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1 | Every time you level up, you roll d100. The DM describes the situation, the other players make the choice of what your character did. You make up a story of what happened, then you receive the corresponding benefit. (Adapted from http://tenfootpolemic.blogspot.com/2016/09/1d100-retroactive-backstory.html) | |
2 | d100 | Backstory element |
3 | 1 | You got into a confrontation with a bully who was way tougher than you. Did you fight (+1 to hit vs higher HD enemies) or flee? (+10 MV when fleeing) |
4 | 2 | Your mother was dying of a terrible illness. Did you try to find a medical cure (+1 to save versus poison) or turn to darker and more ancient methods? (+1 to save versus spells) |
5 | 3 | You moved away from where you grew up. Did you move into the city (+1 Cha) or away from it? (+1 Con) |
6 | 4 | Your father had a dangerous job. Did he do it to help people (+1 to selfless acts) or for profit? (once per session, obtain a gold coin by some means) |
7 | 5 | A theatrical troupe came through your town. Did you try to run off and join them (+1 to reaction rolls with rogues, troupes and other itinerants) or help run them out of town? (Once per session, force a morale check to fail) |
8 | 6 | You had a good set of friends when you were younger. Were you the leader (give an order to someone once per round, if they obey they get +1 to their action) or a devoted follower? (+1 to actions that at least two others have succeeded at this round/turn) |
9 | 7 | You were gravely insulted. Did you fight them then and there (+1 Str) or get your revenge later? (+1 Int) |
10 | 8 | Your grandparents were always very religious. Did you follow their example (double benefits from divine spells) or turn your back on them? (halved negative effects from divine spells) |
11 | 9 | Something made you question your faith. Did you reaffirm your faith (+1 to beneficial divine effects) or abandon it? (+1 to beneficial magical effects) |
12 | 10 | You thought your first love would last forever. Did they break it off (Whenever you carouse you may gain a local contact of your sexual preference until you leave town) or did you? (+1 HD of health for the rest of the session when you break a lover's heart) |
13 | 11 | You found a wounded dog. Did you take him home (+1 animal companion morale) or find someone else to take care of him? (+1 henchman morale) |
14 | 12 | Someone close to you died too young. Did you blame yourself (When someone is reduced to below zero hit points nearby, you can take a maximum damage hit from whatever killed them to keep them at 0 instead) or curse the one who did this to them? (Deal double damage against creatures that killed a PC this session) |
15 | 13 | You stole something valuable. Did you get off scot-free (+5% Pick Pockets) or get ratted out? (Roll Charisma to tell if someone is planning to betray you) |
16 | 14 | You were lost in the Undercity. Did you escape succesfully (+1 to escape from the dungeon) or did something take pity on you (choose a monster. that monster is automatically friendly to you on reaction rolls)? |
17 | 15 | They were lynching someone who nobody liked. Did you step in (Can give up your action to protect someone, taking half the damage that would have hit them) or join in? (+1 to hit vs creatures being attacked by 2 or more friends) |
18 | 16 | You were being hunted by someone horrible. Did you manage to hide from them (+5% to hide in shadows) or did they find you? (+10 MV when fleeing) |
19 | 17 | The house of someone you hated was burning down. Did you try to help (Take half damage from fire) or let the place burn to the ground (+1 to fire damage). |
20 | 18 | Something went horribly wrong. Did you try to fix it before it got worse (+1 to actions taken to salvage a situation that's just gone horribly wrong) or step back and deal with the fallout afterwards? (One time, survive the results of a cataclysmic failure) |
21 | 19 | You'd planned it out perfectly, and tonight was the night. Did things go just as planned (One planned action succeeds perfectly once per session) or fall spectacularly apart? (+2 to AC and saves for ten minutes when a plan goes awry). |
22 | 20 | You were born under a great omen. Was it an omen of hope (Once per session, cause someone else to somehow survive something that should have killed them) or an omen of doom? (You gain +1 HD of health for the rest of the session every time a PC dies) |
23 | 21 | One of your parents was an alcoholic. Were they an angry drunk (+1 Dex) or a depressed one? (+1 Con) |
24 | 22 | You once quit a substance cold turkey. Was this on purpose (+1 to saves against poison) or because you were forced to? (drug effects are doubled) |
25 | 23 | There was a scary old woman who lived in a scary old house. Did you avoid it like the others (supernatural threats will not prioritise you) or go up and knock on the door? (+1 to do things everyone says is a bad idea) |
26 | 24 | You did something incredibly reckless and impressive. Was it to prove your bravery (+1 Str) or because you were egged on by others? (+1 Dex) |
27 | 25 | You nearly died doing something stupid. Did you survive by pure luck (Free reroll once per session) or because you saw it just in time? (+1 Wisdom) |
28 | 26 | You pissed off someone powerful. Did you confront them (At will, force a creature to prioritise you) or talk them down? (Once per session, de-escalate a verbal confrontation) |
29 | 27 | You got in a fight with a lifelong friend. Did you apologise and make up (Gain a good friend in the town or city of your choice, one use) or fall out with them forever? (It turns out that somebody you don't know here is your estranged buddy, "wait, JOHN?!", up to you whether you've forgiven each other by now, one use) |
30 | 28 | A partner left you for someone else. Was your revenge petty (Once per round, deal one damage to the creature that just hit you) or brutal? (You instantly automatically hit for maximum damage against the creature that first takes you to 0HP in a session) |
31 | 29 | You have a secret that nobody knows. Is it embarrassing (Tell a new embarrassing anecdote that actually happened to you or your character to roll an extra die for carousing) or horrifying? (Once per session, force a morale check by telling people a new horrifying anecdote that actually happened to you) |
32 | 30 | You're in love with someone in the party. Is it requited (Each gets +2 to hit enemies who've damaged the other) or a secret crush? (if your crush would be damaged in combat, you can jump in the way and take double the damage instead) |
33 | 31 | You've grown to be close friends with someone in the party. Are you buddies (+1 to each other's rolls when next to each other) or friendly rivals? (When they roll the maximum success on something, you get +4 to do the same thing) |
34 | 32 | You owe someone in the party a great debt. Did they save your life (Once per session while they're nearby, drop to 0HP to return them to 0 hp) or your soul? (+2 to saves vs magic when they're nearby) |
35 | 33 | You were embarrassed in front of all your friends. Did you make a graceful exit (+1 Wis) or cause a scene? (+1 Cha) |
36 | 34 | You ran away from home. Did you come back on your own (+1 Wis) or did they have to bring you back by force? (+1 Str) |
37 | 35 | It was the hottest summer anyone could remember. Did you go outside out into the baking sun (+1 Con) or stay in the shade? (+1 Wis) |
38 | 36 | It was a cold cold winter and people were suffering. Did you give what little you could (You can go without rations once per session) or hoard it all to ensure your survival? (You can eat a ration when you take a break to heal 1d6 hp) |
39 | 37 | Suddenly nobody had enough to eat. Did you share what there was evenly (everyone heals 1 hp by eating a ration during a break while you're around) or give a little more to those most in need? (people gain double HP from effects you give them) |
40 | 38 | There was a raging flood. Were you able to save the most precious thing (Once per session, when something you own is going to be broken or lost, get it back by some means) or was it all washed away? (Any time something of yours is accidentally lost or broken, automatically pass the next save you roll in the session) |
41 | 39 | Violent men demanded tribute. Did you give them what they wanted (People will leave you alone if you cave to their demands) or did they take it by force? (+1 to hit people who've taken something from you) |
42 | 40 | A tyrant came into power. Did you join the resistance (Once per session, you can find a defector in the room) or obey the tyrant for personal gain? (strongmen will trust you) |
43 | 41 | You fell in love with someone you shouldn't have. Were you prevented from being with them by age (+1 AC when protecting someone younger/older than you, depending on backstory details) or by honour? (+1 AC until you commit a dishonourable act per session) |
44 | 42 | You shouldn't have kissed them. Did they make the first move (Once per session, cause an NPC to make a romantic advance on you) or did you? (+1 HD of health for the rest of the session if you successfully romance someone) |
45 | 43 | You had to build a wall. Was it to keep something out (One per session, prevent something from breaking a barrier or fortification) or to keep something in? (Once per session, something you've plausibly trapped won't escape this session) |
46 | 44 | You were starving to death. Did you eat the bread the beggar dropped (you can eat a ration when you take a break to heal 1d6 hp) or give it back to them? (+1 to reaction rolls with the destitute) |
47 | 45 | You were destitute. Did you turn to begging (+1 Cha) or to petty crime? (+1 Dex) |
48 | 46 | They were completely obsessed with you. Did you feel adored (Henchmen standing next to you are immune to morale) or afraid? (Run away as fast as possible from an enemy that targeted you last round to force them to switch to another target) |
49 | 47 | You suddenly had a lot of money. Did you give generously (+1 Cha) or spend it all on yourself? (+1 Int) |
50 | 48 | You really respect someone in the party. Are they your idol (When they succeed at something, you get +1 to do the same thing) or your mentor? (At the start of the session, pick one of their stats. You can use their stat value for rolls as long as you're close enough to see and hear them) |
51 | 49 | You were about to die. Did you calmly accept your fate (your negative HP does not modify wound rolls) or rage against the dying of the light? (ignore your first wound's effects each session) |
52 | 50 | You lost an argument with someone in the party. Was it about a choice they made (When they pass a save, you can automatically pass your next save against the same thing) or one you made? (When you fail a save, they can automatically pass their next save against the same thing) |
53 | 51 | You went to a party against your better judgement. Were you the life of the party (Roll an extra 1d6 for Carousing, but take it as a penalty to any consequences) or did they laugh at you? (double exp from carousing when you encounter consequences) |
54 | 52 | You did something you'd sworn never to do. Were they disappointed (Each session you can cause yourself to automatically pass an attack, a save and/or a skill check. Once each. You get -2 to that type of roll for the rest of the session) or impressed? (Each session get +2 to your first attack, save, and skill check that session) |
55 | 53 | You got married. Was it for love (+1 Wis) or for money? (+1 Int) |
56 | 54 | Strangers wanted to enter your town. Did you accept them (+1 Con) or scare them away? (+1 Str) |
57 | 55 | There was a great tragedy. Was it due to something you did (When your actions result in the death of someone you've known for at least 3 sessions, gain +2 to hit for ten minutes) or something you said? (Whenever your attempts at diplomacy fail, gain +2 AC for ten minutes) |
58 | 56 | You were at a marvellous feast. Were you a guest of honour (+2 to reaction rolls while at a large social event) or did you come uninvited? (Once per session, somehow gain access to a large social event) |
59 | 57 | The music was great and the audience was going wild. Were you a player (+1 to reaction rolls) or in the crowd? (Double impact from good musical effects, no bad effect from bad) |
60 | 58 | You got washed away. Did this make you love the water (you swim at your normal speed) or fear it? (+2 to saves when nowhere near open water) |
61 | 59 | You were very overweight. Was this because you loved food (you can eat a ration when you take a break to heal 1d6 hp) or because you loved booze? (+1 AC for ten minutes after downing alcohol) |
62 | 60 | You lost a lot of money. Was it gambled (1d6 bonus to Carousing) or stolen? (Once per session, somehow work out the general location of something that used to belong to you) |
63 | 61 | You were horribly lost. Did you stumble into a helpful stranger (once per session meet a helpful stranger) or did you find your own way back days later? (Once per session, you can ask the DM to spend five minutes fixing a map) |
64 | 62 | Tensions were building and something had to snap. Did you fight them (+1 Str) or fuck them? (+1 Cha) |
65 | 63 | It was the most delicious thing they'd ever tasted. Did you make it yourself (+1 Dex) or take the credit? (+1 Int) |
66 | 64 | You got punished for something that wasn't your fault. Were you set up (Take half damage from traps another player set off) or did you intentionally take the fall? (When somebody is about to receive damage that would reduce them to negative hp, somehow get in the way. You take that damage instead.) |
67 | 65 | You were meant to be looking after them, but when you turned around they were gone. Were you the one who found them alive (Once per session, stumble across someone who ran away from you this session) or the one who was blamed for their death? (When a henchman dies under your command, gain +2 to saves for ten minutes) |
68 | 66 | You were protecting something important. Did you break it accidentally (whenever a weapon or armour breaks, you can take a free action) or on purpose? (You can willingly destroy a weapon to hit automatically) |
69 | 67 | Eyes always turned to follow you. Was it due to your style (+1 to reaction rolls when you're wearing clean, stylish clothes) or your stench? (+1 AC when you're covered in filth) |
70 | 68 | You fell into a hole and couldn't get out. Did your brother save you (You may grant people next to you a reroll to prevent falling) or shove you in? (If you fall, you can always pass your Dexterity check to catch hold of the edge) |
71 | 69 | You were scared of the dark. Was it because you didn't know what was out there (+1 AC while in pitch blackness) or because you did? (+2 to listen in pitch blackness) |
72 | 70 | They asked you to do something against the law. Did you go through with it (+1 to hit guards, soldiers, and other forces of the law) or turn them in? (+1 to hit thieves, criminals, and other shady professionals) |
73 | 71 | You knew it was wrong but it felt so right. Did you hold yourself back (+1 to AC if you don't engage in the first round of combat) or do it again the next night? (+1 to your next roll when you repeat a successful action) |
74 | 72 | You could have stopped them, but you didn't. Was it out of hatred (double damage to creatures that killed a friend) or for justice? (+2 to hit against creatures who you witnessed harm innocents this session) |
75 | 73 | They definitely deserved the punishment, but it was you who did the deed. Did you keep silent and let them get what was coming to them (Heal 1HP whenever an attack that could have randomly hit you hits someone else) or finally admit your guilt when they started to scream? (Can force randomly targetted attacks to target you) |
76 | 74 | If they knew what you knew, they'd know it had to be done. Was it over quickly (maximum damage with attacks during surprise) or did they suffer? (Once per session, someone you threaten must answer one question truthfully) |
77 | 75 | You knew they didn't mean it, but that didn't mean it didn't hurt. Did you make them hurt just as much (Once per session, deal as much damage as you just took to your attacker) or bury your pain way down inside? (Once per session, heal your negative hit points) |
78 | 76 | You saved others from an ambush. Did you shield them from harm (when you're in the front row of the marching order, the party gets +2 AC when caught in a surprise round) or command the counterattack? (when you're at the back of the marching order, the party gains +2 to initiative for the first round) |
79 | 77 | You were invited into a secret society. Are you still a member (Once per session, find a trustworthy society contact in a city) or were you to blame for its downfall? (+1 to hit versus leaders) |
80 | 78 | You gained a position of prestige and power. Did you abuse that power (+1 Int) or get betrayed by someone you thought you could trust? (+1 Con) |
81 | 79 | You had a baby with someone. Are they being looked after by another (Next character can be your child, starts with half your exp) or did they die tragically? (Name the location of your child's grave. When you show a PC your child's grave for the first time, you both gain 100*your level bonus exp) |
82 | 80 | It was the best moment of your life. Was it because you'd worked for it yourself (+1 to rolls when you are alone) or because somebody loved you so so much? (Once per session, cause someone who trusts you to pass all morale and fear checks for the next ten minutes) |
83 | 81 | You saw the face at the window. Did you open the window to let her in (Once per session, replace a random encounter with the least threatening thing on the local encounter table) or was it the terrible thing that had followed you home? (Once per session, cause the most terrible threat on the local encounter table to show up somehow) |
84 | 82 | You had a beautiful garden. Was this due to your green thumb (+2 to reaction rolls with intelligent plants, fungi, and other flora) or the offerings you left on the doorstep? (+2 to reaction rolls with Elves and other fae creatures) |
85 | 83 | You tried to help them but it was too late. Was it because they disregarded your advice (Get a reroll against fallout of someone disregarding your advice) or because you were too slow to save them? (Once per session, when someone is knocked down to 0HP, get to their side in a single round by some means) |
86 | 84 | You could tell by their expression that the news wasn't good. Did you lose out on what you'd strived for (Can improve your next d20 roll by 1d4 but if you fail you take that in damage) or had someone you loved been harmed? (Whenever a PC dies, you become immune to death for one round per level of the dead. You take damage and wounds as normal, they just won't affect you until this effect wears off) |
87 | 85 | You knew something was wrong, but nobody would tell you what it was. Was it to protect themselves (Whenever you roll the worst possible failure on a roll, other PCs gain +1 AC for one round) or to save you from embarrassment? (Whenever you roll the worst possible failure on a roll, other PCs heal 1HP) |
88 | 86 | He was on his deathbed and beckoned you over. Did he tell you the secret that shattered your world forever (+1 Wis) or did you grant his final request for a painless death? (+1 Dex) |
89 | 87 | You knew you were slowing them down. Did you tell them to go on without you (When fleeing can give your movement to someone else) or get left behind? (+1 to fleeing rolls of people in front of you) |
90 | 88 | It was the best prank anyone had ever pulled. Did it hinge on a device you created (once per session, a device you set up works flawlessly) or on a brilliant deception (Once per session, someone totally believes a plausible lie) |
91 | 89 | You should never have climbed so high. Did you climb down carefully (+10% to climb walls) or fall and get badly hurt (take half damage from falls) |
92 | 90 | You had a surprising turn of good luck. Did it last (Once per session, treat a die as if it rolled its highest value) or did karma take its toll? (After you fail a roll, +1 to your next roll) |
93 | 91 | You bumped into an old acquaintance on the street. Did they startle and try to run (Once per session, cause someone you've met before to run away from you as fast as possible for a round) or laugh in your face? (Once per session, force someone you've met before not to act for a round) |
94 | 92 | After that, everything changed. If you could go back would you change what you did (get a take-back once per session) or do it all again? (re-take an action and reroll any rolls once per session) |
95 | 93 | You met with them in a secret place. Did you give them one last kiss before you left forever (When you first kiss a willing person, gain +1 HP/level for the rest of the session) or make an important deal? (When you make a deal with an adversary, gain +1 on reaction rolls for the rest of the session) |
96 | 94 | You were cowering but they just kept hitting you. Did one of them take pity and stop the others (enemies leave you to last when you are defeated) or did you seize an opportunity and escape? (+10 MV while fleeing) |
97 | 95 | They were pleading for their life. Did you listen (Once per session, ask someone you just took to 0HP a question which they must answer truthfully) or put them out of their misery? (When you strike the killing blow on a creature, heal 1HP for each of their HD) |
98 | 96 | You knew that no matter what you chose, it would hurt them. Did you do what was right (If you do something noble or righteous, gain +1 to your next roll) or what was easiest? (If you take a cowardly option that likely harms others, get +1 to your next roll) |
99 | 97 | He never told you his name, but he changed your life forever. Did he come from outside the country (learn a new language) or from beneath it? (+1 to reaction rolls with subterranean beings) |
100 | 98 | It couldn't have been a worse birthday. Was it due to a gift you were given (Check the game date. On this date every game year, and this date every real year, and on your real birthday, obtain 10 gold by some means. Exp is gained from it as normal) or someone who was there? (Check the game date. On this date every game year, and this date every real year, and on your real birthday, a known ally of your choice shows up at the start of the session) |