Backstory Buttons

Backstory Buttons work the way Noodles worked in the Lords of Being campaign, but serve a slightly different purpose. In Lords of Being, we jumped over a year or so of un-gamed action and used the Noodles to represent events that happened in that interim. Most PCs were ancient primal beings, but also not ... dynamic in the way mortals are.

For a campaign where the PCs are mortal, I furnish each player with ten Backstory Buttons apiece. As with the Noodles, you can tick off a Backstory Button whenever you want (and the GM allows). The categories are described below. You can use a category more than once.

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"What are you doing here?": ("Out on parole?")
A useful old acquaintance shows up, not necessarily a friend.

"I know about that." (Took a course on that. Read up on that.): ("I read a book on how they did it when it was still legal.")
Roll against Focus to see how much you remember: x1, x2, etc.

"I have one right here.": ("You can get them cheap on the dark web. Or the goblin market.")
Just the item needed for the matter at hand.

"I used to have one of those.": ("If you pull this lever here– Oh, I'm sorry.")
Roll against Focus to see how well you remember how to use it: x1, x2, etc.

"I was here once.": ("I see they've repaired most of the damage.")
Roll against Focus to see how much you remember: x1, x2, etc.

"I used to do that.": ("Don't look at me like that. I was young. I needed the money.")
Roll against Focus to see how much you remember: x1, x2, etc.
With a critical hit, it all comes flooding back to you. Instant new trait at Focus x 3.
At x1, some of it comes flooding back, for a new trait to the tune of Focus x 1 or half a closely related trait, if there is one.
Otherwise, nothing comes flooding back, but you remember something relevant for this occasion.

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