Cross-posting some generic discussion from my generic RPG discussion blog. It's not my intention to integrate these officially, just discuss unofficially how they could be used.
I have not read the [5e] players handbook all the way through, but on a whim, I decided to borrow a copy again and have a look at the backgrounds. I also looked at the background in the Curse of Strahd as well as the backgrounds in the Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide. Normally I'm not a fan of very much character backstory, in part because it can inadvertently enable and encourage My Precious Character Syndrome™, which I quite cordially dislike. However, these are quick and dirty points that take little effort to understand and implement, and hardly make for overly twee emotional attachment to your character. That said, there's an art to implementing them in a game for which they weren't really designed.
(It's hardly a unique idea, of course. I mean, Traveller was having you role up character backgrounds as part of character generation way back in ye olden days, and I toyed with some space opera backgrounds for Ad Astra, that became Space Opera X, several years ago. I prefer them to not include mechanical perks, however, and be focused on roleplaying opportunities. If the player can't immediately use them to bring the character to life right out of the gate, then they aren't very useful, and a +something to some skill check or whatever isn't very useful to roleplaying.)
One of my favorites of these systems was included with the OSR space opera game White Star, which gave many if not most characters a specific ally and a nemesis, both of which are gold for GMs and should be tons of fun for players too. I might whip up an ally and nemesis table just for the heck of it that applies to the Dark Fantasy X setting specifically.
Backgrounds, as described in the PHB5e, have a number of elements. Not all of them are relevant if you want to port backgrounds into Dark Fantasy X, which I would not only approve of, but actively encourage.
- Proficiencies. This is a mechanic specific to 5e, and is not relevant to Dark Fantasy X, except as a suggestion on how you might want to attempt to build your character.
- Languages. This is unique to D&D. Dark Fantasy X actually doesn't have any languages built in, or rather, they are inherent to the setting, but not spelled out in the rules. Hmm... Maybe I should add a small section for them. But if I don't, that's OK. Regardless, my languages will be unique to the setting, and will have little bearing on whatever D&D languages are in use in the backgrounds as written.
- Equipment. You don't get equipment for free in Dark Fantasy X, but most of the equipment I've seen in the backgrounds that I've read is of nominal value and almost any starting character could buy everything listed therein with his spare change. You may want to, to roleplay out your background.
- Favorite xyz. Not every background has one of these, but this would be like the Charlatan's favorite scheme, or the Criminal's criminal specialty. I wouldn't roll on the table; I'd handpick one, and occasionally more than one, as a roleplaying hook.
- Feature. This is a roleplaying element rather than a mechanical one, and while they're a little D&D specific, they can be tailored to Dark Fantasy X with very little trouble, unless they're for a very specific D&D element, like heathen religious cults and whatnot.
- Personality trait. I wouldn't roll on this table. I'd pick from it, and I'd maybe pick even two or three of them.
- Ideal. I'm not a huge fan of what they've included here, but it's harmless enough. Look them over and decide if they actually offer you anything helpful. If so, feel free to use one, if not, ignore this category.
- Bond. These are pretty good, but you may have to read the list and extrapolate one from there to get exactly what you want. To be fair, the rules for backgrounds already tell you to do that. It's just a roleplaying hook. Go for it.
- Flaw. I love a good flaw or two in a character, to give the player a simple hook to sink his roleplaying teeth into right away, and as a springboard for potential future adventure. Feel free to pick as many as you like.
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