Background

A Background is a special trait used in the Storytelling System used to flesh out a character. Backgrounds are used to establish a character's social status, history, or special tools that don't fall under the sway of supernatural powers such as Disciplines, Gifts, Arcanoi, etc. Like other traits, characters can purchase Backgrounds with experience points in the course of a chronicle. Some Backgrounds were off-limits, depending on the type of characters being created (such as certain Tribes of Garou) or at the Storyteller's discretion.

Common Backgrounds
There were a few backgrounds common to almost all of the old World of Darkness lines. These represented common resources a player could use in the course of a chronicle.


 * Allies - Close companions who could be called on for most anything.
 * Contacts - Those willing to help for a favor in return.
 * Fame or Noteriety - How well-known the character was in society; Noteriety generally carried negative connotation, however.
 * Mentor - An experienced guide through the supernatural or everyday world.
 * Resources - How much a character had to live on.
 * Status - Where a character ranked in a particular social structure.

Special Backgrounds
These are backgrounds that have less-than-common origins, were special to that particular breed of supernatural, and require a bit more explaination.

Vampire: The Masquerade

 * Generation - How many generations a kindred is removed from Caine.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse

 * Fetish - An object with a bound spirit inside.
 * Kinfolk - Non-Garou allies immune to the Delirium.
 * Rite - Special ceremonies used in the life of a Garou.
 * Totem - A spirit that bestows power on a pack of Garou.

Wraith: The Oblivion

 * Artifact - An valuable object embued with power and fueled with Pathos.
 * Eidolon - The ability of a wraith to resist their Shadow.
 * Haunt - A spiritual refuge from the dangers of the Shadowlands.
 * Relic - An object that passed through the Shroud with a wraith due to emotional resonance.

Demon: The Fallen

 * Eminence - A Fallen's rank among other Fallen.
 * Follower - Those who make Pacts with and freely follow a Fallen.

Orpheus

 * Artifact - An item a character could call on in spirit form. Similar to Wraith's Background of the same name.