66 Backgrounds in Odd Jerusalem

 I am prepping a new campaign.The overarching concept of this world: Jerusalem, but different. Jerusalem as seen through a twisted carnival mirror: modern geography, but 19th century technology; recognizable structures and streets, but with fantastical elements and an atmosphere of decay and degeneration. The goal: to create a world that is both familiar and strange; recognizable, but wondrous; fantastical but uncanny (in the Freudian sense - Unheimliche). 

The system will be Into the Odd, with some house rules. And one of those house rules will be backgrounds.

I love backgrounds doubling as both a character's backstory and an actual game mechanic. Several games do this: FATE, most famously, but also 13th Age (where backgrounds replace skills, brilliantly), Tunnel Goons (where backgrounds determine stats) and The Black Hack (where one can use one's background once a session to roll with advantage on a check). 

For my games, I will probably be snatching the Black Hack's method. And I also want to use backgrounds as guidelines for character knowledge, rather than having players roll endless, boring "Lore" checks.

However, since this setting is so... odd and hard to define, I won't be giving my players full freedom in background creation, but rather have them roll on a table of backgrounds, and then ask them to add a word or two of description every couple of sessions until it transforms from a mere job title - to a proper sentence describing their past life.

This serves two purposes:

1. The backgrounds will hint at a greater world to the players and give them a sense of belonging in an unfamiliar setting, helping ground their characters with small bite-sized bits of flavor without overwhelming them
2. The characters will be enriched as time progresses. Rather than players coming up with overwrought backstories, we will learn about the characters over time - the players learning about each others' characters just as the characters' themselves might, as they spend more and more time together.   

I decided to also have a mix of "mundane" backgrounds - the sort of occupations that may be found in any world, including our own (such as "Student"); alongside realistic but setting specific backgrounds (such as "Camel Driver"); and more fantastical, "weird" backgrounds that help color the setting (such as "Sky Whaler").  

So, without further ado,

d66 Backgrounds for PCs in Odd Jerusalem: 

11. Slave in the palace of one of the Five Princes

12. Acolyte

13. Beetle Breeder

14. Mugger

15. Chimney Sweep

16. Camel Driver

21. Student

22. Sandal-maker (cobbler)

23. Locksmith

24. Wedding Musician

25. Rooftop Gardner

26. Rat Exterminator


31. Gaslighter 

32. Hot Air Balloon Pilot

33. Mushroom Gatherer

34. A Soldier in the Army of One of the Five Prince

35. Tailor

36. Barber / Dentist

 

41. Pickpocket

42. Underwater River Fisherman

43. Bath Worker

44. Barista

45. Glassblower

46. Streetfood Vendor


51. Librarian Assistant

52. Juggler

53. Fortune Teller 

54.  Opium Mixer

55. Sewer Cleaner 

56. Gambler 

61. Sky Whaler

62. Actor 

63. Jeweller

64. Salt Miner 

65. Snail Catcher

66. Professional Mourner