PF2 Experiment: Shattered Star Traits [Length Waring]

[Lord Fyre]

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This is a test to see how the traits from the Shattered Star Adventure Path would convert into Pathfinder 2nd Edition.

Alabaster Outcast
You are a member of one of Magnimar’s wealthiest families... or rather, you used to be. A falling-out left you disowned and disinherited. Now you hope to get away from the city and find fortune enough to shame your former kinsfolk—goals which led you to the Pathfinder Society. Despite your exile, your name still carries considerable weight in Magnimar.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Intelligence or Charisma, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in the Society skill and Mercantile Lore skill. You gain the Courtly Graces skill feat.
Note: Your last name is probably Derexhi, Kaddren, Mindurian, Niroden, Scarnetti, Valdemar, Vanderale, or Versade. (see Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Magnimar, City of Monuments.)

Ex-Sczarni
Though you were raised as a member of one of Magnimar’s various Sczarni gangs, you never fit in with the rest of your settled, metropolitan brethren. The Pathfinder Society in particular recognized your wanderlust and potential as an agent, and on more than one occasion you impressed or bamboozled their agents with your street smarts and finesse. Over the years, you fell out of favor with the Sczarni, and eventually left to pursue interests outside of simple banditry, though you still remember the lessons your criminal relations taught you.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Strength or Charisma, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in the Deception skill and the Underworld Lore skill. You gain the Charming Liar skill feat.
Note: Interestingly, this background does not actually make you a Varisian. The two groups are not as connected (the Sczarni and the Varisian clans) as people tend to think.

Exchange Agent
Although you’re a relative newcomer to Magnimar, you’re not some naive stranger. You’ve been sent by the Pathfinder Society lodge in your home country to learn more about Varisia by experiencing the frontier firsthand. After arriving, you reported to the Magnimar lodge and placed your expertise at the venture-captain’s disposal.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Strength or Intelligence, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in the Society skill and the Pathfinder Society Lore skill. You gain the Multilingual skill feat.
Note: Obviously, Varisian would be a great choice. Other strong choices would be Abyssal, Draconic, Dwarven, Giant, Shoanti, and, of course, Thassilonian.

Monument Scholar
As a child in Magnimar, the city’s ancient monuments inspired you with wonder. Your fascination with these relics has only grown in the years since, encouraging you to join the ranks of the Pathfinder Society so you can further quench your thirst for knowledge. Though you know little about the actual lore of the monuments, you’ve studied these colossal works extensively, developing an in-depth knowledge of some of the city’s most famous landmarks.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Intelligence or Wisdom, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in your choice of the Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion skill, and gain the Quick Identification skill feat. You’re also trained in the Magnimar Lore skill.

Nontraditional Native
You are a member of the Shoanti or Varisian ethnicity who left your people to learn more about the mysteries of your strange homeland. Your travels have recently brought you to the Pathfinder lodge in Magnimar. Although none of your family members are present, you carry them and your family traditions with you.
Benefits
If you are Shoanti
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Strength or Constitution, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in Survival and the Shoanti Cultural Lore skill. You gain the Toughness general feat.
If you are Varisian
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Dexterity or Charisma, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in Acrobatics and the Varisian Cultural Lore skill. You gain the Incredible Initiative general feat.
Note: Both groups have members with a half-human heritage. There are even a few non-humans who may have been adopted into the clans/tribes at a young age.

Ruin Raider
While the mercantile industries of Magnimar appeal to your keen eye for monetary gain, you know that the boldest route to true fortune lies in hunting down rare relics and selling them to the highest bidder. Becoming a Pathfinder seemed like an obvious decision, allowing you to travel throughout Varisia in your search for wealth, so you signed up right away. You brought with you a sharp eye and keen ability to distinguish fakes from the genuine article.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Dexterity or Wisdom, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in Stealth and the Ancient Thassilon Lore skill. You gain the Terrain Stalker (rubble) skill feat.
Note: This background gives you access to the Thassilonian language, but you don’t get it automatically.

Serpent Runner
You’ve participated in the mock gladiatorial battles and athletic feats at the Serpent’s Run, Magnimar’s grand hippodrome, but the safe nature of those games leaves you bored. Seeking greater thrills and tests of your abilities, you’ve pledged your arms and skill to the local Pathfinder lodge.
Benefits
* - Choose two ability boosts. One must be to Constitution or Charisma, and one is a free ability boost.
* - You’re trained in the Athletics skill and the Gladiatorial Lore skill. You gain the Fast Recovery general feat, without needing the minimum Constitution.

Let me know what you think. :D

[Dragonriderje]

This is great! I’m just about to finish Shattered Star with my group and my plan is to run Return of the Runelords for PF2e. Great idea to turn campaign traits into backgrounds.

But shouldn’t Ex-Sczarni be Dex and Cha, not Str and Cha?

Also I’d worry about giving General Feats out. They are more rarely acquired than Skill Feats and usually more powerful. But that’s a minor balance thing that might not be relevant for your group

[Lord Fyre]

Dragonriderje wrote:

This is great! I’m just about to finish Shattered Star with my group and my plan is to run Return of the Runelords for PF2e. Great idea to turn campaign traits into backgrounds.

But shouldn’t Ex-Sczarni be Dex and Cha, not Str and Cha?

Since Dex/Chr is the combo I gave the Varisians (see Non-Traditional Native), I also didn't want to repeat.

Also, Sczarni are often portrayed as being more thuggish then the typical Varisian, hence Strength over Dexterity.

Dragonriderje wrote:

Also I’d worry about giving General Feats out. They are more rarely acquired than Skill Feats and usually more powerful. But that’s a minor balance thing that might not be relevant for your group

I wanted to avoid all the backgrounds seeming the same, so I added in some of the generals feats to create more options.