UA:Character Background: Academic Background

This material is published under the OGL

Academic Background

Many adventurers come from tall towers of magic academies and colleges. They find the adventurer's life much diffeent than the cloistered life they knew when they were learning the secrets of magic. But the lessons in power such characters learned in the classroom serve them well wherever their adventures take them.

Recognition in the academic world takes the form of academic degrees or membership in honorary societies.

A character's ranks in Spellcraft provide a bonus on recognition checks related to degrees, and his ranks in Knowledge (arcana) provide a bonus on recognition checks related to societies.

Example Societies and Degrees

The names of societies and academic degrees given below are provided as a starting point. Depending on the player's interest and the DMs plans for the campaign, the societies could become full-fledged secret cabals, or they could remain honorary societies that rarely meet and don't have agendas beyond their field of study.

Societies: Society of Arcanobiological Studies, The Horned Hand, Fraternity of the Three Mysteries, Scarlet Roby Society, Kau Sathra Vox, Society of Tarsus, Arcana Aid Society, Club of the Mystic Twelve.

Degrees: Master of Eldritch Power (in a particular school of magic), Unsurpassed Scholar in Arcane Arts, Master of Cast Spells.

Academic Magic Background Activities

d%	Activity	Class	Feats	Skills	Gear	Contacts	Rep	Recognition
01-07	Item Creation	Wizard	Any Item Creation	Spellcraft, Craft (any), Concentration	Any magic item	Skill	+0	Society, DC 30
08-15	Metamagic	Sorcerer or Wizard	Any metamagic	Knowledge (arcana), Concentration, Spellcraft	Rod or Staff	Influence	+0	Degree, DC 24
16-23	Spell research	Wizard	Spell Mastery	Spellcraft, Knowledge (arcana), Concentration	Extra spells in spellbook	Information	+1/2	Degree, DC 26
24-29	Training	Wizard	Leadership, Persuasive	Spellcraft, Knowledge (arcana), Sense Motive	Wondrous item for interaction/communication	Influence	+1	Society, DC 26
30-35	Abjuration	Wizard	Spell Focus (Abjuration)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (the planes)	Wand/staff with abjuration spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
36-41	Conjuration	Wizard	Spell Focus (Conjuration)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (the planes)	Wand/staff with conjuration spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
42-47	Divination	Wizard	Spell Focus (Divination)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (the planes)	Wand/staff with divination spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
48-53	Enchantment	Wizard	Spell Focus (Enchantment)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Diplomacy	Wand/staff with enchantment spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
54-59	Evocation	Wizard	Spell Focus (Evocation)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (arcana)	Wand/staff with evocation spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
60-65	Illusion	Wizard	Spell Focus (Illusionism)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Perform (any)	Wand/staff with illusion spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
66-71	Necromancy	Wizard	Spell Focus (Necromancy)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (religion)	Wand/staff with necromancy spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
72-77	Transmutation	Wizard	Spell Focus (Transmutation)	Spellcraft, Concentration, Knowledge (arcana)	Wand/staff with transmutation spells	Information	+0	Degree, DC 28
78-85	Creature studies	Wizard	Spell Penetration, Improved Familiar	Knowledge (nature), Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (the planes)	Wondrous item that mimics monster ability	Influence	+1/2	Society, DC 28
86-94	Battle magic	Sorcerer or wizard	Combat Casting, Any metamagic	Concentration, Spellcraft, Knowledge (arcana)	Bracers of armor or Cloak of peotection	Information	+1/2	Society DC 28
95-100	Divine magic	Cleric	Spell Focus (any)	Concentration, Knowledge (religion), Spellcraft	Prayer beads or divine scrolls	Skill	+1/2	Society, DC 24

---

Back to Main Page → Variant Rules → Building Characters