Background packages are designed to speed up Traveller creation by providing a set of skills and other benefits associated with the Traveller’s homeworld and upbringing, reflecting the skills a young person would acquire growing up in such an environment. In some cases the package includes adjustments to characteristics. These cannot reduce a characteristic below 1 or increase it above 15.
A background package replaces the Traveller’s normal background skills and their first term, representing a person who has reached adulthood and completed an apprenticeship, training, education and/or their first few years in employment. The Traveller is now aged 22 and can begin a normal career, or instead take a career package.
If a background package is taken, the Traveller receives no other skills or advantages for his homeworld, upbringing and education. A Traveller may only select one background package but can choose the most applicable. Note that background skills for any given package are set and replace the usual 3+EDU modifier for Travellers created using the Traveller Core Rulebook.
Once a background package has been assigned, the Traveller is assumed to be 22 years old and ready to enter a career or start the campaign. It includes all benefits the Traveller has earned up to age 22 (the end of their first term) and replaces all life events and other sources of additional skills.