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Reviewing the Abomination Vaults Player's Guide, I have found a few problems, specifically with the suggested backgrounds.
Let's review them.
Bibliophile, page 4
This one is excellent: it offers a good connection to a townsperson, useful skills & a great feat.
Eldritch Anatomist, page 4
This is our first problem child, and IMO the worst offender.
* - Only horribly evil people would be interested in fleshwarping.
* - No one who is interested in fleshwarping has any logical reason to be in Otari. It's neither a center of magical experimentation nor tolerant of such villainy. Would Wrin Sivinxi have had any reason to contact such a person?
* - The background doesn't provide any connection to Otari.
Fogfen Tale-Teller, page 4
This is a lesser problem child.
* - The background doesn't provide any connection to Otari.
* - The story behind the background is kinda weak.
Market Runner, page 4
Everything that is great about Bibliophile above applies here. The background offers a good connection to a townsperson, useful skills & a great feat.
Ruin Delver, page 4
This is a lesser problem child.
* - The background doesn't provide any connection to Otari.
* - Why "Roseguard Lore"? This needed more explanation in the description of the background.
* - This is a missed opportunity to provide a Pathfinder Society connection given Otari's proximity to Absalom. Also, the Beginner's Box mentions that Pathfinders sometimes retire to Otari.
Starwatcher, pages 4-5
This is a good. While a connection to someone who isn't Wrin Sivinxi would have been helpful, it is not necessary.
Witchlight Follower, page 5
This is a combination of Fogfen Tale-Teller, Ruin Delver, and Starwatcher. It shares the flaws of Fogfen Tale-Teller and Ruin Delver.
* - The background doesn't provide any connection to Otari.
* - "Wisp Lore" is kind of specific. Again, why would someone have it?
* - "Terrain Expertise" (PF 2nd Core, p267) normally only gives one terrain.
Missing Adding these background might have been both more helpful and more logical to the setting.
* - Osprey - would have provided a connection to Yinyasmera. In fact no "roguish" background is included in the general listing at the top of page 4.
* - Village Parson - This would have provided a better connection to the Dawnflower Library or Stone Ring Pond.
I'm sure others may have different observations about these, and I welcome discussion. :)
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Some of my players were "not from Otari" and would never have substituted a Village Parson for the Dawnflower Library connection.
Of course. Acolyte is one of the recommended options, as are backgrounds more suited to the deity's specific interest.
But, even characters from outside need a connection. As the Player's guide states, "… they should care about the fate of Otari and its people, …" (Player's Guide, p3) from page 3 of the player's guide. That's why I was suggesting something more connected with the community.
They were from other places and in Otari to do research in the library. They had no interest in 'growing up in Otari' as a backstory.
Again, while true, "Fleshcrafting" is EVIL. Why would prospective player characters be interested in it (see my above quote)? Related, why isn't someone who might be interested hanging out in a more receptive place, like Nex or Nidal?
Counterwise, a more general magic practitioner (or "natural philosopher") is very likely to have wandered over from Absalom, but backgrounds like "Bibliophile" or "Scholar" (PF Core p63-64) would suit them better.
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Again, while true, "Fleshcrafting" is EVIL. Why would prospective player characters be interested in it (see my above quote)? Related, why isn't someone who might be interested hanging out in a more receptive place, like Nex or Nidal?Are you suggesting that an AP should only print non-evil suggestions for backgrounds?
Not at all. That is part of why I was suggesting a background for "Opsrey."
Evil people are everywhere; not just in Nex or Nidal. I don't quite understand your strong feelings about not including them as suggested backgrounds in a game that allows them.
Evil people are everywhere. As the player's guide contiues "… characters of any alignment could investigate strange clues and seek their fortunes in dungeons …"
But the "Eldritch Anatomist" is very specific, and would only be found in an area where fleshcrafting would be tolerated. Which gets to my second point, why would such an individual have traveled to Otari of all places? What specific clues would have drawn such an individual here?
Yes, there are apparently rumors of aberrations in the swamp (and undead are also very thematic for such a setting), but fleshwarps? What kinds of horrors was Gauntlight Keep known for?
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Anyone could read a book about fleshwarping and get an interest. Having an interest in something is not the same as wanting to do it.
The Fogfen connection to Otari is rather obvious - it's the swamp between Otari and Gauntlight. Same with Wisp Lore - it's a background about getting lost in the swamp and seeing wisps, hence wisp lore.
Not every background is going to be made for Otari locals. In fact none of my players are locals, and all of them took backgrounds from the player's guide - the longest any of them have been in Otari is about 2 years. The character with Eldritch Anatomist was a street kid from Absalom who started checking out gross books and listening too close to Kuthite preachers because he thought extreme body mods were cool. (he's since gotten over that.)
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Being fascinated with fleshwarping is not Evil. Practicing it on unwilling subjects is.
But the background implies no such practice. More something of a morbid interest.
I like that even Good characters can have flaws and unhealthy interests rather than be one-dimensional do-gooders.
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I know dozens of people IRL who would delight in the ability to practice fleshwarping, and none of them are Evil.
I know dozens of people IRL who would delight in the ability to practice fleshwarping, and none of them are Evil.
As in a sincere effort to use this magic to make "ableism" less of a problem?
a lot of people would love to alter their bodies or be able to give their friends the bodies they want. remember there is an entire ancestry of fleshwarps who are essentially defined as "a people changed". no moral statements involved
a lot of people would love to alter their bodies or be able to give their friends the bodies they want. remember there is an entire ancestry of fleshwarps who are essentially defined as "a people changed". no moral statements involved
The Elixir of Sex Shift could be considered a limited form of Flesh Crafting.
Yup. Aforementioned PC stole one to transition, still has a fascination with fleshwarping and body modification and there's a fleshwarp PC as well.
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I know dozens of people IRL who would delight in the ability to practice fleshwarping, and none of them are Evil.As in a sincere effort to use this magic to make "ableism" less of a problem?
Not all physically disabled folks seek to be "cured," that wasn't my intent - though fleshwarping's practical uses for medicine shouldn't be ignored. I was mostly thinking of fleshwarping as an avenue for self-expression!
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Not all physically disabled folks seek to be "cured," that wasn't my intent - though fleshwarping's practical uses for medicine shouldn't be ignored. I was mostly thinking of fleshwarping as an avenue for self-expression!I know dozens of people IRL who would delight in the ability to practice fleshwarping, and none of them are Evil.As in a sincere effort to use this magic to make "ableism" less of a problem?
Fleshwarping for self-improvement is a fascinating path too.