View source for Publication:Unearthed Arcana/Maritime Character Background

== Maritime Background ==

Characters with maritime backgrounds indulge in the same passions as everyone else- war, trade, and larceny- but they do it with a ship's deck beneath their feet (unless they've been shipwrecked, which is one possible activity in this background).

A character's time spent on the high seas provide a bonus on recognition checks; each time the maritime background is selected for this character, the bonus is increased by 1.

=== Example Maritime Ranks ===

Every navy has its own ranking system, and few ships are at exactly their full complement of crew. The following system of ranks is a good starting point for most campaigns.

'''Maritime Ranks (Lowest to Highest):''' Ordinary hand, able hand, leading hand, petty officer, chief petty officer, sublieutenant, lieutenant, lieutenant commander, commander, captain, commodore, admiral, grand admiral.

{| class="zebra d20"
|+ {{Anchor|Maritime Background Activities}}
! d% !! Activity !! Class !! Feats !! Skills !! Gear !! Contacts !! Rep !! Recognition
|- 
|01-12 || Pirate || Rogue || [[SRD:Dodge|Dodge]], [[SRD:Mobility|Mobility]] || [[SRD:Balance Skill|Balance]], [[SRD:Jump Skill|Jump]], [[SRD:Tumble Skill|Tumble]],[[SRD:Bluff Skill|Bluff]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]] || Weapon || Information || +1/2 || Rank, DC 22
|- 
|13-24 || Military Navy || Fighter || [[SRD:Leadership|Leadership]], [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus]] || [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Use Rope Skill|Use Rope]] || Weapon || Influence || +1/2 || Rank, DC 24
|- 
|25-34 || Sea trader || Rogue or bard || [[SRD:Negotiator|Negotiator]], [[SRD:Deft Hands|Deft Hands]] || [[SRD:Appraise Skill|Appraise]], [[SRD:Sense Motive Skill|Sense Motive]], [[SRD:Diplomacy Skill|Diplomacy]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]] || Wondrous item that aids interaction || Skill || +0 || Rank, DC 26
|- 
|35-44 || Ship's Marine || Fighter || [[SRD:Power Attack|Power Attack]], [[SRD:Improved Sunder|Improved Sunder]] || [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]] [[SRD:Climb Skill|Climb]], [[SRD:Jump Skill|Jump]] || Light armor || Skill || +0 || Rank, DC 26
|- 
|45-52 || Stowaway || Rogue || [[SRD:Stealthy|Stealthy]], [[SRD:Deceitful|Deceitful]] || [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Hide Skill|Hide]], [[SRD:Move Silently Skill|Move Silently]], [[SRD:Disguise Skill|Disguise]], [[SRD:Bluff Skill|Bluff]] || Item that aids stealth || Influence || +0 || -
|- 
|53-62 || Shipwrecked || Barbarian || [[SRD:Track|Track]], [[SRD:Self-Sufficient|Self-Sufficient]] || [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Survival Skill|Survival]], [[SRD:Craft Skill|Craft (any)]], [[SRD:Spot Skill|Spot]], [[SRD:Listen Skill|Listen]] || Simple weapon or hand-crafted item || Skill || +0 || -
|- 
|63-72 || Deckhand || Rogue or fighter || [[SRD:Dodge|Dodge]], [[SRD:Weapon Focus|Weapon Focus]] || [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Use Rope Skill|Use Rope]], [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]], [[SRD:Climb Skill|Climb]], [[SRD:Jump Skill|Jump]] || Weapon || Information || +0 || Rank, DC 26
|- 
|73-82 || Navigator || Bard or wizard || [[SRD:Scribe Scroll|Scribe Scroll]], [[SRD:Spell Focus|Spell Focus (Transmutation)]] || [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]], [[SRD:Decipher Script Skill|Decipher Script]], [[SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge (geography)]], [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]] || Scrolls || Skill || +0 || Rank, DC 24
|- 
|83-90 || Wind-bringer || Druid or sorcerer || [[SRD:Spell Focus|Spell Focus (Transmutation)]], [[SRD:Spell Focus|Spell Focus (Conjuration)]] || [[SRD:Spellcraft Skill|Spellcraft]], [[SRD:Concentration Skill|Concentration]], [[SRD:Knowledge Skill|Knowledge (geography)]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]] || Item that affects weather or wind || Information || +0 || Rank, DC 24
|- 
|91-100 || Chaplain || Cleric || Any metamagic || [[SRD:Heal Skill|Heal]], [[SRD:Swim Skill|Swim]], [[SRD:Profession Skill|Profession (sailor)]] || Item that hals or cures || Information || +0 || Rank, DC 24
|}

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