Backgrounds
Every character has a Background, a past reflecting their career before they took up adventuring. A background may be chosen from the list below or a new one made up with GM permission.
Backgrounds, Skills, and Growth
When a Background is chosen, a PC immediately gets its free skill at level-0. At that point, the player decides whether to gain further skills randomly or to pick specific choices.
If they choose randomly, they may make three rolls divided between the Growth and Learning tables of their background in any way they wish, including taking all three from just one table. If they pick specific choices they can pick any two skills from the Learning table, including picking the same one twice to raise it to level-1. They may not pick the “Any Skill” option, if it exists.
A skill pick of “Any Combat” means the player can pick Shoot, Stab, or Punch. A skill roll of “Any Skill” means they can pick any skill from the list above. Some campaigns may involve special magical or psychic skills; these cannot be chose with the Any Skill pick.
If an attribute bonus is rolled, such as “+2 Physical”, the player may apply it to any physical attribute or split the bonus between two physical attributes. The same principle applies to Mental attribute increases. “Any Stat” increases may be applied to either physical or mental attributes. No attribute can be raised above 18.
New Backgrounds
To create a new background, the player describes it to the GM and picks an existing background table that best fits the concept. Assuming the GM approves it, they may then roll or pick as usual. If no existing background table fits, they may make a new one with the GM’s permission.
d20 Background List
The following backgrounds are examples of those possible for a player. The free granted skill is listed after each background’s name.
- Bum, a hard-bitten street survivor
- Bureaucrat, for a local government agency
- Clergy, whether formal or informal
- Coder, grinding code for somebody
- Corp Security, muscle for a local corp
- Corper, a faceless cog in their machine
- Criminal, be it thief, mugger, or worse
- Doctor, whether corp med or street doc
- Drone Jockey, running overwatch
- Ganger, rank and file of the street legions
- Laborer, finding day labor where you can
- Law Enforcement, such as cops are now
- Manager, a maintainer of cogs
- Outlander, born beyond the city
- Performer, musician, or artist
- Soldier, working for a government
- Spy, in deep for your real employer
- Trader, peddler, hawker, or the like
- Streetwalker, whether cheap or high-class
- Technician, freelance or corp-hired
Individual Backgrounds
Bum
You’ve been underestimated your whole life, relying on gutter-level survival instincts to stay alive after a lifetime of bad luck or a sudden crash.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Survive-0 |
Quick Skills: Connect-0, Sneak-0
| d6 Growth | d8 Learning |
|---|---|
| 1. +1 Any Stat 2. +2 Physical 3. +2 Physical 4. +2 Mental 5. Survive 6. Any Skill | 1. Any Combat 2. Survive 3. Connect 4. Sneak 5. Notice 6. Talk 7. Fix 8. Trade |
Bureaucrat
You mastered navigating the labyrinthine corporate and governmental policies, knowing exactly which call to make to vanish a file or make a resource appear.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Administer-0 |
Quick Skills: Connect-0, Talk-0
| d6 Growth | d8 Learning |
|---|---|
| 1. +1 Any Stat 2. +2 Mental 3. +2 Mental 4. +2 Physical 5. Administer 6. Any Skill | 1. Any Skill 2. Connect 3. Talk 4. Notice 5. Know 6. Work 7. Lead 8. Sneak |
Clergy
You’ve dedicated your life to ministering to the soul, skilled at offering comfort, clarity, and moral guidance in a world determined to crush hope.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Talk-0 |
Quick Skills: Heal-0, Lead-0
| d6 Growth | d8 Learning |
|---|---|
| 1. +1 Any Stat 2. +2 Mental 3. +2 Mental 4. +2 Physical 5. Talk 6. Any Skill | 1. Any Skill 2. Heal 3. Lead 4. Connect 5. Know 6. Notice 7. Perform 8. Survive |
Coder
The digital architecture of the world is your native tongue; you craft, maintain, and exploit complex systems by making any machine obey your will.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Program-0 |
Quick Skills: Fix-0, Know-0
| d6 Growth | d8 Learning |
|---|---|
| 1. +1 Any Stat 2. +2 Mental 3. +2 Mental 4. +2 Physical 5. Program 6. Any Skill | 1. Any Skill 2. Fix 3. Know 4. Connect 5. Talk 6. Notice 7. Work 8. Sneak |
Corp Security
You served as the sharp, well-armed edge of corporate power, trained in threat assessment and deep tactical knowledge of corporate defense doctrine.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Shoot-0 |
Quick Skills: Notice-0, Lead-0
| d6 Growth | d8 Learning |
|---|---|
| 1. +1 Any Stat 2. +2 Physical 3. +2 Physical 4. +2 Mental 5. Shoot 6. Any Skill | 1. Any Combat 2. Notice 3. Lead 4. Connect 5. Talk 6. Survive 7. Drive 8. Sneak |
Corper
You possess an innate understanding of corporate hierarchy, leverage, and dialect, knowing how to survive and thrive within the system’s power structure.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Administer-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Talk-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Talk |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Notice |
| 5 | Administer | 5 | Know |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Lead | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Criminal
You live by breaking the law, expertly using evasion and cunning to navigate the deadly, resource-rich networks of the underworld’s dangerous business.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Sneak-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Notice |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Talk |
| 5 | Sneak | 5 | Survive |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Fix |
| 7 | Trade | ||
| 8 | Work |
Doctor
A master of flesh and metal, you’ve spent your life in clinics and back alleys, healing every kind of injury, disease, and cybernetic malfunction.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Heal-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Fix-0 |
| Know-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Fix |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Know |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Connect |
| 5 | Heal | 5 | Talk |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Notice |
| 7 | Work | ||
| 8 | Survive |
Drone Jockey
You specialize in the deployment and operation of advanced remote vehicles, leveraging your expertise in unmanned system kinetics to control the battlespace.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Drive-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Fix-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Fix |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Notice |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Connect |
| 5 | Drive | 5 | Talk |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Program |
| 7 | Work | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Ganger
As a street warrior, you are proficient in group tactics and intimately understand the territorial and social rules that govern the urban wasteland.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Any Combat-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Notice |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Talk |
| 5 | Any Combat | 5 | Survive |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Fix |
| 7 | Trade | ||
| 8 | Work |
Laborer
Your life has been defined by hard physical work, giving you incredible stamina and practical engineering sense regarding tools and materials science.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Exert-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Fix-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Fix |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Notice |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Connect |
| 5 | Exert | 5 | Talk |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Survive |
| 7 | Work | ||
| 8 | Trade |
Law Enforcement
You once wore a badge, committed to upholding the fragile peace through investigation, crisis management, and the use of authority.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Notice-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Talk-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Talk |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Lead |
| 5 | Notice | 5 | Survive |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Fix |
| 7 | Work | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Manager
You excel at coordinating efforts, mastering logistics, delegation, and personnel motivation to successfully execute complex objectives.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Lead-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Talk-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Talk |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Notice |
| 5 | Lead | 5 | Know |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Administer | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Outlander
Raised outside the city limits, your knowledge centers on survival, self-sufficiency, and navigation in the raw, lawless territories.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Survive-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Notice |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Connect |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Talk |
| 5 | Survive | 5 | Fix |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Trade | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Performer
Your craft is capturing an audience’s attention, skilled in showmanship and emotional manipulation to subtly influence public opinion.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Perform-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Talk-0 |
| Connect-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Talk |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Connect |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Notice |
| 5 | Perform | 5 | Lead |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Survive | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Soldier
Forged in the fires of conflict, you are an expert in weapon proficiency, tactical movement, and unit cohesion due to rigorous military training.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Any Combat-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Notice-0 |
| Lead-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Notice |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Lead |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Connect |
| 5 | Any Combat | 5 | Talk |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Survive |
| 7 | Fix | ||
| 8 | Work |
Spy
You are a specialist in the world of espionage, using infiltration, social camouflage, and deception to gather critical intelligence undetected.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Sneak-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Combat |
| 2 | +2 Physical | 2 | Notice |
| 3 | +2 Physical | 3 | Connect |
| 4 | +2 Mental | 4 | Talk |
| 5 | Sneak | 5 | Lead |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Fix | ||
| 8 | Survive |
Trader
You are a shrewd merchant, specializing in market dynamics and logistics, able to find and negotiate for anything in the sprawling marketplace.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Trade-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Talk-0 |
| Connect-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Talk |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Notice |
| 5 | Trade | 5 | Lead |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Survive | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Streetwalker
You survived by selling intimacy, becoming a keen observer of human weakness and power dynamics to survive in a commodified world.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Talk-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Connect-0 |
| Notice-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Connect |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Notice |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Perform |
| 5 | Talk | 5 | Lead |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Work |
| 7 | Survive | ||
| 8 | Sneak |
Technician
You were a specialist in diagnosing, repairing, and modifying complex machinery and electronic systems using hands-on engineering principles.
| Free Skill |
|---|
| Fix-0 |
| Quick Skills, or roll three times on the table below |
|---|
| Know-0 |
| Program-0 |
| d6 | Growth | d8 | Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | +1 Any Stat | 1 | Any Skill |
| 2 | +2 Mental | 2 | Know |
| 3 | +2 Mental | 3 | Program |
| 4 | +2 Physical | 4 | Connect |
| 5 | Fix | 5 | Talk |
| 6 | Any Skill | 6 | Notice |
| 7 | Work | ||
| 8 | Survive |