Customizing Your Character with the PHB2

I believe that a character truly lives when she has a history.  And there are some options in the new PHB2 that give you some ideas if you're stuck trying to develop your character's backstory.

Background Options

Chapter Three begins with some option to help you develop a background for your character, including associated skills you might want to consider training (pending DM approval, of course).  There are some basic options, including geography and socio-economic status, to get you started and inspire you to something more.

There are also background examples specifically related to your character's race.  Races from the PHB, Forgotten Realms Players Guide and the PHB2 have two or three background scenarios listed.  But these are not just gimme scenarios; they present questions to help you take that scenario and customize it for your character... perfect for getting you started on your backstory.

Variant Ritual Book

This is one of my favorite inspirations.  Not every character who needs a ritual book wants to lug around a "book" for her rituals.  Sometimes, a variation of the "book" is what works best for your character.  There are some ideas listed under the Variant Ritual Book heading, but you can easily apply your own creative twist.  Your cleric might prefer prayer beads.  Your bard might carry a music score book.  Changing the nature of your "book" is a prefect way to make your character a little more unique.

Dante & I will be posting additional PHB2 articles through the release on Tuesday, so check back for more.  Of course, if you missed them, read more from Atomic Array, Game Cryer, Gnome Stew, Critical Hits, Campaign Mastery, Uncle Bear, Critical Ankle Bites, Kobold Quarterly, The Core Mechanic, Flames Rising, Musings of the Chatty DM, or right here with Dante.