Middle-Earth Role Playing
V. Background
A. Each race has a certain number of “background points” which each character may apply to the 6 background options: special abilities, special items, money, hobby skill ranks, stats, and languages. Certain races may be restricted as to how many points may be applied to each option (see Section 2.21). The Gamemaster may chose to assign options in his own manner. Alternatively, he may Choose to allow the players to chose from or roll on the Background Options Table CGT-2.
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Special Abilities
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- These are certain extraordinary capabilities that the character posses. In many cases these capabilities distinguish the player character from the general populace and are part of the reason that he has chosen to adventure rather than stay home on the farm. The Gamemaster may make up special abilities designed for a character. Alternatively, the player may chose from or roll on table CGT-2. For each background point placed into this background option, the character receives one special ability.
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Special Items
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-These are magic or unusual items that the character has had handed down to him or which fate has placed in his possession. The Gamemaster may create special items designed for a character or allow him to roll on Table CGT-2. For each background point placed into this background option, the character receives one special item. These items are keyed to the specific player character, or alternatively are keyed to the character’s profession and race. Each time any character attempts to use an item not specially keyed to them, they must make a maneuver roll modified by his Use Items skill bonus (see Section 2.32). This makes such items much harder to sell. Spells from these items are always cast with no modifications for preparation time (i.e., they have instantaneous effects, see Section 4.55).
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Money
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- This is the extra amount of money that the character can start with. Each player character starts with 2 gold pieces (see Section 3.71). For each background point placed into this background option, the character rolls once on Table CGT-2 and receives the money indicated in addition to his normal 2 gold pieces.
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Hobby Skill Ranks
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- These are developed skill ranks that are not necessarily related to the Character’s race or profession. For each background point placed into this background option the rank of one primary skill (see Section 2.32) may be increased by 2 or the rank of one secondary skill (see Section 2.23) may be increased by 5.
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Stats Increases
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-This option indicates enhanced stats. For each background point placed into this background option, the value of one stat may be increased by two or the value of three stats may be increased by one each. No stat may be increased to more than 101 through this method.
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Languages
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- This option allows a character to learn extra languages. The Gamemaster may wish to restrict the character in which the language may be chosen. For each background point placed into this background option, the character learns one extra language skill rank 5.
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B.
After the character has allocated his points to his background options, the Gamemaster should define his background (see Section 3.5). For example, if the character assigns 3 points to money and one to an item and one to a language, the Gamemaster might want to tell him that he is a merchant’s son. If he assigns 2 points to special capabilities, 1 to money, and 2 to stats, he might be a farmer’s son who has left the farm for adventure. This is up to the Gamemaster, although the player character concern should have some input. The amount of detail that goes into this depends on the amount of effort that the Gamemaster is able and willing to put into it.
(in other words, write a character’s history.. what has left the character to be what it currently is… )
The above information was taken from the Middle-Earth Role Playing . All of this information here has been copyrighted Iron Crown Enterprises.
