Dungeons & Dragons made backgrounds more important in the 2024 rules, and Forgotten Realms: Heroes of Faerûnfollows suit by adding a lot of new options. The new book contains 18 new backgrounds in total, with ten designated as regional backgrounds and eight as faction backgrounds.
These backgrounds tend to make a lot more sense if you’re playing a Forgotten Realms campaign, but the concepts could be tweaked a bit to fit into other settings. Either way, these make it possible to tap into new Origin feats and different combinations of proficiencies, expanding the possibilities in character creation.
Chondathan Freebooter
| Ability Scores | Strength, Dexterity, Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Feat | Skilled |
| Skill Proficiencies | Athletics and Sleight of Hand |
| Tool Proficiency | Weaver’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Dagger, Weaver’s Tools, Rope, Backpack, Ball Bearings, Basket, Bedroll, Bucket, Rations Rope, Signal Whistle, Traveler’s Clothes, 38 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Chondathan Freebooters fled the mandatory four years of military service to take to the seas. Appropriately, the ability scores are the same as the standard Sailor background, but other details of the subclass are different.
Dead Magic Dweller
| Ability Scores | Strength, Constitution, Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Feat | Healer |
| Skill Proficiencies | Medicine and Survival |
| Tool Proficiency | Leatherworker’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Greatclub, Leatherworker’s Tools, Bedroll, Blanket, Healer’s Kit, Pole, Rations, Tent, Tinderbox, Traveler’s Clothes, Waterskin, 32 GP or (B) 50 GP |
The Anauroch desert is a harsh place for everyone, but especially for spellcasters. Dead Magic Dwellers live there for that exact reason, seeking to avoid magic and the threats that might come with it.
Dragon Cultist
| Ability Scores | Dexterity, Constitution, Intelligence |
|---|---|
| Feat | Cult of the Dragon Initiate |
| Skill Proficiencies | Deception and Stealth |
| Tool Proficiency | Calligrapher’s Supplies |
| Equipment | (A) Calligrapher’s Supplies, Dagger, Glass Bottle, Lamp, Manacles, Oil, 2 Pouches, Robe, Rope, 30 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Initiates of the Cult of the Dragon are as determined as they are furtive, tracking with their ability scores and skill proficiencies in areas like Dexterity, Constitution, and Deception. They’re also interested in studies of arcana and occultism, as their supplies and Intelligence scores reflect.
Emerald Enclave Caretaker
| Ability Scores | Constitution, Intelligence, Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Feat | Emerald Enclave Fledgling |
| Skill Proficiencies | Nature and Survival |
| Tool Proficiency | Herbalism Kit |
| Equipment | (A) Shortbow, 20 Arrows, Herbalism Kit, Bedroll, Blanket, Pouch, Tent, Traveler’s Clothes, 13 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Emerald Enclave Caretakers learn the ways of the natural world, coexisting with flora and fauna in ways that might make a druid jealous. That doesn’t mean they can’t bite, however, and they’re perfectly happy to “rid the world of unnatural creatures.”
Flaming Fist Mercenary
| Ability Scores | Strength, Constitution, Charisma |
|---|---|
| Feat | Tough |
| Skill Proficiencies | Intimidation and Perception |
| Tool Proficiency | Smith’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Mace, Smith’s Tools, Fine Clothes, Manacles, Portable Ram, 4 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Flaming Fists maintain the law on the streets of Baldur’s Gate, a task that gives them plenty of endurance. That being said, they can be just as charismatic as they are tough, using intimidating words to keep the criminal element in line.
Genie Touched
| Ability Scores | Dexterity, Wisdom, Charisma |
|---|---|
| Feat | Magic Initiate |
| Skill Proficiencies | Perception and Persuasion |
| Tool Proficiency | Glassblower’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Light Hammer, Glassblower’s Tools, Fine Clothes, Lamp, Oil, Waterskin, 2 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Genie Touched makes the most sense for adventurers from Calimshan, who might have encountered genies in any manner of ways over the years. Following that encounter, the Genie Touched picked up on a bit of genie magic, giving them “a keen eye, a silver tongue, and more than a touch of magic.”
Harper
| Ability Scores | Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma |
|---|---|
| Feat | Harper Agent |
| Skill Proficiencies | Performance and Sleight of Hand |
| Tool Proficiency | Disguise Kit |
| Equipment | (A) Disguise Kit, Bedroll, Costume, Grappling Hook, Rope, Traveler’s Clothes, 14 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Harpers are united by a specific set of values, but they also share a set of skills. Harpers are good at working in subterfuge, but they do so with the intent of the common good, setting them apart from some backgrounds with similar strengths.
Ice Fisher
| Ability Scores | Strength, Dexterity, Constitution |
|---|---|
| Feat | Alert |
| Skill Proficiencies | Animal Handling and Athletics |
| Tool Proficiency | Woodcarver’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Woodcarver’s Tools, Basket, Block and Tackle, Bucket, Chain, Hunting Trap, Net, Pole, Rations, Rope, Traveler’s Clothes, 32 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Supplying food in Icewind Dale can be tricky, and Ice Fishers are consequently valued for their meaningful, if mundane, contributions. This hardy background contributes to endurance, but it also requires attentiveness and a good hand with animals.
Knight of the Gauntlet
| Ability Scores | Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom |
|---|---|
| Feat | Tyro of the Gauntlet |
| Skill Proficiencies | Athletics and Medicine |
| Tool Proficiency | Smith’s Tools |
| Equipment | (A) Spear, Smith’s Tools, Bullseye Lantern, Holy Symbol, Manacles, Oil, Tinderbox, Traveler’s Clothes, 9 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Knights of the Gauntlet are holy warriors with high ideals of justice and compassion. This background would make perfect sense for plenty of paladins, but it could also be applied to other classes in more creative ways.
Lords’ Alliance Vassal
| Ability Scores | Strength, Intelligence, Charisma |
|---|---|
| Feat | Lords’ Alliance Agent |
| Skill Proficiencies | Insight and Persuasion |
| Tool Proficiency | Calligrapher’s Supplies |
| Equipment | (A) 2 Javelins, Calligrapher’s Supplies, Fine Clothes, Ink, 5 Ink Pens, Parchment, 13 GP or (B) 50 GP |
Lords’ Alliance Vassals work along the Sword Coast in the service of lords’ houses. They need a diverse set of skills to do so, handling diplomatic communications as well as resolving situations with force when necessary.
