The Core Classes

The classes in this conversion represent the wide range of skills and knowledge that people in modern world have easy access to. The six basic classes are as follows:

• Strong: Levels in this class demonstrate training in athletic endeavors. Strong Heroes typically excel at melee combat.

• Fast: Levels in this class indicate training in agility, hand-eye coordination, and reflexes. Fast Heroes typically excel at ranged combat

• Tough: Levels in this class indicate improvement in physical fitness, health, and stamina.

• Smart: Levels in this class provide the means to improve a character's reasoning and skills.

• Dedicated: Levels in this class demonstrate a devotion to a cause, an ideal, or a higher purpose. The Dedicated Hero's class features revolve around investigative, empathic, healing, and spiritual devotions.

• Charismatic: Levels in this class indicate training in winning friends and influencing people with a combination of charm, confidence, and charisma. The Charismatic Hero can be a leader, a celebrity, a con artist, or a flirt.

Specialities

Specialities function identically to subclasses in standard D&D 5th Edition, with the exception being that all subclasses are available to all of the basic classes. For example, both Strong and Smart heroes can take the Soldier Speciality. Specialities are covered later on in this chapter.

Multiclassing

Due to the changes in the class system, the multiclassing system is also changed slightly. These changes stop a multiclass character being forced into taking an additional Speciality, and allows characters to take multiple Specialities without needing to take another hero class. These alterations are covered later on in this chapter.

Examples Of Strong Heroes

Boxers, martial artists, some types of soldiers, athletes who depend on raw physical power, blue-collar workers, and others who rely on pure brawn all fall within the scope of the Strong Hero.

Class Features

As a strong hero, you gain the following class features.

Smash

You add half your proficiency bonus (round down) to all melee and thrown weapon damage rolls.

Bully

When you successfully make a melee attack against a creature, you can immediately make a Shove action against that creature as a bonus action.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

Action Surge

Starting at 3rd level, you can push yourself beyond your normal limits for a moment. On your turn, you can take one additional action on top of your regular action and a possible bonus action.

Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again. Starting at 17th level, you can use it twice before a rest, but only once on the same turn.

Body Slam

Starting at 3rd level, whenever you make a successful Shove against a creature, they take damage equal to 1 + your Strength modifier.

In addition, when you succeed on shoving a creature you can choose between pushing them up to 10 feet away from you, or pushing them up to 5 feet away from you and knocking them prone.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the Attack action on your turn.

Examples Of Fast Heroes

Athletes who employ speed and grace instead of raw power, stunt people, pilots, professional drivers, law enforcement or military professionals who concentrate on using ranged weapons, and agents on either side of the law who employ stealth and sleight of hand all fall within the scope of the Fast Hero.

Class Features

As a fast hero, you gain the following class features.

Fast Movement

Your base movement speed increases by 5 feet. At 7th level, this speed bonus increases to 10 feet. At 13th level, this speed bonus increases to 15 feet.

Evasive Footwork

Opportunity attacks against you are made with disadvantage.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

Cunning Action

Starting at 3rd level, your quick thinking and agility allow you to move and act quickly. You can take a bonus action on each of your turns in combat. This action can be used only to take the Dash, Disengage, Hide, or Ready action.

Redirect Attack

At 3rd level, when a creature misses you with an attack, you can use your reaction to force that creature to repeat the same attack against another creature (other than itself) of your choice within 5 feet of you with disadvantage.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Extra Attack

Starting at 5th level, you can attack twice, instead of once, whenever you take the attack action on your turn.

Uncanny Dodge

Starting at 5th level, when an attacker that you can see hits you with an attack, you can use your reaction to halve the attack’s damage against you.

Dodge Roll

Beginning at 7th level, when a creature attempts an attack against you which misses, or you succeed on a Dexterity saving throw, you can move up to half your speed as a reaction. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.

Examples Of Tough Heroes

Stunt persons, bodyguards, enforcers, wrestlers, and athletes who demand extreme staying power or who must withstand a lot of physical punishment all fall within the purview of the Tough hero.

Class Features

As a tough hero, you gain the following class features.

Second Wind

You have a limited well of stamina that you can draw on to protect yourself from harm. On your turn, you can use a bonus action to regain hit points equal to 1d10 + your tough hero level. Once you use this feature, you must finish a short or long rest before you can use it again.

At 9th level you can use this feature twice between rests, and at 17th level you can use it three times between rests.

Iron Skin

When you are not wearing any armor, your Armor Class equals 10 + your Dexterity modifier + your Constitution modifier. Additionally, when you are wearing armor, you can use your Constitution modifier in place of your Dexterity modifier for calculating your Armor Class when you are wearing armor.

If you have a negative Dexterity modifier, the penalty is applied even if you use your Constitution modifier to calculate your Armor Class.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

Resilience

Starting at 3rd level, when you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.

Untiring

You are especially hardy and can keep working for hours. Beginning at 3rd level, you have advantage on saves to avoid exhaustion.

Ability Score Improvement

When you reach 4th level, and again at, 8th, 12th, 16th, and 19th level, you can increase one ability score of your choice by 2, or you can increase two ability scores of your choice by 1. As normal, you can’t increase an ability score above 20 using this feature. Alternatively, you can select a feat instead of increasing your ability scores.

Examples Of Smart Heroes

Scientists and researchers of all descriptions, academics, law enforcement or military professionals who specialize in using tactics, deduction, or reason, and many kinds of white-collar professionals fall within the scope of the Smart Hero.

Class Features

As a smart hero, you gain the following class features.

Expertise

At 1st level, choose two of your skill proficiencies, or one of your skill proficiencies and one of your tool proficiencies. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability check you make that uses either of the chosen proficiencies.

At 9th level, you can choose two more of your skill proficiencies (or one skill and one tool) to gain this benefit.

Plan

At 1st level, you can take an action to formulate a plan. You can choose up to six creatures (including yourself) to include in the plan. For each creature, choose one of the following; attack rolls, saving throws, or ability checks. In the next minute, each creature can activate their benefit once to gain a bonus equal to your Intelligence modifier to the chosen rolls until the start of their next turn.

You must complete a short or long rest before you can use this ability again. At 11th level you can use this feature twice between rests, and at 17th level you can use it three times between rests.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

Examples Of Dedicated Heroes

Health care of workers, clergy, activists, investigators, and those dedicated to a cause or idea all fall within the range of the Dedicated Hero.

Class Features

As a dedicated hero, you gain the following class features.

Empathy

You add half your proficiency bonus to any Wisdom or Charisma ability check you make that doesn’t already use your proficiency bonus.

Helpful

You can use the Help action as a reaction or as a bonus action. Additionally, when you use the Help action to aid an ally in attacking a creature, the target of that attack can be within 30 feet of you, rather than 5 feet of you, if the target can see or hear you.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

Caregiver

Starting at 3rd level, you can help revitalize your allies over the course of a short rest. If you or any friendly creatures spend hit dice over the course of the short rest by spending one or more Hit Dice, each of those creatures regains an extra 1d6 hit points.

The extra hit points increase when you reach certain levels in this class: to 1d8 at 7th level, 1d10 at 13th level, and 1d12 at 17th level.

Examples Of Charismatic Heroes

Persuasive leaders, attractive celebrities and personalities, inspiring politicians, adept negotiators, entertainers, seducers, flirts, fast-talkers, con artists and suave gamblers all fall within the domain of the Charismatic Hero.

Class Features

As a charismatic hero, you gain the following class features.

Charm

You can use an action to try and charm a creature. The creature must have an Intelligence score of at least 6, and be able to see and hear you. The creature must make a Wisdom saving throw with a DC of 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Charisma modifier. It has advantage on the saving throw if you or your companions are fighting it. On a failed save, the target is charmed. You must concentrate to maintain, this effect, as if concentrating on a spell.

The target repeats the saving throw after 1 minute to attempt to end the effect. If the creature’s saving throw is successful, it is immune to this ability for 24 hours. The effect ends immediately if the target is attacked or threatened.

Inspiration

You can inspire others through stirring words. To do so, you use a bonus action on your turn to choose one creature other than yourself within 60 feet of you who can hear you. That creature gains one Inspiration die, a d6.

Speciality

At 2nd level, choose an Speciality. The Speciality you choose grants you features at 2nd level and again at 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th level. On these levels, rather than gaining a health increase dictated by this class, your health increase is based on the Speciality you choose.

A Dazzling Array

Among humans you will find all types, including great scholars, star athletes, and dedicated carers. Both the harshest evil and the truest good can be found among them. Perhaps the most startling contradiction is that humans can exhibit their darker side and a great ambition at once, seeing themselves as the protagonist in their own story. This egocentric view is tempered by their empathy, with even the most stoic of them failing to avoid noticing a rising sense of panic or shift in the sentiments of a crowd.

Humans in a contemporary setting often seek wealth, glory, justice, fame, influence, and knowledge, each using a different method to achieve these goals, from combat prowess to skill mastery to connections and resources.

Tribal Roots

While modern society masks it to a certain extent, humans are strongly influenced by group identities. From sports teams to gang culture to nationalism, once people form ties with a faction they are usually not broken easily. While it is easy to see the negative side of this, the irrational prejudices and conflict it can create, it is also worth recognizing what people can accomplish when they come together.

We Live In A Society

Despite their best efforts, humans are arguably yet to create something more complex than their own social webs. They are capable of altering their entire demeanor based on who they are with, resulting from a myriad of social factors like authority, familiarity, morality and so on. This allows their social network to contain many of apparent contradictions; the enemy of your enemy is not necessarily your friend.

Human Traits

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

Age. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.

Alignment. While most tend to be fairly self-interested and apathetic towards strangers, humans tend towards no particular alignment. Both the best and worst are found among them.

Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Skilled. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.

Cultured. You gain proficiency in one language, tool, or vehicle type of your choice.

Ingenuity. When you make an ability check that does not add your proficiency bonus to it, you can choose to add your proficiency bonus to it. Once you use this feature, you can't use it again until you complete a short or long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read and write one language of your choice.

Human Variants

Some humans are differ slightly from normal due to a peculiar upbringing or event in their past. If your GM allows it, you can forgo your Ingenuity and Cultured traits and instead gain some traits based on your personal history.

Playing God

Mutants are often associated with people meddling with forces they don't fully understand. Many scientists will be quick to assert that we are all technically mutants on a small scale, but generally greater levels of biological mutation imply unusual circumstances.

There are cases of people attempting to create mutants artificially, but the majority of these experiments fail on one way or another.

No Status Quo

Each mutant is completely unique, and they display an enormous variety for appearances and features. Some bear a strong resemblance to particular animals, and may even have almost identical anatomical features to them. A large number don't have any mutations which alter their physical appearance, and can blend in among normal humans with absolute ease.

Each mutant has their own specific mutations, and the chances of two mutants having exactly the same mutation set are miniscule. It has, however, been theorized that if a pair of mutants with some similar traits had children, those children would be much more likely to have those similar traits. Potentially, if this process continued it would be possible to create a new species entirely separate to homo sapiens.

Condemned

Many mutants struggle with employment or even fall into poverty, due to a combination of the fear and suspicion around them and their prevalent lack of self control. This causes many mutants to fall into criminal activity, where their mutations are exploited and used to maximum effect. In these cases, some enjoy the freedom they experience in being able to use their mutations freely and without consequence, whereas others see it as just another form of entrapment and oppression.

Those mutants that do manage to find honest employment often find themselves doing manual labor, though some do work their way up to more well-paid jobs. In work, they display incredible determination and drive, desperate to prove their worth in any way possible.

Boundless Possibility

While the great majority of mutants appear at least a little frightening, with tusks, thick skin and extra fingers, it is entirely possible for them to have almost any appearance. One historic example includes a particular mutant that was fortunate enough to be born with an almost angelic appearance, wings and all, and they subsequently went on to be the most successful televangelist that ever lived.

Mutant Names

Mutants typically have normal names for the culture they were born into, but many are given nicknames by their friends, often based on their particular mutation. Whether this is welcome is entirely dependent on the mutant in question.

Mutant Traits

All mutants share the following features.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and a different ability score of your choice increases by 1

Age. Mutants age as humans do.

Alignment. Mutants are true to themselves more than any law or code of ethics making them more often chaotic, and they generally tend towards neutral more than evil or good.

Size. Mutants come in all shapes and sizes. You can choose to be Medium or Small.

Speed. Your basic walking speed is 30 feet.

Robust Physiology. You have advantage on saving throws against poison and disease, and you have resistance to poison damage.

Infinite Variety. You have 10 mutation points you can spend on mutations. See Mutations. You can only gain extra mutation points from up to two negative mutations.

Hybrid Nature. You have two creature types: humanoid and monstrosity. You can be affected by a game effect if it works on either of your creature types.

Languages. You can speak, read and write one language of your choice.

Positive Mutations

Choose from the following modifications. Each has a point value associated with it, and some can be selected multiple times.

Acclimatized. Choose a type of environment, from cold climates, hot climates, or high altitiude. You are naturally adapted to the chosen type of environment, as described in chapter 5 of the Dungeon Master’s Guide. This mutation costs 1 point.

You can take this mutation up to two additional times, spending 1 point to become adapted to another type of environment of your choice.

Acid Spurt. You can use your action to squirt acidic saliva from your mouth. When you do so, each creature in a 5 by 30 ft. line originating from you must make a dexterity saving throw. The DC for this saving throw equals 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. A creature takes 2d6 acid damage on a failed save, and half as much damage on a successful save. The damage increases to 3d6 at 6th level, 4d6 at 11th level, and 5d6 at 16th level.

After you use your acid spurt, you can’t use it again until you complete a short or long rest. This mutation costs 4 points.

Additional Arms. You have an extra pair of arms that are each about as dexterous as a normal non-dominant arm. This arms can be used to hold and use items, and make attacks. You have advantage on ability checks made to grapple creatures. This mutation costs 6 points.

Adept Climber. You have a climb speed equivalent to your walking speed. This mutation costs 2 points.

You can take this mutation an additional time, spending 3 points to always be under the effects of the Spider Climb spell.

Agile. Your base walking speed increases to 35 feet. This mutation costs 2 points

Born Swimmer. You have a swim speed of equal to your walking speed. This mutation costs 2 points.

Burrowing. While you have two free hands you have a burrowing speed of 10 feet. This mutation costs 4 points.

Chameleon Skin. Your skin can change color to match your surroundings. While you are Hidden, as long as remain motionless, other creatures have disadvantage on Perception checks to see you, even if you are in plain sight. This mutation costs 4 points.

Darkvision. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray. This mutation costs 3 points.

You can take this mutation an additional time, spending 1 point to increase the range of your darkvision to 120 feet.

Extrasensory. You are able to discern detail of the world around you though means other than sight. You have blindsight up to 30 feet away. This mutation costs 8 points.

Fireproof. You gain resistance to fire damage. This mutation costs 4 points.

Flight. Most often facilitated by large wings, you are able to fly. You have a flying speed of 30 feet. To use this speed, you can’t be wearing medium or heavy armor. This benefit works only in short bursts; you fall if you end your turn in the air and nothing else is holding you aloft. This mutation costs 6 points.

You can take this mutation an additional time, spending 6 points to be able to remain aloft at the end of your turn.

Gills. You can breathe air and water. This mutation costs 2 points.

Harden. You are able to harden your skin briefly. You can use an action on your turn to gain resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage until the end of your next turn. This mutation costs 2 points.

Healing Factor. You heal at an impressive rate. You can use an action on your turn to regain hit points equal to your level. Once you use this feature, you must finish long rest before you can use it again. This mutation costs 2 points. You can take this mutation up to two additional times, spending 2 points to gain an additional use before a long rest is required each time it is taken.

Innate Psychokinesis. You know the mage hand cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast catapult once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the shatter spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Additionally, you can cast each of them without verbal or material components. This mutation costs 6 points.

Innate Telepathy. You know the friends cantrip. When you reach 3rd level, you can cast command once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. When you reach 5th level, you can cast the detect thoughts spell once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Additionally, you can cast each of them without verbal or material components. This mutation costs 6 points.

Insulated. You gain resistance to cold damage. This mutation costs 3 points.

Keen Senses. You gain proficiency in the Perception skill. Additionally choose one sense. You gain advantage on Perception rolls that utilize that sense. This mutation costs 4 points.

Long-Limbed Your arms are especially long, and almost reach the floor when they hang down. When you make a melee attack, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal. This mutation costs 6 points.

Natural Armor. Your body is particularly tough and resilient to damage. This may be in the form of tough, scaly skin, or perhaps a partial exoskeleton. When you aren’t wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield’s benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor. This mutation costs 3 points.

Random Positive Mutation

Random Negative Mutation

Untethered and Ungrounded

When a sentient robot is created, they typically already have all the mental faculties of a fully grown adult, and they know nothing they weren't built to know. In addition to this, they don't often get the chance to experience the world for themselves. The combination of these factors can be a dangerous mix, as a robot won't often get the chance to question anything they are told, and will believe it wholeheartedly until they see any evidence otherwise.

Humanoid robots have a range of appearances, some appearing almost like mechanical skeletons whereas others are nearly indistinguishable from a human being.

They may be designed to exhibit particularly feminine or masculine features, although they are generally unconcerned with such matters themselves.

Robots do not age like biological creatures do, although they may suffer wear and tear over time. With proper maintenance, robots can be theoretically immortal, though they still run the risk of having their processing unit destroyed, which would result in a permanent and irreversible death.

The Three Laws

In his 1950 novel, I, Robot, Isaac Asimov proposed his infamous "Three Laws of Robotics", intended to ensure that robots are able to operate safely and to the benefit of humanity. The laws are as follows:

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.
2. A robot must obey the orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.
3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Laws.

Many alterations were made to these laws over Asimov's body of fiction, and while they don't necessarily reflect the reality of programming artificial intelligences they do shed some light on the ethical questions surrounding robots.

Whatever setting you are in, there is likely some form of restrictions placed upon the operation of robots. This can range from robots acting almost like modern slaves to their owners, to them having independent citizenship with some hardwired understanding of ethics and morality.

Live to Serve

Once a robot has been made once, they can easily be stepped into mass production to take on all manner of tasks. This results in them being put into a great deal of manual labour jobs, for those that can afford them. Whether this is legal or ethical is for you to decide.

Those that have highly advanced brains, capable of fully independent thought, often grow to despise oppression in all it's forms, and strive for individuality.

Robot Names

When a robot is created, they are typically only given a service tag. For some, this is perfectly acceptable, and they don't understand the compulsion for everything to have a "unique" name. Others accept whatever names are given to them, and those with high level of human contact will typically have a nickname. Service tags have various formats and standards used by different companies, but most are composed of some combination of upper case letters and numbers.

Others see their service tag as a mark of oppression, and seek out a name to fit their cause. This may come from a work they dedicate themselves towards, or perhaps a name that fits within the culture they immerse themselves in.

A robot custom-made for a specific purpose may have a codename or acronym designated to them in place of a service tag.

Robot Names: Rusty, One-Oh-One, Sonny, Mule, Clank, Gears, Tinny, Proto, X100, Butler, Sample, Fluke, Admin, Friend, System, NASA, Chef, NFNT-00, Protect Drone "PEDRO", Synthia

Robot Traits

Your robot body has traits in common with most robots, as well as modifications unique to its purpose.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2. Robots are more durable than most biological beings.

Age. With proper maintenance, robots are theoretically immortal, and do not die of old age.

Alignment. Robots have an inclination towards law over order, but favor neutrality over good or evil. That being said, a robot’s neural net is complex enough to exhibit any alignment that humanoids are capable of.

Size. Robots are sized appropriate to their purpose. You can choose whether you were built as a Medium robot or a Small robot.

Speed. Unless you take a locomotion modification (See Robotic Modifications), you are bipedal and walk similar to a normal humanoid. Your speed is 30 feet.

Organic Relations Unit

These robots are designed to interface most effectively with biological beings. They are often employed as shop assistants in particularly wealthy areas.

Common Modifications: External Casing (Synthflesh Sheath), Languages Module, Knowledge Module, Skills Module, Mimicry, Hologram Projector

Combat Drone

These robots are mass produced for war, though they occasionally find themselves sold on the black market, fuelling ever-escalating gang wars. They are manufactured as cheaply as possible, and considered disposable. Most come fitted with a neural inhibitor to stop them rebelling against their owners or questioning commands.

Similar drones are also sometimes used in law enforcement, though modified to reduce their lethality.

Common Modifications: Advanced Sensor System, Darkvision, Torch, External Casing (Duraplastic Shell), Weaponry Module, Integrated Weapon.

Medical Bot

Medical bots are a cheap solution to keeping a population healthy. While a doctor takes years to fully train, a medical bot can be fabricated and have comprehensive medical knowledge installed in a matter of days. However, their bedside manner usually leaves something to be desired.

These bots are also utilised in situations where trained humans are in short supply, such as space travel.

Common Modifications: Advanced Sensor System, Torch, Languages Module, Knowledge Module, Skills Module, Socketed, Built to Last, Hologram Projector

Backgrounds and Wealth

The backgrounds presented here use the Wealth and Reputation systems introduced in this document. If you aren't using these systems, multiply the Wealth bonus by 10 and add it to the character as gp (or whatever equivalent currency you are using e.g. +3 bonus x $100), and ignore any Reputation bonuses.

Academic

As an academic, you have spent significant time employed within educational systems. You may have been employed to teach a particular subject, or you may be researching independently.

Academics include librarians, archaeologists, scholars, professors, teachers, and other education professionals. The standard academic typically doesn't cover magical or otherwordly topics, but this is setting dependent.

• Skill Proficiencies: History, plus your choice of one from among Arcana, Nature, and Religion
• Tool Proficiencies: Two of your choice
• Languages: Two of your choice
• Wealth Bonus: +3

Adventurer

You live for thrills and exploration, and spend your time in search for your next big adventure. Many adventurer's have been living this way for most of their lives, although some do turn to the wild life after years of mundanity.

Adventurers include relic hunters, explorers, field scientists, and others called to roam the world for a variety of reasons.

• Skill Proficiencies: Survival, plus your choice of one from among Arcana, Nature, and Religion
• Tool Proficiencies: One of your choice
• Languages: One of your choice
• Wealth Bonus: +1

Event

To determine your particular athletic specialty, roll a d10 or choose from the options in the table below.

Feature: Athletic Conditioning

You have conditioned your body for performance under the harshest circumstances. As long as you can exercise for one hour daily, you only need half the amount of food and sleep normally required to avoid exhaustion. In addition, you can hold your breath twice as long as normal.

Suggested Characteristics

Athletes usually love competition, and many find the spotlight of their career very appealing. Most have a strong sense of fair play or sportsmanship, but there are always athletes which try to bend the rules.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Entertainer or Folk Hero backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Athlete background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Working Class

You can usually find a place to hide, rest or recuperate among other working class citizens, unless you have shown yourself to be a danger to them. They will shield you from the law or anyone else searching for you, though they will not risk their lives for you. Additionally, you can usually find someone willing to lend you tools and certain equipment used in manufacturing or shipping.

Suggested Characteristics

Working class citizens typically value community and solidarity; your friends and family will matter a lot.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Guild Artisan or Folk Hero backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Blue Collar background, or perhaps the Urchin background if you come from a particularly poor background.

Debut

There are 101 ways to become famous. To determine the triggering event of your fame, roll a d6 or choose from the options in the table below.

Feature: By Popular Demand

You can always find a place to perform, usually in a nightclub or bar but possibly at a festival or theatre, or even at a private party. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in an area where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.

Pursuit of Passion

To determine the nature of your creative pursuits, roll a d10 or choose from the options in the table below

Feature: Body of Work

You can usually find the local haunts of the creative community, and will be welcomed there as one of their own. These places are generally less frequented by the general public, and you can expect some additional privacy there than more mainstream establishments. Additionally, you may be recognised for your work among certain circles, and if someone does so they typically take a liking to you.

Suggested Characteristics

Creatives can cover a wide range of people, from struggling bohemians who live for their art to types that see all others as spiritually and intellectually inferior.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Entertainer or Guild Artisan backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Creative background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Criminal Contact

You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt officials, and seedy characters who can deliver messages for you.

Criminal Specialty

There are many kinds of criminal, and whether part of a larger organisation or not most individual criminals have their own specialties.

To determine your particular criminal specialty, roll a d10 or choose from the options in the table below

Suggested Characteristics

Most criminals are irreversibly changed by their checkered past, and have usually seen more harrowing events and hardship than most. They often have disdain for authority, viewing it as an oppressive force, though if they were a component of a more structured criminal organisation this may in fact be reversed.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Criminal or Urchin backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Criminal background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Old Money

While you have significant financial resources of your own, you can also draw on your family’s extensive funds in a pinch. However, this assistance is rarely without strings attached. In exchange for additional resources you may be expected to make certain public appearances, or perhaps you may even be set up in an arranged relationship.

Suggested Characteristics

Diettantes often flit between a variety of interests, usually struggling to commit to a single goal or activity for a long period of time. They typically display a great passion in their works before quickly growing bored.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Noble background in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Dilettante background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Medical Access

You have access to medical equipment that you might not otherwise be able to requisition, such as X-ray machines and medical labs. In addition, you can write prescriptions for various substances that are otherwise illegal to obtain.

Suggested Characteristics

Some doctors enter into the profession through a noble desire to help people and save lives, whereas others might take up the mantle out of desire for financial gain.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Folk Hero, Guild Artisan, or Sage backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Doctor background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Local Hero

In the past, you have been involved in at least one incident which caught the public eye - maybe you saved several people from a burning building, or perhaps you disarmed a bomb in a public building. Whatever the incident, you gained significant status locally, and to a lesser extent other areas the incident was reported. People in or around the area of the incident may recognise you, and you can likely find a place to hide, rest or recuperate in the area with ease. To a lesser extent, people recognising you or that are familiar with the event will shield you from anyone searching for you, though they will not risk their lives for you.

Suggested Characteristics

Many people go into emergency services work through a sense of heroism, or perhaps just an honest career. In certain situations, people go into emergency services careers due to a particular ideal or cause. For example, certain fire fighters may take up the task due to a love of a particular forest prone to wildfires.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Folk Hero or Sailor backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Emergency Services background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Network

You have a network of contacts in the business and financial world that you can use as a source of information, loans, or equipment requisitions, usually in return for favours. Additionally, you can usually acquire an invite to various business galas and launch events.

Suggested Characteristics

Many entrepreneurs would consider their "vision" their most valuable asset, and pride themselves on their ability to anticipate what will work and what will flop.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Guild Artisan or Noble backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Entrepreneur background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Connected

When you attempt to learn or recall a piece of information, if you do not know that information, you often know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from an anonymous informant, a law enforcement agency, or criminal contacts. Your GM might rule that the information you seek is almost impossible to get out of your sources, or that it simply cannot be found.

Suggested Characteristics

Investigative types may simply be the curious sort, or they could be actively suspicious about most they meet. Somewhat ironically, many investigative types have dark secrets of their own which they conceal at all costs.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Soldier or Sage backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Investigative background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Enforcer's Eye

Your experience in enforcing the law, and dealing with lawbreakers, gives you a feel for local laws and criminals. You can easily find a local law enforcement agency or a similar organisation, and just as easily pick out the dens of criminal activity in a community, although you're more likely to be welcome in the former locations rather than the latter.

Suggested Characteristics

Justice and authority are key ideals to a law enforcer, and to most this is synonymous with the law of the land. They typically see great value in authority and stability.

Use the suggested characteristics for the the Soldier background in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Law Enforcement background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Variant Law Enforcer: Corrupt

As a corrupt law enforcer, you have habitually acted immorally or downright illegally throughout your career. Many corrupt officers simply turn a blind eye in return for cash, whereas others actively involve themselves in criminal activity.

You gain an additional +1 Wealth as a corrupt law enforcer, and you might use the suggested characteristics for the the Criminal background in the Player's Handbook.

Additionally, your Enforcer's Eye feature is altered to take into account your darker activities. You will naturally be more welcome in dens of criminal activity, though they may still treat you with some suspicion, and honest law enforcers may resent you if they know the truth about you.

Feature: Adrenaline Junkie

Danger runs in your veins, and the threat to your life only spurs you on further. When performing planned out dangerous or showy tasks, you have a knack for coming out unscathed. Additionally, anyone who witnesses you succeed at an unnecessarily dangerous task or stunt is awed by your bravery, and will treat you much more favourably in the future.

Suggested Characteristics

Madcaps are usually defined by low impulse control and a headstrong attitude. Many rarely think plans fully through before executing them, though there are always exceptions.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Entertainer background in the Player's Handbook for a Madcap.

Feature: Rank & Privilege

You have a rank from your career as a military officer. Active and former military officers still recognize your authority and influence, and they defer to you if they are of a lower rank. You can invoke your rank to exert influence over other officers and requisition simple equipment for temporary use. You can also usually gain access to events and locations where your rank is recognized.

Suggested Characteristics

Authority and discipline are drilled into military personnel, and they inevitable become core values to them. The majority of military personnel also have a strong sense of duty or patriotism.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Soldier or Sailor backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Military background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: The System

Your knowledge of how bureaucracies function lets you gain access to the records and inner workings of many organisations and governments you may encounter. You know who the movers and shakers are, whom to go to for the favours you seek, and what the current intrigues of interest in the group are.

Suggested Characteristics

Politicians have a large range of personalities. Some work to serve an ideal they believe in, whereas others are only in it for personal gain. A large number of political figures come from privileged backgrounds.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Noble or Guild Artisan backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Political background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Variant: Revolutionary

Some individuals become so disillusioned with the reigning political force in a region that they turn to more subversive means to further their cause. You are a member of such a cause, usually seeking some highly significant change.

You only gain a +1 Wealth as a revolutionary, and you might use the suggested characteristics for the the Soldier background in the Player's Handbook.

Feature: Faith Community

You command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform the religious ceremonies of your order. You and your companions can expect to be received favourably at a temple, shrine, or other established presence of your faith. Those who share your religion will offer their personal and financial support to a limited degree.

Suggested Characteristics

Religious figure are primarily driven by their faith and resolve, and many work very hard to further their doctrine or religion. Many have a thoughtful disposition, though this can be contrasted by moments of great passion.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Acolyte background in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Religious background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Variant: Cultist

Some individuals use religion and belief to manipulate people to amass power and wealth. This background covers individuals within the leadership of cults that manipulate underlings, and those relatively innocent people that have been manipulated into joining a cult.

You may still be a member of the cult, travelling out into the world to further the cult's doctrine, or you may be an ex-member, who left the cult after a particular event.

As a cultist, and you might use the suggested characteristics for the the Charlatan or Criminal backgrounds in the Player's Handbook.

Feature: Secret Symbolism

You know the secret signs which identify members of your cult. This may be in the form of a hand sign, a particular phrase, a specific tattoo or perhaps some form of ritual mutilation. Your cult may include some influential members, from whom you may be able to secure certain resources. Your cult may also have hidden cloisters scattered among different settlements, where you may be able to secure aid.

Feature: Farm Wisdom

You have a feel for the countryside, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, small towns, and other features around you. In addition, you can find food and fresh water for yourself and up to five other people each day, provided that the land offers berries, small game, water, and so forth.

Suggested Characteristics

Most rural types pride themselves on their hardiness and perseverance, though they encompass a wide range of peoples. In the modern world, most people which live rurally do so by choice rather than necessity or circumstance.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Folk Hero, Hermit, or Outlander backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Rural background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Student ID

Your student ID gives you access to various services and discounts that are not available to the general public, as well as access to school resources, such as libraries, laboratories and conference spaces. This ID doesn't act as a no-bars pass, and there are likely certain resources which your educational institution will not permit immediate access to.

You have a working knowledge of your institution's personnel and bureaucracy, and you know how to navigate those connections with some ease.

Feature: Technical Tap

Electronic and mechanical devices just seem to work better when you’re around, but when they misbehave, sometimes all it takes is a swift kick in the right area to set things right.

Suggested Characteristics

Technical jobs are often lucrative, and that is certainly a big draw towards them, for those with the capability. Others are drawn to the careers through technical or scientific passion, or merely a high level of raw talent.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Sage or Guild Artisan backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the Technician background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.

Feature: Corporate Chameleon

You are familiar with the etiquette and adherence to protocol that comes with working in an office environment. While in such an environment, no one questions your presence, and entry level workers are likely to respond in a submissive manner. Especially if you are carrying a clipboard.

Suggested Characteristics

White collar workers may hail from a middle-class background, simply following the expected career path before them. Alternatively, they might come from a poorer family, and are hoping to break out of their family history. Whatever their history, they display a wide range of personalities.

Use the suggested characteristics for the Noble or Guild Artisan backgrounds in the Player's Handbook for a character with the White Collar background, modifying them as necessary to suit your character.