2221 - After the Nemesis Cataclysm: Backgrounds for Survivors

Backgrounds for Survivors:


The following backgrounds are appropriate to survivors by type.

Primitive Survivors

The survivors of the apocalypse are descendants of the humans who somehow weathered the passing of Nemesis and the destruction of Thanatos. Primitive survivors are wildmen, barbarians and savages by and large, and while they can often puzzle out the uses of the ancient artifacts of lost civilizations they are generally an uncouth, uneducated lot.

Available Professions: primitive survivors have access to a few professions, including explorer, hunter, shaman, tribesman, warrior and wizard.

Powers: Humans make a LUCK roll; if you make it you are a Hybrid and must roll D100: 1-40 roll for mutations; 41-80 psionics; on a 81-00 roll once for a mutation and choose one psionic ability. If you choose wizard or shaman then you may automatically start with psionics and may still roll LUCK to see if you start with mutations, as well!

Equipment: Primitive only; LUCK roll to gain access to 1D3-1 advanced pieces of gear. Purchase gear as if they were of destitute wealth level.

Enlightened Survivor:

Those who may have dwelt on the surface but who retained, learned, or were taught to understand the technology of the forgotten era are known as Enlightened Survivors. Perhaps the character was raised by a community of pre-apocalyptic robots, or maybe he was lucky enough to be born in to a village that had a ritual process for retaining an understanding of written language, as well as a rare cache of ancient tomes filled with the mysteries of physics, mathematics and mechanical engineering.

Available Professions: typically includes craftsmen, criminals, explorers, farmers, gamblers, hunters, laborers, lawmen, merchants, nobles, priests, sailors, scholars, servants, slaves, soldiers, thieves, and warriors. Some enlightened communities may include mechanics, teachers and students.

Powers: Make a LUCK roll; if you make it, roll D100: 1-40 roll for mutations; 41-80 psionics; on a 81-00 roll once for a mutation and choose one psionic ability

Equipment: Enlightened survivors normally have primitive gear, but they also gain access to 1D3-1 advanced pieces of gear salvaged by their community. Purchase gear as if they were of poor wealth level.

Awakened Survivor:

Survivors who somehow remained in stasis or were hidden away in technologically advanced enclaves and shielded from the destruction above are called Awakened Survivors. Regardless of whether the safe location the awakened survivor heralds from suffered a critical meltdown forcing him or her out of stasis, or whether the survivor’s hidden enclave at last ran out of resources and was forced onto the surface world, awakened survivors have been propelled into the real world as a result.

Available Professions: any profession may be suitable, but the likeliest professions include computer tech, doctor, engineer, explorer, mechanic, scientist, soldier and technician.

Powers: Make a hard (1/2 skill) LUCK roll; if you make it, roll D100: 1-20 roll for mutations; 21-80 psionics; on 81-00 roll once for a mutation and choose one psionic ability

Equipment: Awakened survivors are of average wealth level initially and can start with advanced gear (usually taken from their enclave or stasis facility), and should gather as much as they can afford or the GM allows, after which they must then forage.