Variant Folk Hero: Vigilante
Whether you use an alternate persona or not, you take it upon yourself to bring wrongdoers to justice when the law overlooks them or takes too long to act. Vigilantes always have a complicated relationship with officials that uphold the law, and you are no exception. Consider purchasing costume clothes to complete your own vigilante aesthetic.
Variant Feature: Punisher
Criminals are aware of who you are, and unorganized ones might think twice about starting an altercation with you. At times, even the local law enforcement will look the other way or go so far as to assist you if you continue to do more good than harm for a given community.
Variant Hermit: Revivalist
You separated yourself from society in order to practice alternative sciences and perform experiments that some might find... discomforting. Your work has led to unique discoveries involving humanoid anatomy and health, and you use this knowledge to help anyone who is willing to find you.
Instead of including an herbalism kit in your starting equipment, it is recommended to take a healer's kit in order to reflect your time spent studying the line between life and death. You might also change your proficiency in Religion to History if your practice focuses on forgotten methodologies.
Variant Feature: Diagnostician
You can recognize common and uncommon diseases at a glance, and you know if someone is afflicted by something that only mimics a disease, such as a curse or parasite. Being able to cure these afflictions is a different matter entirely, as they might require the lesser restoration spell or a special concoction of rare ingredients. However, you still understand their symptoms and severity well enough to ease any suffering they cause as they run their course.
Seeker
You have an innate sense for opportunity, leading yourself or a group of loyal followers to places where resources, wealth, and danger are abundant. In the past, you've been called a diviner, a treasure hunter, a guide, and a misadventurer. Even with failures and mishaps, you still make use of your instincts to find the most amazing things in a world that is still full of unknowns.
This background is well-suited for an adventure utilizing the Reclamation setting archetype (currently a work in progress), though it is available for all settings.
- Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Perception
- Tool Proficiencies: Cartographer's tools, vehicles (land)
- Equipment: a set of cartographer's tools, a grappling hook, a lucky charm (such as a rabbit's foot or a double-sided coin), a set of traveler's clothes, and a pouch containing 10 gp
Feature: Call to Action
You have a knack for heading in the direction of adventure, which usually brings you face to face with danger. You stumble upon hidden dungeon entrances and portals to other planes as if they were common ponds and clearings. As a result, you can't become lost when heading towards places of interest outside of civilization. In addition, adventurous commoners are likely to want to join you on excursions.
Suggested Characteristics
Seekers serve as trailblazers and explorers for civilized societies. They are naturally reckless and charismatic, choosing any and all chances for excitement above formal parties or tavern performances. Some are funded by wealthy patrons while others rely on their own savings, but their ambitions are always more important than money.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 |
If there's a switch, button, lever, or the like, then I HAVE to be the one that uses it. |
| 2 |
I like to give a nice name to every interesting thing I see as I travel. For instance, there's this lovely willow tree near the coast, and I insist her name is Merriweather. |
| 3 |
I'm not too serious of a person, and it really upsets me when people can't take a joke. |
| 4 |
Some people call me a meddler, but I like to make everyone else's business my business. Secrets are one of the only interesting things about people! |
| 5 |
Nothing bothers me more than someone who doesn't understand the value of what they have. |
| 6 |
I like to stretch the truth for the sake of a good story. And, of course, to make myself as seem as cool as possible. |
| 7 |
Once I get going, I will ramble on and on about old legends until someone stops me. |
| 8 |
There's nothing I love more than a good mystery. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Ambition. There is no greater force for progress than personal ambition. If it comes at the expense of others, then so be it. (Evil) |
| 2 |
Greater Good. The things I find are meant to benefit everyone, whether they end up in a storefront or a museum. (Good) |
| 3 |
Change. The more things change, the longer I can keep doing what I'm doing. (Chaotic) |
| 4 |
Responsibility. I always bring the information and treasures I uncover to the relevant experts instead of relying on my knowledge alone. (Lawful) |
| 5 |
Knowledge. Knowing more about the world and its past is necessary for living in it. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Adventure. There is no better part of life than experiencing the unknown. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 |
I have devoted my life to locating an item or location that is commonly thought to be a myth. |
| 2 |
My benefactor insists that I change my behavior to better represent them. I have refused so far. |
| 3 |
I abandoned my child in order to continue my career. Sometimes I wonder how they're doing... |
| 4 |
There is another seeker who has been my rival for the last few years, and they always seem to be one step ahead of me. That will change, though. |
| 5 |
I truly believe that the greatest treasures I've happened upon are the friends I've had to leave behind in every settlement I've visited. |
| 6 |
My parents, who were both seekers, left me with an impressive legacy to uphold. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 |
I'm still haunted by the fact that I led multiple people to their untimely deaths. |
| 2 |
I am entirely positive that everyone I meet is willing to try to take my treasures from me. |
| 3 | I will kill to get something I want desperately. |
| 4 |
If I had to choose between saving a valuable treasure and my best friend, I would save the treasure with little hesitation. |
| 5 |
Nothing has ever made me as happy as my first adventure, and I've been chasing that feeling ever since. The more dangerous, the better. |
| 6 |
I often lie about an object's value in order to keep it for myself. |
Writer
You are a practiced writer who has gone through years of education to excel at sentence structure and vocabulary. You have been exposed to great written works that span genres from children's stories to great speeches, and learned much about the world's peoples and past as a result. Putting pen to paper is more than an occupation for you. It is the essence of your existence and your gift to the world.
- Skill Proficiencies: History, Persuasion
- Tool Proficiencies: Calligrapher's supplies, forgery kit
- Equipment: a set of fine clothes, a monocle or pair of reading glasses, calligrapher's supplies, a bottle of ink, an ink pen, five sheets of parchment, a few samples of your writing, and a pouch containing 5 gp
Writing Specialty
Every writer has a medium that they particularly excel at. Even so, many writers explore multiple types of writing during their lives. Choose the title that best defines you at this point in your career, or roll on the table below.
| d8 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Biographer |
| 2 | Fabulist |
| 3 | Journalist |
| 4 | Lyricist |
| d8 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 5 | Memoirist |
| 6 | Novelist |
| 7 | Playwright |
| 8 | Poet |
Feature: Personal Shorthand
You have the uncanny ability to write notes at incredible speed due to your personal form of shorthand. Unless you take the time to teach someone how to read your shorthand, you are the only person that can decipher what is written in this script. Additionally, you can read legible written script at twice the speed of an average person. This becomes very useful when doing research, of course.
Suggested Characteristics
Writers are analytical judges of character, and they always have the right words to express exactly how they feel. Some become emotionally intelligent friends, but others instead make enemies of almost everyone they meet. They will always need quiet time for writing and rumination.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I adore drama, and I actively try to start it. |
| 2 |
I often make references to stories that I myself have written whenever a comparable situation appears in real life. |
| 3 | I am easily bored by people who are not well read. |
| 4 |
I have been known to remove myself from social gatherings so that I can continue writing or reading in solitude. |
| 5 |
The things that hold my interest are always changing from week to week. |
| 6 |
I love to imagine romances between my friends and acquaintances, even if they show little to no attraction towards each other. |
| 7 |
I loudly show off my fame, as if everyone should already know who I am. I've found that this is rarely the case, however. |
| 8 |
I'll sometimes ask someone I've just met increasingly personal questions without realizing. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 |
Determination. When I see someone who is determined to reach their goals, I do everything I can to assist. After all, it could make for an interesting tale! (Good) |
| 2 |
Tragedy. True art comes from terrible pain, and I prefer observing it rather than feeling it. (Evil) |
| 3 | Civilization. The security and luxuries provided by modern living allow me to continue writing, and I would trade that for nothing. (Lawful) |
| 4 |
Freedom. My words will always reach the ears of the masses, even if the people in power attempt to silence them. (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Diversity. Everyone deserves to have their story told, regardless of race or status. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Comedy. All the world's a neverending story—one that will amuse and teach ad infinitum. (Any) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 |
I write members of my family into almost every one of my works. |
| 2 |
I aim to one day end the career, or the life, of a certain critic who insulted my work. |
| 3 |
I hope to meet my favorite author in the flesh, just so I can shake their hand. |
| 4 |
My instructor died while creating their magnum opus, and I still carry the unfinished work with me. |
| 5 |
It is up to me to record the history of my hometown. I must return there every few months to continue this duty. |
| 6 |
I make a point to teach children new words and phrases as I go about my travels. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 |
I would allow a comrade to suffer a preventable, horrible fate so that I could write it about later on. |
| 2 |
In the past, I've fallen to debauchery in a vain attempt to get my creative juices flowing again. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 3 | My satires have made me an enemy of the state. |
| 4 |
I am the main character of existence itself. My story is more important than anything. |
| 5 |
I point out people's character flaws as if they were simply characters in a story. |
| 6 |
Nobody can ever learn of my side business as a forger. |
Seeker
Credits
Original Homebrew Content by Acenm5.
Context: D&D 5th Edition by Wizards of the Coast, LLC.
Page 39 Art: Monk-Warrior Ean by Julian Tsependa.
Made using GM Binder.