Ultimate Character Concepts (d20)
The primary purpose of this sourcebook is to provide players and Games Masters with the widest possible options for new characters¸ be they for one-off Non-Player Characters or the background element for an epic campaign or character. These are the very best character concepts that Mongoose Publishing has printed in the past few years¸ as well as new rules and guides for choosing your character's concept¸ and details on how to create your own. The classification of the concepts across eight categories is deliberately left open for interpretation¸ as imagination can certainly find any number of reasons why circumstances may be different for any individual character. Additionally¸ every single concept has been revised and updated to be compliant with version 3.5 of the d20 game ‐ old character concepts have been revisited and revamped specifically to ensure playability and game balance.
Character concepts are not simply about adding to a character's abilities. In many respects they are the character; or at least the germ of that character. Even the Man With No Name¸ a mysterious drifter who saves whole towns from evil¸ has a nugget of character that statistics and skills cannot quite capture. He is not just another renegade who can fight - as soon as he walks into play¸ everyone knows he has a unique¸ if shrouded¸ background. This is the core of character concepts¸ the reason for their success¸ for they are the starting point of an adventure. Even before the characters meet¸ each can have a core vision and attitude from the very beginning of play. Character concepts are about roleplaying - the only reason for the benefits and penalties given in every case is to properly flesh out how these particular individuals would be slightly - or substantially - different from others of their kin.