Homebrew:Crossroads Gambler
(OOC: This is an implementation of the Crossroads Gambler background from The Crooked Moon)
You've made your bones on games of chance, and one day your games crossed the line into something far more serious. You might have played for your soul against a Fiend, matched wits with ancient forest Fey in a riddle contest, or rolled dice with the fabled Mister Crossroads.
- Feat:
- Fate Gambler
- Skill Proficiencies:
- Deception
Charisma (Deception)skillYour Charisma (Deception) check determines whether you can convincingly hide the truth, either verbally or through your actions. This deception can encompass everything from misleading others through ambiguity to telling outright lies. Typical situations include trying to fast-talk a guard, con a merchant, earn money through gambling, pass yourself off in a disguise, dull someone's suspicions with false assurances, or maintain a straight face while telling a blatant lie., Insight
Wisdom (Insight)skillYour Wisdom (Insight) check decides whether you can determine the true intentions of a creature, such as when searching out a lie or predicting someone’s next move. Doing so involves gleaning clues from body language, speech habits, and changes in mannerisms. - Tool Proficiencies:
- Choose one kind of gaming set
- Equipment:
- Choose A or B: (A) gaming set (same as above), caltrops, fine clothes, fine wine (bottle), 23 gp; or (B) 50 gp
Building a Crossroads Gambler
Characters who live by their wits, such as rogues and bards, find the call of a crossroads gambler appealing, though anyone could find themselves in the position of playing for stakes higher than they could ever imagine... or pay. A spellcaster who conjured the wrong entity may find themself a gambler. The desperate who sought out a mysterious figure to throw dice and match wits for power or salvation can find their fates bound to the crossroads.
Suggested Story Threads
The Crossroads Gambler Story Threads table suggests events and people who can be the start of story threads for your character that weave through the campaign.
| 1d6 | Thread |
|---|---|
| 1 | Someone you thought was a friend tricked you into making your bargain. |
| 2 | You've found that if you go too long without making a wager, your luck starts to turn sour. |
| 3 | You only feel alive in the midst of a contest. |
| 4 | You lost your bet, and you're on the run from the thing surely coming to collect. |
| 5 | Someone close to you made a wager and lost. You made your deal to try and find them. |
| 6 | You've been gambling for a long time, and you're tired. Now all you want is a way out. |
Crossroads Gambler Trinkets
When you make your character, you can roll once on the Crossroads Gambler Trinkets table instead of on the normal starting Trinkets table.
| 1d6 | Trinket |
|---|---|
| 1 | A lucky coin made of a strange material, such as green steel or bone |
| 2 | A battered, blood-stained six of hearts playing card |
| 3 | A torn journal page of a long-missing gambler who was hopeful to win their fortune from a being they describe but fail to name |
| 4 | The preserved foot of a rabbit, owl, or weasel |
| 5 | A six-sided die that somehow seems to have too many 2s when closely examined |
| 6 | A silver-plated ivory chess rook |