The next round of backgrounds! This time we have some modernized repeats from the PHB, but also some new ones. I'm particularly happy with the Creative and Dilettante who fill very modern niches.
The Creative isn't quite the guild artisan, which is important considering guilds aren't what they used to be. Instead the creative is a passionate artist in their purist form.
The Dilettante, on the other hand, is broader, more vague, and yet fills a role similar to a noble in their feature, which offers a mass of social clout and puts it at their disposal. Playing these four backgrounds would certainly, easily, differ in feel, and that's what I really wanted.
I especially like to imagine a party of those with different backgrounds: a creative and his criminal drug dealer; a charlatan and the dilettante he is trying to dupe, etc.
Charlatan
Conmen, hustlers, spies, and anyone else who makes their living tricking others are charlatans. Charlatans usually enjoy their scams and swindling, working pool tables, gambling, selling false insurance door to door, and other such plots. Are you a big-time conman or do you work small grifts? Do you work alone or with a group of other charlatans? Have you been caught before and are on the run? Whats the most common con you run?
Skill Proficiencies: Deception and Sleight of Hand
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise kit and forgery kit
Equipment: A set of professional clothes, a disguise kit, tools to run your con, $750.
Feature: False Identity
You have a false identity, including a complete set of clothes, driver’s license, passport, credit cards, everything you need to pass as this other persona including a different background, maybe even “friends” to back up your story.
Creative
Artists of all types who fan their creative spark into a career: illustrators, copywriters, cartoonists, graphic artists, novelists, magazine columnists, sculptors, game designers, screenwriters, photographers, and web designers all fall under this occupation. Creatives of all types use their artistic skills to make a living, even if the living isn’t much. Are you famous in your field or just starting? What kind of work do you do, commercial or more artistic? Do you freelance or work with a creative company?
Skill Proficiencies: Humanities and either Persuasion or Investigation
Tool Proficiencies: One set of artisans tools
Languages: One language of your choice
Equipment: A set of comfortable clothes, a set of artisan's tools, and $500.
Feature: Bohemian Solidarity
You can get help from other creative types to find free lodging (couch surfing) and employment in a new town. They will also help you in small ways especially if you are in similar fields.
Criminal
Anyone who earns money from being on the wrong side of the law is a criminal. This occupation includes burglars, drug dealers, thieves, crime family soldiers, gang members, bank robbers, and other career criminals. Criminals aren’t deterred by the prospect of jail and often display their power easily. Are you an obvious criminal related to a gang, or a are you a power broker in the shadows, laying low? Do you work as a criminal willingly or were you pressured into it? Do you have a record, is there a warrant out for you currently?
Skill Proficiencies: Intimidation and either Stealth or Deception
Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set and thieves’ tools
Equipment: A crowbar, a set of comfortable clothes, thieves’ tools, and $750
Feature: Criminal Contact
You have a contact that can relay messages for you to and from the criminal underworld and will give you the heads up on any important news.
Dilettante
Those who are wealthy from family holding and trust funds. They typically have no job, few responsibilities, and at least one driving passion that occupies his or her day. That might be a charity, an ideal, or a lust for life. Did you earn your money through one great idea or did you inherit it? What do you do with your time, are you a playboy or a philanthropist or do you stay out of the public eye all together, focusing on your own projects?
Skill Proficiencies: Current Events and Intimidate
Languages: Two languages of your choice
Equipment: A set of expensive clothes, an expensive trinket, and $1250
Feature: Privileged
You’ve known wealth for a while and it shows. Those who recognize your name will help you hoping for a reward or simply due to deference. Those of the same social class will be sympathetic to your cause and offer assistance to you, assuming you aren't on their bad side.
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