieval professions would work as a background. A campaign guide may have additional backgrounds for specific campaigns.