View source for Character Background Helper Utility

=Summary=
<p>
What follows is a utility form for [[Keepers]] to hand out to their [[Players]] when creating a character for [[Call of Cthulhu]].  Most adventures revolve around a [[Player Character]]'s relative or distant friend dying or otherwise becoming corrupted with the [[Cthulhu Mythos]] and therefore requiring the aid of the PCs.  In order to avoid arousing suspicion by asking the group, &quot;Which one of you has a child?&quot;, the Keeper can instead look at the backgrounds provided to him.  This is also a valuable aid in that Contacts can be used as replacement PCs, and, in general, fleshes out the character.
</p><p>
Note that the year of birth is omitted, as this is entirely circumstantial based on the age of the character and the year of the setting.
</p>

=Character Background=

<h3>Player Name:_____________________________________</h3>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5">

<tr>
<td>First Name:__________________</td>
<td>Middle Name:__________________</td>
<td>Last Name:__________________</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Maiden Name:__________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Age:______</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Place of Birth:__________________</td>
<td>Day of Birth:______</td>
<td>Month of Birth:______</td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Nationality:__________________</td>
<td>Country of Origin:__________________</td>
<td>Marital Status:________</td>
</tr>

</table>

<h3>History</h3>
<i>At least 1 or more sentences under each category; &quot;None&quot; or &quot;Unknown&quot; is acceptable.</i>

<h4>Educational:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(Include degrees, places, and fields of study)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Military:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(List division and highest rank reached)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Professional/Workforce:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(List current occupation)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Criminal:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(List current criminal status)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Religious:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(List Religion and beliefs)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Interests/Clubs:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(Societies is/was member of, and/or Hobbies)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>General History:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(Anything not covered above)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Current Wealth/Income:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(Class/$ Amount - Rationalize if abnormal to occupation)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h4>Equipment:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">(List any special/notable equipment that helps define the character)</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h3>Physical Description:</h3>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">Describe appearance in at least 1 complete sentence; may include height, weight, eye-color, hair-color, notable scars, limb-loss, deformities, etc.</span>
<br><br><br><br><br>

<h3>Personality / Attitude</h3>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">Describe attitude in at least 1 complete sentence; may include beliefs, pet-peeves, quirks, disorders, habits, dependencies, etc.</span>
<br><br><br><br><br>

<h3>Relatives</h3>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">Include living/deceased status, current location, current attitude towards/from PC, and additional information as necessary (occupation, wealth, country of origin).  <strong>At least three relatives must be active/alive.</strong></span>
<br><br><br>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5">

<tr>
<td>Father</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Grandfather (Paternal)</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Grandmother (Paternal)</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Mother</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Grandfather (Maternal)</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr>
<td>Grandmother (Maternal)</td>
<td>Name:_________________________</td>
<td>Age:____</td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Details:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>
</table>
<h4>Additional Relations:</h4>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">1920&acute;s families were generally large.  Possibilities include a spouse, children, siblings (brothers/sisters), cousins, nephews/nieces, uncles/aunts, great uncles/aunts, second cousins, etc.</span>
<br><br><br><br>

<h3>Contacts</h3>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">List 1 to 3 living contacts.  A contact is a non-player character that may be encountered semi-frequently, asked upon for a favor, and/or has an otherwise vested interest in the PC.  The description should read as a potential future PC.  Preferably contact has no Cthulhu Mythos knowledge/experience.  A Contact can be from any walk of life, but the connection must be explained; love Interests can be either Contacts or Acquaintances (see below).  An overly detailed relation can be used as a Contact.</span>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5">
<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Contact 1</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Skills/Abilities/Resources:<br><br><br></td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Background Information<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Contact 2</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Skills/Abilities/Resources:<br><br><br></td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Background Information<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Contact 3</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Skills/Abilities/Resources:<br><br><br></td>
</tr><tr>
<td colspan="3">Background Information<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

</table>

<h3>Acquaintances</h3>
<span style="font-style:italic;font-size:80%;">List 2 to 4 living acquaintances – these are &quot;minor&quot; Contacts that are not as useful as a contact.  These must be Non-Player Characters with no Cthulhu Mythos knowledge.  Acquaintances are used for subplots and include love interests, coworkers or much-encountered relations.</span>

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="5">
<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Acquaintance 1</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Relation/Information:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Acquaintance 2</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Relation/Information:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Acquaintance 3</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Relation/Information:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

<tr><td colspan="3"><h4>Acquaintance 4</h4></td></tr>
<tr>
<td>Name: ______________________</td>
<td>Sex:______</td>
<td>Occupation:_________________</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="3">Relation/Information:<br><br><br></td>
</tr>

</table>

[[Category:CoC:Utilities]]