Resources - Backstory Generator

Resources - Backstory Generator

After watching a YouTube video by Noah Antwiler (aka: Counter Monkey https://www.youtube.com/user/countermonkeybard/featured) I had to chase up one of the resources he mentioned, a random backstory generator for classic Tabletop RPGs called Central Casting: Heroes of Legend. 

After some browsing I found a PDF version of the book and began rolling up some random characters and what made them tick. Put briefly, this book is incredible. The amount of detail that it delves into and the quality of its variety means that every character is uniquely intriguing in who they are and how they came to be.

One issue is that the book does use some mechanical benefits for certain good rolls, such as magical gifts and starting wealth, even extra skills and proficiencies. If you are going to use this as a player make sure to address your DM before throwing your character in their face. 

Also, the book does make references to specific mechanics that may not exist in your system, like ranks and skills. However, if you are knowledgeable enough in your system you may be able to easily find a way to transfer the numbers without many issues.

All in all, be prepared to put in about an hour’s time into a backstory that will truly give your character that boot up the arse needed to start doing something epic and fantastical, so they in return can give you a boot up the arse to play something epic and fantastical in return.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B-oQgX8_bvSLdlFsTDhDdUxfWTg/view

Enjoy

Pixie x

15/9/15

Character Design - Melat Kono-Breal

This is a ‘friendly’ NPC in my current campaign, working with a similarly aligned party who the PCs are searching for. I like to allow the PCs to find him through a trail of rapidly and brutally converted locals and beggars who got in his way,  following tracks of Infernal prayer and branded flesh. Also, he weirdly acts as a father figure for several NPCs, as he is polite and honest, but also behaves ruthlessly when encouraged to. This is designed using the Pathfinder RPG system.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/15Zp7ANtaWc135kelWu3jvMIZIx_Aol6Z0_0OJWcJ5V4/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy

Pixie x

16/07/15

Sunday Respite - Adventure Hooks

There’s only so many times that you can pull the ‘kidnapped princess’ or ‘lost artefact of immense power but little recognition and poorly maintained surroundings’ cards before your players begin to think that the deck is stacked against their favour. Therefore, feel free to accept a brief collection of interesting, open-ended plot-hooks for you Tabletop adventures.

Bones and Mortar

In a sleepy village, several buildings and houses have appeared around the settlement, fully decorated and uninhabited. After a brief investigation it is clear that the structures are more than simple stone and oak, but constructed of organic tissue, like bone furniture, curtains of skin, walls of teeth, and cloths of hair. These houses then animate and begin kidnapping the residents, walking them to their master in the hills on legs of cobble and brick.

The Oil Pit

A community whose primary industry is the drilling and excavation of oil and pitch from under the earth uncovered a creature of living oil, which proceeded to attack the workers, sending them back to their families and friends, wounded and choking, only for them to turn and attack once again, their blood replaced by slick.

Hole in the Sky

A traditional fireworks display to celebrate an annual event manages to crack a hole in the sky, piercing through into pitch blackness, dislodging a shard of the air to the ground. The next morning, descending from the gap, is a metal ladder, about 200 ft in height, with a paper note attached to the first rung - ‘You Knocked?’

The Clothes’ New Emperor

A local Duke, Noble or Lord has inherited a collection of rich and fanciful clothes and armaments from an unknown relative who passed away, brought to him by foreign mourners and friends of their kin. However, upon wearing the gifts, the clothes turned on their new owner, making the Lord believe that they are Prince Estobaan Raithgyr and that all of his servants and subjects are heathens and blasphemers, inciting an inquisition of his land, an inquisition lead by the mourners and friends.

Where Did We All Go Wrong?

Upon their travels, the party is confronted by a panicked and nervous Demon of horns and scars, horrid in his visage but pleasant and fearful in his address, informing the party that he means them no harm and is being hunted by ‘terrors and fiends’. Almost immediately, stepping through a portal, are three angelic humanoids, with golden skin and shining halos, who act aggressively and brutally, demanding the Demon to be executed along with the party, following up to breathe forth gouts of flame and spin curses with their words, in Demonic tongue.

Enjoy

Pixie x

9/13/15

Character Design - Captain James ‘Greypine’ Darling

This is a character design for a NPC used in my mist recent campaign. I designed the adventure surrounding him so that the Players could decide to either work with him, work around him or work against him, allowing them to be clever. Instead, they fought both him and his entire crew in open combat, nearly losing two of their own in the fight, but winning in the end. He did put up one hell of a fight and didn't go down with a clean blade, making his creator proud. I have had far too many of my bosses die in embarrassing ways, more on that later.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jUBJ5sMXddUFGTIroQ0egpkGqbN-oGxohtZ68jioixE/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

14/07/15

Custom Encounter - Fish Riddle

This is a puzzle encounter that I have used twice on two different parties in two different systems (4E and 3.5) and has worked well both times. It is also a good idea to continue the palm-print activation concept throughout the dungeon complex so PCs understand the threat and can work around it and the DM can make sinister changes to mess with the PCs.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1S_AwEnnF_Iv1DLFb_xY7za2MvSd-Y5SAar0Mlqc3u9Q/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

20/07/15

Custom Encounter - The Pillar Puzzle

This is a puzzle/trap combination used as a nefarious and devious way to keep a door locked from intruders, requiring some association and literary skills to pass. I have yet to use this, as my current group is taking a short break at the moment for the holidays, but I can’t wait to see how they handle it. My advise is to use this puzzle in a haunted or undead-themed dungeon complex, one that is definitely not hospitable for the PCs. Although, a variation on this can be used to keep a secret entrance hidden (one without a deadly blade trap, unless the door really needs to be kept secret ... and is cleaned regularly) for a flamboyant or secretive Noble or organisation. This, as usual for my group, uses the Pathfinder (3.5) rule system and mechanics.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1P6F8rtEK3aIyo_PL6goeHNLvH7J2Xbng27MLBnMlhjc/edit?usp=sharing

Enjoy.

Pixie x

15/08/15