Explore Pathfinder: Wrath of the Righteous backgrounds, granting bonus proficiencies, class skills, and feats like Improved Unarmed Strike.
Backgrounds and their Benefits:
- Farmhand: Grants Athletics and Lore (Nature) as class skills, proficiency with Scythe, and a +1 bonus to Fortitude saves.
- Lumberjack: Grants Athletics as a class skill and proficiencies with Handaxe, Battleaxe, and Greataxe.
- Miner: Grants Athletics as a class skill and proficiencies with Light Pick and Heavy Pick.
- Smith: Grants Athletics as a class skill and proficiencies with Light hammer and Warhammer.
- Courtier: Grants Persuasion and Trickery as class skills and proficiencies with Rapier and Buckler.
- Emissary: Grants Persuasion and Knowledge (World) as class skills and proficiencies with Rapier and Buckler.
- Leader: Grants Persuasion as a class skill and proficiencies with Longsword, Rapier, Greatsword, and Buckler.
- Acolyte: Grants Persuasion and Lore (Religion) as class skills, and allows you to use Wisdom for Persuasion checks.
- Healer: Grants Lore (Nature) and Lore (Religion) as class skills, and allows you to use Intelligence for Lore checks.
- Martial Disciple: Grants Mobility and Lore (Religion) as class skills, and provides Improved Unarmed Strike.
- Aldori Swordsman: Grants Persuasion as a class skill and proficiencies with Dueling Sword and Buckler.
- Alkenstar Alchemist: Grants Knowledge (Arcana) as a class skill and a +1 damage bonus with Alchemist bombs and items.
- Andoren Diplomat: Grants Persuasion as a class skill and a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
- Chelaxian Diabolist: Grants Knowledge (Arcana) as a class skill and a +4 Dodge AC bonus against Devils.
- Gebbite Necromancer: Grants Lore (Religion) as a class skill and a +3 HP bonus for summoned undead.
- Mendevian Orphan: Grants Lore (Religion) as a class skill and a +1 bonus to saving throws against Demons.
- Mwangi Hunter: Grants Lore (Nature) and Stealth as class skills, proficiencies with Dart, Throwing Axe, and Javelin, and a +1 damage bonus with throwing weapons.
- Nexian Scholar: Grants Knowledge (Arcana) as a class skill and a +2 bonus to Knowledge (Arcana) skill checks.
- Osirian Historian: Grants Knowledge (World) as a class skill and a +2 bonus to Knowledge (World) skill checks.
- Qadiran Wanderer: Grants Perception and Lore (Nature) as class skills and a +2 bonus to saves against Fatigue and Exhaustion effects.
- River Kingdoms Daredevil: Grants Mobility as a class skill, proficiencies with Shortsword and Dagger, and a +2 AC bonus against attacks of opportunity.
- Shackles Corsair: Grants Athletics and Mobility as class skills, proficiency with Scimitar, and a +2 CMD against trip attempts.
- Ustalavic Peasant: Grants Athletics as a class skill, proficiency with Scythe, and a +1 AC and damage bonus while affected by fear.
- Varisian Explorer: Grants Trickery and Knowledge (World) as class skills and a +1 bonus to Reflex saving throws.
- Warrior of the Linnorm Kings: Grants Mobility as a class skill, proficiencies with Handaxe, Battleaxe, and Greataxe, and 5 cold resistance.
- Arcane Scholar: Grants Knowledge (Arcana) and Use Magic Device as class skills, and the ability to Scribe Scrolls.
- Divine Scholar: Grants Lore (Religion) and Use Magic Device as class skills, and the ability to Brew Potions.
- Nature Scholar: Grants the ability to use 1 Druid orison at will.
- Acrobat: Grants Trickery and Mobility as class skills and proficiency with Throwing Axe.
- Mugger: Grants Trickery and Persuasion as class skills and proficiencies with Dagger and Punching Dagger, and Dart.
- Pickpocket: Grants Trickery and Stealth as class skills and a +2 bonus on Initiative rolls.
- Hermit: Grants Lore (Nature) as a class skill and proficiencies with Quarterstaff, Club, Greatclub, and Dart.
- Hunter: Grants Lore (Nature) and Perception as class skills and proficiencies with Shortbow and Longbow.
- Nomad: Grants Lore (Nature) as a class skill, proficiency with Scimitar, and your Animal Companion gains +3 HP.
- Bounty Hunter: Grants Stealth as a class skill and proficiencies with Light Armor, Club, Light Mace, and Heavy Mace.
- Gladiator: Grants Persuasion as a class skill and proficiencies with Trident, Shortsword, Light Armor, and Buckler.
- Guard: Grants Perception as a class skill and proficiencies with Shortsword, Light Crossbow, and Light Armour.
- Mercenary: Grants Knowledge (World) as a class skill and proficiencies with Light Armor, Spear, Longspear, and Javelin.
Tips
- Oblate backgrounds can be very powerful, especially for classes not dependent on Charisma, as they allow you to use Wisdom for Persuasion checks, freeing up points from Charisma for Will saves and Perception bonuses.
- The Martial Disciple background grants Improved Unarmed Strike, which can help bypass the feat tax for Crane Style feats without needing a Monk level.
- When a background grants proficiencies you already possess, you receive a +1 enhancement bonus with those weapons or armor.
- If skills granted by a background are already class skills for your character, you receive a +1 competence bonus to those skills.
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