I have an idea for a campaign set in the modern world where the players are a group of high schoolers/middle schoolers suddenly thrust into a world where magic has returned without warning, and many humans suddenly transform into hybrids (half-elf, half-orc, dwarf, aasimar, tiefling, etc.), creatures not seen for eons appear, and apocalypse-type stuff happens.
I am new to the whole homebrew world creation thing, and would like some aid in specifics
First of all: backgrounds
What should the different backgrounds for this campaign be? All of them similar in that they are of middle/high schoolers, which haven’t encountered any magic or such prior to the Resurgence as I am calling the return of magic and such, potentially minus the LARPer/Role-Player. What proficiencies should be granted for each background? What should the special features be? What equipment should each background start with? What personality traits/ideals/bonds/flaws should the backgrounds have?
My current ideas for backgrounds are as follows:
LARPer/Role-Player - Plays dnd and as such is more accustomed to the newfound chaos
Influencer - highly engaged in multiple social media platforms such as facebook/twitter/youtube/etc., good with performing for an audience and possibly a disguise kit
Shoplifter - Proficient in all or some of the relaxant skills such as sleight of hand, stealth, deception
Nerd - fully dedicated to their studies and knows stuff, some tool proficiencies? Skills?
Bully - good with intimidation, deception, and possibly stealth or thieves tools
Club Member - miscellaneous skills and tool proficiencies, choose 2/3/4 of ‘em
Other ideas are welcome as well as more specifics.
Fantasy Nerd Arcana, History, 2 fantasy languages of their choice Background Feature: That's from Elven Lord series 12 volume 2!You are well read in all kinds of different fantasy books, graphic novels, TV shows, movies, fan-fic etc... and can identify most types of monsters and fantastical creatures, and have a 25% chance of having a piece of fiction that features them and their abilities in your bag.
BandGeek Performance, Athletics, Vehicles (land) + 1 musical instrument of their choice Background Feature: Your own Roadie. You have been on dozens of field trips carrying all kinds of instruments and equipment to competitions and shows. You can find and arrange transportation on ground or sea vehicles for you and the party in exchange for helping to load / unload other goods.
Eco-Activist / Camp Counsellor Nature, Survival, Navigator's Kit, Healer's Kit Background Feature: Green Living. You can spend a few hours to build a serviceable shelter to protect you and your allies from dangerous weather (such as a storm, cold night, or high winds), and have advantage to forage for food while traversing the wilderness.
Gamer Perception, Sleight of Hand, 1 Gaming Set + 1 language Background Feature: Git Good. You can quickly learn and identify loop holes or exploits in rules, contracts, and oaths. You have advantage when looking for secret rooms, or hidden doors.
Honours Student Nature, Investigation, Alchemy Tools, Cartographer's Tools Background Feature: Natural Authority. You pay attention to what teachers tell you, and can ace any test or exam. When you correct someone, you are usually right and everyone knows it. Thus, people tend to ask for your help, and listen to your advice.
Social Influencer Persuasion, Performance, Disguise Kit + 1 language Background Feature: Social Network. You know everyone and everyone knows you, you can find a connection (e.g. friend of a friend) between yourself and nearly anyone else from the same city as you. When looking for help, you can always recall someone who knows someone who would be able to help.
Druggie (optional) Insight, Arcana, Poisoner's Kit, Brewer's supplies Background Feature: Far Out, Man! You are surprisingly chill and comfortable even in the strangest situations, you can navigate extra-planar dimensions, and magically distorted reality with ease.
Jock / Sports Star Athletics, Acrobatics, Gaming Set + Vehicles (land) Background Feature: Competitive Edge. You can always find some kind of competition in town, and can locate venues for sporting events with ease. In addition, you can quickly assess the physical strengths and weaknesses of any opponents you face.
Cheater Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Forgery Kit, Thieves' tools Background Feature: Thief's Eye. You can identify likely hiding places for valuables and assess the value of them. In addition, you know whether or not a location is likely to have traps based on the nature and design of the space.
Goth Arcana, Religion, Disguise Kit + Leatherworker's tools Background Feature:Creature of the Night. As a kindred spirit to the undead, they tend to ignore you and you have advantage to pretend to be one of them.
Youngest Child / Class Clown Deception, Performance, 1 Gaming Set + Forgery Kit Background Feature: Look at Me! You are the youngest child of a large family, thus have developed all kinds of skills to get attention to yourself and throw suspicion/blame on to others. You have advantage on checks to draw attention to yourself.
I have an idea for a campaign set in the modern world where the players are a group of high schoolers/middle schoolers suddenly thrust into a world where magic has returned without warning, and many humans suddenly transform into hybrids (half-elf, half-orc, dwarf, aasimar, tiefling, etc.), creatures not seen for eons appear, and apocalypse-type stuff happens.
I am new to the whole homebrew world creation thing, and would like some aid in specifics
First of all: backgrounds
What should the different backgrounds for this campaign be? All of them similar in that they are of middle/high schoolers, which haven’t encountered any magic or such prior to the Resurgence as I am calling the return of magic and such, potentially minus the LARPer/Role-Player. What proficiencies should be granted for each background? What should the special features be? What equipment should each background start with? What personality traits/ideals/bonds/flaws should the backgrounds have?
My current ideas for backgrounds are as follows:
LARPer/Role-Player - Plays dnd and as such is more accustomed to the newfound chaos
Influencer - highly engaged in multiple social media platforms such as facebook/twitter/youtube/etc., good with performing for an audience and possibly a disguise kit
Shoplifter - Proficient in all or some of the relaxant skills such as sleight of hand, stealth, deception
Nerd - fully dedicated to their studies and knows stuff, some tool proficiencies? Skills?
Bully - good with intimidation, deception, and possibly stealth or thieves tools
Club Member - miscellaneous skills and tool proficiencies, choose 2/3/4 of ‘em
Other ideas are welcome as well as more specifics.
Sports Nuts - the athletic kids
Goth Kids - ready to embrace the darkness?
Power Starved - the kids who were never popular, or liked, or capable, suddenly getting power?
Crafty kid - good at making stuff...
Wild Child - nature and survival proficiencies
Arcade Nut - dexterity proficiencies, sleight of hand?
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Fantasy Nerd
Arcana, History, 2 fantasy languages of their choice
Background Feature: That's from Elven Lord series 12 volume 2! You are well read in all kinds of different fantasy books, graphic novels, TV shows, movies, fan-fic etc... and can identify most types of monsters and fantastical creatures, and have a 25% chance of having a piece of fiction that features them and their abilities in your bag.
Band Geek
Performance, Athletics, Vehicles (land) + 1 musical instrument of their choice
Background Feature: Your own Roadie. You have been on dozens of field trips carrying all kinds of instruments and equipment to competitions and shows. You can find and arrange transportation on ground or sea vehicles for you and the party in exchange for helping to load / unload other goods.
Eco-Activist / Camp Counsellor
Nature, Survival, Navigator's Kit, Healer's Kit
Background Feature: Green Living. You can spend a few hours to build a serviceable shelter to protect you and your allies from dangerous weather (such as a storm, cold night, or high winds), and have advantage to forage for food while traversing the wilderness.
Gamer
Perception, Sleight of Hand, 1 Gaming Set + 1 language
Background Feature: Git Good. You can quickly learn and identify loop holes or exploits in rules, contracts, and oaths. You have advantage when looking for secret rooms, or hidden doors.
Honours Student
Nature, Investigation, Alchemy Tools, Cartographer's Tools
Background Feature: Natural Authority. You pay attention to what teachers tell you, and can ace any test or exam. When you correct someone, you are usually right and everyone knows it. Thus, people tend to ask for your help, and listen to your advice.
Social Influencer
Persuasion, Performance, Disguise Kit + 1 language
Background Feature: Social Network. You know everyone and everyone knows you, you can find a connection (e.g. friend of a friend) between yourself and nearly anyone else from the same city as you. When looking for help, you can always recall someone who knows someone who would be able to help.
Druggie (optional)
Insight, Arcana, Poisoner's Kit, Brewer's supplies
Background Feature: Far Out, Man! You are surprisingly chill and comfortable even in the strangest situations, you can navigate extra-planar dimensions, and magically distorted reality with ease.
Jock / Sports Star
Athletics, Acrobatics, Gaming Set + Vehicles (land)
Background Feature: Competitive Edge. You can always find some kind of competition in town, and can locate venues for sporting events with ease. In addition, you can quickly assess the physical strengths and weaknesses of any opponents you face.
Cheater
Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Forgery Kit, Thieves' tools
Background Feature: Thief's Eye. You can identify likely hiding places for valuables and assess the value of them. In addition, you know whether or not a location is likely to have traps based on the nature and design of the space.
Goth
Arcana, Religion, Disguise Kit + Leatherworker's tools
Background Feature: Creature of the Night. As a kindred spirit to the undead, they tend to ignore you and you have advantage to pretend to be one of them.
Youngest Child / Class Clown
Deception, Performance, 1 Gaming Set + Forgery Kit
Background Feature: Look at Me! You are the youngest child of a large family, thus have developed all kinds of skills to get attention to yourself and throw suspicion/blame on to others. You have advantage on checks to draw attention to yourself.
Others:
Bully - Athletics, Deception, Thieves tools
Maker - Athletics, Perception, Smith's Tools, Carpenter's Tools
Animal Lover / Farm-kid - Animal Handling, Nature, Vehicles (land), Herbalism Kit
Artist - Sleight of Hand, Insight, Painter's Tools, Calligrapher's Supplies
Cheerleader - Persuasion, Acrobatics, Jeweler's Tools, Weaver's Tools
Shy Kid - Stealth, Insight, 2x artisan tools of your choice