Backgrounds

Your fighter might have been a courageous knight or a grizzled soldier. Your wizard could have been a sage or an artisan. Your rogue might have gotten by as a guild thief or commanded audiences as a jester.

Choosing a background provides you with important story cues about your character’s identity. The most important question to ask about your background is what changed? Why did you stop doing whatever your background describes and start adventuring? Where did you get the money to purchase your starting gear, or, if you come from a wealthy background, why don't you have more money? How did you learn the skills of your class? What sets you apart from ordinary people who share your background?

Proficiencies

Each background gives a character proficiency in two skills. In addition, most backgrounds give a character proficiency with one or more tools.

If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill or tool) instead.

Languages

Some backgrounds also allow characters to learn additional languages beyond those given by race.

Equipment

Each background provides a package of starting equipment. If you choose to spend coin on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment from your background.

Suggested Characteristics

A background contains suggested personal characteristics based on your background. You can pick characteristics, roll dice to determine them randomly, or use the suggestions as inspiration for characteristics of your own creation.

Customizing a Background

You might want to tweak some of the features of a background so it better fits your character or the campaign setting. To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds. You can either use the equipment package from your background or spend coin on gear. (if you spend coin, you cant also take the equipment package suggested for your class. ) finally, choose two personality traits, one ideal, one bond, and one flaw. If you cant find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your dm to create one.

You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods. You act as an intermediary between the realm of the holy and the mortal world, perform ing sacred rites and offering sacrifices in order to conduct worshipers into the presence of the divine. You are not necessarily a cleric-performing sacred rites is not the same thing as channeling divine power.

Choose a god, a pantheon of gods, or some other quasi-divine being and work with your DM to detail the nature of your religious service.

Were you a lesser functionary in a temple, raised from childhood to assist the priests in the sacred rites? Or were you a high priest who suddenly experienced a call to serve your god in a different way? Perhaps you were the leader of a small cult outside of any established temple structure, or even an occult group that served a fiendish master that you now deny.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Religion

Languages: Two of your choice

Equipment: : A holy sym bol (a gift to you when you entered the priesthood), a prayer book or prayer wheel, 5 sticks of incense, vestments, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

As an acolyte, you command the respect of those who share your faith, and you can perform the religious ceremonies of your deity. You and your adventuring companions can expect to receive free healing and care at a temple, shrine, or other established presence of your faith, though you must provide any material components needed for spells. Those who share your religion will support you (but only you) at a modest lifestyle.

You might also have ties to a specific temple dedicated to your chosen deity or pantheon, and you have a residence there. This could be the temple where you used to serve, if you remain on good terms with it, or a temple where you have found a new home. While near your temple, you can call upon the priests for assistance, provided the assistance you ask for is not hazardous and you remain in good standing with your temple.

Suggested Characteristics

Acolytes are shaped by their experience in temples or other religious communities. Their study of the history and tenets of their faith and their relationships to temples, shrines, or hierarchies affect their mannerisms and ideals. Their flaws might be some hidden hypocrisy or heretical idea, or an ideal or bond taken to an extreme.

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1	I idolize a particular hero of my faith, and constantly refer to that person’s deeds and example.
2	I can find common ground between the fiercest enemies, empathizing with them and always working toward peace.
3	I see omens in every event and action. The gods try to speak to us, we just need to listen.
4	Nothing can shake my optimistic attitude.
5	I quote (or misquote) sacred texts and proverbs in almost every situation
6	I am tolerant (or intolerant) of other faiths and respect (or condemn) the worship of other gods.
7	I've enjoyed fine food, drink, and high society among my temple’s elite. Rough living grates on me.
8	I’ve spent so long in the temple that I have little practical experience dealing with people in the outside world.

d6	Bond
1	I would die to recover an ancient relic of my faith that was lost long ago.
2	I will someday get revenge on the corrupt temple hierarchy who branded me a heretic.
3	I owe my life to the priest who took me in when my parents died.
4	Everything I do is for the common people.
5	I will do anything to protect the temple where I served.
6	I seek to preserve a sacred text that my enemies consider heretical and seek to destroy.

d6	Flaws
1	I judge others harshly, and myself even more severely.
2	I put too much trust in those who wield power within my temple’s hierarchy.
3	My piety sometimes leads me to blindly trust those that profess faith in my god.
4	I am inflexible in my thinking.
5	I am suspicious of strangers and expect the worst of them.
6	Once I pick a goal, I become obsessed with it to the detriment of everything else in my life.

You have always had a way with people. You know what makes them tick, you can tease out their hearts' desires after a few minutes of conversation, and with a few leading questions you can read them like they were children's books. It’s a useful talent, and one that you’re perfectly willing to use for your advantage.

You know what people want and you deliver, or rather, you promise to deliver. Com m on sense should steer people away from things that sound too good to be true, but common sense seems to be in short supply when you’re around. The bottle of pink-colored liquid will surely cure that unseemly rash, this ointment—nothing more than a bit o f fat with a sprinkle of silver dust—can restore youth and vigor, and there’s a bridge in the city that just happens to be for sale. These marvels sound implausible, but you make them sound like the real deal.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Sleight of Hand

Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, forgery kit

Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit, tools of the con of your choice (ten stoppered bottles filled with colored liquid, a set of weighted dice, a deck of marked cards, or a signet ring of an imaginary duke), and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Favorite Schemes

Every charlatan has an angle he or she uses in preference to other schemes. Choose a favorite scam or roll on the table below.

d6	Scam
1	I cheat at games of chance.
2	I shave coins or forge documents.
3	I insinuate myself into people’s lives to prey on their weakness and secure their fortunes.
4	I put on new identities like clothes.
5	I run sleight-of-hand cons on street corners.
6	I convince people that worthless junk is worth their hard-earned money.

Feature: False Identity

You have created a second identity that includes documentation, established acquaintances, and disguises that allow you to assume that persona. Additionally, you can forge documents including official papers and personal letters, as long as you have seen an example of the kind of document or the handwriting you are trying to copy.

Suggested Characteristics

Charlatans are colorful characters w ho conceal their true selves behind the m asks they construct. They reflect what people want to see, what they want to believe, and how they see the world. But their true selves are sometimes plagued by an uneasy conscience, an old enemy, or deep-seated trust issues.

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1	I fall in and out of love easily, and am always pursuing someone.
2	I have a joke for every occasion, especially occasions where humor is inappropriate.
3	Flattery is my preferred trick for getting what I want.
4	I’m a born gambler who can't resist taking a risk for a potential payoff.
5	I lie about almost everything, even when there’s no good reason to.
6	Sarcasm and insults are my weapons of choice.
7	I keep multiple holy symbols on me and invoke whatever deity might come in useful at any given moment.
8	I pocket anything I see that might have some value.

d6	Ideal
1	Independence: I am a free spirit— no one tells me what to do. (Chaotic)
2	Fairness: I never target people who can’t afford to lose a few coins. (Lawful)
3	Charity: I distribute the money I acquire to the people who really need it. (Good)
4	Creativity: I never run the same con twice. (Chaotic)
5	Friendship: Material goods come and go. Bonds of friendship last forever. (Good)
6	Aspiration: I’m determined to make something of myself. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I fleeced the wrong person and must work to ensure that this individual never crosses paths with me or those I care about.
2	I owe everything to my mentor— a horrible person who’s probably rotting in jail somewhere.
3	Somewhere out there, I have a child who doesn’t know me. I’m making the world better for him or her.
4	I come from a noble family, and one day I’ll reclaim my lands and title from those who stole them from me.
5	A powerful person killed someone I love. Some day soon, I’ll have my revenge.
6	I swindled and ruined a person who didn’t deserve it. I seek to atone for my misdeeds but might never be able to forgive myself.

d6	Flaw
1	I can’t resist a pretty face.
2	I'm always in debt. I spend my ill-gotten gains on decadent luxuries faster than I bring them in..
3	I’m convinced that no one could ever fool me the way I fool others.
4	I’m too greedy for my own good. I can’t resist taking a risk if there’s money involved.
5	I can’t resist swindling people who are more powerful than me.
6	I hate to admit it and will hate myself for it, but I'll run and preserve my own hide if the going gets tough.

You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot o f time am ong other criminals and still have contacts within the criminal underworld. You’re far closer than m ost people to the world of murder, theft, and violence that pervades the underbelly of civilization, and you have survived up to this point by flouting the rules and regulations of society.

Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth

Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves' tools

Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark com m on clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Criminal Specialty

There are many kinds of criminals, and within a thieves’ guild or similar criminal organization, individual members have particular specialties. Even criminals who operate outside of such organizations have strong preferences for certain kinds of crimes over others. Choose the role you played in your criminal life, or roll on the table below.

d8	Specialty
1	Blackmailer
2	Burglar
3	Enforcer
4	Fence
5	Highway robber
6	Hired killer
7	Pickpocket
8	Smuggler

Feature: Criminal Contact

You have a reliable and trustworthy contact who acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you.

Suggested Characteristics

Criminals might seem like villains on the surface, and many of them are villainous to the core. But some have an abundance of endearing, if not redeeming, characteristics. There might be honor among thieves, but criminals rarely show any respect for law or authority.

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1	I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong.
2	I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me.
3	The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable-or where such things could be hidden.
4	I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy.
5	I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide.
6	I don't pay attention to the risks in a situation. Never tell me the odds.
7	The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can't do it.
8	I blow up at the slightest insult.

d6	Ideal
1	Honor: I don’t steal from others in the trade. (Lawful)
2	Freedom: Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic)
3	Charity: I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good)
4	Greed: I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil)
5	People: I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral)
6	Redemption: There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good)

d6	Bond
1	I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor.
2	My ill-gotten gains go to support my family.
3	Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back.
4	I will become the greatest thief that ever lived.
5	I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it.
6	Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again.

d6	Flaws
1	When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it.
2	When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money.
3	If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it.
4	I have a “tell” that reveals when I'm lying.
5	I turn tail and run when things look bad.
6	An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that.

Variant Criminal: Spy

Although your capabilities are not much different from those of a burglar or smuggler, you learned and practiced them in a very different context: as an espionage agent. You might have been an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or perhaps you sold the secrets you uncovered to the highest bidder.

You thrive in front of an audience. You know how to entrance them, entertain them, and even inspire them. Your poetics can stir the hearts of those who hear you, awakening grief or joy, laughter or anger. Your music raises their spirits or captures their sorrow. Your dance steps captivate, your humor cuts to the quick. Whatever techniques you use, your art is your life.

Skill Proficiencies: Acrobatics, Performance

Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit, one type of musical instrument

Equipment: A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume, and a belt pouch containing 15 gp

Entertainer Routines

A good entertainer is versatile, spicing up every performance with a variety of different routines. Choose one to three routines or roll on the table below to define your expertise as an entertainer.

d10	Entertainer Routine
1	Actor
2	Dancer
3	Fire-eater
4	Jester
5	Juggler
6	Instrumentalist
7	Poet
8	Singer
9	Storyteller
10	Tumbler

Feature: By Popular Demand

You can always find a place to perform, usually in an inn or tavern but possibly with a circus, at a theater, or even in a noble’s court. At such a place, you receive free lodging and food of a modest or comfortable standard (depending on the quality of the establishment), as long as you perform each night. In addition, your performance makes you something of a local figure. When strangers recognize you in a town where you have performed, they typically take a liking to you.

Suggested Characteristics

Successful entertainers have to be able to capture and hold an audience’s attention, so they tend to have flamboyant or forceful personalities. They’re inclined toward the romantic and often cling to high-minded ideals about the practice of art and the appreciation of beauty.

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1	I know a story relevant to almost every situation.
2	Whenever I come to a new place, I collect local rumors and spread gossip.
3	I’m a hopeless romantic, always searching for that “special someone.”
4	Nobody stays angry at me or around me for long, since I can defuse any amount of tension.
5	I love a good insult, even one directed at me.
6	I get bitter if I’m not the center of attention.
7	I’ll settle for nothing less than perfection.
8	I change my mood or my mind as quickly as I change key in a song.

d6	Ideal
1	Beauty: When I perform, I make the world better than it was. (Good)
2	Tradition: The stories, legends, and songs of the past must never be forgotten, for they teach us who we are. (Lawful)
3	Creativity: The world is in need of new ideas and bold action. (Chaotic)
4	Greed: I’m only in it for the money and fame. (Evil)
5	People: I like seeing the smiles on people’s faces when I perform. That’s all that matters. (Neutral)
6	Honesty: Art should reflect the soul; it should come from within and reveal who we really are. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	My instrument is my most treasured possession, and it reminds me of someone I love.
2	Someone stole my precious instrument, and someday I’ll get it back.
3	I want to be famous, whatever it takes.
4	I idolize a hero of the old tales and measure my deeds against that person’s.
5	I will do anything to prove myself superior to my hated rival.
6	I would do anything for the other members of my old troupe.

d6	Flaws
1	I’ll do anything to win fame and renown.
2	I’m a sucker for a pretty face.
3	A scandal prevents me from ever going home again. That kind of trouble seems to follow me around.
4	I once satirized a noble who still wants my head. It was a mistake that I will likely repeat.
5	I have trouble keeping my true feelings hidden. My sharp tongue lands me in trouble.
6	Despite my best efforts, I am unreliable to my friends.

Variant Entertainer: Gladiator

A gladiator is as much an entertainer as any minstrel or circus performer, trained to make the arts of combat into a spectacle the crowd can enjoy. This kind of flashy combat is your entertainer routine, though you might also have some skills as a tumbler or actor. Using your By Popular Demand feature, you can find a place to perform in any place that features combat for entertainment—perhaps a gladiatorial arena or secret pit fighting club. You can replace the musical instrument in your equipment package with an inexpensive but unusual weapon, such as a trident or net.

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6

Skill Proficiencies:

Languages:

Equipment:

Feature: Shelter of the Faithful

Suggested Characteristics

Want some help creating your character randomly? Roll on these tables to generate some traits:

d8	Personality Trait
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

d6	Bond
1
2
3
4
5
6

d6	Flaws
1
2
3
4
5
6