DriveThruRPG.com
Browse Categories
$ to $















Back
pixel_trans.gif
Background Levels
 
$4.00 $2.00
Average Rating:4.3 / 5
Ratings Reviews Total
1 0
1 1
0 0
0 0
0 0
Background Levels
Click to view
You must be logged in to rate this
pixel_trans.gif
Background Levels
Publisher: Fifth Element Games
by Shane O. [Featured Reviewer]
Date Added: 09/24/2006 00:00:00

Background Levels is a sourcebook from Fifth Element Games. The zipped file is 1.21 megabytes in size, and contains a single PDF marginally larger than that. The PDF is thirty-three pages long, including two pages for the covers, one page for the credits/legal, one page for the table contents, and one page for the OGL. The table of contents isn?t hyperlinked, but the product does have bookmarks.

The book?s only full-color art is found on the covers, with the solid blue there. All the rest of the artwork is black-and-white. Given that different artists were used for the interior art, the quality of the pictures ranges from good to poor. Quite a number of the pictures seem to be low-quality, having been drawn with little detail. Only a few pieces are of the better quality seen on the cover. There also isn?t enough artwork to make the lack of a printer-friendly version an issue here.

After a brief introduction showcasing a conversation between a player and a GM about character backgrounds, the book launches into an explanation of what it offers. There are really two things being given in this product, the Background feat, and background classes. The Background feat itself is given then, before a brief explanation on the format of each listing.

There are a grand total of fourteen backgrounds given here: beggar, cloistered, craftsman, explorer, felonious, horseman, merchant, noble, outdoorsman, performer, professional, sailor, scholar, and soldier. Each has a brief introduction, followed by a notation of why a character with such a background would become an adventurer, followed by listings for how members of the non-human races in the PHB could come from such backgrounds also.

After this, each background has their mechanical information listed. While not directly stated, it?s obvious that this is broken down into two parts. The first part is in regards to taking this background with the Background feat. This has a mild prerequisite (typically a few skill ranks, or a minimum ability score) followed by the feat effects, which are many. Taking the Background feat can adjust your ability scores, make certain skills class skills permanently, or even grant free ranks or skill bonuses, adjust your starting money, change your weapon/armor proficiencies, or even add a (mild) special ability.

After this is the class information. Each background has a five-level base class given. The introduction notes that these do not count as multiclassing for the purpose of XP penalties. Each has a brief table summarizing their abilities and bonuses after the basic information (hit dice, skill points, class skills, etc.) are given.

All in all, Background Levels is an excellent idea given form, but the mechanics, while good, aren?t as solid as they could be. The Background feat isn?t ever stated to be required at first level; in fact, it seems to be implied that you don?t need to take it then, despite how awkward it?d seem to suddenly have your background shaping your character at higher levels. Likewise, it?s uncertain is the Background feat is needed to take levels in a background class or not. It doesn?t seem to be a prerequisite, but it could be understood that way.

Despite its flaws though, Background Levels functions well, and does a good job of making a character?s pre-adventuring history be more than just notes on the back of his character sheet. This book represents a step forward in integrating a character?s personality with their mechanics, helping to merge the two into a cohesive whole. Players wanting to make their characters? past a part of them would be well served to get Background Levels.<br><br> <b>LIKED</b>: This book does well in offering not only multiple backgrounds, but cleverly providing degrees for how much you want your character to be integrated with his background. If only a little, he can take the Background feat, or he can embrace it fully by taking class levels.<br><br><b>DISLIKED</b>: A few of the finer points regarding the Background feat are unclear. Can it only be taken at first level? Is it a prerequisite for background classes? Those questions don't have a clear answer.<br><br><b>QUALITY</b>: Very Good<br><br><b>VALUE</b>: Satisfied<br>



Rating:
[4 of 5 Stars!]
pixel_trans.gif
Creator Reply:
Thank you for a fair and balanced review. I will take your comments under consideration when working on a revised edition. To answer your questions: the background feat is intended to be taken only at 1st level, and it is indeed a prerequisite for advancing levels in a background class. If you think background levels are important in building characters, you might also consider giving all 1st-level characters an extra feat to be used on a background.
pixel_trans.gif
Displaying 1 to 1 (of 1 reviews) Result Pages:  1 
pixel_trans.gif
pixel_trans.gif Back pixel_trans.gif
0 items
 Gift Certificates