D&D - Background & Roleplaying

Last 3 Edits

May 3rd, 2021

• Added backgrounds from Grim Hollow Player's Guide.

Sept 30th, 2020

• Added backgrounds from Midgard Heroes Handbook.

30th July, 2020

• Added Athlete from Mythic Odysseys of Theros.

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Backgrounds

Below lists the currently available Backgrounds as they appear in the core books and other sources, such as En5ider. Of course a player is not restricted to these and could easily develop their own. A background provides the character with starting proficiencies (and sometimes languages), equipment and funds. The accompanying personality and bonds tables are optional, but a good source for fleshing out your character.

List of Backgrounds

1. Acolyte (PHB p127).
2. Alchemist's Apprentice (EN5sider Scientific Sorcery by Matt Roth).
3. Amazon (of Perunalia). (Midgard Heroes Handbook p98, Kobold Press).
4. Anthropologist (Tomb of Annihilation p191).
5. Arbonesse Exile. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p99, Kobold Press).
6. Archaeologist (Tomb of Annihilation p192).
7. Archivist. (Deep Magic p155, Kobold Press)
8. Athlete (Mythic Odysseys of Theros p31).
9. Azorius Functionary (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p33). For any legal or lawfully minded background such as lawyer, police or mind mage.
10. Beggar. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p125, Kobold Press). Urchin variant.
11. Bemmean Scholar. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p100, Kobold Press).
12. Black Shield - variant Fallen Scion (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p129). One who wishes to remain hidden.
13. Blood Sister. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p102, Kobold Press).
14. Boros Legionnaire (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p40). For any lawful military background.
15. Call of the Sea variant World Weary (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p143). For those that have a mystical force calling them.
16. Charlatan (PHB p128).
17. Child of the Divine. (Southlands Heroes p13, Kobold Press).
18. City Watch (Sword Coast Player's Guide p145).
19. Clan Crafter (Sword Coast Player's Guide p145).
20. Cloistered Scholar (Sword Coast Player's Guide p146).
21. Courtier (Sword Coast Player's Guide p146).
22. Criminal (PHB p129).
23. Dancing Bear Guide. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p103, Kobold Press).
24. Desert Runner. (Southlands Heroes p21, Kobold Press).
25. Devoted Friend - variant Oathsworn (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p138).
26. Dhampir of Morgau. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p105, Kobold Press).
27. Dimir Operative (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p46). For spies, assassins and information brokers.
28. Doomed to Die (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p122).
29. Driven from Home (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p124).
30. Emissary of Your People (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p126).
31. Entertainer (PHB p130).
32. Envoy (En5ider The Art of Peace).
33. Exile of the Black City. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p106, Kobold Press).
34. Faction Agent (Sword Coast Player's Guide p147).
35. Fallen Scion (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p127).
36. Fey-Blessed (Grim Hollow Player's Guide p99).
37. Fey Hostage. (Deep Magic p156, Kobold Press).
38. Fisher (Ghosts of Saltmarsh p29).
39. Folk Healer - variant Magician (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p136).
40. Folk Hero (PHB p131).
41. Ghost Knight. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p107, Kobold Press).
42. Gladiator - variant Entertainer (PHB p131).
43. Gnoll Caravan Raider. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p108, Kobold Press).
44. Golgari Agent (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p53). For someone with a connection to the darker side of nature.
45. Grinner (Explorer's Guide to Wildemount p200). For anyone that spreads the word of freedom in lands of tyranny. Often traveling minstrels.
46. Gruul Anarch (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p60). For anyone connected to a clan, tribe or group bent on chaos and barbarism.
47. Guild Artisan (PHB p132).
48. Guild Merchant (PHB p133).
49. Harrowed (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p129).
50. Haunted Villager. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p109, Kobold Press).
51. Hermit (PHB p134).
52. House Agent (Eberron Rising from the Last War p53). For anyone with strong connections to a house/organisation.
53. Hunter (by the Shadow) (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p131). For anyone belonging to a family or organisation that has upset a greater evil.
54. Inheritor (Sword Coast Player's Guide p150).
55. Inquisitor (Innistrad MTG supplement).
56. Investigator - variant City Watch. (Sword Coast Player's Guide p145).
57. Izzet Engineer (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p66). If a member of a race or organization that tinkers and partakes in magical and mechanical experimentation.
58. Knight - variant Noble (PHB p136).
59. Knight of the Order (Sword Coast Player's Guide p151).
60. Krakovan Rebel. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p111, Kobold Press).
61. Lapsed Inquisitor (Grim Hollow Player's Guide p98).
62. Loyal Servant (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p121).
63. Lure of the Road (Rover) (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p133).
64. Magician (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p135).
65. Marine (Ghosts of Saltmarsh p31).
66. Mercenary Veteran (Sword Coast Player's Guide p152).
67. Mharoti Emissary. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p112, Kobold Press).
68. Miner. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p113, Kobold Press).
69. Mountain's Witness. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p115, Kobold Press).
70. Mystic of Baba Yaga. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p116, Kobold Press).
71. Neimheim Gnome. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p118, Kobold Press).
72. Noble (PHB p135).
73. Northlands Reaver. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p119, Kobold Press).
74. Nurian Theurge. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p120, Kobold Press).
75. Oathsworn (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p136).
76. One of the Taken (Grim Hollow Player's Guide p96).
77. Orzhov Representative (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p72). If grown up around a group seeking wealth, such as a lucrative religion, merchant house or a bank.
78. Outlander (PHB p136).
79. Pirate (PHB p139).
80. Pox-Touched (Grim Hollow Player's Guide p97).
81. Prophet. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p122, Kobold Press).
82. Rakdos Cultist (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p79). For anyone that spent time in a performance troop with a sinister side.
83. Reluctant Adventurer (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p138).
84. Sage (PHB p137).
85. Sailor (PHB p139).
86. Seeker of the Lost (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p140).
87. Seer. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p123, Kobold Press).
88. Selesnya Initiate (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p86). If you have grown up in a peaceful, nature-loving society/group.
89. Shipwright (Ghosts of Saltmarsh p33).
90. Simic Scientist (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica p93). If you have spent time in a magical society that seeks to improve and modify living beings.
91. Siwali Traveller. (Southlands Heroes p6, Kobold Press). Desert nomads/merchants.
92. Slave (DM Guild product).
93. Smuggler (Ghosts of Saltmarsh p34).
94. Soldier (PHB p140).
95. Soldier: Groom/Squire. (Southlands Heroes p19, Kobold Press).
96. Soldier: Healer. (Southlands Heroes p20, Kobold Press).
97. Soldier: Quartermaster. (Southlands Heroes p77, Kobold Press).
98. Soul Channeler. (Deep Magic p158, Kobold Press)
99. Spy - variant Criminal. (PHB p130).
100. Storyteller - variant Harrowed (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p131).
101. Survivor (En5ider It's Never Over, Dion Fernandez).
102. Temple Slave. (Southlands Heroes p15, Kobold Press).
103. Tinker. (Midgard Heroes Handbook p124, Kobold Press). Guild Artisan variant.
104. Transformed Familiar. (Deep Magic p159, Kobold Press)
105. Urban Bounty Hunter (Sword Coast Player's Guide p153).
106. Urchin (PHB p141).
107. Uthgardt Tribe Member (Sword Coast Player's Guide p153).
108. Vizier - variant Envoy. (En5ider The Art of Peace).
109. Volstrucker Agent (Explorer's Guide to Wildemount p202). An arcane secret service of operatives.
110. Waterdhavian Noble (Sword Coast Player's Guide p154).
111. World Weary (Adventures in Middle Earth Player's Guide p141).