Following is an optional method for generating an interesting character background that can contribute to the enjoyment of playing a character in Midwrathe. It was derived from the D20 System Spycraft.

The lives of characters are filled with dangerous twists and an endless array of enemies, allies, political and evil organizations entering their lives. Much of this personal baggage is simulated in Midwrathe with backgrounds.

What are backgrounds?

Put simply, backgrounds are subplots revolving around your character. The big distinction with backgrounds however, is that you can determine which subplots you take. Unlike adventure subplots which the gamemaster springs on you during play, backgrounds are voluntary character options that allow you to tailor your character's history, enemies, and challenges to your liking, and receive some extra experience in the process.

Buying Backgrounds

Backgrounds are purchased when you create your character, or any time your character gains a level. Purchasing one or two backgrounds at the start allows your character to come into the game with a little history, but you might also want to leave a little room to flag as a nemesis a villain you find intriguing or to invest a little more heavily in a promise made to a romantic interest during one of your adventures.

Regardless of when you purchase a background, the cost is from 1 to 3 skill points. After you've added a background, you may choose to add more points to it later, as long as it doesn't exceed a total of 3 points. You may only have a maximum of 3 skill points worth of backgrounds, or two backgrounds at any time.

The more skill points you invest, the more dangerous the background is. For example, a 1-point Hunted background might mean that your character is the only one of many targets the hunters are looking for, or that the hunters are not very powerful. A 2-point Hunted background, however, might indicate a competent team of trackers who search for your character regularly. A 3-point Hunted background invariably prompts a life-or-death duel of wits and cunning, and may mean that the hunters are extremely skilled (perhaps even more so than your character), well-equipped (perhaps with high-end weapons or magic), or funded by a prominent criminal or political organization. The approximate effects of investing in each background are described within each option.

You should discuss any background you are considering with the gamemaster to determine its nature and cost.

Earning Their Keep

By now you're asking yourself what backgrounds do for you. The answer is simple: they build character, literally. Whenever a background plays into a mission your character is currently playing in, he or she gains experience points according to table 1.1. Simply look up the number of skill points you invested in the background, multiply by your characters current level and - at the conclusion of the adventure - add the listed experience bonus to your adventure reward.

Table 1.1 lists two experience bonuses for each pairing. The number to the left is the amount gained if the background plays only a minor role in the adventure, while the number to the right is awarded if the background was the adventure's focus, or central element. The gamemaster is the ultimate arbiter of how much background is involved in each mission (after all, they know what's happening behind the scenes).

Table 1.1: Background Investment / Return

Background	Award
Cost	Minor Role / Focus
1	25/50
2	50/100
3	75/150

There are two more things to remember about backgrounds. First, all backgrounds involve conflict; if a background you choose for your character doesn't involve conflict - be it physical, mental, or spiritual - and supporting challenges that crop up during the game, then it isn't a background and can't be purchased. If a background's involvement during an adventure does not involve conflict, your agent gains no bonus experience for it. Second, no character may have more than 3 skill points worth of backgrounds, or two backgrounds at any time.

Finally, backgrounds remain with you through the end of the year and into a new one, though your gamemaster has the option of "cashing" them in for you at that time - for ten times the experience reward listed on table 1.1.

Background Frequency

Each background should show up at least once per year. Of course, if you select a background without consulting your gamemaster, they probably won't work it into any adventures, which means that it will show up less often - consequently granting you fewer experience points.

Fulfilling Backgrounds

All good subplots come to an end. Backgrounds should also end eventually, either because of something your character does (e.g. killing his nemesis) or something the gamemaster works into the plot. The gamemaster may end a background at any time, for any reason. They must inform you when they do so, though they may withhold the reason for purposes of back-story.

Double the normal experience award is gained when a background ends, and the gamemaster may award additional experience or action dice for dramatic or cooperative role-play.

Background Options

The following is an incomplete list of backgrounds, including only the most common examples.

Amnesia

The Amnesia background has no impact on your ability scores, skills, or other statistics. It simply means that you can't remember anything before a point determined by the gamemaster. It also means that a group is trying to kill or capture you, the numbers and strength of which are determined by the points you invest in the background.

Debt

The amount of money owed and the power of the collectors is determined by the points invested in the background, as is their diligence in reclaiming their money. Even at a single point, the debt should be large enough that the character cannot simply use money on hand to clear the debt (possibly gaining XP in the process of clearing the background).

Defeated

You might have been defeated by an enemy, by a rival, or due to lack of skill or a twist of fate. Regardless, this background means that you are determined to return the favor, nor matter the cost. The points invested determine the hazards of your goal (e.g. the power of your enemy, or the difficulty of your task).

Fear

The Fear background is common among characters, whose frantic, paranoid lifestyles nurture all manner of mental ailments. The number of points invested in a Fear background determines the strength and rarity of your fear. There are hundreds of phobias, but common one's in Midwrathe include fear of crowds, intimacy, and wild animals.

Gamemaster Fiat

By choosing this background, you're letting the gamemaster know that you want a subplot, and the approximate danger level you'd like, but you're also telling him that you'd like to be surprised. Sometime when you least expect it, he'll spring it on you. Until then , you'll have to wonder... is it something on this list, or something entirely new?

Hunted

You are wanted -- by the enemy, by the law, or perhaps by your own peers. The number of skill points invested determines your pursuers' strength, their network of social contacts and the resources they have at their disposal.

Hunting

You're searching for something you've lost, or something you've been ordered to recover. The points invested determine the value or importance of the item you're after, how much danger is involved in getting it back, and whether a timetable is involved and how short that timetable is.

Long-Term Adventure

You have a secondary adventure which often overlaps other adventures you receive. The points invested determine how often you are called for the adventure (i.e. how often the adventure comes up), and how difficult and dangerous it is.

Lost (or Forbidden) Love

Maybe you're in a relationship you shouldn't be having, or that could be damaging if discovered, such as a dalliance with an warring clan's maiden. The number of points invested determines the injury you could sustain if your lover is revealed.

On the other hand, your lover might have been taken from you. The number of points invested indicates the power of the persons who split you up or those who hold your lover hostage.

Mistaken Identity

Someone wants something from you, or is convinced that you're someone you're not. All you know is that you need to find out what's happening soon. Points invested determine how much personal danger the confusion places you in, the power and resources of the people threatening you, and the difficulty of solving the situation.

Nemesis

You have an enemy who is dedicated to disrupting your life, or maybe even injuring or killing you. The number of points invested in a Nemesis determines how often he comes after you, the complexity and danger his plots, and the resources at his disposal.

Obligation

Yow owe someone - maybe for something specific, or a linger debt of thanks. The points invested determine how difficult the request is to complete, and the power and influence of the recipient. Failing to fulfill this obligation might result in a Nemesis if your not careful.

Romance

Points invested determine how often your romantic interest comes into play, how much attention or help they require, and how many rivals you have for their affections.

Stolen Object

You have lost something; an object of importance to you, a close ally, a friend, or your superiors. Now you've dedicated yourself to getting it back -- no matter the cost.

Points invested in this background determine how powerful the person or group of people who stole the object is, as well as how badly you, your friends, or your superiors need the object back.

True Identity

You have assumed your current identity to achieve some goal or to run from your former life. Point invested determine how important or well known your former identity was, and how lethal the forces trying to reveal you are.

Vendetta

You have an enemy that you long to destroy. Points invested determine your target's power and influence and how prepared he is for you.

Vow

In a wilderness of lies, you have made a promise that you intend to keep. Points invested determine the difficulty of doing so.