Character Class Perk/Background Competition

[Talir]

I'd like to put the creativity of our community to the test and see what manner of class perks/backgrounds you think should be added to our rather limited pool. The competition is thus: make a rogue perk or a fighter/sorcerer background and post it here for a chance to earn an uniquely crafted item resembling a part of your character's history in-game. I'll look through the suggestions and hand over the reward to the winner(s) after this weekend. Regardless of victory, I'll add the contributions I like to the selection in-game so this is your chance to put in the stuff you've always wanted.

Feel free to make as many suggestions as you'd like.

A few things to consider:

• The perk/background should offer bonuses. Negatives may be fine but don't try to vastly modify the class with it and give skills like -20 bluff, +20 persuade.
• The feat bonuses that can be given are limited. As a rule, anything you can add to an item is easy enough to give as a reward.
• Less special scripting is easier but creative adjustments can be done.
• Follow the system already in place for the different perks/backgrounds. This means that the backgrounds get stronger by levels whereas the strength of the rogue perks is different between the level 5 pick and level 8 pick.
• Feel free to look at those we already have for ideas and balance (*cough*).
• ... I'll update this short list if needed.

What I look for in the perk/background:

• Creativity.
• Strength in concept.
• Appealing to a wide range of characters yet providing a special niche or flavor.
• Subtle but meaningful adjustments.
• Easy to implement.

Please include:

• Name.
• Description.
• Perk/background bonuses (and progression where needed).

[putrid_plum]

Tribal Warrior - Fighter Perk

You have spent your life in the service of your tribe, a great warrior.  The land is your friend, you defend it and fight for it.  Either a great warrior in the service to the Gods of Nature or someone who lives on the land your attunement to the natural world shows.

Level 1/2: +10% Speed Bonus in the Wilds
Level 5: +1 Fortitude and Will saves in the Wilds
Level 8: Animals no longer attack you

[Ever Vigilant]

Rogue Perks:

Level 5- -Forger:

"From falsified receipts to false orders a Forger's work in crime is unprecedentedly useful. A clerk in your youth or simply a dedicated criminal you have found that personal business brings far more wealth than public office."

Perk: Per-reset generated Citizenship Papers. Special Consideration for DM-aided forged letters, orders, or otherwise.

Level 8 -Conman

"Whether a shiftless troublemaker wandering from town to town or a dedicated and debonair gentleman there is no limit to the lengths you'll go to game a mark be it tailored disguises, wigs, or more."

Perk: Access to the "/C setheadset" command outside of the starting area to represent disguises, No charge for tailored clothes at Brem Blazon's.

[chrijone]

Sorcerer Background

Name: Pestilent Host

Description:  You are filthy, your breath stinks and always your clothes are stained in some manner of refuse. At first, resentful, cast into the filth but slowly you shall arise from the grime bloated with powers others would find foul.

Level 1: Vomit breath 1 use a day, +2 vs diseases, +2 vs poison
Level 5: Dragon Breath Gas 1 use a day, 10% Acid immunity
Level 8: Phenotype changed to fat, +2 Con, 10% slash resistance

[Pigadig]

Rogue Perk

Level 5 -  Rooftop Runner

"Born in the big cities, you know that often the fastest way to get around isn't the streets. Whether from Calimport, Waterdeep or any other large city in the lands, extensive use of the so-called Thieves' Highway has served you well and given you an edge on your peers who have used less uneven methods of travel."

Bonus: +5% movement speed.
Pure Bonus: +2 Tumble.

[xXCrystal_Rose]

Sorcerer Background: Elemental Savant (earth, air, fire, water)


You were born with a natural connection to one of the prime elemental planes, for whatever reason remains unknown. Spells of a certain element seem to call to you in ways not experienced by others.

Earth:

Level 1: Elemental Bond: Earth
Level 5: +2 fortitude, 10% bludgeoning Damage Immunity
Level 8: Earthquake 1/day

Air:

Level 1: Elemental Bond: Air
Level 5: +2 reflex, 10% Electricity Immunity
Level 8: Blinding Speed 1/day

Fire:

Level 1: Elemental Bond: Fire
Level 5: +2 will, 10% Fire Immunity
Level 8: Incendiary Cloud 1/day

Water:

Level 1: Elemental Bond: Water
Level 5: +2 fortitude, 10% ice immunity
Level 8: Drown 1/day

[chrijone]

Fighter Background

Name: Greenhorn

Description: The Ziggurat holds no bias. Man, woman, noble and commoner. It plucks them all. Forced from your previous life into one of battle and heroics. You are the farmer, merchant, sweeper, barkeep, etc who has taken up the path of adventurer.

Level 1: -2 Discipline, -2 fear saves, increased experience gain and gore when killing things (same as bloody mess perk gave)
Level 5: +5 EFUSS Skills, Random basic consumable on reset
Level 8: +2 Reflex

[chrijone]

Fighter background

Name: Lucky Son/Daughter

Description: You were born under a lucky star, named after an auspicious event. Maybe your blessed by the gods? Who knows, all we do know for sure is that when dice tumble they tend to favour you.

Level 1: +1 Universal Saves, +3 tumble
Level 5: +1 Reflex, +1 Will
Level 8: Bonus Feat: Defensive Roll

[xXCrystal_Rose]

Sorcerer Background: Cancer Mage

Those whose magic become corrupted by the numerous plagues and diseases of Ymph find themselves in a less than desireable position. Poison and disease run rampant, and the cancer mage seems to draw them in, willing or not. carrying the disease in their magic as much as their bodies. A gift to be cherished or a curse to be cured of the cancer mage is a gruesome sight to behold, always festering with one plague or another.

Level 1: -3 disease resist, Plagued (acquires random disease on reset), contagion 3/day
Level 5: -5 disease resist, +2 intimidate, Held weapons gain on-hit Contagion, small chance spells may bestow the disease the cancer mage carries to allies or enemies (if scriptable. If not then add 2/+4 DR and +2 con). A cloud of flies surrounds the cancer mage.
Level 8: Immune to ability score decrease or otherwise immune to the damage of the diseases they carry inside them, -10 disease resist, familiar becomes a diseased cloud, Disease form (mist form) 1/day, +2 intimidate.

Edit: Maybe at level 8 have the "plagued" change from random disease to custom disease. Would make the spreading level 5 ability much scarier to allies, and have offensive purpose too for spreading it, and give further reason to stay consistently diseased at all times. It does come across as a little strong if plagued with a scripted disease like corpse blight, but like Touch of the Maiden it's a giant target on your forehead for most.

[chrijone]

Fighter Background

Name: Anatomist

Description: Whether it came from being a battlefield medic, a physician or you just like to know what your cutting apart. You have a deeper understanding of bodily mechanics than others, woe unto those that expose their weak spots to you.

Level 1: +2 intimidate, +4 heal, +2 lore
Level 5: +4 heal becomes +6 heal, +1 fort
Level 8: 1d6 Sneaks, +6 heal becomes +8

[Paha]

Fighter perk:

Bounty Hunter
When a runner is noted and bounty is posted, the target is all that matters. Bounty hunter seeks the wanted for fair reward, and no one else. Nothing can come in between the payday and the hunter when contract is taken.

Level 1: Tanglefoot bag each reset
Level 5: +3 discipline, iron will feat
Level 8: Spring attack

[Apocalypse Nigh]

Godless Heathen- Fighter

You are a godless fanatic, fearing neither hell or heaven as you preach staunchly against the gods. Despite the conformity of society, you work relentlessly to end the grasp of the gods over mankind.

Level 1: Cursed by the Gods  (-2 to all universal saves.) +4 versus divine
Level 5: Feat gained: Iron Will
Level 8: +3 will, +2 reflex. Potential for Divine Smite

[Apocalypse Nigh]

Wretched Dionysium - Sorcerer

A bard, play write, muse, or otherwise balladeer oriented individual, the Wretched Dionysium is a bard who never receives praise or applause for his works, and is jealously bitter of the world for scorning his genius. His tales and fables come to life, often in the form of angry fairy-tales and  monsters.


Level 1: UNIQUE Sorcerer SUMMONING THEME (Oriented around Fairy-Tales etc...)
Level 5: , +3 Bluff.
Level 8: The Grim Knight's  Herald (Unique 1/day summon of a Dark Knight, spouts random, horrid Shakespearean battle cries.)

[chrijone]

Rogue Perks.

Name: Pottymouth
Level: 5
Description: Rude, and foul mouthed. You are a pain upon everyone's ears. Perhaps you came to be like this from a rough childhood or maybe it's just a family trait.
Abilities: +5 Taunt

Name: Jester
Level: 5
Description: There are two types of clowns. Those that wish to make people happy and those that are willing to knock them dead, with or without the punchline.
Abilities: -2 persuade, -2 intimidate, widget granting the spell Tasha Hideous Laughter one use a day.

Name: Megalomaniac
Level: 5  
Description: You must always be in control, always. You were overly possessive as a child, you had to know what was going on and where at all times and it's a trait you could never shake off.
Abilities: +2 spot, +2 listen

[Lyvathar]

Fighter Perk

Name: Born Under a Sign

Description: You were born during astronomical event of great auspicious meaning. It has been for told that you will go fourth into the world to accomplish great things. As a result you often find yourself surviving in situations where others would perish.

Level 1: +1 Universal Saves
Level 5: +1d6 Massive Criticals on any weapon held. Bonus Feat: Dodge
Level 8: Bonus Feat: Evasion