Character Background Helper Utility

Summary

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, "Which one of you has a child?", 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.

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.

Character Background

Player Name:_____________________________________

First Name:__________________	Middle Name:__________________	Last Name:__________________
Maiden Name:__________________	Sex:______	Age:______
Place of Birth:__________________	Day of Birth:______	Month of Birth:______
Nationality:__________________	Country of Origin:__________________	Marital Status:________

History

At least 1 or more sentences under each category; "None" or "Unknown" is acceptable.

Educational:

(Include degrees, places, and fields of study)

Military:

(List division and highest rank reached)

Professional/Workforce:

(List current occupation)

Criminal:

(List current criminal status)

Religious:

(List Religion and beliefs)

Interests/Clubs:

(Societies is/was member of, and/or Hobbies)

General History:

(Anything not covered above)

Current Wealth/Income:

(Class/$ Amount - Rationalize if abnormal to occupation)

Equipment:

(List any special/notable equipment that helps define the character)

Physical Description:

Describe appearance in at least 1 complete sentence; may include height, weight, eye-color, hair-color, notable scars, limb-loss, deformities, etc.

Personality / Attitude

Describe attitude in at least 1 complete sentence; may include beliefs, pet-peeves, quirks, disorders, habits, dependencies, etc.

Relatives

Include living/deceased status, current location, current attitude towards/from PC, and additional information as necessary (occupation, wealth, country of origin). At least three relatives must be active/alive.

Father	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:
Grandfather (Paternal)	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:
Grandmother (Paternal)	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:
Mother	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:
Grandfather (Maternal)	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:
Grandmother (Maternal)	Name:_________________________	Age:____
Details:

Additional Relations:

1920´s families were generally large. Possibilities include a spouse, children, siblings (brothers/sisters), cousins, nephews/nieces, uncles/aunts, great uncles/aunts, second cousins, etc.

Contacts

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.

Contact 1
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Skills/Abilities/Resources:
Background Information
Contact 2
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Skills/Abilities/Resources:
Background Information
Contact 3
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Skills/Abilities/Resources:
Background Information

Acquaintances

List 2 to 4 living acquaintances – these are "minor" 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.

Acquaintance 1
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Relation/Information:
Acquaintance 2
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Relation/Information:
Acquaintance 3
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Relation/Information:
Acquaintance 4
Name: ______________________	Sex:______	Occupation:_________________
Relation/Information: