Mundane Talents and Backgrounds

hcobb · 12-17-2021, 09:00 AM

ITL 36 notes an option rule for 1 point of talent to help fill out a character's background. Here is an example of how I apply this for a background template for PCs to use as the players find suitable.

Template: Former Apprentice
Background: A wizard who until recently served as an apprentice somewhere, providing fatigue for enchantment and doing other tasks.
Requirements: Character is a wizard who pays for the Aid spell.
Mundane bonus talent: Literacy is the one point of mundane talent.
Background implications: The character was an apprentice serving a wizard's guild, coven, or a lone master. They are therefore to some extent still enmeshed in either the continuing politics of their patron, on bad terms with this patron, or dealing with the breakup or fall of this patron. They are assumed to have no net credit in either case. They can reach back to these contacts, but will need to provide boons at least equal to the favors they ask for. Conversely the GM may reach through these contacts to the PC, but only in terms of job or mission offers, not requirements.

Skarg · 12-17-2021, 10:24 AM

The background you wrote is nice.

However:

ITL 36 says that in an optional rule in the Mundane Talents section, which is about the talents listed there, which doesn't include Literacy, which is one of the most useful talents there is.

So claiming Literacy as a "free" talent seems more like a way to try to get a really useful talent for free, instead of having to take Baker, Draper, Gardener...

TippetsTX · 12-17-2021, 10:47 AM

I have to agree with Skarg... I can see expansion or even an alternative acquisition model for 'mundane' talents, but I can't see adding LITERACY to that list.

hcobb · 12-17-2021, 11:11 AM

What then is the most common talent that almost every apprentice learns in order to accomplish their daily tasks?

TippetsTX · 12-17-2021, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hcobb

What then is the most common talent that almost every apprentice learns in order to accomplish their daily tasks?

I get it, Henry. LITERACY might be considered a 'wizard tax'... unless your definition of wizards includes spellcasters able to learn magic intuitively w/o formal training or study (i.e. Spell Savants).

Axly Suregrip · 12-17-2021, 12:20 PM

I can see a hedge wizard, shaman or witch being a full wizard without being literate. They learn their craft my word of mouth, not from reading. If anything, it makes the master/apprentice relationship more necessary.

So, yes, literacy is a critical talent for wizard, a wizard tax if you will, but not to be assumed or given for free.

12-17-2021, 09:00 AM	#1
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Mundane Talents and Backgrounds ITL 36 notes an option rule for 1 point of talent to help fill out a character's background. Here is an example of how I apply this for a background template for PCs to use as the players find suitable. Template: Former Apprentice Background: A wizard who until recently served as an apprentice somewhere, providing fatigue for enchantment and doing other tasks. Requirements: Character is a wizard who pays for the Aid spell. Mundane bonus talent: Literacy is the one point of mundane talent. Background implications: The character was an apprentice serving a wizard's guild, coven, or a lone master. They are therefore to some extent still enmeshed in either the continuing politics of their patron, on bad terms with this patron, or dealing with the breakup or fall of this patron. They are assumed to have no net credit in either case. They can reach back to these contacts, but will need to provide boons at least equal to the favors they ask for. Conversely the GM may reach through these contacts to the PC, but only in terms of job or mission offers, not requirements. __________________ -HJC

12-17-2021, 10:24 AM	#2
Skarg Join Date: May 2015	Re: Mundane Talents and Backgrounds The background you wrote is nice. However: ITL 36 says that in an optional rule in the Mundane Talents section, which is about the talents listed there, which doesn't include Literacy, which is one of the most useful talents there is. So claiming Literacy as a "free" talent seems more like a way to try to get a really useful talent for free, instead of having to take Baker, Draper, Gardener...

12-17-2021, 10:47 AM	#3
TippetsTX Join Date: Sep 2018 Location: North Texas	Re: Mundane Talents and Backgrounds I have to agree with Skarg... I can see expansion or even an alternative acquisition model for 'mundane' talents, but I can't see adding LITERACY to that list. __________________ “No matter how subtle the wizard, a knife between the shoulder blades will seriously cramp his style.” -Vladimir Taltos

12-17-2021, 11:11 AM	#4
hcobb Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Pacheco, California	Re: Mundane Talents and Backgrounds What then is the most common talent that almost every apprentice learns in order to accomplish their daily tasks? __________________ -HJC

12-17-2021, 12:20 PM	#6
Axly Suregrip Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Durham, NC	Re: Mundane Talents and Backgrounds I can see a hedge wizard, shaman or witch being a full wizard without being literate. They learn their craft my word of mouth, not from reading. If anything, it makes the master/apprentice relationship more necessary. So, yes, literacy is a critical talent for wizard, a wizard tax if you will, but not to be assumed or given for free.