# Variant Background Features

##### Alternative background features for Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition

\page # Variant Background Features In this document I will go over different options for backgrounds that I use in my games. These are primarily used to give some more identity to a character, blending crunch with flavour. Flavouring is all well and good, but tangible things that affect dice rolls and abilities will always help sell a character vision better. ## Backgrounds When choosing a **Background** for your character, you can use the options presented here instead of the normal offerings in the PHB. I haven't swapped around any of the given proficiences/languages, but personally I actively encourage players to use the skill/tool proficiencies for each background as a _guideline_, not a rule. For example, using the **Soldier** background for a character that was a detective-like town guard, I'd totally be happy with the player to swap the skill proficiencies to **Perception** and **Investigation** - makes way more sense than the given skills for their niche. I do make the caveat that they **shouldn't be a dick**. You may notice the previous example are two of the most-used skills in the game... I wouldn't hesitate to say no to someone trying to convince me an **Entertainer** should be proficient in **Perception** and **Investigation**. ## Background features I find background features to be criminally underused, or criminally pointless, and like them to have actual mechanical crunch. The features as written are (mostly) pointless. I think having a feature to give you something that honestly should just be a by-product of backstory seems stupid to me. **Shelter of the Faithful** should be a foregone conclusion, not something a player needs to point at on their character sheet and say "but my character sheet says they like me!!!". Below is my take on each of the background features in the PHB, which stick close to the given flavour of the background, but gives small mechanical benefits. As a balance, I tended to stick to something akin to a half-feat, but a little less powerful. You may recognise some of them as being directly lifted from a line or two of a feat. Each of these features replaces the feature provided in the PHB. ### Acolyte ##### Holy Plea Once per long rest, when an ally you can see within 30ft makes a death saving throw, you may use your reaction to add your proficiency bonus to their roll. ### Charlatan ##### Forgettable Face You have advantage on Charisma (Deception) and Chari⁠sma (Performance) checks when trying to pass yourself off as a different person. ### Criminal ##### Shadowy Presence You learn Thieves' Cant.

Additionally, when you and at least two allies make a group Dexterity (Stealth) check, you may add your proficiency bonus to one of your ally's rolls. ### Entertainer ##### By Popular Demand With one hour of work, you can spend your free time performing in a suitable location and earn Silver Coins equal to 10 x the result of your Charisma (Performance) check. ### Folk Hero ##### Inspiring Presence Once per long rest, when an ally that can hear or see you within 30ft starts their turn, you can use your reaction to give that creature a number of temporary hit points equal to your proficiency bonus + your charisma modifier. ### Guild Artisan ##### Practiced Hand You gain Expertise in the Artisan's tool proficiency you choose when you take this background ### Guild Merchant ##### Gilded Tongue When selling loot, you can negotiate better prices. Whenever you sell trade goods (such as the art objects and gemstones found in Chapter 7 of the **Dungeon Master's Guide)**, you earn 5% more gold. ### Hermit ##### Primordial Secrets You learn one of the following cantrips: _Shape Water_, _Mending_, _Druidcraft_ or _Control Flames_. Additionally, when you long rest in the wilderness, you may perform an hour of light activity to conceal your campsite. To locate your camp, a creature must succeed on a Wisdom (Perception) check. The DC for this check equals 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Wisdom modifier.

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### Knight ##### The B Team You have the service of two retainers loyal to your family. These retainers can be attendants or messengers. Your retainers are commoners who can perform mundane tasks for you, but will not fight for you, will not follow you into obviously dangerous areas (such as dungeons), and will leave if they are frequently endangered or abused. You also gain the service of a loyal squire. Choose either a Bandit, Acolyte, Apprentice Wizard or Guard for their stat block. This squire is an NPC under the DM's control, and is eager to help you and learn from you. If given enough exposure to the adventuring life, this retainer may gain a level in the sidekick class. If you lose your Squire, you may enlist a new one at the DM's discretion.

**Note:** this one is dumb but I love it. When determining encounter balance for a player with a squire that has Sidekick levels, use the balancing rules listed in **Tasha's Cauldron of Everything**. If they do not have sidekick levels, increase the encounter budget by the XP listed in Bandit, Guard, Acolyte or Apprentice Wizard stat block. Also, stress to the player that the Squire is a valid target in combat, and to weigh up the pros and cons of bringing them to dangerous situations. ### Noble ##### Life of Luxury When resting in comfortable locations (such as a 'nice' tavern or a home), you gain twice the temporary hit points that you would normally.

##### Huh? Temp HP from resting? I've always run with this rule, and I don't know where it came from. I only recently found out it wasn't an official rule. Basically, if the party rests somewhere comfortable, they gain 1d6 temporary hit points at the start of the day. A nice feathered bed will make the next day of adventuring much easier.

### Outlander This background retains its original feature. I think it's good, it's flavorful, and has an impact. However, if you use the **Foraging** mechanics from the DMG, I would suggest changing the feature to instead allow the character to find _twice_ the normal food and fresh water they normally would, rather than automatically. ### Pirate This background retains its original feature, with the addition that it extends to any party members who are with you when you commit the crime. ``` ``` ### Sage ##### Triolingo You can read three additional languages, but not speak them (given enough time, and maybe a teacher, you can practice with these languages enough to speak them). ### Sailor ##### Salty Sea Dog Climbing and swimming does not cost you extra movement. ### Soldier ##### Drill Training You learn one Maneuver of your choice from among those available to the Battle Master archetype in the Fighter Class. If a maneuver you use requires your target to make a saving throw to resist the maneuver’s Effects, the saving throw DC equals 8 + your Proficiency Bonus + your Strength or Dexterity modifier (your choice). You gain one superiority die, which is a d4. This die is added to any superiority dice you gain from another source, and changes size to match the largest available to you. This die is used to fuel your Maneuver. A superiority die is expended when you use it. You regain your expended superiority die when you finish a short or long rest. ### Spy ##### Coded Messages You can ably create written ciphers. Others can’t decipher a code you create unless you teach them, they succeed on an Intelligence check (DC equal to your Intel⁠ligence score + your proficiency bonus), or they use magic to decipher it. ### Urchin ##### Blend into the Background You can try to hide when you are lightly obscured from the creature from which you are Hiding.

\page ## Credits DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, Ravenloft, Eberron, the dragon ampersand, and all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. This is an unoffical Fan Content under the Fan Content policy. Not approved / endorsed by Wizards. Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC

**Designed by:** u/TheMootking
**Written by:** u/TheMootking
**Edited by:** u/TheMootking

**Created using the Homebrewery:** https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/

**Art Credits:**

**Watercolor stains:** Jared Ondricek
Website: https://watercolors.giantsoup.com/index.html
**Hermit of the Natterknolls MtG Art:** Dan Scott
**Shadowmage Infiltrator MtG Art:** Tomasz Jedruszek

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