I currently think that I won’t be using character classes for Vaarn in future. I’ve tried a Warrior/Mystic/Adept trifecta, and although it works alright, we’ve been getting much more interesting gameplay from the PCs’ ancestries than their classes. Whether someone is a two-headed mutant or a talking horse-man comes up all the time in our sessions, whereas their class almost never does. I’m leaning towards making Mystic Gifts available to all characters through adventuring, and eliminating the Warrior and Adept classes altogether.
However, I do like the world-building that can be sketched out through short, flavourful character backgrounds. To that end, I’ve been mulling over some starter packages that could replace or supplement the current random equipment a starting Vaarn PC is given. I hope these help fill in some of the wider world’s tone and can suggest something about a character’s place in it.
| BACKGROUND | ATTIRE | WEAPON | SPECIAL EQUIPMENT | |
| 1 | Alchymist | Alchymical Robes (AC 11) | Prismatic Blade (d6) | Vial of ICE-9 |
| 2 | Artificer | Hardy Worksuit (AC 12, 2 slots) | Wrench (d6) | Random Exotica |
| 3 | Aurum Barge Crew | Worn Voidsuit (AC 12, 2 slots) | Suit Cutter (d6) | O2 Mask |
| 4 | Clone Catcher | Catcher’s Armour (AC 12, 2 slots) | Concealed Pistol (d6) | Genepeeker |
| 5 | Faa Nomad | Nomad’s Robes (AC 11) | Nomad’s Bow (d8) | Sandworm Horn |
| 6 | Fire Speaker | Crimson Attire (AC 11) | Bronze Dagger (d6) | GIFT – Pyrokinesis |
| 7 | Fungusmonger | Merchant’s Robes (AC 11) | Sporegun (d8) | Dried Fungus Man |
| 8 | Gladiator | Battered Armour (AC 14, 4 slots) | Hard-used Blade (d8) | Gruesome Trophy |
| 9 | Hypergeometrician | Scholar’s Attire (AC 11) | Scholar’s Gun (d6) | GIFT – Hypergeometry |
| 10 | Inquisitor | Grim Attire (AC 11) | Querulous Blade (d6) | Truth Serum |
| 11 | Mercenary | Gambeson (AC 12, 2 slots) | Plasma Fusil (d8) | Plasma Grenades (3) |
| 12 | Mystic | Mystic’s Robes (AC 11) | Walking Stick (d6) | Random GIFT |
| 13 | Priest of Sevenscore Moons | Moondark Attire (AC 11) | Waning Blade (d6) | Draught of Merciful Tranquility |
| 14 | Priest of Sevenscore Suns | Sunburst Attire (AC 11) | Sun Staff (d6) | Medicinal Gourd |
| 15 | Psychonaut | Mismatched Rags (AC 11) | Ego-Death Ray (d6) | Random Drugs (2) |
| 16 | Relic Thief | Dark Clothes (AC 11) | Blackened Dagger (d6) | Void-Saint’s Finger |
| 17 | Sin Eater | Eater’s Robes (AC 11) | Ritual Dining Fork (d6) | Sin You Couldn’t Eat |
| 18 | Wall-Born | Climbing Armour (AC 12, 2 slots) | Grapple Gun (d8) | Trained Ape |
| 19 | Ceremonial Fool | Motley (AC 11) | Jolly Bludgeon (d6) | Sacred Puppet |
| 20 | Nameless Clone | Rags (AC 11) | Bone Knife (d6) | Nothing |
I would probably choose not to define the backgrounds much more clearly than they are here, instead leaving that to my players. What exactly does the Draught of Merciful Tranquility do? I imagine it’s likely a poison, but that’s up to the Priest of Sevenscore Moons to decide. Likewise, I have a fairly good idea what the Clone Catcher’s Genepeeker is probably used for, but the exact form and function of the device I would leave to the player to define.
VAULTS OF VAARN 
I think this has to be one of my favourite Vaarn posts of yours. Especially love the “fungusmonger” and “hypergeometrician.” Also, the “sin you couldn’t eat” item made me chuckle.
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Thanks, this is a bit of an odd formative post as I ended up not using these backgrounds in any published stuff. They’re leaning a bit more Troika or Electric Bastionland-ish with the unique weapons and gear. I agree that the Sin Eater is quite a fun one, I should revisit that profession somehow
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Yes, definitely does lean towards that. I like it though. Gives a bit more of the eccentric goodness of Vaarn through some pain quotidien. That sin eater stuff definitely is gravy. 10/10 should revisit.
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