Character Bsckgrounds

[Kenneth New]

I need to clarify a few things about character backgrounds.

1) You can construct a background by choosing two skills and two proficiencies (languages, tools, game sets, instruments, etc ...).

2) You can choose a background listed in any published source and get the skills and proficiencies listed there. You get no other benefit listed there unless you discuss it with the gm (me) to determine what it means in the context of the chronicle.

I seldom refuse to allow options in the rules, but I find that too many of the features listed restrict the gaming experience to moving between combat encounters without interacting with the environment in any meaningful way.

I feel so strongly about this, that I would prefer not to gm at all than to allow them.

If this is a problem for anyone, please let me know, but I stand by every word I've written above about them.

[Luke Porter]

I’ve noticed this problem with backgrounds. They carry too much weigh in the interaction/investigation and exploration parts of the story. For example, last Saturday when Summer was able to swiftly navigate the stairs, despite never going as high as middle Durra, it broke verisimilitude for me. It is like saying that because you grew up an urchin in Mumbai, you can safely and swiftly navigate Johannesburg. But, there are other benefits to being an urchin that are not encapsulated by the RAW background, such as knowin a dream Lily addict from the streets who could have pointed us to where the girls were known to hang out and with whom. I would prefer it if people were to ask “is this something where my background as a (fill in the blank) could help me out?” Instead if relying on something in the book which takes story complications I work hard on to incorporate and smashes them to pieces.

NB Summer was the freshest example in my mind, but not the only time where this happened.

[Luke Porter]

I’ve noticed this problem with backgrounds. They carry too much weigh in the interaction/investigation and exploration parts of the story. For example, last Saturday when Summer was able to swiftly navigate the stairs, despite never going as high as middle Durra, it broke verisimilitude for me. It is like saying that because you grew up an urchin in Mumbai, you can safely and swiftly navigate Johannesburg. But, there are other benefits to being an urchin that are not encapsulated by the RAW background, such as knowin a dream Lily addict from the streets who could have pointed us to where the girls were known to hang out and with whom. I would prefer it if people were to ask “is this something where my background as a (fill in the blank) could help me out?” Instead if relying on something in the book which takes story complications I work hard on to incorporate and smashes them to pieces.

NB Summer was the freshest example in my mind, but not the only time where this happened.

[hubertbartels]

I noticed that too - as soon as I said that in the game. As a result, I've removed that - Feature: City Secrets - from my character sheet. It wasn't important to my concept of Summer and as you, Luke, said, broke immersion.