Backgrounds

Basically, what background-type merits (like resources, allies, contacts, status, etc) get you is a degree of certainty in what you're trying to accomplish. Let's take resources as an example. If you don't have the resources merit, that doesn't necessarily mean you will never, ever have money. It just means that if you want money, you have to jump through a lot of in-game hoops to get it. You might have to con someone, steal it, beg it, whatever, while if you have the merit you have the money automatically.

