Starfield Backstories: Craft Your Cosmic Identity
Starfield backgrounds offer a canvas to envision the earlier chapters of your character’s journey, where a younger avatar could be portrayed by a budding pop sensation, marking their spacefaring escapades that shaped their present self.
I’ve always appreciated such depth in character creation, reminiscent of the Origins in Dragon Age: Origins or the intricate life path design of the Burning Wheel tabletop RPG. Up till now, 16 Starfield backgrounds have been unveiled, influencing your initial skills and occasionally unlocking unique dialogues.
Exterminator
Details remain scarce, but from a brief snippet, it seems a quest-giver might trust you more to handle infestations based on this background. A boost in damage against extraterrestrial pests might be in store.
Bouncer
So far, we’ve just spotted this on a list. Given the typical duties of a bouncer—deterring disruptive patrons and intervening when necessary—it may bestow enhancements to your intimidation prowess and hand-to-hand combat.
Bounty Hunter
There’s a shroud of mystery here, but its potential is intriguing. It stands with the likes of Space Pirate, Smuggler, and Space Cowboy in the coveted quadrant of Cosmic Outlaw Dreams, famously alluded to by Plato. Who wouldn’t want to pursue elusive targets across galaxies? Though an ‘Investigation’ ability hasn’t been teased yet, it’ll be interesting to see the unique skill set this background brings.
Chef
It’s refreshing to see a background in Starfield that’s a tad unconventional, veering from the mold of a gun-toting sci-fi champion or daring cosmic explorer. A notable scene about this background humorously suggests your character may have crossed a critic, leading to their drastic career pivot. It’s these nuances that add charm.
Skills:
- Gastronomy: Master the art of creating gourmet meals and concoctions, and delve into advanced recipe research at designated labs.
- Dueling: Augment melee weapon damage by 10%.
- Wellness: Instantly boost health by 30 points.
Combat Medic
This is our first glance at a martial background. Given Bethesda’s track record with companion AI, this role might be pivotal. Ensuring the vitality of your allies and yourself is indispensable.
Skills:
- Pistol Mastery: Improve pistol damage output by 10%.
- Medicine: Amplify healing from Med Packs by 10%.
- Strength Training: Expand total weight allowance by 10 kg.
Cyber Runner
For those with a penchant for hacking, cyber maneuvering, and adorning futuristic sunglasses, reminiscent of their time in Cyberpunk 2077, this background should resonate. Space is teeming with computer systems, making a character adept in cyber manipulation indispensable. However, one wonders how they also acquired those social finesse.
Skills:
- Pistol Proficiency: Enhance pistol damage by 10%.
- Cybersecurity: Unlock the ability to hack high-tier security systems, with the option to store two automatic attempts.
- Negotiation: Improve your chances in speech challenges.
Cyberneticist
While the Cyber Runner thrived in the digital underground, the Cyberneticist honed their skills through formal education and legal cyber avenues. Their expertise, in the present context, offers an understanding of the weak points in machines.
Skills:
- Medic Expertise: Boost Med Pack healing by 10%.
- Robotics Knowledge: Amplify damage against Robots and Turrets by 10%.
- Laser Mastery: Augment damage of laser weaponry by 10%.
Diplomat
Consider this as an upscale Bouncer, one dressed in haute couture, opting for dialogue over physical confrontation. Their intervention in heated scenarios aims to prevent conflicts from escalating.
Skills:
- Negotiation: Enhance success rate in speech challenges.
- Peacekeeper: Compel an NPC at or below your level to cease combat temporarily.
- Trade Acumen: Purchase items at a 5% discount and sell at a 10% premium.
Explorer
For those unsure about which path to tread, the Explorer serves as the quintessential protagonist backdrop for Starfield. Given the game’s core mechanics and playstyle, it promises a robust foundation for players.
Skills:
- Laser Efficiency: Boost laser weaponry damage by 10%.
- Astrodynamics: A somewhat ambiguous in-game trait, seemingly connected to proficiently charting interstellar routes.
- Planetology: The preview offers a vague outline, but it appears to revolve around analyzing celestial bodies and extraterrestrial life. Selling this data might yield lucrative rewards.
Gangster
Though details remain scant, the Gangster background suggests an expertise in coercion and intimidation. A potentially intriguing twist could be a past marred by criminal affiliations, perhaps even with former associates who might not appreciate your new alliance with Constellation.
Homesteader
Choosing the path less traveled, Homesteaders opt for a life distant from bustling human colonies. Their skills likely echo those of an Explorer but with a grittier edge. An innate ability to interact and manage relations with extraterrestrials wouldn’t be a surprise.
Industrialist
An ambitious seeker of affluence, you’ve ventured to the uncharted realms of SPACE, much to the chagrin of Tim Curry’s ideals. Expect privileges like opulent accommodations, sharp bargaining skills, and a nuanced indifference towards the laborers – the space welders and janitors that keep the wheels of the intergalactic society turning.
Long Hauler
At heart, you’re an interstellar roadie. Yours is a solitary existence accompanied by pulsating synth beats, with the vastness of the cosmos stretching endlessly, reminiscent of the solitude of Nevada highways at midnight. You have a penchant for your brews and a peculiar fondness for your robot assistant. The galaxy’s expanse is your playground, and you cherish your freedom.
Pilgrim
Distinct from the Homesteader, the Pilgrim’s journey is deeply rooted in spirituality. With various faiths flourishing in Starfield, your religious devotion can serve as a shield – like dissuading pirates from hostility due to shared beliefs. Though whether you can sport oversized buckles on your space boots remains to be seen.
Professor
An intellectual in a world of exploration, your specialization remains undefined, possibly indicating a versatile set of academic prowess. With Starfield’s narrative focusing on alien artifacts, your role might echo more of an intergalactic archaeologist than a scholar bemoaning the state of modern thought on talk shows.
Ronin
Historically, Ronin refers to the samurai without a master in ancient Japan. In many futuristic tales, it’s a synonym for a rebellious warrior, often seen brandishing a sword and draped in leather. In Starfield’s more realistic space context, “Ronin” might be akin to “freelance soldier.” A sword as an accessory? One can only hope.
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