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Archives of Nethys

Archives of Nethys

Pathfinder RPG (1st Edition) Pathfinder RPG (2nd Edition) Starfinder RPG

General Backgrounds | Legacy Backgrounds | Regional Backgrounds

Abomination Vaults | Age of Ashes | Agents of Edgewatch | Blood Lords | Crown of the Kobold King | Extinction Curse | Fists of the Ruby Phoenix | Gatewalkers | Kingmaker | Outlaws of Alkenstar | Pathfinder Society | Quest for the Frozen Flame | Season of Ghosts | Sky King's Tomb | Stolen Fate | Strength of Thousands | The Fall of Plaguestone

Backgrounds

Source Player Core pg. 84 2.0
At 1st level, when you create your character, you gain a background of your choice. This decision is permanent; you can't change it at later levels. Each background listed here grants two ability boosts, a skill feat, and the trained proficiency rank in two skills, one of which is a Lore skill. If you gain the trained proficiency rank in a skill from your background and would then gain the trained proficiency rank in the same skill from your class at 1st level, you instead become trained in another skill of your choice.

Lore skills represent deep knowledge of a specific subject. If a Lore skill involves a choice (for instance, a choice of terrain), explain your preference to the GM, who has final say on whether it's acceptable or not. If you'd like some suggestions, the Common Lore Subcategories section in the Lore skill page lists a number of Lore skills that are suitable for most campaigns.

Rare Backgrounds

Source Advanced Player's Guide pg. 50 2.0
While most backgrounds are available to any character, some backgrounds are so unusual that just having them makes a character rare and extraordinary.

These rare backgrounds can give a player a significantly different roleplaying experience by setting their character up with a history or legacy beyond the norm. Whether a character with the royalty background is heir to the throne of the kingdom where your campaign takes place or to a distant but powerful nation in the same world, the character is situated in a special position within the narrative. Your character's background is an intrinsic part of where they come from and not something they earn during the game. Rare backgrounds should be chosen only after a discussion between the GM and the other players as to whether one would apply for a particular character in your group's game.

Backgrounds can also be unique, such that no other character can have them if your character does. To create unique backgrounds, you can adapt the rare backgrounds in this section by including more specific details.

Click here for the full rules on Rare Backgrounds.