This week Mike Mearls talks about Backgrounds! (link updated)
The official list of Backgrounds in the PHB....minus one red herring.
- Acolyte
- Charlatan
- Criminal
- Entertainer
- Folk Hero
- Gold Dragon, Ancient
- Guild Artisan
- Hermit
- Noble
- Outlander
- Sage
- Sailor
- Soldier
- Urchin
Creating your own Backgrounds:
Balance: there’s no specific balance in the proficiencies that a background grants. You can swap out one tool or skill for another without messing anything up.
Features: it’s best to mix and match the ones given in the Player’s Handbook, but you can also create your own.
Make your own Background Features using these guidelines.
* avoid strict mechanical benefits, such as a bonus to a check or to attacks.
* Features should open up new options for roleplaying, exploring, and otherwise interacting with the world.
* Features should give characters a reason to strike out on quests of their own creation, to make contacts with NPCs, and to develop ties and bonds to the setting or campaign you’ve devised.
* Don’t be shy about modifying backgrounds or changing their flavor to suit your campaign.
* Backgrounds represent the glue between a player’s character and the DM’s campaign. They give characters the forward momentum they need to keep the game going.
Yeah. Sailor. That's a great red herring. Cuz its almost believable.
ChrisCarlson wrote:
That post kept going up and down it seemed like for me. Since it's dated tomorrow I assumed he was working on it or something. I don't suppose you have the text still up you could cut and paste?
Templar309 wrote:
I WANNA BE A DWAGON!
The Adventurer's League Player's Guide lists the Backgrounds as part of the Lifestyles chart:
Why is Urchin Modest instead of Poor?
Azzy1974 wrote:
Azzy1974 wrote:
I like that most of the ones I suggested made it in in some form (Folk Hero, Hermit, Outlander, Urchin). The only one I can recall thinking was important that I'm not seeing is the traveling merchant type. Perhaps Guild Artisan encompasses it.
Azzy1974 wrote:
I am looking forward to moving some classes to backgrounds for my game world. I am interested in the guidelines. Sweet.
I liked the fool background from the playtest, mostly because of the feature 'fool's license'.
Raised by beasts would be a good, classicallly mythical (romulas and remus, mogli) background that I would like to see. I suppose there could be a variety of 'raised by beasts' backgrounds-- raised by apes, raised by wolves, raised by dragons...
demon_idol wrote:
Ramzour wrote:
Plaguescarred wrote:
Azzy1974 wrote:
AngryMob wrote:
AngryMob wrote:
Commoner?
Commoner's a bit vague (are we talking poor cobblers and tailors - Artisans - or farmers?), but I recall the playtest Commoner matching some Folk Hero traits. Likewise, I was curious about a traveling peddler/merchant, but a modified Guild Artisan or Gold Dragon, Ancient, may have to do. Hard to tell without the final text.
How, again, does Ancient Gold Dragon work? Like magnets?
kill_the_wiz_first wrote:
Qmark wrote:
Slave?
kill_the_wiz_first wrote:
Don't get me wrong, I love backgrounds and am very glad they are a core part of the game now.
But, I am a little annoyed that 5e seems to be forcing role-play. This is probably due to the 4haters constantly yelling on the internets that 4e was anti-roleplay and pro-'roll' play. That was, of course, BS. 4e didn't push it on anyone, but it also in no way hindered it. People roleplay as much or as little as they want and it whatever style they prefer, regardless of rulesets, combat mechanics, and published advice on the subject.
Some people might just want to have dungeon delves and that's it. It's not bagwrongfun to play that way. Just like it's not badwrongfun to play rules light and RP-heavy.
I also don't like it when roleplaying in a certain style that a handful of game developers enjoy to be pushed by a ruleset. There's just as many ways to play D&D as there are gaming groups that play it. All I want from an RPG is a solid ruleset, inspirational art, and interesting fluff. That's what I want to pay for when I buy core books; no more, no less.
PS: I also wanted more backgrounds. But, eh, making them up seems easy enough. Also, I'm sure setting books will have setting specific backgrounds.
Just wondering if this applies to Australia (and other non- US countries)
"...If you’re lucky enough to have access to a Wizards Play Network retailer, the Player’s Handbook can be in your hands this Friday...."
PaulFerris wrote:
PaulFerris wrote:
The link is working now.
seti wrote:
Because of that "red herring", I had to do this. DMs, feel free to change starting equipment as you see fit, lol. And yes I know the altered feature gives a bit of a boost over the original. Take as is, or come up with something better. :D
Background: Ancient Dragon
You are not the race you appear to be. Contrary to what any others might think, you are an ancient dragon, trapped in your current form. As such, you have centuries of knowledge on which to draw, yet are limited by the primitive mind of the form you now inhabit. Whatever force has imprisoned you in a body not your own also denies you access to the natural abilities, both magical and mundane, that you normally possess. Completely cut off from your draconic heritage, you must learn to navigate the world as one of the fragile creatures that would run screaming if they knew your true nature.
Skill Proficiences: History, and one other of your choice.
Languages: Draconic, and one other of your choice.
Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a pouch containing 30 gold and 5 semi precious gems worth 20 gold each (all you could grab from your hoard after you were transformed).
Dragon Type: Choose one, or Roll 1d10 on the following table for the type of dragon you really are.
1.) Red
2.) Silver
3.) Black
4.) Bronze
5.) White
6.) Gold
7.) Blue
8.) Copper
9.) Green
10.) Brass
Feature: Draconic Recollection (Researcher modified). When you attempt to learn or recall a piece of lore, if you do not know that information, you often know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. If the information you are attempting to recall is related to dragons, you may spend four hours meditating on your ancient past, and then attempt to recall it once more, with advantage. You may do this only once for any single piece of lore.
seti wrote:
Luciender wrote:
Ramzour wrote:
Qmark wrote:
Luciender wrote:
Brimleydower wrote:
seti wrote:
seti wrote:
SETI wrote:
I think the number of background in the PHB, dissapointingly, are too few.
However, as long as the 'construct your own background' rules are sufficiently robust, this is not really a problem.
I do look forwards to coming up with some campaign-specific ones, and I am sure several f these can be modified to such effect.
seti wrote:
Caliburn101. wrote:
Luciender wrote:
Luciender wrote:
CelticPaladin wrote:
Luciender wrote:
CelticPaladin wrote:
Orzel wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
Looks good to me. I like that you can easily swap skill or tool proficiencies to tailor it even more!
My only gripe is that there are not enought Backgrounds to my taste. I WANT MORE already!! 
I fully expect there will be more backgrounds in splats and campaign settings. This is exactly the sort of thing you can use to flavor your campaign and customize your character, without resorting to feat bloat.
(and yes, technically it then becomes Background-bloat, but since they are mechanics-neutral and DIY anyways, it doesn't really matter).
Plaguescarred wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
I'm a little dissapointed by how few backgrounds are in the PHB. They're such a good idea and there's so many obvious omissions.
It's a good thing we can make and publish our own... in January.
spelley wrote:
I'm just glad D&D is finally taking a page from the Rifts playbook and letting us play dragons. Hopefully there will be a drifter background as well!
Orzel wrote:
During playtesting, one of my players created a custom Lawyer background for his dwarf rogue when I was running Isle of Dread.
The_Jester wrote:
Orzel wrote:
Daganev wrote:
Ramzour wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
I'm definitely working on more backgrounds to post on my blog. I may steal some ideas from this thread. 
(With proper attribution, of course.)
Anyone mind if I use something you've posted?
The_Jester wrote:
I love how several of you who commented on my comments upthread didn't bother to read or comprehend my comments, but instead engaged in exactly what I was talking about regarding edition warring and role play vs. roll play.
ie: "You're doing it wrong! Suggesting anything other than the one true way is badwrongfun!" "You have to role-play! it's in the RULES! Otheriwse go play a board game then!"
RP is in the rules now, for better or worse. in 5e it's suggested that your DM is to hand out 'inspiration points'(a mechanical benefit) to PC's for following your 'flaw' and 'bond' as written into your background. In previous editions, you didn't get mechanical benefits for being 'in character'. You only got mechanical benefits from knowing/following the mechanics, and rolling well. 'roll-playing' has always been in the D&D rules. It's a game based on numbers and dice, in addition to story-telling.
Again, I am not against 5e (or any edition) but I am against people saying there's a wrong way to enjoy a freaking hobby/game.
Orzel wrote:
CelticPaladin wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
seti wrote:
Is it just me, or this thread now lacking a name?
Did you go all Earthsea on us?
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
CelticPaladin wrote:
emwasick wrote:
Lord_Ventnor wrote:
seti wrote:
I wonder if there will eventually be geographic backgrounds as well as professional? It seems like some kind of Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting is probably the next priority after they get the core books finished.
Gazra wrote:
Just a suggestion - feel free to improve 
Diplomat
You were formerly a diplomat representing a particular monarch or state but your letters of accreditation are now out of date and, following a change of regime, your position has been cancelled. While in office, you were empowered to negotiate treaties and trade agreements with the diplomats of other nations and you made a number of useful contacts amongst them. Fellow diplomats will assume that you are now working behind the scenes with the representatives of nations who were friendly to your former regime and are less friendly to its successor, to bring about a restoration (even if this is not true, that is what they will assume).
Feature: Diplomatic Immunity
As long as you maintain an aristocratic lifestyle and do not overtly threaten their established order, the civil authorities in friendly countries will overlook any minor crimes you might commit.
Skill Proficiencies: Deception and Persuasion
Languages: any two of your choice
Equipment: Fine clothes, a gold signet ring, letters of accreditation, 10 sheets of paper, pen and ink, sealing wax, a book of diplomatic ciphers and 15gp
d8 Personality Trait
- I use flowery language that is full of unspoken nuances
- I judge people by their value to me, regardless of their true motives
- I always maintain my sang-froid when dealng with people in all walks of life
- I often seem arrogant and condescending
- I am fastidious in the way I dress
- I cultivate an air of being well-read and erudite
- I am an outgoing, hail-fellow-well-met kind of person
- I enjoy verbal fencing
d6 Ideal
- Restoration. My main concern is the return of the ancien régime in my country (Lawful)
- Feedom. I seek to undermine the regime that has usurped power in my country (Chaotic)
- Civility. The code of politesse between diplomats transcends national interests (Neutral)
- Peace. I hope to make the world one day a better place where wars are a thing of the past (Good)
- Self-Interest. I seek to profit from the trade in arms to warring nations (Evil)
- Tradition. It is important to preserve the outward observances of the diplomatic corps (any)
Flaws & Bonds tba
Ramzour wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
I might use that Dragon background, but I think I'll change the hobbit shaped pendant to be an actual hobbit worn as a pendant.
Ramzour wrote:
The more I think about it the more I think the Folk Hero is a terrible example of a background. I can see why they went that direction: creating a feature for a commoner would be tricky. The "Folk Hero" chassis is used as a way to justify people helping the PC and giving shelter, because, for some weird reason, all backgrounds have to involve people letting the PCs crash on their couch.
Backgrounds are supposed to be what your character did before they became a hero, they're all about what they were not what they are. But Folk Hero glosses over that part and is all about the PC being a hero from Day Zero. Before they were a hero... they were a hero; their background is they have no background, and their entire prior life is defined by one action in the past. The noble is a noble, and the criminial is a ciminal - at level one and level twenty - but the folk hero is that dude who stood up to a town bully.
It feels a little like making a "traitor" background, "sole survivor", or even a "dragonslayer".
This is especially odd as backgrounds are one of the primary means of assigning skills to a PC. The criminal learned to do illicit things while the acolyte knows something about religion. But there's nothing inherent in being a "folk hero" that teaches someone a skill or trade.
So much is made about commoners needing a reason to adventure, a reason to be a hero beyond being a dirt farmer. But no other backgrounds have that "turning point". The sage doesn't explain why the librarian left town or the criminal decided to play hero or the acolyte left the temple. Why do farmers, ranchers, shepards, and labourers need that extra motivation?
And, really, why does every PC's background not get replaced by "Folk Hero" after the first adventure?
There's room for the Folk Hero background in the game. I think there's probably also room for a "survivor" and "traitor" too, now that I think about it. But they're not as iconic and universal as, say, the farm boy who grows up wanting to be an adventurer and goes off in search of adventure. Or the youth thrust into the life after his villiage is destroyed. Or the simple caravan guard who defeats some kobolds on the road and discovers a talent for some of the ol' ultraviolence.
The archetype of the Folk Hero is... well, the player who doesn't want to pick a background or think about their PC as anything but an adventurer.
The_Jester wrote:
seti wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
One I'm kind of surprised not to see is "Spy", that's always been one I wanted to do for a Rogue
Also, I'll need to re-read folk hero, but doesn't it also cover "guy the villager's rallied around"? Kind of like Eragon's brother. He's a hero for two reasons, someone tried to kill his Fiance and he refused to let his village be slaughtered.
Being the guy who stands up and "leads" the villagers or at least is working to make the world safer for them is more folk hero to me than "the stars had aligned from birth"
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Chaosmancer wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
Chaosmancer wrote:
Ashrym wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
Exile?
THEMNGMNT wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
I'm assuming Outlander is Outdoorsman. I could be wrong.
Madman?
THEMNGMNT wrote:
Well, there clearly needs to be someone who lives in the wild, and I don't see an applicable background anywhere else. I guess we'll see.
THEMNGMNT wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Serow_Darkstar wrote:
seti wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
Orzel wrote:
Shasarak wrote:
Qmark wrote:
Shasarak wrote:
So I was sad to see theives guild gone, because of the inspiration and possibilities it opened up, but I'm happy to see Assasin's guild as a custom option which replaces that inspiration
Qmark wrote:
Ramzour wrote:
I'm surprised we don't see Victim as a background. Regardless of whatever edition was out at the time, there was always one (if not more) player in my group whose character background was based on getting revenge for something. eg: Zents killed my family, Red Wizards killed my wife, Blackguards wiped out my tribe but I survived. I've always seen revenge as a very common reason that players use to give motivation to their characters to leave their home in search of the baddie that wronged them in some way.
For me, I'll definitely be making a Guild Thief background for my Rogue. Sorry to see this was dropped from the playtest, but it's mostly likely rolled into Criminal as a catch all category and easy to customize.
For a Thief Acrobat, this is probably considered to be part of the Entertainer background . Anyone have a good idea of what this would look like? or is this more of a Roguish archetype like Thief? Might be getting my backgrounds and archetypes mixed up a bit here.
Honestly, I expect Guild Thief got eaten by Criminal because Guild Thief was both too specific and had a terrible feature.
Since, in the packets where it appeared, its feature copied a low-level ability of the class it most naturally linked to.
Angel7 wrote:
... It makes me picture Charlie Brown with a greatsword, finally having snapped.
Dreamstryder wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
BoldItalic wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
Angel7 wrote:
Qmark wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Daganev wrote:
Regarding commoner vs folk hero: If you remove everything except proficiencies, equipment and the feature you get exactly what was named "commoner" in the playtest. Reflavoring should not be a problem. Still, it would be fun to see backgrounds that would cover the main characters in "How to Become an Adventurer" much more specifically.
Regarding city guards the Starter Set pregen soldier is a city guard in Neverwinter. I would expect the ranks to include lieutenant, sergent and probably at least quartermaster and corporal above the "grunts". Need to have someone making decisions at the city gate when the "grunts" do not have the authority and the captain has other businesses. At the same time I could imagine a background focusing on gaining information rather than equipment.
Be3Al2 wrote:
Hmmm, unless I'm missing something, the argument on Commoner v. Folk Hero seems to boil down to the label placed on the background. Because other than the call to adventure being part of the descriptive fluff, I'm not seeing a difference. Personally, I prefer the Folk Hero moniker, as it's a bit more inspirational to driving concepts - something moved you into the story. Think of this as Hero in the classical sense - the larger-than-life protagonist, with opening-credits billing and a fair share of the speaking roles. In other words, you are a PC.
On a separate topic, something else to keep in mind with the backgrounds is that you can look at them in a couple of different ways. You can use them for what your character did before they went to "PC School," or you can look at them as what the character is doing with their PC skillset. Some of them are going to be pretty much baked in ("Urchin" pretty stongly implies it's about your youth), but others are more open to interpretation (A Wizard with the Criminal background could be a student of magic with a shady past, or a spell-packing ne'er-do-well using his arcane talents to engage in felonious deeds).
The_Jester wrote:
Ramzour wrote:
Ashrym wrote:
emwasick wrote:
Azzy1974 wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Sometimes I wonder about all these things that my character did in his background that never gave him any experience. 
Shasarak wrote:
Serow_Darkstar wrote:
Shasarak wrote:
Jester: Of course all the backgrounds work on the same mechanic. There's a reason for it, and it's a design goal of 5e: modularity. By having the backgrounds all work off the same mechanical framework it makes it easy to customize or add new backgrounds just by swapping around/out different pieces of the framework. It also keeps all backgrounds balanced and honestly has little mechanical effect once the game gets going as most of the features are nothing more than plot hook or simple NPC reactions that the DM can hand out.
As for the farm boy who doesn't do something heroic, his defining event IS that he chose to take up the adventuring life. Obviously he had to do something in between those points since a commoner isn't likely to just have access to a thieve's kit, a full warrior kit of gear, a wizard's spellbook, or divine favor. Also just because our characters are level 1 with 0 XP (a pure metagame mechanic to measure progress) doesn't mean they've not had some battles, learned some spells, had some divine insight, or robbed some houses already. It just means they're past the "in training" phase and now ready to hone and build their skills and learn the advanced traits. A city guard (aka soldier background) is often at best a level 1 fighter in most circumstances (at least the "grunts") and one who decides to become an adventurer most likely wasn't a veteran guard before doing so. Backgrounds don't have to be recent and they likely aren't the full story of a character's background since they are generic and don't really cover how the character got their class skills, just generally what their lot in life was before they became an advenurer, and possibly before they even learned any of their class skills.
If you want the farm boy fresh off the farm who chooses to become a fighter you'd probably want houseruled 0-level adventurer and start them with a pitchfork (a trident with a -1 for not being meant to be a weapon), a staff, or a dagger (meat cleaver) with no armor (unless this farm boy came from uncommon commoner stock and had a family heirloom weapon and/or armor). By the nature of the skills a character starts with level 1 assumes some training and experience in their chosen class already.
There's no advantage to being a commoner. Being a commoner sucks. The only good thing is that you're not a serf.
But I'll take a crack at this anyway.
Commoner:
Blah blah flavor blah blah farming blah blah skills and tools you'll swap anyway.
Beneath Notice: A life where the attention of your social superiors was never a good thing has given you a talent for escaping notice. In a space with multiple people, as long as you put some effort at appearing to belong (dressing in the local style, not using obvious weapons or armor), you will be among the least likely present to be questioned by the authorities, stopped, or generally given any attention whatsoever.
Serf:
Blah blah flavor blah blah servitude blah blah skill and tools you'll swap anyway.
Bound to the Land: Your family has been bound to the land on which you live far beyond living memory. When within close proximity to your home, you never get lost, and your neighbors know you by sight. They will provide help and comfort when needed, and may have some personal loyalty due to close relation.
There is nothing wrong with being a Serf.
You get to wander around saying Cowabunga and Totally Tubular as well as being able to smoke your Hemp rope.
I really can not see any visible drawbacks.
Having to carry around the local landlord's son on a longboard when he wants to go "serfing" ain't exactly a picnic.
Shasarak wrote:
Arithezoo wrote:
I would like it if knowledge-based skills like herbalism and botany would be a major part of a specialized background. Perhaps these skills would be part of a "nature scholar" background.
Shasarak wrote:
Melwick wrote:
Grazel wrote:
CelticPaladin wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
The_Jester wrote:
Shasarak wrote:
Grazel wrote:
Not as cool as my Harlot Background, but the Stand By For Adventure blog made a Labour Background.
One background to rule them all and in the binder find it.
The_Jester wrote: