Character Background: Noble

[Saisei]

Hey folks. this is just an attempt to somewhat recreate the Noble background from the DA CRPG. I have a feeling someone in my group will like to play one and it's nice to have there anyway.

I'd appreciate any advice or tips.

Background: Noble

2D6 Roll Benefit

2 = +1 Perception
3-4 = Focus: Dexterity (Caligraphy)
5 = Focus: Commuication (Deception)
6 = Focus: Willpower (Faith)
7-8 = +1 Communication
9 = Focus: Perception (Seeing)
10-11 = Focus: Cunning (Heraldry)
12 = +1 Willpower

Add 1 to your Cunning ability. All nobles are well schooled.

Pick one of the following ability focuses: Communication(Etiquette) or Dexterity (Riding)

You can speak and read the Trade Tongue, or as you call it the King's Tongue.

Choose a class: You can play either a Warrior or a Rogue.

[Riggswolfe]

Interesting. I'd also add "Choose a race, Dwarf or Human" and maybe even make two tables sort of like the Elf and Human tables from the Mage backgrounds.

Why is Willpower(Faith) one of the random results? I'd probably replace that with Cunning (Historical Lore) to represent being tutored or Dex (Riding) since I think nobles would be more likely to own a horse.

Also, if they are a Dwarven noble you'd have to make it explicit that they've been banned recently since that's the only reason they'd be able to go to the surface and adventure.

[Saisei]

Ah yes Dwarvern Nobles... how did I forget them lol

And the idea behind Willpower (Faith) was twofold.

1. I didn't want to have too many of the random possibilities be focused on the same ability such as Dex and Cunning

2. I figured most if not all human nobles would be raised with the Chantry tenants and beliefs.

Plus I already gave Riding as a choice below the table.

[Riggswolfe]

Lol. I must have had a brain fart and missed the dex(Riding). Anyway, I do like your write-up here. Question, have you considered having nobles start with better equipment or anything and if so, how would you balance that?

[Saisei]

Having taken your suggestions into account I now have the following!

Background: Noble

2D6 ------------------- Human ------------------------------Dwarf

2 ----------------- +1 Perception-------------------- +1 Constitution
3-4 ---------Focus: Dexterity (Caligraphy)-- Focus: Communication (Leadership)
5 ------------Focus: Cunning (Heraldry)----------Focus: Strength (Intimidation)
6 ------Focus: Commuication (Deception)------ Focus: Cunning (Military Lore)
7-8--------------- +1 Communication---------------- +1 Strength
9------------ Focus: Perception (Seeing) ------ Focus: Constitution (Drinking)
10-11 --------Focus: Dexterity (Riding) --------- Focus: Willpower (Courage)
12----------------- +1 Willpower ------------------- +1 Communication


Add 1 to your Cunning ability. All nobles are well schooled.

Pick one of the following ability focuses: Communication(Etiquette) or Cunning(Cultural Lore)

You can speak and read the Trade Tongue. Dwarven Nobles can speak and read the Dwarven Tongue.

Choose a class: You can play either a Warrior or a Rogue.

Choose a race: You can be either a Human or a Dwarf.




________________________


As far as a Noble getting special treatment as regards money and the like, I'd probably run it as more of a flavour thing. For example their armour would be adorned with inlay and gold filigree and the like but would function the same.

I'm thankful to have a group who have no problem with there being imbalance as long as it feeds the story.

If that weren't the case I'd simply start the Noble with the standard 3D6 + 50 silver, but then double it. The downside would be you're more likely to be robbed and also you may have your families enemies after you.

[Riggswolfe]

That actually looks pretty good! You might want to have the dwarf also be able to speak Trade Tongue mostly for convenience. (So he can talk to the other PCs)

On looking at your revised lists I think I like Focus: Communication (Leadership) better than Dex (Ride). It feels more fitting for a noble.

[Saisei]

Ah it was supposed to be that the dwarves could speak the trade tongue ASWELL. Dang.

I still have the Ride thing in there for the human noble. Didn't make any sense for the Dwarf.

[Riggswolfe]

Oh, and I'd still put something in that the Dwarf noble is actually an Ex-noble since he won't be able to go to the surface to adventure otherwise.

[Drew D Scott]

Very cool.

My own suggestion (for Ferelden nobility at least) would be to swap out Perception (Seeing) for a weapon focus. The background material in the boxed set goes to some lengths explaining how crucial martial prowess is for Banns and Arls retaining their positions as protectors of the electoral freeholder body.