Publication:Unearthed Arcana/Academic Character Background

Academic Background
Many adventurers come from tall towers of magic academies and colleges. They find the adventurer's life much diffeent than the cloistered life they knew when they were learning the secrets of magic. But the lessons in power such characters learned in the classroom serve them well wherever their adventures take them.

Recognition in the academic world takes the form of academic degrees or membership in honorary societies.

A character's ranks in Spellcraft provide a bonus on recognition checks related to degrees, and his ranks in Knowledge (arcana) provide a bonus on recognition checks related to societies.

Example Societies and Degrees
The names of societies and academic degrees given below are provided as a starting point. Depending on the player's interest and the DMs plans for the campaign, the societies could become full-fledged secret cabals, or they could remain honorary societies that rarely meet and don't have agendas beyond their field of study.

Societies: Society of Arcanobiological Studies, The Horned Hand, Fraternity of the Three Mysteries, Scarlet Roby Society, Kau Sathra Vox, Society of Tarsus, Arcana Aid Society, Club of the Mystic Twelve.

Degrees: Master of Eldritch Power (in a particular school of magic), Unsurpassed Scholar in Arcane Arts, Master of Cast Spells.