To be honest, I am not sure this belongs here, but seeing as I am looking for "tips" when it comes to modifying backgrounds while still keeping them balanced, I think it works. So I've had an inkling to make a gentlemanly technologist who is proficient in the use of firearms is also an expert grenadier and master orater (persuasion). Coming from nobility, he'll be slightly more handsome than usual (9 BE). Here is the thing; Miracle Operation works very well because the +4 to Perception means I can start with 3 ranks in Firearms, and with Madam Toussaude's blessing I'm all set to get Expert Persuasion status. The +3 intelligence bonus is also nice for learning the first four critical 'must-have' degrees: Moltovs, Charge rings (and electric light), and flow spectrometer. One thing I do not like about it though is that it lowers Dexterity by two, meaning that even after using two charge rings I"ll need to raise DX by 2 in order to reach expert status with throwing (which I find is exactly as much as you need). So... What if I tweaked the background to not lower DEX in exchange... for taking all of your money. I figure that anyone who uses this background does so for the +4 to PE that lets you start off being quite accurate with firearms. However the -DX does hurt a bit in the long run. Does anyone think it would still be balanced if it did not lower dexterity but started you with 0 gold? You look at it like this: "I can start off with three ranks in Firearms, but I can't even use my gun until I reach Shrouded Hills, and even then not until I make some money." Furthemore, with your low strength you won't be able to melee either. You'll have to immediatly run to Shrouded Hills and try to raise some money or let Virgil do all the fighting while you attempt to melee bare-handed. Furthermore, you are also going to start with no gun unless you put points into gunsmithy so you can make one. Even in my tweaked version (where the starting barter has a revolver and quality revolver for sale) you won't be able to buy any good guns until Tarant, much less Shrouded Hills (the only good firearm is the one Doc Robert's gives to you). Is this a reasonable handicap? Afterall the background itself states that your family spent their fortune to have this operation done on you (which cured your blindess) so maybe starting with nothing keeps the difficulty. Afterall, you are gaining +10 to your stats (+4 to PE, +3 to IN and CH) for only a sacrifice of -8 stat points (-3 to ST and -5 to CN). My idea is that this and other extreme backgrounds exist to give advanced players a bonus. You basically get 2 free skill points, but in exchange you are going to have a very rough start if you try to take advantage of this background for your gunslinger, and to a lesser extent your archer, thrower, prowerler, ect... Once you make it to Tarant though (or if you cheat in Shrouded Hills) you'll be very well off for the rest of the game. I was also thinking that I would take 1 point from perception and put that into the +1 to beauty. I want the 9 beauty for RP purposes, but as an Upper class person it also makes sense you'd be better looking due to the cushy lifestyle and pampered surroundings. Oppinions? -------------- (Edit: elaborated a little)
Are you asking how to change backgrounds or do you just want some opinions on your idea? If it's just opinions you are looking for then I'd say that 2 character points don't make much difference. Some random encounters, killing all the zombies in the graveyard, etc will soon give you those extra points.
I was asking for oppinions on it, yes. And I disagree; two character points is alot. However I altered my idea bit. The background now only takes 1 point of ST instead of 3, and it still lowers DX by 2. Afterall if you were blind most of your life you wouldn't be terribly fast. The kicker is, you are not used to having eye-sight and as such your hand-eye cordination is lacking resulting in an increased chance of critical failure (+10). So you switch around 5 CN, 1 ST, and 2 DX to get +3 to IN, PE, and CH, as well as +1 to BE. The two extra points are paid for via increased critical failure chance and starting the game with 0 Gold and nothing but the clothes on your back.