Here is a quick hack I put together to replace STATS with 13th Age Backgrounds.

Here is a quick hack I put together to replace STATS with 13th Age Backgrounds. This should work for any PbtA game. I’d love your thoughts.

13TH AGE BACKGROUNDS IN PBTA

When you create your character, ignore STATS and instead create a primary BACKGROUND and a secondary BACKGROUND. If one of your attributes (HP, encumbrance, etc.) is derived from a STAT, set that attribute to an average value for the PbtA game you are playing.

You may make your BACKGROUNDS as vague, specific, elaborate, or simple as you wish. “Scholar” is as viable as “disgraced head librarian at the Emperor’s library”

– Your primary BACKGROUND should probably relate to your class in some way, but:

—– Don’t choose Wizard. Choose “former instructor at the Greygull school of magic” or “untrained magical prodigy”

—– Don’t choose Fighter. Choose “Imperial guardsman” or “escaped the gladiator pits of Karkrannen”

When a move asks you to roll +STAT, instead roll +BACKGROUND.

When you roll +BACKGROUND, briefly and convincingly describe how one of your backgrounds has prepared you for the task at hand, then:

– If your primary BACKGROUND applies, roll +2

– If your secondary BACKGROUND applies, roll +1

– If neither your primary or secondary BACKGROUND applies, roll -1

When you would otherwise gain a temporary condition, instead add a fictionally appropriate temporary BACKGROUND. Take -1 ongoing to any task that would be hampered by one or more of your temporary BACKGROUNDS.

—–Examples would include “shaky” “sickly” etc.

For more advice on writing great backgrounds see: http://adam.legendary.org/thoughts/13th-age-backgrounds/