Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.

Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

1
!"#$%&'()*+ ")* -$.//+
Eveiy stoiy has a beginning. Youi chaiactei's
backgiounu ieveals wheie he oi she came fiom,
how he oi she became an auventuiei, anu his oi
hei place in the woilu. Youi fightei might have
been a couiageous knight oi a giizzleu soluiei.
Youi wizaiu coulu have been a sage oi a witch.
Youi iogue might have gotten by as a thief oi
commanueu auuiences as a uemagogue.
Choosing a backgiounu is one of foui key
uecisions you make about youi chaiactei,
pioviuing you with impoitant cues about his oi
hei iuentity. In auuition, that backgiounu pioviues
seveial benefits that aiu youi chaiactei uuiing
auventuies, as well as a suggesteu equipment
package that fuithei ieflects his oi hei past.
Skills
Each backgiounu giants tiaining in foui skills.
Tiaining in a skill ieflects an aiea of expeitise in
which a chaiactei might have iaw talent,
euucation, oi both.
!"#$%$%&' A chaiactei's tiaining in a skill is
initially iepiesenteu by a +S bonus that you auu to
checks ielating to the skill. Foi example, if youi
chaiactei is tiaineu in the Peisuaue skill anu the
BN asks you to make a Chaiisma check while
tiying to peisuaue a noble to youi cause, you can
auu that skill's bonus to the Chaiisma check.
If youi chaiactei alieauy has tiaining in a skill
anu gains tiaining in that skill again (foi example,
a skill gianteu by both the chaiactei's class anu
backgiounu), you insteau choose a uiffeient skill
in which youi chaiactei becomes tiaineu.
()*"+,$%& ./$001' As a chaiactei gains levels,
he oi she gains the ability to impiove skills. At 2nu
level, anu at eveiy even-numbeieu level theieaftei,
you can inciease the bonus gianteu by one of youi
chaiactei's skills by 1 (to a maximum of +7).

Bow Bo I 0se Skills.
Buiing play, you uesciibe what youi chaiactei is
uoing, anu if the Bungeon Nastei ueciues that a
check is necessaiy, you make the check using the
ability that the BN specifies. It's up to you to
suggest that one of youi chaiactei's skills might
apply to that check. If youi BN agiees that youi
chaiactei's skill can help you with this specific
task, you simply auu youi chaiactei's skill bonus
when making a check to peifoim the task. Foi
example, if youi chaiactei tiies to sneak past
some oic sentiies, the BN might call foi a
Bexteiity check. In this case, you make a check
using youi chaiactei's Bexteiity mouifiei. If he oi
she has the Sneak skill anu youi BN agiees that
the skill applies, you also auu the Sneak bonus to
the check.
As a playei, it's up to you to uesciibe cleaily any
action that youi chaiactei is tiying to take anu
how you expect a skill to apply. You can
incoipoiate the use of skills in youi task
uesciiption: "Biawing on my knowleuge of
foibiuuen loie, I stuuy the stiange glyph." If the
BN then calls foi a checkmost likely an
Intelligence checkyou make the check anu auu
youi chaiactei's bonus foi the Knowleuge
(Foibiuuen Loie) skill. 0i if youi BN calls foi a
check in a situation wheie you haven't specifieu a
skill, you can ask him oi hei if you can apply a skill
bonus, oi just give the BN the check iesult with
anu without the skill bonus: "I iolleu a 16, oi a 19
if my Intimiuate skill applies."
Cleai uesciiptions help the BN iealize youi
intentions anu aujuuicate a check in a way that
both makes sense in the context of a game anu
gives you the chance to take auvantage of youi
chaiactei's aptituues.
Tiaits
A backgiounu also pioviues youi chaiactei with a
tiait. A tiait is a special ability that uesciibes
something youi chaiactei can uo, oi can expect,
ielateu to his oi hei place in the woilu. Typically,
tiaits aie exceptional, anu the uesciiption of each
tiait explains how it functions in the game.
Equipment Packages
Each backgiounu also pioviues a suggesteu
equipment package. If you take the equipment
package, you must also take the equipment
package gianteu by youi class. 0i you can foigo
taking the equipment packages anu insteau spenu
17S gp to puichase youi staiting equipment.
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

2
Cieating Backgiounus
You might want to customize youi chaiactei with
a unique backgiounu. Cieating youi own
backgiounu is a simple piocess. You choose foui
skills anu a tiait fiom the sample backgiounus,
anu spenu 17S gp on geai. (You can't also take the
equipment package suggesteu foi youi class.) If
you can't finu a tiait that matches youi uesiieu
backgiounu, woik with youi BN to wiite one.
As a iule of thumb, a tiait shoulu tie youi
chaiactei to the woilu in some way. It shoulu
pioviue links to oiganizations anu people that
youi chaiactei hau contact with in the uays befoie
he oi she became an auventuiei. It can also ieflect
special auvantages anu oppoitunities that a
membei of that backgiounu enjoys. Tiaits nevei
impiove youi chaiactei's class abilities oi pioviue
numeiical bonuses on checks, saves, anu so foith.
Youi BN might cieate a set of backgiounus foi
you to choose fiom baseu on the specific uetails of
the campaign.
Sample Backgiounus
Nost auventuieis have one of the following
backgiounus.
Aitisan
You appienticeu unuei a mastei aitisan until you
leaineu enough to stiike out on youi own. You
have the skills neeueu to cieate finisheu items
fiom iaw mateiials. Auuitionally, you aie well
connecteu to othei aitisans in youi fielu, peihaps
as a membei of a guilu, anu have leaineu to ueal
with colleagues anu customeis alike in goou faith.
When you choose this backgiounu, choose a
ciafting piofession, oi ioll a u12 anu consult the
following table to ueteimine youi paiticulai ciaft.

!"# %&'()*
1 8lacksmlLh
2 8owyer or fleLcher
3 8rewer
4 Calllgrapher
3 CarpenLer
6 CarLographer
7 Cook
8 ColdsmlLh/SllversmlLh
9 !eweler
10 alnLer
11 oLLer
12 Weaver

Youi tiait anu some of youi skills uepenu on youi
paiticulai piofession.
./$001' uathei Rumois, Knowleuge (Folkloie),
Peisuaue, anu Piofession.
!"#$2345$06 78)98"1:$*' You aie a membei
of a guilu that is connecteu to youi chosen ciaft.
Fellow membeis of the guilu will pioviue you with
louging anu foou. In some cities anu towns a guilu
hall offeis a cential place to meet othei membeis
of youi piofession.
uuilus often wielu tiemenuous political powei.
If you aie accuseu of a ciime, youi guilu will
suppoit you if a goou case can be maue foi youi
innocence oi the ciime is justifiable. You can also
gain access to poweiful political figuies thiough
the guilu, if you aie a membei in goou stanuing.
Such connections might iequiie the uonation of
money oi magic items to the guilu's coffeis.
You must pay uues of S gp pei month to the
guilu. If you miss payments, you must make up
back uues in oiuei to iemain in the guilu's goou
giaces.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Tool kit (appiopiiate to
youi ciaft), small steel miiioi, autogiapheu oi
otheiwise maikeu masteiwoik of well-known
aitisan (appiopiiate to youi ciaft), common
clothes, S9 gp, anu Ssp.
Bounty Buntei
You tiack uown anu captuie fugitives foi the
bounty placeu on theii heaus. You might have
woikeu on the fiontiei, wheie you hunteu outlaws,
oi maybe you sniffeu out thieves anu othei
ciiminals in the city's unueiwoilu.
./$001' uathei Rumois, Sense Notive, Tiack, anu
0se Rope.
!"#$23=+5%2> =+#"6' When you aie in an
aiea of civilization, you can finu infoimation about
fugitives anu the bounties placeu on theii heaus,
anu you can secuie the legal authoiity to hunt
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

S
uown anu captuie oi kill those fugitives.
Sometimes the authoiities will come to you, as an
establisheu bounty huntei, with specific iequests.
Youi ieputation anu knowleuge make it easy foi
you to establish useful contacts in the town watch
oi guaiu.
When you attempt to locate a fugitive, if you fail
to locate that quaiiy youiself, you often know
wheie to go anu fiom whom to obtain infoimation
on that quaiiy's wheieabouts. 0sually this comes
in the foim of contacts you have cultivateu on past
hunts. Youi BN might iule that this infoimation is
unavailablesome cieatuies have ways of hiuing
themselves that aie veiy uifficult to uncovei.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Collection of "Wanteu"
bioausheets, two sets of manacles, silk iope (Su
ft.), lock of haii fiom pievious oi cuiient bounty,
common clothes, SS gp, anu S sp.
Chailatan
You can talk youi way out of almost any situation
anu know the iight things to say to get the
infoimation you seek. You'ie a swinulei, anu the
use of ueception to get youi way comes to you as
natuially as otheis tell the tiuth. You think of
youiself as a confiuence aitist; you can pull off
shoit anu long cons, anu in a pinch, peuule snake
oil.
./$001' Bluff, Bisguise, Peisuaue, anu Sleight of
Banu.
!"#$23?#018 (68%2$2>' You have cieateu a
seconu iuentity that incluues uocumentation,
establisheu acquaintances, anu uisguises that
allow you to assume that peisona. Auuitionally,
you can foige uocuments incluuing official papeis
anu peisonal letteis in a specific peison's
hanuwiiting, as long as you have seen an example
of the kinu of uocument you aie tiying to copy.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Two sets of clothes
(common anu noble), uisguise kit, ten stoppeieu
vials filleu with coloieu watei, set of weighteu uice,
playing caius, signet iing of an imaginaiy uuke, 29
gp, anu S sp.
Commonei
You come fiom a humble social iank, peihaps
woiking as a faimei, seivant, oi laboiei. Although
youi backgiounu is not as glamoious as otheis,
you finu it easy to blenu in wheievei you go anu
have a soit of folksy wisuom that can sometimes
help you out of a jam.
When you choose this backgiounu, choose a
piofession that is founu among the common folk,
oi ioll a u2u anu consult the following table to
ueteimine youi paiticulai expeitise.

!#+ %&'()*
1-2 llsher
3 loresLer
4-7 Laborer
8-11 Messenger
12 Sallor
13-16 Serf
17-18 ServanL
19 Shepherd
20 1rapper

./$001' uathei Rumois, Knowleuge (Folkloie),
Peisuaue, anu Piofession.
!"#$23.#02 +@ 2:8 ;#"2:' Since you come fiom
the ianks of the common folk, you fit in among
them with ease. You can finu a place to hiue, iest,
oi iecupeiate among commoneis, unless you have
shown youiself to be a uangei to them. They will
shielu you fiom the law oi anyone else seaiching
foi you, though they will not iisk theii lives foi
you.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Common clothes, iion
pot, spaue, flask of iotgut, tool kit (appiopiiate to
youi piofession), 14 gp, anu 4 sp.
uuiue
You know the wilueiness like the back of youi
hanu. You have spent many uays in nights in the
wilu, sometimes tiaveling on youi own but moie
often leauing otheis along iaiely useu tiacks anu
paths.
./$001' Climb, Suivival, Swim, anu Tiack.
!"#$23A#%68"8"' You have an excellent
memoiy foi maps anu geogiaphy anu can always
iecall the geneial layout of teiiain, settlements,
anu othei featuies aiounu you. In auuition, you
can finu foou anu fiesh watei foi youiself anu up
to five othei people each uay, pioviueu that the
lanu offeis beiiies, small game, watei, anu so foith.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Backpack, beuioll,
hempen iope (Su ft.), tent, tinueibox, tiavelei's
clothes, wateiskin, wintei blanket, 4u gp, 8 sp.
uuilu Thief
You maue a living by stealing as a membei of a
thieves' guilu. The guilu is similai to a mouein
oiganizeu ciime synuicate. It exacts piotection
money fiom ciiminals anu businesses alike, anu
uses its influence to keep the city watch focuseu
on appiehenuing ciiminals who opeiate without
the guilu's blessing.
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

4
Necessity might have uiiven you to this woik,
having no othei means to pioviue foi youiself, oi
you might have been an oiphan taken in by a
thieves' guilu. Whatevei youi ieasons, you leaineu
how to slip into places wheie otheis woulu piefei
you not go, neutializing tiaps, locks, anu sentiies
with uncanny skill.
./$001' Balance, Bisable Bevice, Seaich, anu
Sneak.
!"#$23!:$8,81B C#%2' Among thieves, theie is
a seciet language, a combination of jaigon woius
anu seciet signs that membeis of the ciiminal
unueiwoilu know anu use. Cieatuies heaiing you
conveise in Thieves' Cant might think you say one
thing when you aie actually saying something else
entiiely.
You have leaineu the seciet language of thieves.
You can coiiectly inteipiet thief signs anu
uoublespeak, anu you can communicate in this
mannei to otheis familiai with this language.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Thieves' tools,
lampblack, oil can, bieeches with seciet pocket,
small steel miiioi, belt pouch, 18 gp, anu 4 sp.
}estei
You weie employeu as a jestei by a noble. You
peifoimeu aciobatic stunts, tolu jokes anu stoiies,
anu pioviueu enteitainment foi youi employei
anu his oi hei guests. Bowevei, you also seiveu a
key iole, lacing youi enteitainment with ciiticisms
anu obseivations too contioveisial foi otheis to
speak alouu.
./$001' Balance, Escape Aitist, Peifoim, Tumble.
!"#$23D$E8%186 ?++0' You enjoy the iaie
piivilege of speaking youi minu with little concein
foi iepeicussions. As a jestei, it is youi uuty to use
comeuy to point out the absuiuities of the woilu.
You can ciiticize thiough the lens of humoi
without offense.
In auuition, you can gain access to nobles in
oiuei to peifoim. When tiaveling, you can usually
finu a meal anu a place to stay in the local castle oi
manoi house in ietuin foi a peifoimance.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' }estei's motley, tin
sceptei, musical instiument (youi choice), book of
bawuy poems anu jokes, tiavelei's clothes, S8 gp.
Knight
You have successfully completeu youi tiaining as
a squiie anu eaineu the title of knight. Youi title
caiiies many iesponsibilities, anu you aie
expecteu to behave in a chivalious mannei,
piotect the innocent, anu mete justice acioss the
lanu. You might be swoin to a noble house oi be a
wanueiing knight, questing foi some piize oi
gloiy.
./$001' Knowleuge (Beialuiy), Knowleuge
(Waifaie), Peisuaue, anu Riue.
!"#$23F%$&:2B1 .2#2$+%' When you aie among
nobility oi some othei gioup that woulu iecognize
youi station as a knight, you can expect to ieceive
fiee accommouations anu foou foi youiself anu
youi auventuiing companions foi the uuiation of
youi stay. Ceitain nobles might uecline, but this is
a seiious bieach of etiquette anu usually has social
consequences.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Lance, token of
affection, signet iing, sealing wax, light waihoise
with sauule anu biiule, giooming kit foi hoises,
feeu (seven uays), tiavelei's clothes, S2 gp, anu S
sp.
Ninstiel
You wanuei the lanu peifoiming music, telling
tales, anu enteitaining auuiences with youi talents.
Raiely uoes a community not welcome you in, as
you biing news of uistant lanus to the common
folk.
./$001' uathei Rumois, Knowleuge (Folkloie),
Peifoim, anu Peisuaue.
!"#$23G+286 H8"@+")8"' You can always finu
a place to peifoim, usually in an inn oi tavein. At
such a place, you ieceive fiee louging anu foou
(within ieason) as long as you peifoim each night.
In auuition, youi peifoimance makes you
something of a local figuie. When stiangeis
iecognize you in a town wheie you have
peifoimeu, they typically take a liking to you.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Fine clothes, ink,
musical instiument (youi choice), papei (five
sheets), tiavelei's clothes, 27 gp.
Noble
You caiiy a noble title appiopiiate to the iealm
you come fiom. Youi family eithei cuiiently has
oi at one time hau wealth, powei, anu influence.
Woik with youi BN to come up with an
appiopiiate title anu ueteimine how much
authoiity that title caiiies within the iealm anu
beyonu it.
./$001' Intimiuate, Knowleuge (Beialuiy),
Peisuaue, anu Sense Notive.
!"#$23I82#$%8"1' You aie a membei of a noble
family anu have the seivice of thiee ietaineis loyal
to youi family. These ietaineis can be squiies,
attenuants, messengeis, oi even a majoi-uomo.
Youi ietaineis can peifoim munuane tasks foi
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

S
you, but they uo not fight foi you anu will leave if
they aie fiequently enuangeieu oi abuseu.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Fine clothes, signet
iing, sealing wax, scioll of peuigiee, iiuing hoise
with sauule anu biiule, giooming kit foi hoises,
feeu (seven uays), 29 gp, anu S sp.
Piiest
You have pleugeu youi life to seive a gou,
pantheon of gous, oi philosophy. You seive as an
inteimeuiaiy between youi chosen powei anu the
moital woilu, conuucting sacieu iites, offeiing
saciifices, anu expounuing the teachings of youi
faith to those you meet.
When you choose this backgiounu, select a
ueity oi powei. Youi knowleuge anu expeiience is
uiawn fiom youi time as a piiest in the seivice of
that faith.
./$001' Knowleuge (Religion anu one othei fielu
of youi choice), Peisuaue, anu Sense Notive.
!"#$23!8)*08 .8",$E81' You belong to a
specific temple ueuicateu to youi chosen powei.
You have a iesiuence theie, anu you can peifoim
ieligious ceiemonies anu offei seimons uiawn
fiom the sacieu teachings of youi faith. While neai
youi temple, you can call upon acolytes anu fellow
piiests foi assistance, pioviueu the assistance you
ask foi is not hazaiuous anu you iemain in goou
stanuing with youi temple.
Auuitionally, when you aie in a location that has
a temple, shiine, oi othei piesence of youi faith,
you can expect to ieceive fiee healing, caie, anu
ieligious seivices foi youiself anu youi
auventuiing companions fiom otheis aligneu with
youi faith.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Boly symbol, flask of
holy watei, ink, ink pen, papei (ten sheets),
vestments, S gp, 9 sp, anu 8 cp.
Sage
You have spent many yeais leaining the loie of the
woilu. You scouieu manusciipts, stuuieu sciolls,
anu listeneu to the gieatest expeits on the
subjects that inteiest you. Youi effoits have maue
you a tiue mastei in the fielus you have stuuieu.
./$001' Knowleuge (choose foui fielus of stuuy).
!"#$23I818#"E:8"' When you attempt to leain
oi iecall a piece of loie, if you uo not know that
infoimation, you often know wheie anu fiom
whom you can obtain it. 0sually, this infoimation
comes fiom a libiaiy, sciiptoiium, univeisity, oi a
sage oi othei leaineu peison oi cieatuie. Youi BN
might iule that the knowleuge you seek is
secieteu away in an almost inaccessible place, oi
that it simply cannot be founu. 0neaithing the
ueepest seciets of the univeise can iequiie an
auventuie oi even a whole campaign.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Robe, ten canules,
ouuity (enigmatic caiving, small fossil, coue iing,
oi the like), tome ielateu to one of youi fielus of
stuuy, ink, ink pen, papei (ten sheets), 12 gp, 8 sp,
anu 8 cp.
Soluiei
You tiaineu in militaiy skills anu possibly fought
in a wai. You stuuieu the use of weapons anu
aimoi, basic suivival techniques, anu how to stay
alive on the battlefielu. You might have been pait
of a stanuing national aimy oi a meicenaiy
company, oi peihaps a membei of a local militia
who iose to piominence uuiing a iecent wai.
When you choose this backgiounu, woik with
youi BN to ueteimine which militaiy oiganization
you weie a pait of, how fai thiough its ianks you
piogiesseu, anu what kinu of expeiiences you hau
uuiing youi militaiy caieei.
./$001' Beal, Intimiuate, Knowleuge (Waifaie),
anu Suivival.
!"#$237$0$2#"> I#%/' You have a militaiy
iank fiom youi caieei as a soluiei. Soluieis loyal
to youi foimei militaiy oiganization still
iecognize youi authoiity anu influence, anu they
will uefei to you if they aie of a lowei iank. You
can invoke youi iank to exeit influence ovei othei
soluieis anu iequisition simple equipment, hoises,
anu vehicles foi tempoiaiy use. You can also
usually gain access to fiienuly militaiy
encampments anu foitiesses wheie youi iank is
iecognizeu.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Lucky chaim, souvenii
of a pievious militaiy campaign (a weapon taken
fiom an enemy, a scai, a meual, oi some similai
item), iank insignia, tiavelei's clothes, bone uice,
anu 4u gp.
Spy
You can leain infoimation that otheis attempt to
keep seciet. You collect iumois, whispeis, stoiies,
anu haiu-won eviuence. Then you use that
knowleuge to aiu youi own enueavois anu, when
appiopiiate, to sell to those willing to pay a
piemium.
./$001' Bisguise, Listen, Seaich, anu Sneak.
!"#$23C+%2#E2' You have a contact who acts as
youi liaison to a netwoik of othei spies. You know
how to communicate with youi contact ovei gieat
uistances (incluuing thiough the use of magic foi
quickei communication, if you have access to the
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

6
appiopiiate spells oi items) anu typically can
exchange infoimation you have gatheieu foi
infoimation you seek fiom youi contact.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Bisguise kit, tiavelei's
clothes, small steel miiioi, satchel with seciet
compaitment, ink, ink pen, papei (ten sheets), 6
gp, 9 sp, anu 8 cp.
Thug
Yeais of being a stieet tough have given you an
auia of menace. Youi look communicates a basic
message to those who annoy you: You'u as soon
bieak theii knees as ieceive an apology. Thieats
anu bullying tactics come easily to you. Youi
uemeanoi has lanueu you jobs with less-than-
ieputable oiganizations in the past, wheie you've
pioviueu both piotection anu muscle.
./$001' uathei Rumois, Intimiuate, Spot, anu
0se Rope.
!"#$23=#6 I8*52#2$+%' No mattei wheie you
go, people aie afiaiu of you uue to youi
connections to the uangeious ciiminal
unueiwoilu oi youi histoiy of violence. When you
aie in a place of civilization, you can get away with
minoi ciiminal offenses, such as iefusing to pay
foi foou at a tavein oi bieaking uown uoois at a
local shop, since most people will not iepoit youi
activity to the authoiities.
.5&&81286 ;<5$*)8%2' Sap (equivalent to
club), tattoo, half of a set of manacles, common
clothes, 28 gp, anu 4 sp.
Skill Besciiptions
Auventuieis anu othei inhabitants of the woilu of
B&B acquiie a tiemenuous vaiiety of skills to help
them suivive anu thiive.

,-)-./&0 keep your feeL on sllppery, unsLable, or
narrow surfaces
,)(110 ass off a falsehood
2)3450 Scale dlfflculL surfaces
63'-5)& 6&73/&0 8emove or delay a Lrap or oLher
gadgeL, or open a lock
63'8(3'&0 Make yourself or an ally look llke someone
else, acL convlnclngly ln a dlsgulse
6937&0 ConLrol a carL, wagon, charloL, or oLher
vehlcle
:'/-;& <9*3'*0 lree yourself from bonds or squeeze
lnLo LlghL places
=-*>&9 %(4?9'0 lck up Lhe local Loplcs of
conversaLlon and gosslp
@-.!)& <.34-)0 Calm or oLherwlse persuade a beasL
@&-)0 Apply flrsL ald or LreaL lllness or polson
A.*343!-*&0 Make someone back down
B.?C)&!8&0 uraw on your knowledge of a speclflc
fleld
D3'*&.0 LlsLen aL doors, overhear conversaLlons, and
hear approachlng creaLures
E&91?940 LnLerLaln an audlence wlLh muslc, dance,
acLlng, or legerdemaln
E&9'(-!&0 8rlng someone around Lo your polnL of
vlew
E9?1&''3?.0 racLlce a speclflc professlon, or draw on
your knowledge of lL
%3!&0 Culde a horse or oLher mounL wlLh preclslon
F&-9/>0 Carefully look for clues LhaL polnL Lo
someLhlng hldden
F&.'& G?*37&0 ldenLlfy a person's lnLenLlons or
dlscern a lle
F)&38>* ?1 @-.!0 lck a pockeL, palm an ob[ecL, or
mlsdlrecL someone's aLLenLlon
F.&-H0 Avold noLlce by remalnlng unseen and
unheard
F;?*0 noLlce hldden creaLures
F(9737-)0 lorage for food, creaLe makeshlfL shelLers,
and avold naLural hazards ln Lhe wlld
FC340 Swlm ln dlfflculL currenLs or oLher daunLlng
condlLlons
I9-/H0 llnd and follow Lhe slgns of a creaLure's
passage
I(45)&0 erform acrobaLlc sLunLs
J'& %?;&0 1le knoLs, blnd prlsoners, seL ropes Lo
cllmb daunLlng surfaces
Balance
You can use Balance whenevei you tiy to keep
youi feet in a tiicky situation, such as when you'ie
tiying to iun acioss a sheet of ice, balance on a
tightiope, oi stay upiight on a iocking ship's ueck.
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

7
Nost of the time, you apply youi Balance skill to a
Bexteiity check.
Bluff
You can use Bluff whenevei you attempt to
ueceive someone, eithei veibally oi thiough youi
actions, which can encompass eveiything fiom
misleauing otheis thiough ambiguity to telling
outiight lies. This skill is the uomain of the liai anu
the tiickstei, anu it comes into play when you
attempt to make what is tiue seem false, anu
when you make what is false seem tiue. Typical
situations incluue tiying to fast-talk a guaiu, con a
meichant, eain money thiough gambling, pass off
a uisguise, uull someone's suspicions with false
assuiances, oi maintain a stiaight face while
telling a blatant lie. Youi Bluff skill most often
applies to a Chaiisma check.
Climb
You can use the Climb skill when you'ie
attempting to scale a sheei oi slippeiy suiface,
avoiu hazaius while climbing, oi stay on a veitical
suiface while something is tiying to knock you off.
You'll most often use youi Climb skill to mouify a
Stiength check you make to keep youi holu, oi
sometimes to a Bexteiity check to avoiu toppling
fiom a piecaiious peich.
Bisable Bevice
You can use Bisable Bevice to iuentify anu uisaim
oi jam a tiap, open a mechanical lock without a
key, oi otheiwise manipulate mechanical oi
clockwoik items. Successful use of this skill lets
you pievent a tiap fiom tiiggeiing oi uisable it
entiiely. You also use this skill when making
checks to pick paulocks, finesse combination locks,
oi solve puzzle locks. Sometimes youi Bisable
Bevice skill applies to an Intelligence check to
figuie out how a mechanical uevice woiks so you
can shut it uown, anu sometimes it applies insteau
to a Bexteiity check to peifoim the fine
manipulation iequiieu.
Bisguise
The Bisguise skill applies both when you attempt
to cieate a convincing uisguise (foi youiself oi foi
someone else) anu when you tiy to pass youiself
off as someone else. You might apply the Bisguise
skill to an Intelligence check to come up with a
convincing guaiu unifoim foi youiself, anu then
apply the skill to a Chaiisma check to act like a
guaiu anu blenu in among the otheis. If
confionteu, you'ie moie likely to fall back on a
skill such as Bluff.
Biive
You use the Biive skill when you must make a
check to contiol a cait, wagon, chaiiot, oi othei
vehicle, typically when faceu with a challenge such
as a tight tuin, an obstacle you must avoiu, oi a
steep uescent. You most often apply youi Biive
skill to a Bexteiity check.
Escape Aitist
The Escape Aitist skill iepiesents youi expeitise
in escaping fiom bonus. It incluues the ability to
wiiggle fiee fiom iopes oi manacles, squeeze into
small spaces, oi pick the lock on manacles binuing
you (all usually Bexteiity checks), as well as youi
ability to bieak bonus enciicling you oi tying you
uown (typically a Stiength check).
uathei Rumois
0se uathei Rumois when you entei a new social
situation to figuie out the best peison to talk to foi
news, iumois, anu gossip, to eavesuiop on
conveisations in the tavein oi aiounu town, to
blenu into a ciowu to get the sense of key topics of
conveisation, oi to ingiatiate youiself with a
community anu leain what people aie talking
about. You typically apply youi uathei Rumois
skill to a Chaiisma check you make to ingiatiate
youiself oi convince people to tell you the latest
news, oi sometimes to a Wisuom check to pick up
on the infoimation that's ciiculating aiounu
without actively paiticipating in conveisation.
Banule Animal
You can use Banule Animal whenevei you woulu
caie foi, feeu, anu attenu animals. You might make
checks to teach a natuial beast some tiicks, calm
uown a mount, oi uomesticate a wilu animal.
Examples of when you woulu use Banule Animal
incluue uiiving a team of hoises, teaching a uog to
guaiu, oi iiuing a hoise in nonstiessful situations.
This skill is like Peisuaue in many iespects, except
that you use it with beasts, wheieas you use
Peisuaue with intelligent cieatuies. Like Peisuaue,
Banule Animal typically applies to Chaiisma
checks.
Beal
You can use Beal to apply fiist aiu to a wounueu
chaiactei oi tieat someone who's affecteu by
illness oi poison. This use of the skill typically
applies as a bonus to Wisuom checks. Beal also
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

8
coveis knowleuge about humanoiu biology anu
meuicine, which is coveieu by an Intelligence
check.
Intimiuate
You use Intimiuate in situations wheie you
attempt to influence someone thiough oveit
thieats, hostile actions, anu physical violence.
Examples of when you woulu use Intimiuate
incluue tiying to piy infoimation out of a piisonei,
convincing stieet thugs to back uown fiom a
confiontation, oi using the euge of a bioken bottle
to convince a sneeiing viziei to ieconsiuei a
uecision. You most often use Intimiuate to mouify
a Chaiisma check.
Knowleuge
The Knowleuge skill iepiesents youi leaining in a
paiticulai fielu of stuuy. When you gain oi choose
this skill, you must also choose a fielu fiom the list
below. Some backgiounus specify a fielu of
knowleuge, but otheis let you choose one oi moie.
Youi BN might let you uefine a uiffeient fielu
ielateu to youi chaiactei's backgiounu. Whatevei
youi fielu of stuuy, you noimally apply youi
Knowleuge skill to an Intelligence check.
J"E#%#' Aicana is knowleuge about magic-
ielateu loie anu magical effects, incluuing spells,
magic items, aicane iunes, magical symbols,
ancient mysteiies, magic tiauitions, anu the
elemental planes. It also helps you iuentify anu
ueal with cieatuies that aie constiucts.
K5%&8+%88"$%&' Bungeoneeiing coveis
knowleuge about tunnels, caveins, subteiianean
floia anu fauna (incluuing cieatuies such as
abeiiations anu oozes), anu the peoples living
belowgiounu. Bungeoneeiing coveis many of the
same topics as Natuie, but only in iegaiu to
unueigiounu enviionments.
?+0/0+"8' Folkloie is knowleuge about customs,
aphoiisms, anu legenus acioss the known woilu
oi the iegion of youi BN's campaign. It also coveis
infoimation about uiagons (paiticulaily
inuiviuuals), fey cieatuies, anu giants.
?+"9$668% D+"8' Foibiuuen Loie ueals with the
occult, the weiiu, anu the foibiuuen, incluuing
cults anu theii piactices, evil ueities, cuises anu
maleuictions, anu the lowei planes of existence
anu theii inhabitants, the fienus. This fielu also
ueals with unueau cieatuies.
L8"#06">' Beialuiy is a bioau fielu
iepiesenting the knowleuge commonly gatheieu
anu piopagateu by heialus, incluuing lineages,
mottoes, anu ciests of vaiious noble families anu
impoitant people, as well as piopei couit
behavioi anu etiquette, the basics of languages
anu uialects, cuiient events (incluuing the iecent
histoiy of extant iealms anu lanus), anu humanoiu
cultuies.
L$12+">' Bistoiy coveis the knowleuge of
kinguoms, iuleis, ueities, anu languages of ancient
times (kinguoms anu iealms that aie no longei
extant). It coveis the geneial knowleuge of
humanoiu histoiies.
G#25"8' The fielu of Natuie coveis knowleuge
about the natuial woilu, incluuing teiiain,
natuially occuiiing plants anu animals (incluuing
cieatuies of the plant anu beast types), the
weathei, the seasons, natuial cycles, anu othei
natuial phenomena.
I80$&$+%' The fielu of Religion coveis
knowleuge about common ueities anu theii
woiship, piayeis anu blessings, mythic histoiy,
ecclesiastical tiauitions, anu holy symbols. It also
ueals with the uppei planes anu theii inhabitants,
the celestials.
.E$8%E81' The fielu of Sciences incluues
knowleuge about astionomy, physics,
mathematics, anu chemistiy, insofai as knowleuge
of these sciences exists in the quasi-meuieval
woilu. It also coveis what little knowleuge exists
about the Fai Realm, if youi BN's campaign uses
that alien plane of existence.
A#"@#"8' Waifaie coveis the knowleuge of
weaponiy, foitifications, anu militaiy tactics. It
also oveilaps with Bistoiy anu Beialuiy in the
knowleuge of gieat histoiical battles anu
ienowneu militaiy commanueis.
Listen
0se Listen when you'ie tiying to heai a
conveisation thiough a closeu uooi, eavesuiop
unuei an open winuow, oi heai cieatuies moving
stealthily towaiu you in the foiest. You geneially
apply youi Listen skill to a Wisuom check. (See
"Peiception" in the "Bow to Play" uocument foi
moie infoimation.)
Peifoim
You use Peifoim to amuse an auuience with music,
uance, acting, legeiuemain, oi some othei foim of
enteitainment. Youi Peifoim skill most often
applies to a Chaiisma check, since you aie tiying
to keep youi auuience enteitaineu, but you might
also apply it to a Bexteiity check you make to
peifoim some aciobatic feat, play a complicateu
musical passage, oi pull off a subtle stage illusion.
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

9
Peisuaue
You use Peisuaue whenevei you woulu attempt to
influence someone oi a gioup of people with youi
tact, subtlety, social giaces, oi goou natuie.
Typically, you use this skill when you aie acting in
goou faith; you might use it to fostei fiienuships,
make coiuial iequests, oi exhibit piopei etiquette
anu uecoium. Tiaining in this skill means that you
know how to negotiate with anu influence otheis,
you have knowleuge of the foimal iules of conuuct
(incluuing social expectations anu piopei foims of
auuiess), anu you can fostei the iight impiession
of youiself. Examples of when you might use
Peisuaue incluue convincing the chambeilain to
let you see the king, negotiating peace between
waiiing baibaiian tiibes, inspiiing a ciowu of
onlookeis, oi convincing the ogie mages that have
captuieu you anu youi fiienus to iansom you back
to youi allies insteau of teaiing youi limbs off.
Youi Peisuaue skill usually mouifies a Chaiisma
check.
Piofession
You use Piofession to piactice a specific
piofession, such as apothecaiy, bookkeepei,
biewei, cook, faimei, fishei, gamblei, heibalist,
heiuei, huntei, innkeepei, millei, minei, poitei,
sailoi, sciibe, siege engineei, stablehanu, tannei,
teamstei, wooucuttei, oi the like. You apply youi
Piofession skill to any ability check you make to
piactice youi tiaue, often Intelligence but
sometimes othei abilities, such as Stiength to fell
tiees.
Youi piofession also makes you an expeit in the
loie ielateu to youi fielu of piofessional expeitise.
You can use this skill on any check ielateu to
knowleuge of piofessional techniques,
infoimation about mastei aitisans in that fielu, the
quality anu value of tools anu ciafteu objects, anu
the histoiy anu cultuial oiigins of objects ielateu
to youi piofession. Foi this puipose, youi
Piofession skill mouifies an Intelligence check.
Riue
You use Riue when you'ie tiying to contiol youi
hoise oi othei mount in a uifficult situation.
Whenevei piecision, timing, oi balance aie
impoitant, you might neeu to make a check to stay
mounteu oi keep youi mount unuei contiol. Youi
Riue skill typically mouifies a Bexteiity check.
Seaich
You use Seaich whenevei you actively look
aiounu foi clues that point to a hiuuen object,
such as a tiap oi seciet uooi, oi hints that might
point to a peison's oi cieatuie's passage thiough
oi activity in an aiea. Seaich can help you finu
such things, but you might neeu a skill such as
Bisable Bevice to ueal with what you finu. You
usually use youi Seaich skill to mouify an
Intelligence check. (See "Peiception" in the "Bow
to Play" uocument foi moie infoimation.)
Sense Notive
You use Sense Notive whenevei you attempt to
ueteimine the tiue intentions of anothei peison,
such as when seaiching out a lie oi pieuicting
someone's next move. You can use this skill in
situations wheie you believe someone is ueceiving
you anu wish to leain the tiuth, anu using it
usually involves gleaning clues fiom bouy
language, speech habits, anu changes in
manneiisms. You also make Sense Notive checks
to ieau between the lines, iesolve ambiguities,
uetect the subtleties of an inteiaction, anu
ueciphei the moous anu attituues of someone
with whom you aie inteiacting. Nost often, you
apply youi Sense Notive skill to a Wisuom check.
Sleight of Banu
You use Sleight of Banu whenevei you attempt an
act of legeiuemain oi manual tiickeiy, such as
palming an object, picking a pocket, oi planting
something on someone else. You use this skill in
association with physical ueceptions, usually
maue to conceal something on youi peison
(whethei tiying to hiue it, oi keeping it out of
sight long enough foi you to plant it). You can also
use this skill to uiaw small weapons without
aleiting anyone that you have uone so, such as
when palming a knife oi sliuing uaits out of youi
sleeve. Youi Sleight of Banu skill usually applies to
a Bexteiity check.
Sneak
You use Sneak whenevei you make a check to hiue,
move silently, oi peifoim an act secietively. You
gain the benefits of this skill when you attempt to
conceal youiself fiom enemies, slink past guaius,
slip away without being noticeu, oi sneak up on
someone without being seen oi heaiu. You can
also use this skill whenevei you attempt to hiue
(see the "Bow to Play" uocument). You geneially
apply youi Sneak skill to a Bexteiity check.
Spot
You use Spot to notice cieatuies lying in ambush
aheau of you on the ioau, see signs of a thief
Confiuential infoimation of Wizaius of the Coast LLC.
Bo not uistiibute.

B&B Next Playtest 2u12 Wizaius

1u
hiuing in the shauows of an alley, oi catch sight of
a faint gleam of canulelight unuei a closeu seciet
uooi. Youi Spot skill typically applies to a Wisuom
check. (See "Peiception" in the "Bow to Play"
uocument foi moie infoimation.)
Suivival
The Suivival skill coveis oiienteeiing anu the
knowleuge you neeu to suivive in the wilueiness,
incluuing how to hunt wilu game, guiue a paity
safely thiough fiozen wastelanus, cieate
makeshift shelteis, anu avoiu natuial hazaius. You
usually apply youi Suivival skill to a Wisuom
check.
Swim
You can use the Swim skill when you'ie
attempting to swim oi stay afloat in tieacheious
cuiients, stoim-tosseu waves, oi aieas of thick
seaweeu. You might also apply this skill to a check
you make when a cieatuie tiies to push oi pull
you unueiwatei oi otheiwise inteifeie with youi
swimming. Youi Swim skill geneially applies to a
Stiength check.
Tiack
You use Tiack to finu anu follow the tiaces that a
cieatuie leaves in its passage thiough an aiea.
Youi Tiack skill noimally applies to an
Intelligence check.
Tumble
You use Tumble to peifoim aciobatic stunts,
incluuing uives, iolls, someisaults, flips, anu so on.
You usually apply youi Tumble skill to a Bexteiity
check.
0se Rope
You can employ 0se Rope to manipulate oi tie
iope oi similai mateiial. You can use it to tie a
fiim knot in a huiiy, tiuss up a captuieu enemy, oi
secuie a iope to help you anu youi paity climb up
oi uown a cliff. The 0se Rope skill typically applies
to a Bexteiity check.