DnD Backgrounds | 5E – Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) 2024

The 5e backgrounds of DnD would bring in a back-story of your character and hone their identity. Also, it’d answer all the questions of where they came from and what is their purpose.

DnD backgrounds

BGs add a flavorful touch to the story of your characters, giving them more depth. Moreover, their race determines what they are, their class explains what they do, and their back-story tells how they lived. So, instead of just being a fighter, you’d have a fascinating history.

Furthermore, the rule of thumb asserts that the attributes should connect the character to the world and the people in it in some way. However, the class capacities of the individual to provide bonuses on checks, saves etc. wouldn’t change due to the traits.

So, this is how you can create a back-story for the individual,

• Measure time – Firstly, if you’re up for a small adventure, wasting time on developing history isn’t required as it wouldn’t come up in the game. Therefore, just give a gist of where he came from and his purpose.
• Include 2-3 core events – Our behaviours and values are shaped by the few core memories that are essential to us. So, if your character is a fighter, focus on the answers as to why he is a fighter, who inspired him and so on. But don’t mention unnecessary details.
• Interconnect them together – Also, work with your Dungeon Master to tie together all this into an interesting back-story. Any loose strings can be interconnected now, more like connecting the dots at the end. At the end, all the events and people would progress at their own pace after this.

Name	Languages	Tools	Source	FEATURE
Acolyte	Any X2	None	PHB	Shelter of the Faithful
Anthropologist	Any x2	None	ToA	Adept Linguist
Archaeologist	Any X1	cartographer’s tools, navigator’s tools	ToA	Historical Knowledge
Adopted	Anyx2	None	–	–
Black Fist Double Agent	None	Disguise kit, and choose 1: artisan’s tools x1 , gaming set x1	CoS (AL)	–
Caravan Specialist	Any x1	Vehicles (land)	EE (AL)	–
Charlatan	None	Disguise kit, forgery kit	PHB	False Identity
City Watch	Any x2	None	SCAG	Watcher’s Eye
Clan Crafter	Any x1	Artisan’s tools x1	SCAG	Respect of the Stout Folk
Cloistered Scholar	Any x2	None	SCAG	Library Access
Cormanthor Refugee	Elvish	Artisan’s tools x1	RoD (AL)	–
Courtier	Any x2	None	SCAG	Court Functionary
Criminal	None	Gaming set x1, thieves’ tools	PHB	–
Dissenter	Special (See page)	Special (See page)	PS:A	–
Dragon Casualty	Draconic	Special (See page)	CoS (AL)	–
Earthspur Miner	Dwarvish, Undercommon	None	EE (AL)	–
Entertainer	None	Disguise kit, musical instrument x1	PHB	By Popular Demand
Faction Agent	Any x2	None	SCAG	Safe Haven
Far Traveler	Any x1	Choose 1: musical instrument x1, gaming set x1	SCAG	All Eyes on You
Folk Hero	None	Artisan’s tools x1, vehicles (land)	PHB	Rustic Hospitality
Gate Urchin	None	Musical instrument x1, thieves’ tools	RoD (AL)	–
Gladiator	None	Disguise kit, unusual weapon x1	PHB	By Popular Demand
Guild Artisan	Any x1	Artisan’s tools x1	PHB	Guild Membership
Guild Merchant	Any x1	Navigator’s tools	PHB	Guild Membership
Harborfolk	None	Gaming set x1, vehicles (water)	EE (AL)	–
Haunted One	Exotic x1	None	CoS	Heart of Darkness
Hermit	Any x1	Herbalism kit	PHB	Discovery
Hillsfar Merchant	None	Vehicles (land), vehicles (water)	RoD (AL)	–
Hillsfar Smuggler	Any x1	Forgery kit	RoD (AL)	–
House Agent	None	Special (See page)	WGE	–
Inheritor	None	Gaming set x1, musical instrument x1	SCAG	Inheritance
Initiate	None	Gaming set x1, vehicles (land)	PS:A	–
Inquisitor	None	Artisan’s tools x1, thieves’ tools	PS:In	–
Investigator	Any x2	None	SCAG	–
Iron Route Bandit	None	Gaming set x1, vehicles (land)	CoS (AL)	–
Knight	Any x1	Gaming set x1	PHB	Retainers
Knight of the Order	Any x1	Choose 1: gaming set x1, musical instrument x1	SCAG	Knightly Regard
Mercenary Veteran	None	Gaming set x1, vehicles (land)	SCAG	Mercenary Life
Mulmaster Aristocrat	None	Artisan’s tools x1, musical instrument x1	EE (AL)	–
Noble	Any x1	Gaming set x1	PHB	Position of Privilege
Outlander	Any x1	Navigator’s tools, vehicles (water)	PHB	Wanderer
Phlan Insurgent	None	Artisan’s tools x1, vehicles (land)	CoS (AL)	–
Phlan Refugee	Any x1	Artisan’s tools x1	EE (AL)	–
Pirate	None	Navigator’s tools, vehicles (water)	PHB	Bad Reputation
Sage	Any x2	None	PHB	Researcher
Sailor	None	Navigator’s tools, vehicles (water)	PHB	Ship’s Passage
Secret Identity	None	Disguise kit, forgery kit	RoD (AL)	–
Shade Fanatic	Netherese	Forgery kit	RoD (AL)	–
Soldier	None	Gaming set x1, vehicles (land)	PHB	Military Rank
Spy	None	Gaming set x1, thieves’ tools	PHB	–
Student Of Magic	–	–	–	–
Stojanow Prisoner	None	Gaming set x1, thieves’ tools	CoS (AL)	–
Ticklebelly Nomad	Giant	Herbalism kit	CoS (AL	–
Trade Sheriff	Elvish	Thieves’ tools	RoD (AL)	–
Urban Bounty Hunter	None	Choose 2: gaming set x1,musical instrument x1 , thieves’ tools	SCAG	Ear to the Ground
Urchin	None	Disguise kit, thieves’ tools	PHB	City Secrets
Uthgardt Tribe Member	Any x1	Choose 1: artisan’s tools x1, musical instrument x1	SCAG	Uthgardt Heritage
Vizier	None	Artisan’s tools x1, musical instrument x1	PS:A	–
Waterdhavian Noble	Any x1	Choose 1: gaming set x1, musical instrument x1	SCAG	Kept in Style
D&D Gladiator Arena	–	–	–	–

How to customize a background:

Moreover, players have the option of modifying the existing back-stories by keeping in mind the following rules –

• You can change one feature with the other, choose two skills and two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample D&D backgrounds while customizing.
• The coins you might have can be spent on gear or the equipment package provided in the BG.
• You must choose two personality traits, one bond, one ideal and also one flawed characteristic. (The equipment package meant for your class also needs to be bought with coins.)
• If you can’t locate a feature matching your desired history, work with the Dungeon Master (DM) to create one.

DnD 5e backgrounds functions:

However, A few mechanical benefits you’d come across with this addition are –

• 1-2 skill proficiencies.
• 1-2 languages.
• A mixture of starting gear.
• A unique ability, usually a situational social ability.

However, BGs don’t do much except make the journey of your character more exciting. Their personality traits, relations, ideals, flaws are all included in it.

Backgrounds 5e necessary details:

Some of the particulars you should additionally remember are –

Languages – Almost all the characters would be allowed to learn some other language apart from the ones they know by default depending on their milieu.

Proficiency – Meanwhile, Character proficiency in any two skills would be granted to every D and D backgrounds.

• Chapter 7 of the Player’s Hand Book (PHB) explains all the expertise.
• If the character has one or more tools, an added proficiency would be offered to him.
• Tools are given in chapter 5 of the PHB.
• Moreover, a character could choose the same proficiency from different sources (i.e. skills or tools) and attain equal mastery in both.

Characteristics –

• Every BG consists of suggested personnel attributes hinged on your history.
• Also, you can choose characteristics by randomly rolling dice or by using the suggestions provided as an inspiration and creating one on your own.

Tools –

• All the BGs provide a starter pack of equipment.
• If you spend coins to buy gear, the tools you acquire from the starter pack wouldn’t be given to you.

Things to remember:

Since selecting a backdrop is a tricky thing, it needs to be done cautiously. Therefore, here are a few things you should take into consideration while developing a history of your player.

Theme – 

• Specific environments are equally important for particular backdrops. For instance, the Urchin and Criminal BG are meant for natural settings.
• The Outlander backdrop is for a wilderness surrounding.
• Those like Acolytes, Sages and Guild artisans belong in the temples, libraries and workshops.

Here are a few themes suitable for these specific back-stories –

• Academic: Acolyte, Anthropologist, Archaeologist, Sage
• Shady Past: Criminal, Charlatan, Pirate, Spy
• Martial/Military: Soldier, City Watch, Knight
• Situational: Noble, Outlander, Urchin, Far Traveler, Uthgardt Tribe Member
• Vocational: Guild Artisan, Entertainer, Sailor

Mechanics –

• The set of tools, skills and languages you acquire is based on the class or race you choose.
• You might gain some benefits or limited selections depending on your choice of race.
• It’s an unknown fact that the class can provide you with distinct ways to choose & receive skills and proficiency tools.
• All the options of expertise and equipment open up during the time of duplicate background proficiencies accordingly. 

Backdrop features –

• Every Dungeons and Dragons background has its own unique quality.
• An advantage is offered to us due to our BG’s features.
• The player needs to connect with NPC’s.
• More scope is added in the game for adventure and role-playing.

D&D 5e Backgrounds Chart

Conclusion

Finally, a story doesn’t feel authentic if there isn’t a strong backdrop supporting it. Furthermore, all the eyes are on the protagonist of a tale; therefore, 5e backgrounds could either make your character’s story exciting or dull; it’s up to you.