I kind of like the Traveller char-gen system. For every "term" in a chosen career field, the player has to roll on tables (events & mishaps) that includes mishaps, contacts, rivals, windfalls, life events etc. It really helps create the framework of a pretty comprehensive backstory.
Also, it can deviate a character from the career path that the player chooses, adding a bit of extra realism. For example, a player wants his PC to be a Green Beret. During one of his career terms leading up to the SF term, he rolls on the events table and the result mandates that he roll again on the mishap chart. He rolls and the result is a badly broken ankle during the selection course.
So, the PC doesn't get to be a Green Beanie. He goes back to the Ranger regiment and has a bit of a limp for the rest of his life.
This is a really basic example of how the system works. Some of the events & mishaps are really creative. It's probably not going to happen but I'd love to convert T2K char-gen to a Traveller style.
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