Plan B (5e Background)

Work In Progress

This content deviates from 5e standards. Its use could dramatically alter campaigns, take extreme care.

Caution - Here there be monsters! This content intends to provide a different experience, or goes beyond the scope of the anticipated subjects and situations, than the 5e rules were intended to handle. Some portions of the content below may not be what you expect from traditional game content. When implementing this content, DMs and Players should read over all the information carefully, and consider the following specific notes of interest:

This is not a very generalized background and deviates heavily from the design philosophy of official options. This background makes the character very centerpiece in the world, thus possibly granting them a lot of influence from the get-go, along with certain already-designated characteristics, duties, and habits. It is highly recommended you work closely with your DM when using this background to better incorporate yourself without being overdone.

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You were created as a backup plan, hence plan "b", for someone, likely someone important. After all, this sort of replication doesn't come cheaply...

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Plan B

By Conceptopolis

The possibility of cloning is not new. People have desired to escape death with this possibility. One could elongate their lifespan and theoretically have many copies of themselves to be used at their disposal when in need. You are a result of such an attempt to cheat death. However, not only are you a physical clone, you also have some mental capabilities copied over from your original self. This kind of magic and technology is very costly and imperfect, however, so you do have some quirks that make it obvious you are only a pale imitation of the real thing. You were made as a backup should anything happen to the original. Perhaps they feared assassination due to their visible political status and so needed to ensure their survival through a successor. Maybe your progenitor original was a person seeking to preserve their knowledge beyond death, thus making you as a living continuation of their work. Whoever you original was and whatever they did, they were not mere peasant commoners. Either they themselves or the people around them had the means and access to powerful magic and technology to create you.

Because only powerful and influential people have any hope of attaining a copy of themselves, consider with your DM who your original was and how they fit into the world and story. Are they still alive? If so, are they an enemy the party will face down the line, or an ally? It is possible they are not even aware of a duplicate in existence. In that case, are they hostile to you? What is your purpose as the backup plan? What legacy are you meant to carry on? Or, perhaps more insidious plans lie in wait for your use. Remember that plan "b's" are just tools and seen as lesser than their original. How are you different than your original self? What sort of distinguishing defects exist from your creation? Do you intend to carry out the duty you were created for and replace your original?

This background is not meant to make a singular player more important than others. It does grant significantly more presence, because the appearance of this plan "b" is not entirely inconspicuous. However, that does not mean they automatically have access to all the resources of their original, nor all their knowledge. This can be used to expand on the character as a different person than their original. This can also be a helpful focal point for characters to confront their own authenticity and individuality. It provides for multiple venues of tying in plot as well, especially of the original entity is someone influential. But it should not overshadow the other characters in a party.

Additional questions to ask when using this background is how were you made and raised? Did you wake up in some forsaken magical lab on a table? Perhaps you were one of many copies of a person and you alone survived over the years in some kind of stasis. This could leave you with deformed memories. Or, maybe you were already performing the duties you were created for when something happened to take you away from your predetermined purpose. Perhaps you were a politician's copy that was nearly assassinated and then fled into the shadows for safety. You could also have had some defect that made you psychologically break from your conditioned purpose, allowing you to flee in a mad frenzy, and now you are a fugitive. There are many ways to take this, but be sure to discuss thoroughly with your DM over the possible consequences of your existence. You also will have a lot of proficiencies that derive from your original, so these should be ironed out as well.

A more modern, industrialized plan B, by flyingdebris

Skill Proficiencies: Survival and choose either History or Arcana

Tool Proficiencies: You are proficient in a set of tools that relates to your original. For example, if your original was a scientist, you might be proficient in alchemist supplies. If you were a politician, you might be proficient in calligrapher's supplies.

Languages: You know one language that your original knew.

Equipment: One set of tools that you are proficient in from your original, a personal item from your original, a set of fine clothes, and a small pouch containing 15 gp

Imperfect Copy

You can use the below table to help determine what kind of defects you have as an imperfect copy of your original. Some of these defects show up physiologically while others are much more psychological. They are not always connected with your original and could actually just be side effects of your creation.

d8	Plan B Defects
1	You have odd memory flashes that disorient you daily, and they are unprompted. You're not sure if they're yours or not.
2	You have disruptive nightmares that prevent you from sleeping your best, often showing strange scenes you may not remember.
3	You find your body occasionally has a strange tic in one limb or body part and then it travels to another part. It could be your foot tapping, your hand shaking, or your eyes twitching involuntarily.
4	You have intense allergies to a certain substance or phenomena. This allergy can manifest in the form of breathing issues or rashes, for example.
5	You have a certain phobia that has no explanation nor prior experience you remember.
6	There are large swathes of memory that you simply have nothing filling.
7	Sometimes, while you are doing something, you get a fugue and momentarily forget what you are doing, perhaps staring off into space unproductively.
8	There is a certain sensation, be it taste or smell, that inspires intense revulsion from you. It gets so bad that you might immediately start gagging or vomit from even slight exposure.

Feature: Cloned Tendency

As a clone of your original, you bear something of them aside from just appearance. It could be a behavioral advantage or interesting quirk. This is also that defines you and your original quite clearly, and convinces people that you can be your original. Most people, unless they get to know you, will likely think you are your original without questioning. You can use your face to access places where your original likely had access to. However, you may lack more specific knowledge to convince more speculative people.

Alternate Feature: Tethered Existence

As part of the process that created you, you have an uncanny bond with your original. Be they alive or dead, you received strange sensations and even visions that tell you about where they are, where they were, what they dream or dreamt, and what they might be doing or were doing. You can work with your DM to make these jarring sensations more narrative-driven, tying you to your original and maybe even drawing you together. If your original is part of an overarching story point, then this can be a device for your DM to use as a guide for your character.

Suggested Characteristics

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
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5
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8

d6	Ideal
1	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)
2	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)
3	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)
4	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)
5	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)
6	<-Ideal->. (<-Alignment->)

d6	Bond
1
2
3
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6

d6	Flaw
1	Your creator was killed by someone or something. You would do anything to get back at them.
2
3
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6

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(0 votes)

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