You devote much of your time to studying cultures other than your own first hand. Perhaps you work for a scholarly institution, perhaps you're gathering intelligence, maybe you simply have a fascination with the exotic. Whatever the case, you observe foreigners with a notebook in hand, and read up on customs and traditions whenever you're not out in the field.
Original credit for this background goes to reddit's skippythehobo
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight, History
- Tool Proficiencies: None
- Languages: Any two
- Equipment: A notebook and writing supplies, traveler's clothes, a pouch containing 15 gp, a token of some culture you have studied.
Your training helps you quickly pick up local customs, dialects and practices. You can blend in with the local populace easily wherever you go, and they often treat you as one of their own. You are also quick to spot anything that might be amiss or our of place, even in lands unfamiliar to you.
Suggested Characteristics
Anthropologists straddle the fine line between academia and exploration. Thus, they can be bold and adventurous, or meek and thoughtful. Either way, their driving focus is to understand peoples who are not like them, whether currently living or long extinct.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can spend hours listening to accounts of everyday life. |
| 2 | I am constantly trying to get others interested in my latest obsession. |
| 3 | I see each person as a riddle to be solved. |
| 4 | I have grown cynical and disillusioned with humanoid nature. |
| 5 | I love nothing so much as a vivacious intellectual debate. |
| 6 | I have a fixation with a specific culture, and constantly compare all others to it. |
| 7 | My wanderlust means I can't stay in one place very long. |
| 8 | One reason I spend time with other societies is because I barely understand my own. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Understanding. The people of the world would get along if they understood each other better (Good) |
| 2 | Wonder. The world is full of strangeness and wonder, and I must record all of it. (Neutral) |
| 3 | Power. Knowledge is power. The more I understand my victims and enemies, the better I can manipulate them (Evil) |
| 4 | Flux. Culture and environments are in constant flux, and it is fascinating. I must witness and understand history as it unfolds. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Principles. People and societies behave according to innate principles. By understanding and codifying these principles, we can better organize society. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Fame. One day, my works will change the way people think. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am writing a guide to the people of the world. When I get it published, it will be my magnum opus. |
| 2 | I correspond regularly with my benefactor, telling them of my discoveries and adventures. |
| 3 | I have spent a lot of time in a particular community, and my ties there are deep. |
| 4 | I am still close to my mentor, who is retired but still has an interest in the field. |
| 5 | I have a rivalry with someone in my field. The two of us are constantly vying for prestige. |
| 6 | I have always dreamt of traveling to a land I've only ever heard rumors and legends of. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | My tendency to get distracted has caused problems for myself and allies. |
| 2 | Despite all my learning, I am intolerant and condescending towards other cultures. |
| 3 | I am intellectually vain, bearing grudges against those who question my knowledge or show me up. |
| 4 | I often make others uncomfortable with tactless questions and speculation. |
| 5 | Although I am a keen observer, I have trouble breaking out of the background and interacting with others. |
| 6 | I am overly fond of the material delights offered by other cultures. Gluttony, opulence, and decadence are old friends of mine. |
Archaeologists are often sought-after for their expertise in ancient civilization and relics. They can often identify artifacts and architecture within a minute of inspection. Museums, libraries, universities, and private collectors are often willing to open their collections to Archaeologists.
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