Every story has a beginning. Your character’s background reveals where you came from, how you became an adventurer, and your place in the world. 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?
The sample background in this chapter provides both concrete benefits (features, proficiencies, and languages) and roleplaying suggestions.
Acolyte
Shelter of the Faithful | Insight, Religion
Acolyte Baldur’s Gate
Shelter of the Faithful | Insight, Religion
Acolyte Luxonborn
Shelter of the Faithful | Insight, Religion
Anthropologist
Adept Linguist | Insight, Religion
Archaeologist
Historical Knowledge | History, Survival
Ashari
Elemental History | Nature, Arcana, Survival
Astral Drifter
Divine Contact | Insight, Religion
Athlete
Echoes of Victory | Athletics, Acrobatics
Azorius Functionary
Legal Authority | Insight, Intimidation
Bandit Defector
Bandit Routes | Deception, Survival
Boros Legionnaire
Legion Station | Athletics, Intimidation
Celebrity Adventurer's Scion
Name Dropping | Perception, Performance
Charlatan
False Identity | Deception, Sleight of Hand
Charlatan Baldur’s Gate
False Identity | Deception, Sleight of Hand
City Watch
Watcher’s Eye | Athletics, Insight
Clan Crafter
Respect of the Stout Folk | History, Insight
Clasp Member
A Favor in Turn | Deception, Slight of Hand, Stealth
Cloistered Scholar
Library Access | History, Arcana, Nature, Religion
Courtier
Court Functionary | Insight, Persuasion
Criminal
Criminal Contact | Deception, Stealth
Criminal Baldur’s Gate
Criminal Contact | Deception, Stealth
Criminal Myriad Operative
Criminal Contact | Deception, Stealth
Dimir Operative
False Identity | Deception, Stealth
Entertainer
By Popular Demand | Acrobatics, Performance
Entertainer Baldur’s Gate
By Popular Demand | Acrobatics, Performance
Faceless
Dual Personalities | Deception, Intimidation
Faction Agent
Safe Haven | Insight, Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, Religion, Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Perception, Survival, Deception, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion
Failed Merchant
Supply Chain | Investigation, Persuasion
Far Traveler
All Eyes on You | Insight, Perception
Feylost
Feywild Connection | Deception, Survival
Fisher
Harvest the Water | History, Survival
Folk Hero
Rustic Hospitality | Animal Handling, Survival
Folk Hero Baldur’s Gate
Rustic Hospitality | Animal Handling, Survival
Gambler
Never Tell Me the Odds | Deception, Insight
Gate Warden
Planar Infusion | Persuasion, Survival
Grey Hunter
Grey Hunter | Athletics, Perception, Survival
Grounded
Find Another Path | Athletics, Insight
Gladiator
By Popular Demand | Acrobatics, Performance
Giant Foundling
Strike of the Giants | Intimidation, Survival
Golgari Agent
Undercity Paths | Nature, Survival
Grinner
Ballad of the Grinning Fool | Deception, Performance
Gruul Anarch
Rubblebelt Refuge | Animal Handling, Athletics
Guild Artisan
Guild Membership | Insight, Persuasion
Guild Artisan Baldur’s Gate
Guild Membership | Insight, Persuasion
Guild Merchant
Guild Membership | Insight, Persuasion
Haunted One
Heart of Darkness | Arcana, Investigation, Religion, Survival
Hermit
Discovery | Medicine, Religion
Hermit Baldur’s Gate
Discovery | Medicine, Religion
House Agent
House Connections | Investigation, Persuasion
Inheritor
Inheritance | Survival, Arcana, History, Religion
Investigator SCAG
Watcher’s Eye | Investigation, Insight
Investigator VRGtR
Official Inquiry | Investigation, Insight, Perception
Izzet Engineer
Urban Infrastructure | Arcana, Investigation
Knight
Retainers | History, Persuasion
Knight of the Order
Knightly Regard | Persuasion, Arcana, History, Nature, Religion
Knight of Solamnia
Squire of Solamnia | Athletics, Survival
Lorehold Student
Lorehold Initiate | History, Religion
Lyceum Scholar
Academic Requisition | Arcana, History, Persuasion
Mage of High Sorcery
Initiate of High Sorcery | Arcana, History
Marine
Steady | Athletics, Survival
Mercenary Veteran
Mercenary Life | Athletics, Persuasion
Myriad Operative
Myriad Operative | Deception, Slight of Hand, Stealth
Noble
Position of Privilege | History, Persuasion
Noble Baldur’s Gate
Position of Privilege | History, Persuasion
Orzhov Representative
Leverage | Intimidation, Religion
Outlander
Wanderer | Athletics, Survival
Outlander Baldur’s Gate
Wanderer | Athletics, Survival
Pirate
Bad Reputation | Athletics, Perception
Plaintiff
Legalese | Medicine, Persuasion
Planar Philosopher
Conviction | Arcana, Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, Nature, Perception, Persuasion, Performance, Religion, Stealth, Survival
Prismari Student
Prismari Initiate | Acrobatics, Performance
Quandrix Student
Quandrix Initiate | Arcana, Nature
Rakdos Cultist
Fearsome Reputation | Acrobatics, Performance
Reformed Cultist
Fell Teachings | Deception, Religion
Rewarded
Fortune's Favor | Insight, Persuasion
Rival Intern
Inside Informant | History, Investigation
Ruined
Still Standing | Stealth, Survival
Rune Carver
Rune Shaper | History, Perception
Sage
Researcher | Arcana, History
Sage Baldur’s Gate
Researcher | Arcana, History
Sage Cobalt Scholar
Researcher | Arcana, History
Sailor
Ship's Passage | Athletics, Perception
Sailor Baldur’s Gate
Ship's Passage | Athletics, Perception
Sailor Revelry Pirate
Ship's Passage | Athletics, Perception
Selesnya Initiate
Conclave’s Shelter | Nature, Persuasion
Shipwright
I’ll Patch It! | History, Perception
Silverquill Student
Silverquill Initiate | Intimidation, Persuasion
Simic Scientist
Researcher | Arcana, Medicine
Smuggler
Down Low | Athletics, Deception
Soldier
Military Rank | Athletics, Intimidation
Soldier Baldur’s Gate
Military Rank | Athletics, Intimidation
Spy
Criminal Contact | Deception, Stealth
Spy Augen Trust
Criminal Contact | Deception, Stealth
Urban Bounty Hunter
Ear to the Ground | Stealth, Insight, Deception, Persuasion
Urchin
City Secrets | Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Urchin Baldur’s Gate
City Secrets | Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Uthgardt Tribe Member
Uthgardt Heritage | Athletics, Survival
Volstrucker Agent
Shadow Network | Deception, Stealth
Waterdhavian Noble
Kept in Style | History, Persuasion
Whitestone Rifle Corps
Legacy of Secrecy | Athletics, Perception, Survival
Wildspacer
Wildspace Adaptation | Athletics, Survival
Wind-Touched
Supernatural Presence | Acrobatics, Performance
Witchlight Hand
Carnival Fixture | Performance, Sleight of Hand
Witherbloom Student
Witherbloom Initiate | Nature, Survival