In an old school game, I don’t think I like thieves as a class. I like the idea of their skillset being accessible to everyone who goes around stealing things out of old tombs. Also,  they feel like a background in the Type V sense, and I really like that aspect of the game. So here are a bunch of Type V style backgrounds for Whitebox, including the thief.

This is based off of the 5MORE system.

When you do something that is difficult, or when failure is both possible and interesting…
Roll 1d6. Add a cumulative +1 to this roll for each of the following:

  • your relevant ability score is 13 or higher
  • your equipment is high quality or particularly effective
  • you are trained in a relevant skill
  • it’s an easy task or the circumstances are favorable.

Get a 5 or higher. Add a cumulative +1 to this target number for each of the following:

  • your relevant ability score is 8 or lower
  • your equipment is shoddy or not made for the job
  • the task requires specialized knowledge you don’t have
  • it’s a difficult task or the circumstances are unfavorable

Thief
Pick 3 skills:

  • Sneak (Dexterity)
  • Sleight of Hand (Dexterity)
  • Pick Locks* (Dexterity)
  • Lie (Charisma)

You take things what aren’t yours. As long as you are in a settlement, you can find a fence who will buy stolen goods. You also always know how to get in touch with the local ruling gang.

Acolyte 
Pick 3 skills:

  • Metaphysics (Intelligence)
  • Dowsing (Wisdom)
  • Medicine* (Intelligence) 
  • Performance: Oratory (Charisma)

Your fellow practitioners are generally well disposed towards you by default, and you can use temples of your religion as a free place to say or a sanctuary (though they won’t put up your friends for free)

Assassin
Pick 3 skills:

  • Disguise (Intelligence)
  • Poison-making* (Intelligence)
  • Sneak (Dexterity) 
  • Athletics (Strength)

Assassins always know where to find clients looking for a murderer for hire.

Scholar
Pick 3 skills:

  • Metaphysics (Intelligence)
  • Medicine* (Intelligence)
  • History (Intelligence)
  • Nature (Intelligence)

You know a Terrible Secret. Figure out what it is with your Referee.

Professional
Pick 3 skills:

  • Tinker* (Intelligence)
  • Profession: Player’s choice [blacksmithing, sculpting, baking, whatever] (Intelligence)
  • Lie (Charisma)
  • Appraise (Intelligence)

While in a settled area, you can earn back your room and board by practicing your profession.

Performer
Pick 3 skills:

  • Lie (Charisma)
  • Performance: Player’s Choice [dancing, singing, flute-playing, whatever] (Charisma)
  • Athletics (Strength)
  • Sleight of Hand (Dexterity)

You know a Terrible Secret. Figure out what it is with your Referee.

Hunter
Pick 3 skills:

  • Sneak (Dexterity)
  • Tinker* (Intelligence)
  • Track (Wisdom)
  • Nature (Intelligence)

By spending a day to hunt and forage, you can find enough food to sustain d3 people for a single day.

(One good thing about how this works is that you can use it for race, too)
Tiger
Pick 3 skills:

  • Sneak (Dexterity)
  • Track (Wisdom)
  • Athletics (Strength)
  • Nature (Intelligence)

You’re literally a tiger. You deal d8 damage with unarmed attacks, you can live off of raw food, and you heal naturally even when sleeping outside or in dungeons. Unfortunately, you have to get armor custom made and it costs twice as much, and people are kind of afraid of you.

Wood Elf
Pick 3 skills:

  • Sneak (Dexterity)
  • History (Intelligence)
  • Dowsing (Wisdom)
  • Nature (Intelligence)

You don’t age.

Published by jacinto