What is this "Background" thing?
- Is it going to work like Themes in Starfinder? (i.e., replacing traits)
- Is it going to replace the cultural elements that are currently part of character races?
- Or will it do something else entirely
A reworking of the Trait system, in a way that not everyone has Rich Parents
A reworking of the Trait system, in a way that not everyone has Rich Parents
Rich Parents is temporary. Pre-errata Heirloom Weapon is forever.
Pre-errata Heirloom Weapon + Reactionary. Anybody who failed to take that pair clearly has no idea how to play Pathfinder or, in fact, to how to live his or her life.
;-)
I would have blocked you if not for that smiley face...
Seems like Backgrounds will confer Background Skills, like a kit (AD&D) or 5e.
Pre-errata Heirloom Weapon + Reactionary. Anybody who failed to take that pair clearly has no idea how to play Pathfinder or, in fact, to how to live his or her life.
;-)
I so hope it fixes this. I liked the idea of the trait system a lot but it just became another "choose best min/max options" over RP or thematic choices.
Do you only have one background? If so will future adventure paths force you to pick a "campaign background"?
These are the PbtA/D&D 5e derivative; Backgrounds providing "moves" in the form of Proficiecy (from skills or feats). They're situational bonuses conferred as character traits. Same language different dialect.
These are the PbtA/D&D 5e derivative; Backgrounds providing "moves" in the form of Proficiecy (from skills or feats). They're situational bonuses conferred as character traits. Same language different dialect.
It will be interesting to see how closely Paizo follows the 5e model.
I want either for backgrounds to work both as Starfinder themes and 5th ed backgrounds (the only thing about 5th ed that I like) OR something completely different from those two in order to surprise us. I don't remember where, but they said it would be something more along the lines of the second. I'm willing to bet that both Ancestries and Backgrounds will give you exclusive feats as you level up. I just hope these feats are for free, and not something to compete with regular feats and class feats, because I never have enough feats in 1ed, and I would really like them to solve the feat tax problem.
My wish is that backgrounds allow you to select abilities that wouldn't be common for characters of your class. Like a stealthy barbarian selecting a background called "criminal",a botanist sorcerer or cleric selecting a nature-themed background, an army scout rogue or a war alchemist selecting a "soldier" background, and so on.
I hope that ancestry also follows that line, I want to be the elfiest elf wizard and have access to some druid spells for flavour. That was possible in 1ed, but it was neither easy nor a core option like this could be.
While I would like a Starfinder-esque Theme on top of a Background, I feel like they're going to be combined. At 1st level, Background will probably be like a combination of 5E backgrounds with the "cultural" aspects of various races, such as the whole "hates Giants" thing. Then as you level up, every so often you will gain abilities tied to your background.