Backgrounds

Design Philosophy

If a background had Firearms Training listed as a Bonus Feat, I made sure to include an alternate choice, since Warriors start with this feat or Weapons Training already, and Weapons Training is not common in the period.

A few new feats were created in this process: Inventor and Surgery. Alternate Approach, Impromptu Weapon Proficiency, Jaded and Urban Tracking are in the Companion.

Sources consulted were the True20 Companion, Etherscope, Space 1889, Age of Empire, GURPS Steampunk.

Craft skills are not defined in True20. So far I have: mechanics, structural, pharmaceuticals, programs (for Computation Engineers).

Human

The default background, giving you 1 free feat of your choice, two skills at 4 ranks each, and two favored feats of your choice. Any character can take the Human background (provided he or she is, in fact, human) if there is no other background to your taste.

Bonus Feat: Any one feat available to your chosen role.

Bonus Skills: Any one skill available to your chosen role.

Favored Feats: Any two feats chosen from the Adept, Expert, or Warrior lists.

Academic

Who They Are: Physicians, Scientists

Bonus Feats (pick any two): Alternate Approach, Wealthy

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Computers, Knowledge (any), Gather Information, Language, Medicine, Notice

Favored Feats: Inventor,

Adventurer

Who They Are: rich globe-trotters and explorers. Includes amateur archeologists and Bone Sharps (fossil hunters).

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Endurance, Firearm Proficiency, Wealthy

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Diplomacy, Knowledge (earth sciences, history, supernatural, theology & philosophy), Language, Notice, Search, Survival

Favored Feats: Jack-of-all-Trades, Tough

Aristocrat

Who They Are: country gentlemen and the idle rich.

Bonus Feats: Connected, Wealthy

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (any), Language, Perform (dance, singing, or keyboard), Ride

Favored Feats: Inspire, Jack-of-all-Trades

Barrister

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Wealthy, Well-Informed

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Knowledge (civics, current events, theology & philosophy), Gather Information, Notice

Favored Feats: Inspire, Suggestion

Beggar

Who They Are: To represent a beggar’s low Wealth, reverse the normal order of purchasing your starting equipment. Instead of buying all your ordinary clothing and gear first, with your highest Wealth bonus, buy one or two very expensive items first, Taking 20 each time. This will drive your Wealth bonus down while giving you a couple of very expensive items – which might be heirlooms or stolen goods. Once your Wealth bonus is down to 4 or less, you can buy the rest of your starting possessions.

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Endurance, Great Fortitude, Light Sleeper

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Gather Information, Knowledge (streetwise), Notice, Search, Sleight of Hand, Stealth

Favored Feats: Hide in Plain Sight, Tough

Clergyman

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Dedicated, Skill Focus (theology & philosophy)

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (current events, supernatural, theology & philosophy), Perform (oratory), Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Imbue Item, Inspire

Constable

Who They Are: note most police are armed only with a truncheon. Pistols are reserved for special situations and are kept back at the station.

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Attack Focus, Firearms Training, Improved Disarm

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Diplomacy, Drive, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (civics, current events, streetwise), Notice, Search, Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Attack Specialization, Stunning Attack

Consulting Detective

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Jack-of-all-Trades, Firearms Training, Well Informed

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Disguise, Gather Information, Knowledge (behavioral sciences, current events, streetwise), Notice, Search, Sense Motive, Stealth

Favored Feats: Subtle Power, Urban Tracking

Cowboy

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Exotic Weapon Training (lariat), Firearm Training, Vehicular Combat (Ride)

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Ride, Survival

Favored Feats: Attack Specialization, Tough

Criminal

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Connected, Firearms Training, Weapon Training

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Disable Device, Intimidate, Knowledge (streetwise), Notice, Sleight of Hand, Stealth

Favored Feats: Improvised Tools, Sneak Attack

Engineer

Who They Are: includes craftsmen, inventors, engineers, and computation engineers, mostly women, working with cards

Bonus Feats (pick any two): Challenge (Fast Craft, Craft Masterwork), Endurance, Skill Focus (Craft)

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Computers, Craft, Disable Device, Knowledge (art, physical sciences, technology), Notice

Favored Feats: Improvised Tools, Inventor

Entertainer

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Attractive, Connected, Skill Focus

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Acrobatics, Bluff, Concentration, Disguise, Handle Animal, Knowledge (current events, popular culture), Language, Perform

Favored Feats: Fascinate, Inspire

Governess

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Dedicated, Talented

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Knowledge (any), Language

Favored Feats: Inspire, Jack-of-all-Trades

Industrialist

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Iron Will, Wealthy

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Craft (mechanics), Intimidate, Knowledge (business, current events, physical sciences, technology)

Favored Feats: Inspire, Inventor

Journalist

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Contacts, Well-Informed

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (current events), Language, Notice, Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Skill Mastery, Urban Tracking

Labourer

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Endurance, Great Fortitude, Tireless

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Craft (mechanical, structural), Drive, Handle Animal, Knowledge (current events, popular culture, streetwise), Ride, Survival

Favored Feats: Improvised Tools, Jack-of-all-Trades

Native

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Attack Focus, Trailblazer, Weapon Training

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Climb, Handle Animal, Intimidate, Jump, Knowledge (supernatural), Notice, Ride, Stealth, Survival, Swim

Favored Feats: Attack Specialization, Tough

New Woman

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Attractive, Connected, Iron Will, Taunt

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Drive, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (current events), Ride

Favored Feats: Fascinate, Inspire

Officer

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Firearms Training, Wealthy, Weapons Training

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (civics, current events, history, tactics), Language, Perform (oratory), Ride, Survival

Favored Feats: Master Plan, Seize Initiative

Politician

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Contacts, Wealthy

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (business, civics, current events, history, theology & philosophy), Language, Notice, Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Fascinate, Well-Informed

Rogue

Who They Are: master criminal, upper class criminal, or crime boss

Bonus Feats: Contacts, Firearms Training, Lucky

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Disable Device, Disguise, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (business, current events, streetwise), Stealth

Favored Feats: Master Plan, Skill Mastery

Seaman

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Firearms Training, Talented, Weapon Training

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Climb, Concentration, Craft (mechanics), Drive, Knowledge (civics, current events, popular culture, tactics), Language, Notice, Pilot, Survival, Swim

Favored Feats: Jack-of-all-Trades, Tough

Servant

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Impromptu Weapon Proficiency, Jaded, Light Sleeper

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Drive, Gather Information, Handle Animal, Knowledge (business, current events, popular culture), Language, Notice, Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Hide in Plain Sight, Skill Mastery

Soldier

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Attack Focus, Firearms Training, Weapons Training

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Climb, Concentration, Craft (structural), Intimidate, Knowledge (civics, current events, popular culture, tactics), Notice, Ride, Survival

Favored Feats: Attack Specialization, Tough

Solicitor

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Connected, Talented

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (business, civics, history, theology & philosophy), Sense Motive

Favored Feats: Urban Tracking, Well-Informed

Spiritualist

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Jaded, Supernatural Focus

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Knowledge (history, supernatural, theology & philosophy), Language, Notice

Favored Feats: Empower, Imbue Item

Sportsman

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Assessment, Endurance, Lightning Reflexes, Great Fortitude, Iron Will, Run, or Tireless

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Acrobatics, Climb, Concentration, Jump, Knowledge (current events, popular culture), Perform, Ride, Swim

Favored Feats: Brute Force, Tough

Spy

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Contacts, Firearms Training, Uncanny Dodge

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Disguise, Drive, Escape Artist, Gather Information, Knowledge (business, civics, current events, history, popular culture, streetwise, theology & philosophy), Language, Notice, Ride, Search, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand, Stealth

Favored Feats: Hide in Plain Sight, Improvised Tools

Suffragette

Who They Are: Protestors and reformers of any sort

Bonus Feats (choose any two): Dedicated, Iron Will, Taunt

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Bluff, Diplomacy, Gather Information, Intimidate, Knowledge (civics, current events, history, popular culture, streetwise, tactics), Perform (oratory), Sense Motive, Stealth

Favored Feats: Master Plan, Rage

Surgeon

Who They Are:

Bonus Feats: Master Plan, Surgery

Bonus Skills (choose any two): Concentration, Craft (pharmaceuticals), Diplomacy, Gather Information, Knowledge (history, life sciences, theology & philosophy), Medicine, Notice, Search

Favored Feats: Crippling Strike, Improvised Tools