SRD & OGL backgrounds — character origins. Each entry links its source.
| Name | Skill Proficiencies | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Acolyte | Insight, Religion | 5e Core Rules |
| Artisan | Persuasion, and either Insight or History. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Charlatan | Deception, and either Culture, Insight, or Sleight of Hand. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Con Artist | Deception, Sleight of Hand | Open5e Original Content |
| Court Servant | History, Insight | Tome of Heroes |
| Crime Syndicate Member | Deception, plus your choice of one between Sleight of Hand or Stealth. | Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting |
| Criminal | Stealth, and either Deception or Intimidation. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Desert Runner | Perception, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Destined | History, Insight | Tome of Heroes |
| Diplomat | Insight, Persuasion | Tome of Heroes |
| Elemental Warden | Nature, plus your choice of one between Arcana or Survival. | Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting |
| Entertainer | Performance, and either Acrobatics, Culture, or Persuasion. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Exile | Survival, and either History or Performance. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Farmer | Nature, and either Animal Handling or Survival. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Fate-Touched | — | Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting |
| Folk Hero | Survival, and either Animal Handling or Nature. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Forest Dweller | Nature, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Former Adventurer | Perception, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Freebooter | Athletics, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Gambler | Deception, and either Insight or Sleight of Hand. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Gamekeeper | Animal Handling, Persuasion | Tome of Heroes |
| Guildmember | Two of your choice. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Hermit | Religion, and either Medicine or Survival. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Innkeeper | Insight plus one of your choice from among Intimidation or Persuasion | Tome of Heroes |
| Lyceum Student | Your choice of two from among Arcana, History, and Persuasion. | Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting |
| Marauder | Survival, and either Intimidation or Stealth. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Mercenary Company Scion | Athletics, History | Tome of Heroes |
| Mercenary Recruit | Athletics, Persuasion | Tome of Heroes |
| Monstrous Adoptee | Intimidation, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Mysterious Origins | Deception, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Northern Minstrel | Perception plus one of your choice from among History or Performance | Tome of Heroes |
| Occultist | Arcana, Religion | Tome of Heroes |
| Outlander | Survival, and either Athletics or Intimidation. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Parfumier | Nature, Investigation | Tome of Heroes |
| Recovered Cultist | Religion and Deception. | Critical Role: Tal’Dorei Campaign Setting |
| Sage | History, and either Arcana, Culture, Engineering, or Religion. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Sailor | Athletics, and either Acrobatics or Perception. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Scoundrel | Athletics, Sleight of Hand | Open5e Original Content |
| Sentry | Insight, Perception | Tome of Heroes |
| Trader | Persuasion, and either Culture, Deception, or Insight. | Level Up Advanced 5e |
| Trophy Hunter | Nature, Survival | Tome of Heroes |
| Urchin | Sleight of Hand, and either Deception or Stealth. | Level Up Advanced 5e |