Background Variant

This is an overhaul to the current background system of Dungeons & dragons 5th edition rule set. The goal of this overhaul is to give the background a bigger role when creating a character, This by applying some changes and adding new traits to each background.

One of the changes is that skill proficiencies you choose at first level are selected from a list on your by background instead of your class.

Another change is that the Intelligence ability score determines the amount of skill proficiencies a character gets. This change is made to make the Intelligence ability score more valuable option for other classes other than the Wizard. The current state of the Intelligence ability score provide little extras compared to other ability scores.

As an extra to make each background more unique a custom feature is added tot the traits. This feature can be a extra cantrip, maneuver, or something handy.

And finally each background will provide one ability score improvement, this to encourage builds between unconventional character race and class combinations. For example a Mountain Dwarf Wizard can pick the Sage background to achieve the Intelligence score of 16.

Ability Score Increase

Every background increases one of the character's ability score.

Saving Throw Proficiency

While your class determines your first Saving Throw Proficiency, your second Saving Throw Proficiency is determined by the Background you select.

Skill Proficiencies

Each Background provides a array of skill proficiencies for you to choose from for your character. The amount of skill proficiencies you know is determined by your Intelligence score. The background you choose gives one skill proficiency, and a list from which you must choose three + Intelligence modifier (with a minimum of two) skills proficiencies from a list provided in the background.

If your Intelligence modifier changes, your amount of skill proficiencies changes as well, this only applies to permanent changes to the Intelligence score, temporary changes from for example magical items do not change the amount of skill proficiencies. If you happen to gain the same skill proficiency from a different source, you can choose a different skill proficiency from the list in the background, this only applies to the skill proficiencies and not to other proficiencies such as tools and languages. In the case that the amount of skill proficiencies exceeds the provided list in the background you can choose a different skill proficiency from outside the list that suits your character build. Also you won’t gain an extra skill proficiency when multiclassing.

Background Proficiencies

These are other proficiencies your character will get from each background. These are tool proficiencies and languages, but can also provide for other interesting features such as Thieves' cant or Druidic.

Equipment or Starting Wealth

When creating your character you can choose to use the default items given by your class and background or choose to roll for your wealth to buy items. In previous ruling the amount of dice you needed to roll for your wealth was determined by class. In the new ruling it will be determined by background. This is done for realism, because with the old ruling some classed got the most starting wealth even if the got the poorest background while the monk only received a few gold while from the richest background.

Acolyte

You have spent your life in the service of a temple to a specific god or pantheon of gods.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Deception skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Insight, Performance, Perception, Persuasion, Intimidation, and Sleight of hand.
• Background Proficiencies. You are proficient in your choice of two of the following: disguise kit, forgery kit, one type of gaming set, or Thieves cant’ from the rogue class feature list.
• Fast Distraction. When you take the Attack action on your turn, you can replace one attack with an attempt to deceive one humanoid you can see within 30 feet of you that can see and hear you. Make a Deception check contested by the target's Insight. If your check succeeds, your movement doesn't provoke opportunity attacks from the target and your attack rolls against it have advantage; both benefits last until the end of your next turn or until you use this ability on a different target. If your check fails, the target can't be deceived by you in this way for 1 hour.
• Feature. You gain the False Identity feature on the charlatan background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A set of fine clothes, a disguise kit, tools of the con of your choice (ten stoppered bottles filled with colored liquid, a set of weighted dice, a deck of marked cards, or a signet ring of an imaginary duke), and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the charlatan background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Deception, Perception, Persuasion, Intimidation, Investigation, and Sleight of hand.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One type of gaming set (b) or Thieves cant’ from the rogue class feature list.
• (a) Thieves’ tools or (b) poisoner's kit.

• Hidden Weapon. You gain advantage on checks with Dexterity (Sleight of hand) to hide a weapon with the light property.
• Feature. You gain the Criminal Contact feature on the criminal background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the criminal background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Performance skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Acrobatics, Deception, History, Insight, Persuasion, & Sleight of hand.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One type of musical instrument.
• (a) Disguise kit or (b) one language of your choice.

• Fascinating Performance. While performing, you can try to distract one humanoid you can see. The humanoid must see and hear you. Make a Performance check contested by the humanoid's Insight check. If your check succeeds, you grab the humanoid's attention enough that it makes Perception and Investigation checks with disadvantage until you stop performing.
• Feature. You gain the by Popular Demand feature on the entertainer background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A musical instrument (one of your choice), the favor of an admirer (love letter, lock of hair, or trinket), a costume, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the entertainer background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom or Strength is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Animal handling, Athletics, Insight, Medicine, Perception, & Persuasion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One type of artisan’s tools or (b) one language of your choice.
• vehicles (land).

• Bonus Maneuver. You learn the Goading Attack maneuver on the Battle Master Archetype in the fighter class. You have one superiority die, which is a d4. These are required to be expended to use your maneuver. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more superiority dice the amount of superiority dice add up, and all dice will use the highest dice type. Feature. You gain the Rustic Hospitality feature on the folk hero background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a shovel, an iron pot, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the folk hero background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Acrobatics, Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, and Persuasion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) Disguise kit or (b) one language of your choice.
• Tridents, nets and two other weapons of your choice.

• Bonus Maneuver. You learn the Feinting Attack maneuver on the Battle Master Archetype in the fighter class. You have one superiority die, which is a d4. These are required to be expended to use your maneuver. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more superiority dice the amount of superiority dice add up, and all dice will use the highest dice type.
• Feature. You gain the by Popular Demand feature on the entertainer background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. Trident or net, the favor of an fan (fan letter, piece of clothing, or trinket), a costume, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the entertainer background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Insight skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Animal handling, Deception, History, Investigation, Persuasion, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of artisan's tools or (b) Navigator’s tools.

• Appraiser. Whenever you make a check to determine the value of an item or to bargain over a price, you are considered proficient in this check and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency. Feature. You gain the Guild Membership feature on the guild artisan background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A letter of introduction from your guild, a set of traveler’s clothes, a set of artisan’s tools of your choice, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the guild artisan background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Variant: Guild merchant

In case you want to pick the guild merchant background you take the guild artisan background with Charisma as your ability score increase instead of Wisdom, and as equipment a cart with a mule instead of a set of artisan’s tools.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence Saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Medicine skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Arcana, Animal handling, Insight, Nature, Perception, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One language of your choice or (b) you know druidic from the druid class feature list.
• (a) Herbalism kit or (b) poisoner's kit.

• Bonus Cantrip. You gain the druidcraft cantrip if you don’t already know it, wisdom is your spellcasting ability for it.
• Feature. You gain the Discovery feature on the hermit background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A scroll case stuffed full of notes from your studies or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, a herbalism kit, and 5gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 2d4 (5) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the hermit background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Athletics, History, Insight, Intimidation, Medicine, and Religion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of gaming set or (b) Vehicles (land).

• Bonus Maneuver. You learn the Rally maneuver on the Battle Master Archetype in the fighter class. You have one superiority die, which is a d4. These are required to be expended to use your maneuver. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more superiority dice: the amount of superiority dice add up, and all dice will use the highest dice type.
• Feature. You can choose between two features which are Position of Privilege, or Retainers. These features are on the noble background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A set of fine clothes, a banner, a document of knighthood, and a purse containing 25 gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 5d4 (13) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the nobel background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the History skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Arcana, Insight, Investigation, Persuasion, Religion, & Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of musical instrument or (b) one type of gaming set.

• Noble Intervention. After you and an ally made an attack roll, saving throw, or ability check at the same moment you can switch the dice so that you can use your ally’s roll and your ally uses yours. Once you used this ability you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
• Feature. You can choose between two features which are Position of Privilege, or Retainers. These features are on the noble background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A set of fine clothes, a signet ring, a scroll of pedigree, and a purse containing 25 gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 5d4 (13) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the nobel background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Animal handling, Athletics, Insight, Nature, Perception, and Stealth.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One language of your choice or (b) herbalism kit.
• (a) Navigator’s tools or (b) one type of artisan's tools.

• Fast Movement. Your speed increases by 5 feet while you aren't wearing Heavy Armor.
• Feature. You gain the Wardener feature on the outlander background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A staff, a hunting trap, a trophy from an animal you killed, a set of traveler’s clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 2d4 (5) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the outlander background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: History, Insight, Investigation, Medicine, Nature, and Religion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) Alchemist's supplies, (b) Calligrapher's supplies, or (c) one additional language of your choice.

• Bonus Cantrip. You gain the prestidigitation cantrip if you don’t already know it. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
• Feature. You gain the Researcher feature on the sage background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A bottle of black ink, a quill, a small knife, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you have not yet been able to answer, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the sage background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Perception skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Sleight of hand, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) Navigator’s tools, (b) carpenter’s tools or (c) one language of your choice.
• Vehicles (water).

• Naval Monkey. You have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition you can’t be put into a disadvantage on any checks that involve climbing or balancing.
• Feature. You gain the Ship’s Passage feature on the sailor background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A belaying pin (club), 50 feet of silk rope, a lucky charm such as a rabbit foot or a small stone with a hole in the center (or you may roll for a random trinket), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the sailor background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Variant: Pirate

In case you want to pick the pirate background you take the Sailor background but with proficiency in Charisma saves, and with the Bad Reputation feature. This feature is found on the sailor background in the Player's Handbook.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Strength is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Athletics skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Acrobatics, Animal handling, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, and Persuasion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One type of musical instrument(b) one type of gaming set or (c) one language of your choice.
• (a) Vehicles (land) or (b) one type of artisan's tools.

• Bonus Maneuver. You learn the Menacing Attack maneuver on the Battle Master Archetype in the fighter class. You have one superiority die, which is a d4. These are required to be expended to use your maneuver. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more superiority dice the amount of superiority dice add up, and all dice will use the highest dice type.
• Feature. You gain the Military Rank feature on the soldier background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. An insignia of rank, a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or deck of cards, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the soldier background in the Player's Handbook for your traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Deception skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Insight, Persuasion, Performance, Investigation, Sleight of hand, and Stealth.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One type of musical instrument (b) one type of gaming set or (c) thieves cant’ from the rogue class feature list.
• (a) Thieves’ tools or (b) a disguise kit.

• Imposter. You have an advantage on Deception and Performance checks when trying to pass yourself off as a different person.
• Feature. You can choose between two features which are: Criminal Contact feature on the criminal background, or False Identity feature on the charlatan background. These can be found in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A set of fine clothes, fake identification papers, one spy tool of your choice (boots with a hidden compartment, disappearing ink, a hollow coin container, or a letter remover that won't disturb seals), and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the criminal background in the Player's Handbook for your Traits and motivations.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Sleight of hand skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Deception, History, Intimidation, Animal handling, Religion, and Stealth.
• Background Proficiencies. You are proficient in your choice of two of the following: thieves’ tools, disguise kit, one type of gaming set, or thieves cant’ from the rogue class feature list.
• Pickpocket Expert. As a bonus action, you can make a Sleight of Hand check to plant something on someone else, conceal an object on a creature, lift a purse, or take something from a pocket.
• Feature. You gain the City Secrets feature on the urchin background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A small knife, a map of the city you grew up in, a pet mouse, a token to remember your parents by, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.
• Suggested Characteristics. Use the tables on the urchin background in the Player's Handbook for your Traits and motivations.

Ascetic

You made the decision to live an ascetic life. Leading such life asks a lot of discipline, but it was required for your fait. As an ascetic you had to make a vow which you must keep until a unspecified time.

Talk with your DM to figure out the specifics of your vow. What is your vow about? For how long do you need to keep it? What happens if you break it?

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Deception, Insight, Perception, Investigation, Stealth, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One type of gaming set or (b) one musical instrument.
• (a) Thieves’ tools or (b) a disguise kit.

• Bonus Maneuver. You learn the Precision Attack maneuver on the Battle Master Archetype in the fighter class. You have one superiority die, which is a d4. These are required to be expended to use your maneuver. You regain your expended superiority dice when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more superiority dice: the amount of superiority dice add up, and all dice will use the highest dice type.
• Equipment. A set of traveler's clothes, a container with three wanted posters, a hunting trap, a set of manacles, 50 feet of hempen rope, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 4d4 (10) x 10gp.

Feature: Ear to ground

You are in frequent contact with people in the segment of society that your chosen mark moves through. These people might be associated with the criminal underworld, the rough-and-tumble folk of the streets, or members of high society. This connection comes in the form of a contact in any city you visit, a person who provides information about the people, places and the political standings of the local area.

Suggested Characteristics

Use the tables for the criminal background below as the basis for your bounty hunter’s traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a bounty hunter. For instance, your bond might involve other bounty hunters or the organizations or individuals that employ you. Your ideal could be associated with your determination always to catch your quarry or your desire to maintain your reputation for being dependable.

Charms origin

What is the origin of your charm? How did you get it, or was it inherited? Roll on the table below to see where your charm originated from.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Arcana skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Nature, Persuasion, and Religion
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One exothic language of your choice.
• (a) One type of musical instrument (b) one type of gaming set.

• Blessing and a Curse. Whenever you roll a 1 on an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw, you can choose to roll on the Wild Magic Surge table on the Wild Magic sorcerous Origin in the sorcerer class.
• Equipment. A holy symbol used as a ward, five sticks of incense, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Charisma saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Arcana, Deception, History, Intimidation, Nature, and Religion.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of artisan's tools or (b) one additional language of your choice.

• Bonus Cantrip. You gain the thaumaturgy cantrip if you don’t already know it. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for it.
• Equipment. A symbol relating to membership in your cult, a book detailing your dark rituals, 5 candlesticks, dark hooded vestments (or others that relate to your cult), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.

Feature: Cult knowledge

As a cultist, you have a connection to places of worship, and the rituals used to summon extraplanar beings. You have advantage when making an Arcana or Religion check to uncover the origins or purpose of an object relating to Demons, Devils, or Aberrations. Talk to your DM if you wish to swap out one of these creature types for one that more closely resembles your cult's theme.

Suggested characteristics.

Use the tables for the Acolyte background in the Player's Handbook as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a Cultist. For example instead of worshiping gods your cultist can worship a specific fiend, aberration, or anything else that suits your cult’s theme. In addition you can come up with different reasons why you left your cult. For example you could be kicked out, or you became self conscious after a unforgiving event.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Intelligence saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Perception, Persuasion, Stealth.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of gaming set or (b) one additional language of your choice.

• Expert Searcher. You can perform the search action as bonus action.
• Equipment. An detective’s badge, a memento taken from a criminal I put away (a smoking pipe, a flask or tankard, or a pair of tinted glasses), a magnifying glass, a small pocketbook, an ink pen, thieves’ tools or a gaming set, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.

Feature: Elementary Knowledge

You know where to find people who know things, or people who know people who know things. When you enter a city, you know where to search for information about the happenings in the city. You also never forget the face of people you meet, as you may need them in other cases.

Suggested characteristics.

Detectives are very knowledgeable about many different subjects, and are good at learning information from anything available. However, this does make them somewhat nosy or manipulative, and sometimes pushes people away from them. To detectives, no mystery is too difficult, no challenge too dangerous to stop them from finding the truth, though what they do with the truth is up to them.

Field of study

To determine the nature of your training, choose from the options in the table below.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Investigation skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Athletics, History, Insight, Nature, Religion, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) Cartographer's tools, (b) navigator’s tools or (c) one additional language.

• Quick Consult. When you take the Help action to aid another creature's ability check, you can make a DC 13 Intelligence check. On a success, that creature's check gains a bonus equal to your proficiency bonus, as you share pertinent advice and examples. To receive this bonus, the creature must be able to understand what you're saying.
• Feature. You gain the Researcher feature on the sage background in the Player's Handbook.
• Equipment. A leather-bound diary, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, a set of traveler's clothes, one trinket of special significance, and a pouch containing 10 gp
• Starting Wealth. You start with 3d4 (8) x 10gp.

Suggested characteristics.

Use the tables for the Sage background in the Player's Handbook as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a Field researcher. For example, Instead of referring to libraries or other places of studies you might prefer to refer of places relevance of your studies.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Insight skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Acrobatics, Athletics, History, Perception, Religion and Stealth.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• One language of your choice.
• (a) One type of artisan's tools or (b) one additional language of your choice.

• Bonus Ki. You gain one ki point and know the Patient Defense in the monk class. The ki point act as fuel to use your feature and you regain your expended ki point when you finish a short or long rest. In the case that you gain more ki points you can add all these up.
• Equipment. A set of artisan's tools, Monastic symbol ( beads, a ring, or a necklace), a set of common clothes, and 5gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 2d4 (5) x 10gp.

Feature: Monastic Influence

While within the lands where the local monastery has influence, people will tend to be helpful and friendly to you and your party. Additionally merchants and locals tend to be more likely to share information. Gain advantage on persuasion or investigation checks to gather local information as long you maintain good standing with the local monastery.

Suggested characteristics.

Use the tables for the Acolyte background in the Player's Handbook as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a Monastic. For example instead of temples you lived in a monastery.

Traits

• Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution is increased with 1, you can’t increase an ability score above 20.
• Saving Throw Proficiency. You gain proficiency in the Strength saving throw.
• Skill Proficiencies. You gain proficiency in the Survival skill. Also you are proficient in your choice of three + Intelligence modifier (minimum of 2) of the following skills: Animal handling, Athletics, Intimidation, Nature, Perception, and Survival.
• Background Proficiencies. You gain the following proficiencies:

• (a) One language of your choice.
• (a) Navigator’s tools (b) herbalism kit, or (c) one type of artisan's tools.

• Expert Hiker. You won’t suffer from any penalties when traveling on a fast travel pace, additionally when traveling on a normal travel pace you are able to use stealth.
• Equipment. A symbol relating to membership in your cult, a book detailing your dark rituals, 5 candlesticks, dark hooded vestments (or others that relate to your cult), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 15gp.
• Starting Wealth. You start with 2d4 (5) x 10gp.

Feature: Wilderness knowledge

Choose one type of terrain: arctic, coast, desert, forest, grassland, mountain, swamp, or the Underdark. You know the secret patterns and flow when in your chosen terrain and can find passages or safe locations within the terrain that others would miss. When you are not in combat, you (and companions you lead) can travel across your chosen terrain twice as fast as your speed would normally allow.

Suggested characteristics.

Use the tables for the outlander background in the Player's Handbook as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity as a Nomad. As a Nomad you might carry around a rich culture from your community you traveled with, or might have a worldly view from your travels.