The new 2024 players’ handbook introduced a new way of looking at Dungeons and Dragons backgrounds. They are more important now. They provide a feat, equipment, and an attribute bonus that was previously attached to race/species.
While I think removing attribute bonuses from species and moving away from bio-essentialism is a good improvement, I think attaching it to the background was a mistake. It would have been better to follow Tasha’s changes and let it just be a floating element.
That said, there is some design space that could be pursued in the newly redesigned backgrounds. Given this is how we handle attribute bonuses and origin feats, they certainly should have more of them available. Luckily, they provide you with rules for creating your own. I went ahead and put together a few that I felt were missing from the initial set.
I also made a couple of settings-specific backgrounds. Backgrounds would be an excellent way to attach PCs to the setting and the story that you’re trying to tell. If you’re going to write a background to fit a particular setting, you should include some bits of story elements with the background at least.
When they publish some setting material for the world, then we may see them explore some setting specific backgrounds at that point. In this case, I made ones specific to Greyhawk.
Agent
Many nobles and powerful groups need to express their will in places they may not want to go personally. They often send professional representatives, people who possess the training to be their voice and their eyes. One part spy, one part ambassador, and an Agent must be prepared to handle their business like a professional.
Ability Scores: Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma
Feat: Skilled
Skill Proficiencies: Insight and Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher’s Tools
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Fine Clothes, Perfume, 29 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Healer
Every village has their local apothecary, wise one, or medicine worker. Even large cities will have their physicians or other individuals learned about the body and how to heal. Not every kind of healing is done by magic, and even those who do have magic find the knowledge for healing useful to their work.
Ability Scores: Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom
Feat: Healer
Skill Proficiencies: Medicine and Survival
Tool Proficiencies: Herbalism Kit
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Herbalism Kit, Bedroll, Book (anatomy), Lamp, Oil (3 flasks), Traveler’s Clothes, 17 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Investigator
Someone needs to solve the mystery. Someone is often needed to solve the murder, to find the thief, or to ferret out a plot. These are the people who are thief-takers, the royal inquisitors, and guardsmen given the job of determining who did what. In many ways, they are the mirror of those who commit the crimes.
Ability Scores: Dexterity, Intelligence, Wisdom
Feat: Skilled
Skill Proficiencies: Insight and Perception
Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ Tools
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) 2 Daggers, Thieves’ Tools, Crowbar, 2 Pouches, Traveler’s Clothes, 16 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Politician
Anytime there is a community, there are those who attempt to fill a leadership role. Some do it out of ambition, some do it out of a sense of duty. These can be mayors, parliamentarians, and council members.
Ability Scores: Strength, Wisdom, Charisma
Feat: Skilled
Skill Proficiencies: History and Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Choose one kind of Gaming Set
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Gaming Set (same as above), Fine Clothes, Perfume, 29 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Greyhawk specific backgrounds
Greyhawk is the first campaign setting for D&D. It definitely has a storied history but a lot of the people coming into it now have never really encountered it. Here are some Backgrounds with built in implied connections to what is going on in the world and the organizations in it. These backgrounds could also be seen as the source of a group patron.
The Order of the Chalice
The Order of the Chalice is an ancient order devoted to fighting the influence of friends in the world. Founded as a religious order around a silver chalice supposedly blessed by the god Heironeous. It has sponsored knightly orders but it has many members from various corners.
Ability Scores: Constitution, Wisdom, Charisma
Feat: Magic Initiate (Cleric)
Skill Proficiencies: Perception and Religion
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher’s Supplies
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (prayers), Holy Symbol, Parchment (10 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Order of the Hart
The Order of the Hart is an order of knights and other protectors of the nations of Furyondy, Veluna, and Highfolk. The Order of the Hart is devoted to opposition of Iuz and other threats to their nations. While the order has three divisions, one per nation, they are all sworn to protect the other nations.
Ability Scores: Strength, Constitution, Wisdom
Feat: Tough
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics and Nature
Tool Proficiencies: Choose one kind of Gaming Set
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Spear, Shortbow, 20 Arrows, Gaming Set (same as above), Healer’s Kit, Quiver, Traveler’s Clothes, 14 GP; or (B) 50 GP
Student at the University of Magical Arts
Students attending the University of Magical Arts are recruited from all around Flaness. They are referred for entry by senior wizards. Originally, this was only reserved for prospective apprentices to a wizard, but in recent years it has expanded to include any form of caster and even a few non casters that well known wizards have referred to the University. The University is sponsored by the Greyhawk Guild of Wizardry and they do recruit from the school for members and occasionally for agents to send out to do their work elsewhere.
Ability Scores: Wisdom, intelligence, Charisma
Feat: Skilled
Skill Proficiencies: History and Arcana
Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher’s Supplies
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Quarterstaff, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Book (history), Parchment (8 sheets), Robe, 8 GP; or (B) 50 GP
These are just a few examples, but they demonstrate the idea. We had setting-specific Backgrounds in Dragonlance, Eberron, and a number of other setting books. It will be interesting to see what they do with it going forward. Dragonlance and Strixhaven had them giving you magical abilities. Maybe they will introduce setting-specific origin feats….hmmm. I might have to dig into that.
