Holidays

Holidays

So, I think I finally figured out how to use Holidays!  The short version is:  if you observe/participate in Holiday Prayers/Celebrations then you will receive a temporary bonus.

Each Holiday has a Monetary Threshold.  This amount will not be known to the Players.  The Monetary Threshold will be rolled secretly by the DM using this chart:

1)      25

2)      50

3)      75

4)      100

5)      150

6)      200

If a PC spends at least this amount of money on decorations and revelries, then that Player receives a +1 to all rolls that determine the Bonus Value (+1-+3) and Duration. 

It is NOT necessary to spend money to get these Bonuses, it only increases the chances of receiving them.

Religious Holidays

For Clerics

If you are a Cleric you are devoted to a God you are meant to observe that God's Holidays.  On the the day of the Holiday you get a +5 when you ask your God for a new daily spell.  

Once your day-long Rituals are complete, you roll 1d3 to determine if your Bonus is +1, +2, or +3.  This applies to all Turn Undead and Spell Casting rolls for the next 1d8 Days.  If--for ANY reason--you do NOT participate for a full 8 hours you must Roll ANY die for a 50% chance to receive the same boon.  Failure means you receive NO Bonus.

PANTHEON CLERICS  are meant to choose any 2 Gods of their Pantheon and observe those Holidays.    However, they are only required to participate for 4 Hours.  They receive the same +1d3 but only for 1d3 Days.  Pantheon Clerics do NOT get disfavor for celebrating any God in his/her Pantheon.  However, if they worship ANY God that is NOT part of their Pantheon, see below.

If ANY Cleric participates in a Holiday for ANY other God, they can receive the same Bonus as though they were a Pantheon Cleric AND the DM will secretly roll ANY die to determine the 50% chance of offending the God you are devoted to.

For Non-Clerics

Members of other Character Classes and "normal folk" can observe any Religious Holidays they wish.  If they devote at least 4 hours to Holiday Rituals/Prayers, for the next 1d3 Days they can enjoy a Random +1 Bonus to:

1. Strength
2. Intelligence
3. Wisdom
4. Dexterity
5. Constitution
6. Charisma
7. AC
8. To Hit

Regional Holidays

Anyone may observe Regional Holidays.  A PC must participate for 1d3+1 hours.  You will receive a To Hit Bonus of +1d3, this lasts for 1d6 days.  You also receive a +1d3 Bonus to all Reaction Rolls, and all the Morale/Loyalty Rolls of your Retainers.

If a PC--or his/her Retainers, Mercenaries, Followers, Lackeys, or Sidekicks--is NOT from the Region celebrating the Holiday, these Characters only receive this Bonus for 1d2 Days.

Example:  Grumpy the Dwarf (currently residing in Magnifulum) has 2 Retainers:  Fred the Retainer (from Magnifulum) and Elliot Pickwick (from Stupenderol).  If this trio celebrates a Magnifulum Holiday, Grumpy and Fred can enjoy the Bonuses for a full 1d6 days, but Elliot can only enjoy the Bonus for 1d2 days.  If this trio experience a Holiday in Stupenderol, Elliot will get the Bonuses for 1d6 days, while Grumpy and Fred only get them for 1d2 days.

Backstory 2

 Alternate Backgrounds

These can be used in concert with the original Background Charts.  

First, we have the Alternate Background Chart.

Also, your PC may have a deep, dark secret:

Player Character Secrets

 

You have a secret that causes you to feel Embarrassment, Guilt, or Shame.  You hope no one finds out about it!  Roll 1d20 or choose OR make up your own!

 

1)      Caused the death of a Hero or Publicly-Loved NPC

            You killed the Wrong Guy, or lost the Pardon, etc

2)      You are the reason some Villain or Menace is alive today

            You stopped someone else from killing him (on purpose or accident)

3)      Related to some Big Bad or Embarrassing Outcast

            It can’t be good for your rep to be Darth Vader’s kid

4)      Lost a lover to a rival

            Did you drive them away, or did you just seem boring compared to the other guy?

5)      Stole a lover (on purpose or not) from a Close Friend

            Perhaps you did it on purpose; perhaps the lover was flighty and fickle to begin with

6)      Former member of a Gang or Cult

            How proud would you be if everyone learned you used to be in the Clown Gang?

7)      A misunderstanding or scandal cost you a Close Friend

            There was no betrayal on either side, but you’re too proud to admit your wrongdoing

8)      A misunderstanding or scandal cost you a Position in some Organization

            You didn’t really feel up the Dean’s daughter, but you still didn’t get tenure

9)      You squandered your money on an obvious scam

            You sent a small fortune to a Nigerian Prince

10)  Secretly the Child of a prominent NPC

            Hope no one realizes you’re the King’s runaway son

11)  You practice a “wimpy” or “effeminate” hobby

            Like the Manly Art of Flower Pressing!

12)  Recovering from some Vice like drinking, drugs, gambling, etc

            Because some people think “Once a junkie, always a junkie!”

13)  Secretly suffering from a long slow disease

            Hope no one finds out you have Dwarven Beard Cancer or Jefferroids!

14)  You nearly died once because of a freak one-in-a-million self-inflicted accident

            You were just walking along when you tripped and fell onto your own weapon

15)  Had a brief love affair with a member of the ugliest race in the game

            Because Porcine Francine of the Butt-Ugly Orc Tribe has a great personality!

16)  You gambled your family into indentured servitude to a Noble or Mobster!

            Man…you had the second-best hand in the whole game!

17)  Once indulged in cannibalism (did you know it?)

            I mean, they were the best meat pies in London

18)  Once lived in extreme poverty and squallor

            You had to eat leftover rats and used both sides of the toilet paper

19)  You are secretly an agent of some prominent NPC

            Secret Agent Man!

20)  You have (roll any die) Even=1d12 Months, Odd=1d4 Years that you can’t remember

            NO memories at all!  Dun, dun…DUNNN!!!