Seeking feedback on balance on custom backgrounds...

Since I'm more concerned with balance at the moment, I'm not going to bother with the stories, just the results of the background.

{361}{ch +1, backstab -2, prowling -2} // Background gives Amulet of Leadership which allows an extra follower but causes extreme reactions

{362}{st +1, cn +1, be -2, ch -2, in -1, resistpoison +10, resistdamage +5, resistfire +2, resistelectrical +2} // Background Near-Orc (half-orc only)

{363}{be -1, ch -1, in -2, wp -2, backstab +2, pickpocket +2, prowling +2, spottrap +2, picklock +2} // Background Thief

{364}{in +5, wp -2, cn -2, pe +1, resistpoison -10, resistfire -15, resistelectrical -15, haggle -1, pickpocket -1} // Background Technologist

{365}{st +2, in -2, cn +1, wp +1, be -5, prowling -1, haggle -3, pickpocket -3, persuasion -3} // Background Near-Ogre (half-ogre only)

{366}{st -1, dx -1, wp +5, be -1, pe -2, repair -12, firearms -16, haggle -2, pickpocket -2, picklocks -2} // Background Mage (also gives Quality Robes - slightly better than normal robes)

{367}{cn +1, be -1, badreactionadj -10, goodreactionadj +5, repair -1, firearms -1, armtrap -1} // Background Qintarra Chain: gives chain mail that is slightly better than elvish chain. (elves and half-elves only)

{368}{dx +2, in -2, wp -2, pe +1, bow +4, melee -2, throwing -4, haggle -2, pickpocket -2} // Archer

{369}{cn -1, in -1, wp -1, pe +2, bow -4, melee -2, throwing -2, firearms +4} // Sharpshooter

{370}{dx +2, in -2, wp -2, pe +1, bow -4, melee -2, throwing +4, haggle -2, pickpocket -2} // Juggler

{371}{cn -3, dx -3, in +1, wp +1, ch +3, persuasion +3, melee -3, picklock -2, pickpocket -2, firearms -2} // Diplomat

{372}{cn -2, dx -2, in -1, wp -1, pe -1, gambling +2, haggle +2, heal +2, persuasion +2, melee -3} // Extrovert (maybe in+0, wp+0, st-1, be-1 instead?)

 

Oh and look this page for a LOT of ideas on backgrounds.

http://www.terra-arcanum.com/characterbank/bios.php

 

This can easily be abused by a diplomat (or anyone else for that matter) who wants the amulet and the ch bonus but has no interest in prowling or backstabbing. You can easily don the amulet when recruiting for that extra follower and then take it off afterward to avoid the extreme reactions. Plus it's a magickal amulet, so techies should be warned not to bother.

 

Yes it can be abused but not so much . Oh and the game checks the maximum followers all the time . If you remove the amulet you will lose one follower .

 

I haven't tried that with the Amulet of Leadership actually, but I have done it with the Jewel of Hebe and Ring of Influence. When not recruiting followers, asking them to wait/rejoin, etc., I was able to remove the jewelry and have one more follower than I was allowed. Nobody complained or left.

Now is it different with the Amulet of Leadership?

 

Thanks for the feedback.

Concerning the Mage background: I wanted to undo some of the bonuses that elves get, and pigeonhole the character to being primarily a mage. So, though the penalties add up to a lot, they're not very worthwhile for a character that's primarily a mage anyways, and thus not that bad. (I'd hope chrisbeddoes might give some rationale for his ratings. Otherwise, I don't know how to adjust the backgrounds).

I was thinking similarly about the Thief background. Pigeonhole the character, though I'm not sure how powerful the 2/4 bonuses really are. I believe they give instant ability for training as an apprentice, and access to expert training early (what would otherwise require 3 additional points into dexterity or perception depending upon the skill). I don't know if they help get master training early, but then there are many items that boost thieve skills as well.

As far as the backgrounds that give items, they are mostly to experiment with the items themselves.

 

Correct. No wonder the object isn't included in the regular game. I did some testing with it: Doesn't give any benefits with TA of 11, gives only 1 additional follower as long as you have MA of about 10 or more, you only need to wear it when getting followers to join or stop waiting.