A background is a pre-determined history of events that can be chosen during character creation. All backgrounds affect stats in some way, and most are somewhat restricted by race and/or gender. The backgrounds here are listed in alphabetical order.
Afraid of the Dark[]
Available to humans and halflings.
You cannot stand to be in the dark. You stay constantly aware of your surroundings, peering into dim corners and dark shadows to see if something is there. While this has raised your Perception (+2), you will suffer a panic attack if you are in too dark an area, leading to penalties in Dexterity (-2), Intelligence (-2), and Willpower (-2), but you do gain a bonus to Strength (+2) from the fear.
PE +2 / In Dark Area: IN -2, DX -2, WP -2, ST +2
Agoraphobic[]
Available to humans, dwarves, gnomes, and halflings.
You are terrified of open spaces. As a child, you rarely went outdoors and spent your time reading and studying, gaining a bonus to Intelligence (+2). You are fine if you are indoors or even in a thickly forested area, but if you go into an outdoor open area, you suffer a panic attack, losing your Intelligence bonus and leading to penalties in Dexterity (-2), Intelligence (-2), and Willpower (-2), but you do gain a bonus to Strength (+2) from the fear.
Indoors or Under Tree Cover: IN +2 / Outdoor Open Area: IN -2, DX -2, WP -2, ST +2
Apprenticed to a Blacksmith[]
Available to all.
Your master is a hard man. You gain a bonus to Strength (+1) and a bonus to your Repair skill, but you suffer a penalty to Dexterity (-2) due to the strenuous and repetitive hard labor.
ST +1 / Repair +2 / DX -2
Apprenticed to a Shopkeeper[]
Available to all.
Spending your whole childhood inside a shop, you gain an exceptional bonus to Haggle, but you suffer a penalty to Dexterity (-1).
Haggle +3 / DX -1
Army Training[]
Available to all except half-ogres.
You received some army training during your youth, but were discharged for having flat feet. You gain bonuses to Strength (+1), as well as slight bonuses to your Bow and Melee skills, but you have a penalty to Dexterity (-1).
ST +1 / Bow +1 / Melee +1 / DX -1
Arsonist[]
Available to humans, gnomes, and half-orcs.
You like fire. No, you LOVE fire! Fire! Fire! FIRE! You were always picked on as a kid for being scrawny, receiving penalties to Strength (-1) and Constitution (-1), but you showed them! You studied Explosives, gaining +20 Expertise, and you burned their homes! Burned them to the ground! Ha ha! Then you ran away from home and snuck aboard the IFS Zephyr, which seemed highly flammable and an excellent target. You probably would have torched the zeppelin if it hadn't been shot down.
Explosives Expertise +20 / ST -1 / CN -1
Bandit[]
Available to humans, half-orcs and half-elves.
You are a gun-toting bandit. Your lifestyle has earned you a bonus to your Firearms skill, as well as a penalty to Charisma (-1). You ran afoul of the law and reached the IFS Zephyr just one step ahead of the authorities. You have your gun and some ammo, but you don't have any money.
Firearms +2 / CH -1 / 0 Gold / Quality Revolver / 50 bullets
Barbarian[]
Available to all except elves and half-ogres.
You were raised among a wild barbarian tribe in a far away land. No one knows how or why you came to be passenger aboard the IFS Zephyr, but given your ferocious demeanor, no one tried to find out. You gain bonuses to Strength (+2) and Constitution (+1), and a slight bonus to Melee, while suffering penalties to Intelligence (-1) and Charisma (-2), and a penalty to Haggle. You also possess barbarian armor but less money than other characters.
ST +2 / CN +1 / IN -1 / CH -2 / Melee +1 / Haggle -2 / 100 Gold / Dark Barbarian Clothes
Beat with an Ugly Stick[]
Available to all.
You are ugly. There is just no other word for it, unless you consider "hideous" a better word. Children flee from you in terror and even the kindest of souls finds it difficult to stand your presence for long. As a result of your countenance, you take an extreme penalty to Beauty (-6), but because you have had to defend yourself from frequent attacks, you gain a bonus to Strength (+2), Dexterity (+2), and a slight bonus to all of your Combat Skills.
BE -6 / ST +2 / DX +2 / Melee +1 / Dodge +1 / Bow +1 / Throwing +1
Bookworm[]
Available to all except half-orcs and half-ogres.
You have spent most of your life reading. You gain a bonus to Intelligence (+1). Unfortunately, myopia has set in, and you lose a point to Perception (-1).
IN +1 / PE -1
Born Under a Sign[]
Available to all.
You were born during an astounding astronomical event. As a result, you experience fewer critical hits and critical misses, but when you do get them their results tend to be spectacular.
% Chance of Critical Hit Success or Failure -10 / Modifier for Critical Hit or Failure Effect +10
Bride of Frankenstein[]
Available to female humans and female half-orcs.
You were reanimated by a mad scientist to be the bride of his other creation, but somehow you managed to escape before the wedding. You are very well constructed, gaining bonuses to Beauty (+4), Constitution (+4), Electrical Resistance (+20%), and Poison Resistance (+10%), but you have a very slow Dexterity (-4), a damaged brain-larynx connection (you use Dumb Dialogue options), and a susceptibility to fire, Fire Resistance (-10%). You also start out with no money whatsoever.
BE +4 / CN +4 / DX -4 / Electrical Resistance +20 / Poison Resistance +10 / Fire Resistance -10 / 0 Gold / Dumb Dialogue
Bully[]
Available to all except half-orcs and half-ogres.
You were the class bully, big and dumb. Extortion and intimidation have afforded you a bonus to Strength (+1), but getting people to do your homework for you leaves you with a deficiency in Intelligence (-1).
IN -1 / ST +1
Charlatan's Protégé[]
Available to all except half-orcs and half-ogres.
Having been convinced by a travelling salesman to become his apprentice, you've given up your life in the military academy you were enrolled in. You gain a major bonus to Charisma (+6), but lose some physical Strength (-2) and Constitution (-2), as well as taking slight penalties to all of your Combat Skills.
CH +6 / ST -2 / CN -2 / Melee -1 / Dodge -1 / Bow -1 / Throwing -1
Child of a Hero[]
Available to all.
You start with your father's +1 sword and are known throughout the land as a child of a Hero. Therefore you will incur terrible negative reaction for any evil act.
Bad Reaction Adjustment x2 / Enchanted Sword
Clanless Dwarf[]
Available to dwarves.
Your parents did not belong to a clan, and would not discuss the reasons why. You gain no dwarven bonus to Tech skills, but you do start with an excellent dwarven war hammer.
Repair -2 / Firearms -2 / Pick Locks -2 / Disarm Traps -2 / Quality Hammer
Dark Elf Follower[]
Available to elves.
You believe in the philosophy of the dark elves, that technology must be brought down at any cost. This faith has strengthened your resolve, Willpower (+2), but the recent rise of technology has made you bitter, Charisma (-2).
WP +2 / CH -2
Dark Sight[]
Available to all.
Your eyes are overly sensitive to light. You are nearly blind in daylight, but you can see perfectly in darkness. Therefore, all skill lighting penalties are reversed for you.
In the Light: PE -15 / In the Dark: PE +15
Day Mage[]
Available to all except dwarves.
You were born with a magickal Aptitude that has affinity for the sun. During the day (between the hours of 6 AM and 6 PM), you possess a 20% bonus to your Magickal Aptitude, but at night you suffer a 20% penalty to your Magickal Aptitude.
Débutante[]
Available to all females
Your family is one of the most influential in all of Arcanum. As a young debutante, you have bonuses to Beauty (+3) and Charisma (+3). Of course, the easy life has made you soft in mind and body. You have penalties in Strength (-1), Dexterity (-1), and all of your Combat Skills.
BE +3 / CH +3 / ST -1 / DX -1 / Melee -2 / Dodge -2 / Bow -2 / Throwing -2
Disenfranchised Gnome[]
Available to gnomes.
You are not a part of the gnomish capitalist bourgeoisie, and instead grew up as a day laborer. You suffer a penalty to Haggle, but gain a bonus to Strength (+1).
Haggle -2 / ST +1
Educator[]
Available to all.
You are a natural teacher. As you learn skill training, you can teach your followers the previous training step. So as an Expert, you can teach your followers as Apprentices, if they qualify. However, since you spend extra time with each follower, you cannot have as many as usual (-1 to maximum followers).
Max # of Followers -1 / Followers can be Trained
Elven Blood[]
Available to humans, gnomes, halflings, and half-ogres.
Your father's great-grandmother was an elf. You gain an increase in Magickal Aptitude (5%), but suffer a slight penalty to all Tech skills.
Repair -1 / Firearms -1 / Pick Locks -1 / Disarm Traps -1 / Magick Points +1
Escaped Lunatic[]
Available to humans.
You have escaped from an insane asylum and stowed away aboard the IFS Zephyr. You are extremely resistant to damage (+25% to normal, fire, electrical, and poison resistance) but you have no money, you have stolen some cheap clothing, and most people are frightened or repulsed by you Reaction Modifier(-25 reaction).
Resist Damage +25 / Fire Resistance +25 / Electrical Resistance +25 / Poison Resistance +25 / Reaction -25 / 0 Gold/ Rustic Finery/Dress
Extreme Personality[]
Available to all.
You possess an extreme personality. People react more strongly to your presence, and tend to grow to either love or hate you.
Bad Reaction Adjustment -30 / Good Reaction Adjustment +30
Factory Escapee[]
Available to half-orcs.
You were a slave in a factory until a recent escape. You have little money, but you gain a bonus to Strength (+1).
ST +1 / 50 Gold
Feral Child[]
Available to humans, half-elves, gnomes, half-orcs, and half-ogres.
As an infant, your parents abandoned you in the middle of the forest. Having been raised by a pack of wolves gives you a considerable bonus to Dexterity (+3) as well as slight bonuses in the Thieving Skills of Prowling and Pick Pocket. But, oblivious of table manners and the rules of good society, you receive a severe penalty to Intelligence (-6) as well as slight penalties in the Social Skills of Persuasion and Haggle. You begin with half the normal stating wealth.
IN -6 / Persuasion -1 / Haggle -1 / DX +3 / Prowling +1 / Pick Pocket +1 / 200 Gold
Foppish Elf[]
Available to elves.
Raised in the city, you lose the elven bonus to dexterity but gain a bonus to Persuasion.
DX -1 / Persuasion +2
Frankenstein Monster[]
Available only to male humans and male half-orcs.
You were reanimated by a mad scientist from various body parts he found at grave sites, but somehow you escaped from the laboratory. You are very well constructed, gaining bonuses to Strength (+4), Constitution (+4), Electrical Resistance (+30%), and Poison Resistance (+20%), but you have very slow Dexterity (-6), a damaged brain-larynx connection (you use dumb dialog options), and a susceptibility to fire, Fire Resistance (-20%). You also start out with no money whatsoever.
ST +4 / CN +4 / DX -6 / Electrical Resistance +30 / Poison Resistance +20 / Fire Resistance -20 / 0 Gold / Dumb Dialogue
Freed Bodyguard[]
Available to half-ogres.
Your gnomish master recently died, and in his will you were freed from servitude, as well as being left a small monetary gift. However, you are not very bright, and suffer a penalty to your Intelligence (-1).
IN -1 / 500 Gold
Halfling Orphan[]
Available to halflings.
Abandoned in a large city as a child, you survived by stealing and never received any education. You gain a bonus to Pick Pocket, but lost a point to Intelligence (-1).
Pick Pocket +2 / IN -1
Hydrophobic[]
Available to humans, dwarves, gnomes, halflings, and half-orcs.
You are deathly afraid of water and of drowning. As a child, you constantly made up reasons to avoid entering even shallow water, gaining a bonus to Persuasion. If you do find yourself in water, you suffer a panic attack, leading to penalties in Dexterity (-2), Intelligence (-2) and Willpower (-2), but you do gain a bonus to Strength (+2) from the fear.
Persuasion +2 / In Water: IN -2, DX -2, WP -2, ST +2
Hyperactive[]
Available to to all.
You are constantly busy. Your Speed is higher than normal (+1), but most people find you annoying, and your Charisma suffers (-1).
Speed +1 / CH -1
Idiot Savant[]
Available to humans and Human-Hybrids.
You were institutionalized at a young age and believed to be mentally handicapped. After several years, the institute lost funding and you were turned out onto the street with nothing more than the clothes on your back. You are brilliant with a keen grasp of numbers and mathematics, but you are barely able to talk. You gain a significant bonus to Intelligence (+6) and an exceptional bonus to your Gambling skill. However, years of being locked away makes you suffer physically and emotionally. You act as if you had a much lower Intelligence (Dumb Dialogue and Technical Manuals penalty), and you suffer penalties to Strength (-1), Constitution (-1), Dexterity (-2), and Willpower (-2).
IN +6 / ST -1 / CN -1 / DX -2 / WP -2 / Gambling +3 / 0 Gold
Note: Also all of the technical manuals give you only 1 point per tome, regardless of your actual value of intelligence.
Inheritance[]
Available to all.
You were orphaned as a young child and inherited a lot of money. The easy life has cost you a penalty to Willpower (-1). Most of the money has been spent by now, but you begin with twice the normal starting wealth.
WP -1 / 800 Gold
Lady's Man[]
Available to all male members of any race.
Women swoon whenever they are near you. Being unusually good-looking, you gain a large bonus to Beauty (+6). Unfortunately, all that primping and powdering has you lacking in the more manly virtues... you lose points in Constitution (-2), Strength (-2), and Dexterity (-2).
BE +6 / CN -2 / ST -2 / DX -2
Mad Doctor[]
Available to all.
You have performed numerous untested and dangerous medical experiments upon yourself and suffer from the adverse effects. You have bonuses to Intelligence (+2), Perception (+2), Poison Resistances (+20%), Electrical Resistance (+20%), and a bonus to your Healing skill (+1), but you suffer penalties to Beauty (-1), Charisma (-1), Dexterity (-2), and Constitution (-3).
IN +2 / PE +2 / Electrical Resistance +20 / Poison Resistance +20 / Heal +4 / BE -1 / CH -1 / DX -2 / CN -3
Magick Allergy[]
Available to all except elves and half-elves.
You are severely allergic to magickal items, such that touching them causes you pain. Therefore, you have been devoted to technology since a young age and have developed a knack for it. You gain a +10% bonus to Technological Aptitude, but you cannot wield ANY magickal items.
Tech Points +2 / Cannot Equip any Magickal Items on Your Character.
Miracle Operation[]
Available to all.
Though born to a wealthy family as a young child, you mysteriously lost your sight. It was discovered that you had contracted a degenerative and always fatal disease. As a blind child, your early development favored indoor activities and development befitting the wealthiest of society. You gained bonuses to Intelligence (+3) and Charisma (+3). Your senses of touch, hearing, and smell increased to compensate for your blindness, resulting in a bonus to Perception (+5). However, you suffered physically, leading to penalties in Strength (-3), Dexterity (-3), and Constitution (-5). As a young adult, your parents, out of desperation, paid for the services of a renowned, if unorthodox physician, who miraculously restored your sight. The operation cost your family its fortune, so you set out to make your own.
IN +3 / CH +3 / PE +5 / ST -3 / DX -3 / CN -5
Note: This character background can leave you with only 1 Constitution, which will reduce your Heal Rate to 0. This means that not only will you not regenerate Hit Points by sleeping, but will also be entirely unable to regenerate Fatigue by either waiting or sleeping. If a character with a Constitution of 1 falls unconscious, then they are as good as dead.
Nature Mage[]
Available to all except dwarves.
You were born with a magickal aptitude that has affinity for nature. While standing on a natural surface, you possess a 20% bonus to Magickal Aptitude. But on a man-made surface, you suffer a 20% penalty to your Magickal Aptitude.
On Natural Surface: Magick Ability +2 / On Man-Made Surface: Magick Ability -2
Nietzsche Poster Child[]
Available to all.
Nietzsche once said "That which does not kill me makes me stronger," and he may have been referring to you. All your life you have been making mistakes, but you always seem to come out better afterwards. In other words, you critically fail more than normal but you have a 10% Experience Points bonus.
Experience Point Bonus +10% / % Chance of Critical Fail +20
Night Mage[]
Available to all except dwarves.
You were born with a magickal aptitude that has affinity for the night. At night (between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM), you possess a 20% bonus to your Magickal Aptitude, but during the day you suffer a 20% penalty to your Magickal Aptitude.
Only Child[]
Available to all.
You grew up as the only child of very permissive parents, and you basically always got your own way. As an adult, you expect nothing less than total obedience of those around you, gaining a bonus to Willpower (+6), but your temperament leaves much to be desired, resulting in penalties to your Charisma (-4) and your Persuasion and Haggle skills.
WP +6 / CH -4 / Haggle -2 / Persuasion -2
Professional Knife Tosser[]
Available to all.
You used to work as a knife thrower in a circus, until losing an eye in a freak accident. Sadly, you lose a point to Perception (-1), but you gain an exceptional bonus to your Throwing skill.
PE -1 / Throwing +3
Raised by Elves[]
Available to humans.
You start with a wonderful suit of magickal elven chain mail, but suffer a slight penalty to all Tech skills.
Repair -1 / Firearms -1 / Pick Locks -1 / Disarm Traps -1 / Elven Chainmail
Raised by Monks[]
Available to all.
Piety has its advantages and disadvantages. You gain a bonus to Perception (+1), but renouncing the material world leaves you with only one quarter of the normal starting wealth.
PE +1 / 100 Gold
Raised by Orcs[]
Available to humans, gnomes, halflings, half-orcs, and half-ogres.
You were a runaway orphan, homeless and starving, when an orcish family in the wilderness took you in and raised you. Their brutish ways have left you with increased Strength (+2) and Perception (+2), as well as given you a slight bonus to all Combat Skills. Unfortunately, your upbringing has also taken its toll on your personality, and you have a severe penalty to Charisma (-6).
CH -6 / ST +2 / PE +2 / Melee +1 / Dodge +1 / Bow +1 / Throwing +1
Raised by Snake Handlers[]
Available to all.
You receive a 20% increase in your Resistances to poison, but suffer a penalty to your Beauty (-1) due to the large numbers of bite scars on your arms and legs.
Resist Poison +20 / BE -1
Raised in the Pits[]
Available to all.
Being a veteran in the local pit fights, you gain a bonus to Strength (+2), Dexterity (+2), and a bonus to all Combat Skills. The vicious combat has also taken a toll. Head trauma gives you a severe penalty to Intelligence (-6). As a result, you're not especially good with money. Your entire life savings amounts to a measly 100 coins and your battle pit weapon.
IN -6 / ST +2 / DX +2 / Melee +1 / Dodge +1 / Bow +1 / Throwing +1 / 100 Gold / Rusty Axe
Ran Away with the Circus[]
Available to all.
Having run away with a local troupe of circus performers, you have gained considerable physical Strength (+6), but have serious deficiencies in Intelligence (-2), Willpower (-3), and Perception (-1) due to all of the schooling that you missed.
ST +6 / IN -2 / WP -3 / PE -1
Rare Half-Ogre Birth[]
Available to half-ogres.
You were born to a human mother, who miraculously survived your birth. Having been raised in the city, you gain a considerable bonus to Intelligence (+2). City life has also lessened your ferocity, and you lose points in both Strength (-1) and Constitution (-1).
IN +2 / ST -1 / CN -1
Sent to Charm School[]
Available to human females.
Instead of a general education, you were sent to charm school. You gain bonuses to both Beauty (+1) and Charisma (+2), but you lose points in both Intelligence (-1) and Strength (-2).
BE +1 / CH +2 / IN -1 / ST -2
Sheltered Childhood[]
Available to all except dwarves and half-ogres.
You were cooed and coddled incessantly as a child. As a result of overprotective parenting, you take a severe penalty to Strength (-6), but, being more sensitive, you have bonuses to Intelligence (+2), Willpower (+2), and Perception (+1).
ST -6 / IN +2 / WP +2 / PE +1
Sickly[]
Available to all.
Mother Nature can be a harsh mistress. Having been born with an extremely weak immune system, you have penalties to Strength (-2), Constitution (-4), and Dexterity (-1). But all is not lost. Afternoons spent with a fever and a good book have afforded you unnaturally high Intelligence (+6).
IN +6 / ST -2 / CN -4 / DX -1
Sky Mage[]
Available to all except dwarves.
You were born with a magickal aptitude that has affinity for the open sky. While outside and in clear view of the sky, you possess a 20% bonus to Magickla Aptitude. But while underground, indoors, or even under a heavy forest canopy, you suffer a 20% penalty to your Magickal Aptitude.
In View Of Sky: Magick Ability +2 / Can’t See Sky: Magick Ability -2
Sold Your Soul[]
Available to all.
You have made a pact with a demon. In exchange for more magickal power, you have dedicated your life to the pursuit of evil. You gain 20% to Magickal Aptitude, but suffer -20 reaction from others and a -20 alignment (and your alignment can NEVER go higher).
MA +20 / Reaction -20 / Alignment -20 / Alignment max -20
Special Person[]
Available to all.
You have suffered congenital brain damage. You lack Intelligence (-2), but you receive more praise when you do good deeds (resulting in a better reaction from people).
IN -2 / Good Reaction Adjustment x2
Super Model[]
Available to all females, regardless of race.
You are a stunningly gorgeous woman, and you have been pampered and coddled all of your life. You gain a tremendous bonus to Beauty (+6) at the cost of Strength (-2) and Intelligence (-4).
BE +6 / ST -2 / IN -4
Suppressed Orcish Looks[]
Available to half-orcs.
You do not really look very orcish, but you are exceptionally surly. You have a bonus to Beauty (+2), but suffer a penalty to your Charisma (-2).
BE +2 / CH -2
Technophobia[]
Available to humans, half-elves, half-orcs, and halflings.
You were raised on a potato farm in the rustic backwaters of a distant land. You worked hard, gaining a bonus to Strength (+1) and Constitution (+1), but you never experienced any technology of any kind. Subsequently, you are afraid of technological items and cannot bring yourself to even pick one up.
ST +1 / CN +1 / Cannot add any tech items to your inventory
Tomboy[]
Available to all females, regardless of race.
As a little girl, you were always playing games with the boys. As a woman, you can hold your own against any man, and you have avoided the stereotypical female role in society. This background negates the gender effect by increasing Strength (+1) while decreasing Constitution (-1).
ST +1 / CN -1
Tough Hide[]
Available to half-orcs and half-ogres.
You were born with thick, brutish skin. Although you resist damage more than the average bloke does (10%), you unfortunately take a penalty to Beauty (-1).
Resist Damage +10 / BE -1
Troll Offspring[]
Available to all.
The gods frowned upon you when you were born. Cursed with both trollish looks and mannerisms, you receive severe penalties to Beauty (-4) and Charisma (-4). As everyone seems to think that you are spawned from monsters or worse, you often find yourself fending off hunters and holy men, and gain bonuses to Strength (+2), Constitution (+2), and Dexterity (+1).
BE -4 / CH -4 / ST +2 / CN +2 / DX +1
Wild Half-Ogre[]
Available to half-ogres.
You were born to an ogre mother and lived with an ogre clan until very recently. Compared to your more civilized brethren, you gain a bonus to Willpower (+1), but you suffer a penalty to your Charisma (-1).
WP +1 / CH -1