Species-Upbringing 5e Character Creation

Update: This page is obsolete; use the newer version.

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This is a method of quickly generating characters that you 'step into', and then figure out how that person would choose to train themselves. The existing 5e 'races' are split into Species and Upbringings that can be rolled together in any combination. A character's Species gives them only the traits that they were born with, and their Upbringing is the social environment they grew up in, which gives them culturally learned traits.

Most of this page is the information for the various selections. Clicking links will take you to the appropriate heading. Use your browser's Back button (the left arrow on the bottom row of mobile phones) to return you to where you were before.

DMs should read the DM Notes section for a discussion of how to use the system and what options they should consider for their table.

Player Instructions

Your DM will tell you which options are chosen for your group. It is helpful to read through all of the instructions for an overview of the process before you start to click on things or roll dice.

Step 1: Roll for Species, Upbringing, and Background

Roll a random species on this table. Your DM will tell you whether to use a d12 or a d20. Write the result on a note card. Click on the hyperlink to go to that species' description, roll an Upbringing from its list, write it on the card, click on its link, roll a Background, write it down, and then click your browser's Back button twice to return to these instructions.

1: Dragonborn
2-3: Dwarf
4-5: Elf
6: Gnome
7-8: Halfling
9: Tiefling
10-13: Human
14-15: Hybrid
16+: Uncommon (or Setting Specific):

Uncommon Species Table

Roll d10:
1: Bugbear
2: Centaur
3: Changeling
4: Goblin
5: Hobgoblin
6: Kobold
7: Lizardfolk
8: Orc
9: Warforged
10: Yuan-ti

Step 2: Roll for Stats and Stat Swaps

For each stat (Str, Dex, Con, Int, Wis, Cha), in order, roll 3d6 and write down all three individual die results on the note card. There will be eighteen written numbers, three for each stat.

Each species, upbringing, and background has three "stat swaps" to replace low written numbers. For example, Elves have: Str swap d6, Dex swap d8, and Con swap d4. Elf characters will roll a d6, and then replace the lowest written Strength number with the new die roll if the written number is lower. Then they roll a d8 and (probably) replace the lowest written Dex number. The d4 Con swap will probably not change things, but it might replace a low number.

Roll your nine stat swaps now and make replacements. (Use the browser's Forward button to quickly return to your Species and Upbringing entry.) However, do not make any choices or roll any stat swaps that would be the result of a choice.

Optional Step 3: Drafting

Your DM may have your table draft characters. If they do, follow the instructions here. If they do not, skip to the next step.

Put your note card in the middle of the table. Tell everyone the species, upbringing and background. Mention the two best stats and what they are, and if any stats are below 10.

In an order chosen by the DM, players take turns picking any one of the character note cards. The DM will usually give the newest player first pick, and then go down to those with the most experience.

Step 4: Make Choices and Create Character Sheet

New players: Add up the three numbers on each stat on your card to get the total value. Look at your highest stat, other than Constitution, and the list of classes on page 45 of the Player's Handbook. Choose one of the classes with a Primary Ability matching the high stat. Read that class's description, and then, with that in mind, make the choices that your upbringing (and possibly the species) calls for. Roll any stat swaps that are the result of these choices. If your group did not draft, then once all the swaps are rolled, if your Primary Ability is 15 or less, decrease some other stat by 1 and increase the primary ability by 1 until it is 16.

Then, go to the Basic Rules document. Read the Introduction to learn the basics of the game and some key terms. Then, go to Chapter 1. Skip '1. Choose a Race'. Instead, add the racial features listed on this page to your character sheet. Follow the instructions in '2. Choose a Class' for the class that you chose. If the class is not in the basic rules document, you can find its features on D&D Beyond. Skip everything in the '3. Determine Ability Scores' section, except the fifth paragraph that describes ability modifiers. Add your ability scores and modifiers to your character sheet. 

Then follow all of the instructions in the rest of the chapter, starting with '4. Describe Your Character'. After adding the proficiencies and features of your background, write down all of the proficiency and saving throw bonuses on your character sheet now. If you character has any damage-dealing cantrips, add them to the 'Attacks' section of your character sheet along with the weapon attacks.

Experienced players: Think about which class or classes the stats and upbringing would be good for. If you have options, consider party composition and what roles the other characters may not be able to fill. If you have the option of choosing between different stat swaps, choose and roll them now. Then, choose a class and make the other choices. You can make choices and apply abilities in any order. (Unlike new players, you do not get to increase your primary ability by lowering other stats.)

All Players: Once all choices are made, copy the final stat totals to a character sheet, and copy down all of the abilities in your species, upbringing, background (look in the PHB for details of backgrounds), and class. Most characters get a choice of language from their Upbringing, and will usually choose one that matches the traditional language of their species. Write down a reminder of the Cultural Immersion trait that matches your Upbringing. If you don't have one of the twelve standard Upbringings, instead write down a Cultural Immersion reminder for your Background. Your DM will tell you when it applies and what it does.

Do anything else your DM says. During this process, think about your character's story and life history. Usually the culturally learned Upbringing abilities were learned in your childhood and the Background describes your early adulthood, but sometimes the narrative will make more sense if the background happened to you before the abilities you gained from the upbringing, or at the same time.

Tables

Use these tables only if you rolled the 'Other' option on something:

Other Upbringing

Your DM will tell you whether to roll d12 or d20 on this table:
1: Bright Burrows
2: City Spire
3: Fae Forest
4: Feudal Farmland
5: Frontier Freehold
6: Galloping Nomad
7: Mining Holdfast
8: Mystic Cavern
9: Outcast
10: Red Ochre
11: Wandering Wagon
12: Wayside Warren
13-14: Multicultural
15: Animal
16: Child Soldier
17: Fell From Heaven
18: Magemarked
19: Vampire
20: Werewolf

Other Background

1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Charlatan - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
4: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
5: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
6: Gladiator - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
7: Guild Artisan - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
8: Guild Merchant - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
9: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
10: Knight - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
11: Noble - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
12: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
13: Pirate - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
14: Sage - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
15: Sailor - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
16: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
17: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
18: Urchin - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Wis
19-20: Roll twice on this table, rerolling duplicates. Do not take any stat swaps except for a single d4 Con swap, but take all other abilities of both backgrounds including all money and starting equipment.

DM Notes

First, read the Player Instructions for an overview and to see how the process works. Try rolling up a couple of characters.

The randomization sets a tone of realism and working with what you've got. It is meant for campaigns where the party is a group of random people making their way through the world as they see fit, not one where the party is a chosen set of archetypal heroes who will save the world. It will usually roll up familiar archetypes, but will sometimes make something more random. A party created by using this system should have two or three familiar characters, a couple oddballs, and maybe something really strange.

New players don't have to learn or choose from a list of options, or think about how to assign stats. They can quickly jump into the action with a random character that will, usually, be well-balanced. Players that always play standard archetypes or optimized 'net build' characters are pushed to play more individual and unique characters.

If you have a group of story-based gamers who have interesting character concepts that the current system does not support, and who can be trusted not to optimize for power, then everyone can just pick a species and upbringing and then roll up the stats. Go to the Flexible Choice section for more.

Rolling Options

For a core-rules-only game to introduce new players to the basics and keep things simple, have players roll d12 on the species and upbringing tables. To generate a party with hybrids, monster species, and multicultural or unusual characters, have them roll a d20. Several of the 13-20 upbringings move further from the base rules and are more likely to be unbalanced.

Drafting or Not

You can choose whether or not to draft after everyone has rolled up their characters. Ask everyone if they think they would enjoy playing the character they just rolled. If they all say yes, and if none of the characters are too weak or too powerful, don't draft. Drafting is mainly meant to prevent less experienced players from getting stuck with characters they don't like and don't know what to do with.

The problem with random stat rolls is that some characters can end up significantly weaker than others. Rolling for each stat in order, rather than allowing them to be assigned, mitigates this somewhat, because the high rolls might be in weird combinations, but does not eliminate the problem.

Running a game with players of mixed experience or skill can be difficult. The more skilled players will optimize their characters, leaving the newer players with less powerful characters that can feel unimportant.

Drafting random characters can mitigate these problems somewhat, by canceling them out. The players who are newer or less skilled at optimizing can get first pick of the randomly created characters, (usually) giving them a more powerful one.

With player input, decide who has the most experience playing the game, and/or who has the most ability and desire to optimize their character to be powerful. Rank the players from least to most optimizing. Encourage power gamers to see picking last as a point of pride. Starting with the newest and/or least powergamer player, players take turns picking any one of the characters.

Ideally everyone in the draft learns something and experiences something new. New players are introduced to the world and the game system through their character. If they care about playing a particular type of character, such as a fighter or wizard, the veterans can point them to whichever of the generated characters would be best for that. If they mainly want to learn about the game, or feel powerful or useful or important, they can just ask the DM which one is best and ask what class it should be. Players with some experience are pushed out of their comfort zone, and encouraged to learn more about the system by playing characters they otherwise would not. Veterans are presented with a (hopefully) fun optimization problem as they use their skills to figure out how to make a weak character as useful as the stronger ones.

When drafting, the DM can also make a character and add it to the mix. The DM then takes whatever character was not chosen, and uses it to build an NPC that hangs out with the party, one that, while (probably) weaker than all the rest, is a useful assistant and a voice of common sense. (The method of a weak NPC guide/assistant is a very helpful way of conveying information about the world in a fun and flavorful way that does not disrupt the narrative.)

The downside of drafting is that it adds complexity, and players often become attached to the characters that they are rolling up and might be disappointed if they are taken away. And it may not be necessary. I intended the stat swap mechanic to push the scores more towards an average, and it usually does this even more than I thought, such that it is rare for any characters to have junk stats. Often every stat of every character is in the 11-15 range and it isn't clear which if any character is most powerful.

Flexible Choice Option

If a player wants to play a particular species, or a traditional species-upbringing combo that matches one of the subraces in the PHB, you can let them. They simply choose the species or subrace instead of rolling at random, and then follow all of the other instructions as normal.

For anything else, proceed with caution. This is only meant for players who will not look for powerful combos, either players who don't know the game well enough to optimize, or people you trust to focus on narrative. If you are at all worried that someone will look over all the options and game the system, don't do it. The Species and Upbringings should be mostly balanced, but free choice is not munchkin-proof, and some combinations will be better than others. It would take a lot of work and playtesting to make them all equal and not allow powerful combos, and this would push them further away from their current form. If a player wants a Hybrid or Multicultural character, the two should be rolled at random. If they are playing a Human, they can choose the result on the Broad-Spectrum Ancestry table, but if they choose an Unusual Ancestor, the species should be rolled at random.

In this method, players first look over the list of upbringings. All of the 12 standard ones will be somewhat familiar to experienced players, because they are all a modification of existing races or subraces. The others are meant to match fantasy tropes that make fun characters. If you want a more normal game, you can disallow these. You can also tell them not to use any options that would be a bad fit for your world or the game you plan on running.

Everyone then replaces Step 1 by choosing a Species, Upbringing, Background, and Class that matches their character concept.

In Step 2, players do not roll the d4 swaps listed for the Backgrounds. Instead, they roll a d8 swap in the class's primary ability (listed on page 45 of the PHB, if two are listed they can choose). This cannot increase the score above 20, and if the score is 13 or less, decrease some other stat by 1 and reroll. (Repeat if necessary. If after three rolls, the stat is still 13 or less, set it to 14.)

Character Death

A potential problem with any system of random stat rolls is that players might have an incentive to get their character killed in hopes of rolling up a stronger one. This can be controlled by making the new character lower in level than the rest of the party. All replacement characters should be at least a level lower, and stronger characters get a larger penalty. As a quick rule of thumb, look at the average of the stats of the old and new character, and penalize the new character an additional level for each unit difference in average stats.

If the death was not the player's fault and they were playing it well, let them randomly generate two characters and choose one, without any level penalty for more powerful characters. If necessary, the DM can take the other one and assign it a role similar to what the dead character filled.

Languages

Even though all learned skills come from upbringings, languages are still named after species for historical reasons. In the past, linguistic-cultural patterns were more closely tied to species than they are now, and the names of languages have remained.

Sometimes people will learn to read and write a language they do not speak, because they only interact with it via written works. Others will speak languages while being illiterate in them. If a character is from such an upbringing and learns another language, they may choose to fully learn a language they partially know, and then become literate-only or conversational-only in a new language.

Cultural Immersion

This rule is optional, but highly encouraged. You can tell players in vague terms that they are better at interacting with people and things that are familiar to them, or you can give them the full rules:

*You have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation, Performance, and Persuasion) checks when interacting with people who share your upbringing, and on Wisdom (Insight) checks on someone like you who is not trying to deceive you. (Deception and Insight cancel out; they know how to lie better, but you know how to see though them.)
*You have advantage on all Wisdom and Intelligence checks on facts or products associated with your upbringing, including Animal Handling checks for animals like the ones you grew up with.
*You have advantage on all checks related to downtime activities performed in areas with many people who share your upbringing.
*When you are not in areas with many people who share your upbringing, you must make either an Intelligence (History), Wisdom (Insight), or Charisma (Persuasion) check to take advantage of your Background feature, instead of it happening automatically. The DC for this check is 10 to 15, based on the cultural distance as determined by the DM.

By default, Cultural Immersion benefits work wherever there are people who grew up with a similar upbringing, because it is based on thinking and acting a certain way, not because of a character's history in any particular place. It is assumed that the party is traveling around a lot, interacting briefly with many people. You will have to translate places in your world or the module into the equivalent culture, but it should be pretty obvious. A halfling village or a gnome’s workshop in a city would be Bright Burrows, dwarf mining operations are Mountain Holdfast, most farming villages are Feudal Farmland, etc.

In a game where the party is not moving around very much, make adjustments so players don’t feel left out. Match the upbringing to the social class or type of people. For example, if your entire campaign takes place in a big city, then a seedy tavern could be counted as Frontier Freehold or even Red Ochre, the kitchen in a palace or restaurant could be Feudal Farmland, and the shopkeepers or entertainers on the streets could be Wandering Wagon.

If your campaign is heavily focused on roleplaying and intrigue, you may want to limit it somewhat, for example to places and NPCs that with a character’s species-upbringing combination.

People with an unusual upbringing are less likely to interact with people who share their upbringing, but they often form close bonds to those of their background, so a Werewolf Soldier would benefit from Cultural Immersion when interacting with any veteran or military encampment or equipment. The background feature of such characters almost always works.

For story-based groups, you might allow and encourage players tell a story about what kinds of things they did and who they became close to in the character’s past, and make adjustments to their Cultural Immersion based on that.

Game Balance and Continuity Notes

There is a chance that characters created with this system are unusually powerful, but most of them will be weaker than an optimized build with point buy. To compensate for this, and to give players a bit of choice in character creation, the upbringings are a little more powerful and flexible than the subraces they replace.

Even though it may not be possible to exactly replicate some subraces, I tried to keep things as familiar as possible, and when an ability is lost, it is balanced by gaining something else.

Edge Cases

If you are a Hybrid and one of the parent species is Human, roll Broad-Spectrum Ancestry as normal and use that as the parent species. A character could, for example, be a dwarf/half-orc or an elf/half-elf.

If Dwarf is rolled as a hybrid parent or an unusual ancestor, you must use the abilities of a normal dwarf and not a fae dwarf.

If you roll Dragonborn as a Human's Unusual Ancestor, you must choose Draconic Ancestry as one of the three abilities before choosing any of the other Dragonborn abilities.

If you are a Kobold and have one of the unusual upbringings that gives the features of an extra class level, then if you choose Shenanigans you must pick a third class. If you were a Child Soldier, you must meet the prerequisites for multiclassing in all three classes.

Math Appendix

The standard method of generating stats is 4d6 drop lowest, which is the same as a swap d6 in my system. Each of these swaps adds 1.7 to the stat on average, compared to simply rolling 3d6.

1) Swap 2d4 is 0.3 worse on average than a swap d6, but lowers the probability of very low scores.
2) Adding an extra d4 after a d6 swap increases the average by 0.5
3) Given 1 and 2, Three d6 swaps is the same as 2d4, 2d4 and d6+d4
4) Given 3, handing out swaps of: d6 d6 d6 2d4 2d4 d6+d4 is the same stat boost as the default system.
5) If d6 and 2d4 is replaced with d6+d4 and d4, then it is a +0.5 and a -0.5, which balances.
6) I can get the same average power level by giving each species and upbringing two d6 swaps and a d4 swap, and making all the background swaps a d4.

Every species has a swap for all three physical stats, every upbringing has a swap for all three mental stats, and every background has a d4 swap for Con and each stat associated with the skills it provides. My method is somewhat weaker in that the scores are random rather than chosen, but stronger in that there is a lower probability of very bad scores.

After going through the process, you will have accumulated enough swaps to match the average power of a '4d6, drop lowest' roll, although they will be assigned in a way that ties them to abilities and flavor.

All species and upbringing modifiers to stats are handled via these stat swaps. Replacing a d6 stat swap with a d8, or adding an additional d6 swap, gives a +1 to the average roll. Adding an additional d8 swap gives a +2 to the average.

Species List

Use the PHB for the full description of abilities. Often I only list a title. I am trying to keep all species about the same power, by shuffling abilities between the species and upbringing as necessary, but there will be some unavoidable variation.

Dragonborn

Str swap d6
Dex swap d4
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Frontier Freehold
2: Mining Holdfast
3-4: Outcast
5: Red Ochre
6: Other

Size. Dragonborn are taller and heavier than humans, standing well over 6 feet tall and averaging almost 250 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Draconic Ancestry
*Breath Weapon

Dwarf

Old tales speak of dwarves being born from stone, and living in communal enclaves of seven 'men'. If you would like to be such a character, you may choose to be a Fae Dwarf instead of a regular dwarf.

Str swap d8
Dex swap d4
Con swap d8

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1-2: Frontier Freehold (hill dwarf)
3-4: Mining Holdfast (mountain dwarf)
5: Mystic Cavern (duergar)
6: Other

Size. Dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Dwarven Constitution: Choose Con swap d6, or your Con score increases by 1
*Stoutness: Your speed is not reduced by wearing armor

Fae Dwarf

Str swap d6
Dex swap d4
Con swap d8

Roll d4 for Upbringing:
1: Bright Burrows
2: Frontier Freehold
3: Wandering Wagon
4: Other

Size: Fae dwarves stand between 4 and 5 feet tall and average about 120 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 ft

*Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.

*Seven Genders: Fae dwarves are one of seven genders, listed below. The appropriate pronoun for a dwarf of indeterminate gender is 'thon', and the proper pronoun for a known dwarf is their gender name, but they usually present as male they are rarely offended by the use of male pronouns.

Fae Dwarves reproduce with a ritual in which a dwarf of each of the seven genders works together to create a statue of a dwarf from rock, gems, and/or metal while singing and playing sacred hymns. The ritual takes all seven dwarves working for eight hours a day, for at least a year and a day, although usually it takes several years, as the ritual is combined with mining and crafting and maintaining the household. When the ritual is complete, the dwarf god Moradin takes a dwarf soul from a jeweled vault in heaven, combines it with knowledge and memories from all seven parents, and places it in the statue. The new dwarf comes alive fully adult, and soon thereafter leaves the house to make thons way in the world. No matter what their life experiences, a family with all seven genders will have all the skills needed to run a household and reproduce.

Single fae dwarves, like those of most species, are usually working to acquire the resources and connections to form a household. They seek a suitable homestead with access to appropriate minerals, and when they claim it, they invite suitable partners to join them. Sometimes a large mine or fortress will support multiple households working together, but usually families must seek new homesteads. As with other species, there is a strong 'incest' taboo, because reproducing with someone whose lineage is too similar risks causing mental problems.

Almost all fae dwarves are biologically male, and can reproduce in the biological way, although this is considered dishonorable and a mark of failure. Such offspring are either halflings or 'standard' dwarves, depending on the mother's species. Fae dwarves claim that the dwarves familiar to most people are the descendants of dwarves born in this way. Fae dwarves sometimes try to recruit partners from 'standard' dwarves, although this is difficult because such dwarves do not have any ancestral memories of the reproduction ritual and must be taught it by a fae dwarf of the gender they are to perform.

The ancestral memories of fae dwarves are somewhere between personal memories and family stories. Fae dwarves that do not wish to draw attention to how different they are will often discuss these memories as though they were things they learned from their elders, as in "I remember my tink's doc telling me about this." The fae dwarven mind, like all others, has a limited capacity, which means that with each generation, many memories lose details or are forgotten entirely. Every time a dwarf has life experiences of thons own, some ancestral memories fade away. Memories from the most recent generations are prioritized, with older memories slipping into something that resembles a hazy myth. Relatively few dwarves still have memories of creation or of the earliest generations, and those often disagree with each other.

Roll d8 for gender (see the Dwarf entry for descriptions of Stoutness and Darkvision):
1: Chop - Str swap d6, proficiency with battleaxe, handaxe, carpenter's tools, woodcarver's tools, and horn. Stoutness.
2: Tink - Dex swap d6, proficiency with dagger, rapier, hand crossbow, tinker's tools, jeweler's tools, and flute. Darkvision 60 ft.
3: Forge - Con swap d6, proficiency with light hammer, warhammer, smith's tools, and drum. Stoutness.
4: Delve - Con swap d6, proficiency with war pick, mason's tools, potter's tools, and bagpipes. Stoutness and Darkvision 60 ft.
5: Calc - Int swap d6, proficiency with light crossbow, heavy crossbow, alchemist's supplies, cartographer's tools, glassblower's tools, navigator's tools, and dulcimer. Darkvision 60 ft.
6: Doc - Wis swap d6, proficiency with dart, blowgun, brewer's supplies, cook's utensils, herbalism kit, poisoner's kit, and lute. Stoutness.
7: Glam - Cha swap d6, proficiency with warhammer, handaxe, cobbler's tools, leatherworker's tools, weaver's tools, and lyre. Darkvision 60 ft.
8: Multigendered - Roll twice on this table. For each gender you roll that you haven't already rolled, take all of its abilities and your Dexterity score decreases by 1, to a minimum of 3. When forming a family, you can choose to fill any gender role you've rolled.

You can decide if the upbringing, background, and class of your Fae Dwarf character comes from the skills inherited from thons parents, or if they come from the experiences thon had in the world after leaving home.

Elf

Str swap d6
Dex swap d8
Con swap d4

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1-2: City Spire (high elf)
3-4: Fae Forest (wood elf)
5: Mystic Cavern (drow)
6: Other

Size. Elves range from under 5 to over 6 feet tall and have slender builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Elven Dexterity. Choose Dex swap d6, or your Dex score increases by 1.
*Fey Ancestry. You have advantage on saving throws against being charmed, and magic can't put you to sleep.
*Trance.

Gnome

Str swap d4
Dex swap d6
Con swap d8

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1-2: Bright Burrows (rock gnome)
3: City Spire
4-5: Fae Forest (forest or deep gnome)
6: Other

Size. Gnomes are between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh around 40 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Gnome Cunning. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saves against magic.

Halfling

Str swap d4
Dex swap d8
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1-2: Bright Burrows (lightfoot)
3-4: Frontier Freehold (stout)
5: Feudal Farmland
6: Other

Size. Halflings average about 3 feet tall and weigh about 40 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

*Halfling Dexterity. Choose Dex swap d6, or your Dex score increases by 1.
*Lucky. When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die. You must use the new result, even if it is a 1.

Human

Stat swaps are based on Ancestry, see below.

Roll for Broad-Spectrum Ancestry below, and then roll d6 for Upbringing:
1-2: Feudal Farmland (base human)
3-4: If you rolled Half-Orc, Red Ochre. If not, Wandering Wagon (variant human or half-elf)
5: Roll d12 on the Other Upbringing table.
6: (With DM permission) Roll d20 on the Other Upbringing table.

Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Broad-Spectrum Ancestry: Roll d12, and take the swaps and abilities indicated. Abilities are anything with a name listed in the Species description.
1-3: Half-Elf: Str swap d4, Dex swap d6, Con swap d4. Choose four abilities total from the Elf and Human ability lists.
4-6: Half-Orc: Str swap d6, Dex swap d4, Con swap d6. Choose three abilities total from the Orc and Human ability lists.
7: Unusual Ancestor: Roll a random species (rerolling Human and Hybrid). Roll a d4 stat swap for the ability matching its d4 stat swap, and d6 for the other two. Choose three abilities total from its ability list and the Human ability list.
8-12: Mostly Human: Str swap d6, Dex swap d6, Con swap d6. Take the two human abilities.

*Top Ability Increase. Your highest ability score increases by 1. Choose if tied.
*Second Ability Increase. Your second highest ability score increases by 1. Choose if tied.

Tiefling

Str swap d6
Dex swap d6
Con swap d4

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Mystic Cavern
2-3: Outcast
4: Wandering Wagon
5: Wayside Warren
6: Other

Size. Tieflings are about the same size and build as humans. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Infernal Legacy. You know the Thaumaturgy cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the Hellish Rebuke spell once per long rest as a 2nd-level spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can also cast the Darkness spell once per long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.
(If you have Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes, you can randomize the legacy.)

Hybrid

Roll two different species (rerolling duplicates).

Reduce the stat swaps in each species by one die: d8 becomes d6, d6 becomes d4, d4 is not rolled. Then roll these (usually 4) swaps.

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Roll on the Upbringing table of the first species.
2: Roll on the Upbringing table of the second species.
3-5: Outcast
6: Roll on the Upbringing tables of both species. If you get the same result, take it. Otherwise, Multicultural with those two upbringings.

Size. You are the lowest size category of the two parent species.
Speed. Your speed is the lowest of the two parent species.

Take all named abilities from both parent species.

Uncommon Species

Bugbear

Str swap d8
Dex swap d6
Con swap d4

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Fae Forest
2: Mining Holdfast
3-4: Red Ochre
5: Wayside Warren
6: Other

Size. Bugbears are between 6 and 8 feet tall and weigh between 250 and 350 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Long-Limbed. When you make a melee attack on your turn, your reach for it is 5 feet greater than normal.
*Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Centaur

Str swap d8
Dex swap d4
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing: 1
3: Fae Forest
2-3: Galloping Nomad
4: Red Ochre
5: Wandering Wagon
6: Other

Size. Centaurs stand between 6 and 7 feet tall, with their equine bodies reaching about 4 feet at the withers. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

*Fey. Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid.
*Equine Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push or drag. In addition, any climb that requires hands and feet is especially difficult for you because of your equine legs. When you make such a climb, each foot of movement costs you 4 extra feet, instead of the normal 1 extra foot.

Changeling

Str swap d6
Dex swap d6
Con swap d4

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: City Spire
2: Feudal Farmland
3-4: Wandering Wagon
5: Roll d12 on the Other Upbringing table.
6: (With DM permission) Roll d20 on the Other Upbringing table.

Size. In their natural forms, changelings average between 5 to 6 feet in height, with a slender build. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Malleable. Choose an ability. Either roll a d6 stat swap in that ability or increase its score by 1.

*Change Appearance. As an action, you can change your appearance and your voice. You determine the specifics of the changes, including your coloration, hair length, and sex. You can also adjust your height and weight, but not so much that your size changes. You can make yourself appear as a member of another species, though none of your game statistics change.
You can't duplicate the appearance of a creature you've never seen, and you must adopt a form that has the same basic arrangement of limbs that you have. Your clothing and equipment aren't changed by this trait.
You stay in the new form until you use an action to revert to your true form or until you die.

Goblin

Str swap d4
Dex swap d8
Con swap d8

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Fae Forest
2: Red Ochre
3-4: Wayside Warren
5: Galloping Nomad
6: Other

Size. Goblins are between 3 and 4 feet tall and weigh between 40 and 80 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Goblin Dexterity. Choose Dex swap d6, or your Dex score increases by 1.

Hobgoblin

Str swap d6
Dex swap d4
Con swap d8

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Feudal Farmland
2: Galloping Nomad
3-4: Mining Holdfast
5: Outcast
6: Other

Size. Hobgoblins are between 5 and 6 feet tall and weigh between 150 and 200 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Hobgoblin Constitution. Choose Con swap d6, or your Con score increases by 1.

Kobold

Str swap d4
Dex swap d6
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Bright Burrows (Civilized Bahamut-worshiping tribe)
2: Mystic Cavern
3: Red Ochre
4-5: Wayside Warren
6: Other

Size. Kobolds are between 2 and 3 feet tall and weigh between 25 and 35 pounds. Your size is Small.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

*You may choose to either gain a Dex swap d8 or Shenanigans:
Shenanigans: Gain all of the following abilities:
*Dragon Obedience: You have disadvantage on Wisdom (Insight) checks when interacting with a dragon, and on all saving throws against effects generated by dragons.
*Puny Stature: Your Strength score is reduced by 4, to a minimum of 3.
*Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
*Wild Mind: After making all choices for your character and gaining your class level, gain all of the features of the first level in a different class, except hit points, as though you were multiclassing into that class. (You must still meet the multiclassing prerequisites, and thereafter you can advance in either class.) You are still a level 1 character for the purposes of experience and encounter calculations and proficiency bonus.

Lizardfolk

Str swap d6
Dex swap d4
Con swap d8

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Mining Holdfast
2: Outcast
3: Red Ochre
4-5: Wayside Warren
6: Other

Size. Lizardfolk are a little bulkier and taller than humans, and their colorful frills make them appear even larger. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet, and you have a swimming speed of 30 feet.

*Hold Breath. You can hold your breath for up to 15 minutes at a time.
*Natural Armor. You have tough, scaly skin. When you aren't wearing armor, your AC is 13 + your Dexterity modifier. You can use your natural armor to determine your AC if the armor you wear would leave you with a lower AC. A shield's benefits apply as normal while you use your natural armor.

Orc

Str swap d8
Dex swap d4
Con swap d6

Roll d4 for Upbringing:
1: Frontier Freehold
2-3: Red Ochre
4: Other

Size. Orcs are usually over 6 feet tall and weigh between 230 and 280 pounds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Orcish Strength. Choose Str swap d6, or your Str score increases by 1.
*Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Warforged

Str swap d6
Dex swap d4
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: Bright Burrows. You may choose to be Small and gain a Dex swap d6.
2: City Spire
3: Mining Holdfast
4-5: Outcast
6: Other

Size. Warforged are constructed in many sizes, matching the variety of human builds. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Constructed Resilience. You were created to have remarkable fortitude, represented by the following benefits:
You have advantage on saving throws against being poisoned, and you have resistance to poison damage.
You don't need to eat, drink, or breathe.
You are immune to disease.
You don't need to sleep, and magic can't put you to sleep.

*Sentry's Rest. When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn't render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal.

*Integrated Protection. Your body has built-in defensive layers, which can be enhanced with armor.
You gain a +1 bonus to Armor Class.
You can don only armor with which you have proficiency. To don armor, you must incorporate it into your body over the course of 1 hour, during which you must remain in contact with the armor. To doff armor, you must spend 1 hour removing it. You can rest while donning or doffing armor in this way.
While you live, your armor can't be removed from your body against your will.

Yuan-Ti

Str swap d4
Dex swap d6
Con swap d6

Roll d6 for Upbringing:
1: City Spire
2: Mining Holdfast
3-4: Mystic Cavern
5: Feudal Farmland
6: Other

Size. Yuan-ti match humans in average size and weight. Your size is Medium.
Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

*Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
*Magic Resistance. You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects.
*Poison Immunity. You are immune to poison damage and the poisoned condition.

Upbringing List

Bright Burrows

Int swap d6
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d6

Roll d8 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
4: Guild Artisan - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
5: Sage - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
6: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
7-8: Other

You grew up in a well-ordered community that was more prosperous and/or advanced than the world around it. Individuals were protected by law and custom, but allowed and encouraged to follow their passions. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with lightfoot halflings and rock gnomes.

Speak, read, and write Common and one other language that uses either the Common or Dwarvish script. Read and write Dwarvish.

Alignment. Tends toward lawful good, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Attic Rummaging. Roll d8. You begin the game with the additional equipment indicated (Packs are described on PHB pg 151 and the Trinket table is on PHB pg 160). This equipment is light and well-made, and possibly imbued with some minor magic, so that you can carry it in addition to your normal starting equipment without any encumbrance:
1: Burglar's Pack and a random trinket
2: Diplomat's Pack
3: Dungeoneer's Pack and a random trinket
4: Entertainer's Pack
5: Explorer's Pack and a random trinket
6: Priest's Pack
7: Scholar's Pack
8: A random uncommon item (Table F, DMG pg 146). You begin the game attuned to it, even if it does not normally require attunement. It has three random minor detrimental properties (DMG pg 220), each of which can be removed by spending 150 gp or completing a small quest. You may not end attunement while any detrimental properties remain.

Cleverness. Choose Int swap d8, or Cha swap d6 and you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Hobbies

Repeat two times: Choose from 1-6, or roll d8 (rerolling any abilities you already have):

1: Artificer's Lore. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to magical, alchemical, or technological items, you can add twice your proficiency bonus instead of any other proficiency bonus that may apply.
2: Climbing. You start the game with a Climber's Kit (PHB pg 151). When using a climber's kit, you have a climbing speed of 10 ft. Additionally, if you are Small and unencumbered, you may use Dexterity (Acrobatics) checks to climb.
3: Dancing. You can move through the space of any creature by making a Dexterity (Acrobatics) check, DC 5 if it is friendly and opposed by its Wisdom (Insight) check if it is hostile. Additionally, you can make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check to attempt to hide even when you are only obscured by a creature with at least your height and weight. You get advantage on these checks if the creature is of a size larger than yours.
4: Personal Obsession. With the DM's permission, choose an area of study similar in scope to Artificer's Lore above. Whenever you make an Intelligence check related to facts about your personal obsession, you can add twice your proficiency bonus instead of any other proficiency bonus that may apply.
5: Rock throwing. You are proficient with darts, and you may treat rocks as though they were darts, except they do bludgeoning rather than piercing damage. Additionally, you may have up to three special rocks. You start the game with one special rock, and once per long rest, you can find another one. When throwing a special rock, you gain the benefits of the sharpshooter feat (PHB pg 170) for that rock, and it counts as a magic weapon for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction. Special rocks do not lose their power after they are used, although you may have to roll an Intelligence (Investigation) check to find it.
6: Tinkering. You have proficiency with tinker's tools, and own a set of them. Using those tools, you can spend 1 hour and 10 gp worth of materials to construct a Tiny clockwork device (AC 5, 1 hp). You can have up to three such devices active at a time. When you create a device, choose one effect of the Prestidigitation cantrip for it to replicate, or create a similar effect with DM approval. Using any device is an action.
7: Roll d8 twice on the Fae Forest Ways of Nature table.
8: Roll d6 twice on this table.

City Spire

Int swap d8
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d6

Roll d12 for Background:
1: Charlatan - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
4: Guild Artisan - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
5: Noble - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
6: Sage - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
7: Sailor - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
8: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
9: Urchin - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Wis
10-12: Other

You grew up in an advanced or wealthy metropolis, with palaces, universities, and often a bustling port: a place of art and learning and intrigue, bound to the flows of politics and commerce, rather than the cycles of nature. You received a formal liberal arts education in a structured environment, often one that taught the basics of magic. Traditionally only high elves had this upbringing.

Alignment. Tends toward neutral, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice. Read and write Elvish or an exotic language.

Well Educated. You gain proficiency in a skill of your choice. Then repeat five times: You gain proficiency with a weapon or tool of your choice, or speak, read, and write another language of your choice.

Choose one:
*Cantrip. You know one cantrip of your choice from the Wizard spell list. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for it.
*Cosmopolitan. Choose another upbringing. Gain the Cultural Immersion benefits for it.
*Hobby. Choose from 1-6 on the Bright Burrows Hobbies table.

Fae Forest

Int swap d6
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d4

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
4: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
5: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
6: Sage - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
7: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
8-10: Other

You grew up in a magical environment that had been shaped to serve you, usually a forest but not always. Your people were friends of the plants and animals, and know how to use the earth and stones and weather to their advantage. Visible infrastructure was rare, for the land itself provides what they need. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with wood elves, forest gnomes, and deep gnomes.

Alignment. Tends toward neutral good, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Elvish and Sylvan. Speak Common and one other language of your choice.

Natural Observer. Choose Int swap d8, or Wis swap d6 and proficiency in the Perception skill

Ways of Nature

Repeat three times: Choose from 1-8, or roll d10 (rerolling any abilities you already have):

1. Fleet of Foot. Your base walking speed increases by 5 feet.
2. Forest Weapon Training. You have proficiency with the shortsword, and shortbow or longbow.
3. Mask of the Wild. You can attempt to hide even when you are only lightly obscured by foliage, heavy rain, falling snow, mist, and other natural phenomena.
4. Natural Illusionist. You know the Minor Illusion cantrip. Choose Int or Wis to be your spellcasting modifier for it.
5. Speak with Small Beasts. Through sound and gestures, you may communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts.
6. Stone Camouflage. You have advantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks to hide in rocky terrain.
7. Superior Darkvision: If you already have darkvision, it now has a range of 120 feet. If you don't, you gain 60 ft darkvision.
8. Timberwalk. Ability checks made to track you are at disadvantage and you can move through difficult terrain made of non-magical plants and overgrowth without expending extra movement.
9. Child of the Woods. You know the Druidcraft Cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Entangle spell once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast Spike Growth spell once per long rest. These spells don't require the material components normally required. Choose Int or Wis to be your spellcasting modifier for these spells.
10. Roll d8 twice on this table.

Feudal Farmland

Int swap d6
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d4

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
3: Knight - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
4: Noble - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
5: Sailor - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
6: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
7-10: Other

You grew up surrounded by fields of grain, guarded by castles of stone. Your upbringing focused on work or duty, and fixing your weaknesses, rather than learning idle hobbies or fancy tricks. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with humans.

Alignment. Any. This upbringing has many variations, and its attitude to the world is heavily influenced by the doctrines of its god(s) and the character of its leader.

Speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Well-rounded. Stat swap d6 in each of your four lowest abilities.

Frontier Freehold

Int swap d4
Wis swap d8
Cha swap d6

Roll d8 for Background:
1: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
3: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
4: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
5: Pirate - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
6: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
7-8: Other

You grew up among independent homesteads on the fringe of civilization, often pioneers in an area recently devastated by war, plague, or monster attacks. You are accustomed to scratching a living for you and your family from land that is often hostile and unforgiving. People from this upbringing tend to be clannish and fiercely independent, resisting any kind of outside authority. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with hill dwarves and stout halflings.

Alignment. Tends toward chaotic neutral, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak Common and one other language of your choice.

Frontier Toughness. Choose one: Your hit point maximum increases by 1 per level, or Con swap d6 and you have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Hardscrabble

Repeat two times: Choose from 1-9, or roll d10 (rerolling any abilities you already have).

1-3: Dirt Farmer. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage. You gain proficiency with either sickle, flail, and trident; or cook's utensils and weaver's tools.
4: Hunter. You gain proficiency with the light or heavy crossbow. Roll d6 on the Red Ochre Primal table.
5: Lumberjack. You gain proficiency with battleaxe, handaxe, carpenter's tools, and woodcarver's tools.
6: Moonshiner. You gain proficiency with brewer's supplies. Either take Dancing from the Bright Burrows Hobbies table, or roll d6 on the Wayside Warren Survival Strategy table.
7: Prospector. You gain proficiency with light hammer, warhammer, war pick, and mason's or smith's tools.
8: Teamster. You gain proficiency with whip, land vehicles, and the Animal Handling skill.
9: Trapper. When you use a Hunting Trap (PHB pg 152), the DCs of the Dexterity saving throw and Strength checks to escape, as well as any Wisdom (Perception) checks to notice a hidden trap, are increased by your proficiency bonus. Roll d8 on the Fae Forest Ways of Nature table.
10: Interesting Past. Roll an extra background on the Frontier Freehold Background Table. Do not roll any of the stat swaps, but take all other benefits of the background. You get all of its starting equipment except the money.

Galloping Nomad

Int swap d4
Wis swap d8
Cha swap d6

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
4: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
5: Knight - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
6: Noble - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
7: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
9: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
10: Other

You grew up as a nomadic hunter, herder, or raider. Your people ranged over a vast terrain, usually a steppe, roaming wild and moving like the wind. Settled civilization is alien to you, a threat to be avoided or a resource to be plundered. Either you are a centaur, or you spent so much time in the saddle that you know how to act as one with your mount.

Alignment. Tends toward neutral, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak Common and two other languages of your choice.

Choose Caracole or Charge:

*Caracole. While you are wielding a ranged weapon or spellcasting focus, you or your mount may use a bonus action to take the Disengage or Dodge action.

*Charge. If you move at least 30 feet straight toward a target and then hit it with a melee weapon attack on the same turn, you can immediately follow that attack with a bonus action, making one attack against the target with your hooves, or one of your mount's attacks.

Survivor. You have proficiency in one of the following skills: Medicine, Nature, or Survival.

*If you have the Equine Build ability: Choose Str swap d6, or your Str score increases by 1. You are proficient with the lance and can wield it with one hand. You have learned to use your hooves as natural melee weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal bludgeoning damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
*If you do not: You are proficient in the Animal Handling skill. You start the game with a beast one size larger than you of CR 1/8 or 1/4 that doesn't have a flying speed, typically a Riding Horse, Pony, Mastiff, or Wolf. It is accustomed to being ridden in combat, and you own a saddle and all appropriate gear for it. At 5th level, you can cast the Find Steed spell once per seven long rests. If you have had the same mount since character creation, or are otherwise closely bonded to it as determined by the DM, its stats upgrade to that of a Warhorse or similar CR 1/2 beast, it becomes your choice of celestial, fae, or fiend, its Intelligence score increases to 6 if it is lower, and you can cast Find Steed once per long rest to summon it.

Mining Holdfast

Int swap d6
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d4

Roll d8 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Gladiator - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Guild Artisan - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
4: Noble - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
5: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
6: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
7-8: Other

You grew up in a society organized around the mine and the forge and the chisel, working iron and stone to their will. You are accustomed to organized hierarchies, rules, standards, tradition, honor, and regimentation. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with mountain dwarves and hobgoblins.

Alignment. Tends toward lawful neutral, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Common, Dwarvish, and one other language that uses the Dwarvish script.

Armor Training. You have proficiency with light and medium armor.

Choose Military or Worker:

*Military:
Martial Training. You are proficient with two martial weapons of your choice.
Saving Face. You are careful not to show weakness in front of your allies, for fear of losing status. If you miss with an attack roll or fail an ability check or a saving throw, you can gain a bonus to the roll equal to the number of allies you can see within 30 feet of you (maximum bonus of +5). Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
Tactical Training. Choose Int swap d6, or your Int score increases by 1. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to military tactics or heraldry, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

*Worker:
Artisan Knowledge. You have proficiency with the artisan's tools of your choice. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin or properties of something created with those tools, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus. For example, if you gained proficiency with mason's tools, this applies to stonework, and if you gained proficiency with jeweler's tools, it applies to jewelry.
Resilience. You have advantage on saving throws against poison, and you have resistance against poison damage.
Strength of the Worker. Choose Str swap d6, or your Str score increases by 1
Worker Weapon Proficiency. You have proficiency with the light hammer, sickle, war pick, and warhammer.

Mystic Cavern

Int swap d6
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d6

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Acolyte - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
4: Knight - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Cha
5: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
6: Sage - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
7: Urchin - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Wis
8-10: Other

You grew up in a society that learned to draw power from places and things that others shun. It is often based on an ecosystem where the primary producers draw energy not from light, but from emanations of elemental magic. You have absorbed some of this power, though diet and training and exposure. Many of your people are proud and grim, considering themselves superior to those without their special power. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with drow, yuan-ti, and duergar.

Alignment. Tends toward lawful evil, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Common, Undercommon, and one other language of your choice.

Cavern Weapons Training: Proficiency with rapiers, shortswords, and hand crossbows.

Superior Darkvision: If you have darkvision, it now has a range of 120 feet. If you don't, you gain 60 ft darkvision.

Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Innate Magic. Choose Int or Cha. Gain a d6 swap in the chosen stat or increase it by 1. It is your spellcasting ability for these spells. Then choose one of:
*Lightbender. You know the Dancing Lights cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Faerie Fire spell once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast the Darkness spell once per long rest.
*Fleshbender. You have advantage on saving throws against illusions and against being charmed or paralyzed. At 3rd level, you can cast the Enlarge/Reduce spell on yourself once per long rest, using only the spell's Enlarge option. At 5th level, you can cast the Invisibility spell on yourself once per long rest.
*Venombender. You know the Poison Spray cantrip. You can cast Animal Friendship an unlimited number of times, but you can target only snakes with it. At 3rd level, you can also cast Suggestion once per long rest.

Outcast

Int swap d6
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d6

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Charlatan - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
4: Gladiator - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
5: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
6: Pirate - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
7: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
9: Urchin - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Wis
10: Other

You grew up on the fringes of society, either alone, or in an isolated clan or family, or as a sequestered servitor. People in normal society feared and shunned you because of your appearance or heritage, and you learned to make the most of your innate gifts. Traditionally this situation was associated with dragonborn, tieflings, and warforged.

Alignment. Any. Resting the inclination to evil and/or chaos is often hard for those who are alone, and those in a tight-knit clan often develop extreme views in some direction.

Speak, read and write Common and one exotic language.

Greater Innate Ability. Choose an ability (typically Str for dragonborn, Cha for tieflings, and Con for warforged). Either roll a d8 stat swap in that ability or increase its score by 2.

Lesser Innate Ability. Choose a different ability (typically Cha for dragonborn and Int for tieflings). Either roll a d6 stat swap in that ability or increase its score by 1.

Choose Damage Resistance or Specialized:
*Damage Resistance. You have resistance to one type of damage. If you are a dragonborn, this is based on your Draconic Ancestry. If you are a tiefling, it is fire damage. Otherwise, choose a damage type.
*Specialized. You gain one skill proficiency and one tool proficiency of your choice.

Red Ochre

Int swap d4
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll d8 for Background:
1: Gladiator - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2-3: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
4: Pirate - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
5-6: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
7-8: Other

You grew up in a band of foragers hunting and gathering in an untamed environment. Your people are primeval hunters and savage warriors, tied to the wild spirits of the land. They learned that they must place the survival of themselves and their tribe first, and often have little consideration for outsiders, especially those who threaten to push them off their land. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with orcs, half-orcs, and bugbears.

Alignment. Tends toward chaotic evil, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak Common and two other languages of your choice.

Hunter's Body. Choose Dex swap d6 or Con swap d6

Primal

Repeat three times: Choose from 1-6, or roll d10 (rerolling any abilities you already have):

1. Aggressive. As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed toward an enemy of your choice that you can see or hear. You must end this move closer to the enemy than you started.
2. Menacing. You gain proficiency in the Intimidation skill.
3. Primal Intuition. You gain proficiency in one of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Insight, Medicine, Nature, Perception, and Survival.
4. Relentless Endurance. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can't use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
5. Savage Attacks. When you score a critical hit with a melee weapon attack, you can roll one of the weapon's damage dice one additional time and add it to the extra damage of the critical hit.
6. Sneaky. You gain proficiency in the Stealth skill.
7. Surprise Attack. If you surprise a creature and hit it with an attack on your first turn in combat, the attack deals an extra 2d6 damage to it. You can use this trait only once per combat.
8. Roll d10 on the Frontier Freehold Hardscrabble table.
9. Roll d6 on the Wayside Warren Survival Strategy table.
10. Roll d6 on this table, and roll d8 on the Fae Forest Ways of Nature table.

Wandering Wagon

Int swap d4
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll d10 for Background:
1: Charlatan - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Entertainer - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
4-6: Guild Merchant - d4 swaps for Con, Wis, Cha
7: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
8: Sailor - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
9: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
10: Other

You grew up among people who constantly traveled from one settlement to the next, such as merchants, itinerant laborers, or performers. Your life was freedom, fresh air, and the open road or sea or sky, knowing no law or master but one's own virtue. You and your people are often viewed with suspicion by settled provincial folk, so you developed unusual skills or became good at making friends. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with humans and half-elves.

Alignment. Tends toward chaotic good, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Choose Diplomat, Esoteric Knowledge, or Well Traveled:
*Diplomat. Choose Cha swap d8, or your Cha score increases by 2. Gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, and Persuasion. Speak, read, and write one additional language of your choice.
*Esoteric Knowledge. Gain a feat of your choice. Gain proficiency in a skill of your choice.
*Well Traveled. Roll d6 on the Bright Burrows Hobbies table, d8 on the Fae Forest Ways of Nature table, d10 on the Frontier Freehold Hardscrabble table, and d6 on the Red Ochre Primal table.

Wayside Warren

Int swap d4
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll d12 for Background:
1: Charlatan - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
2: Criminal - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
3: Folk Hero - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
4: Gladiator - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha
5: Hermit - d4 swaps for Con, Int, Wis
6-7: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
8: Pirate - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
9-10: Urchin - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Wis
11-12: Other

You grew up among people who were downtrodden and dispossessed, forced to scratch a living at the edges of the world. You have learned to collect what you can from a harsh environment or from the scraps of another civilization. Often your people form a pack or gang that supports them against the uncaring world, but individuals are always alert to opportunities to gain personal power within the gang. Traditionally this upbringing was associated with goblins, kobolds, and lizardfolk.

Alignment. Tends toward neutral evil, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write one language of your choice. Speak Common.

Packrat Poverty. After collecting the equipment from your background and class, replace the money with 3 copper pieces. Roll a random trinket (PHB pg 160) for each 3 gp you lost in this way.

Scavenger. As part of a short rest, you can harvest bone and hide from a slain beast, construct, dragon, monstrosity, or plant creature of size Small or larger, or other similar materials from your environment. You use these materials to create one of the following items, or more in the case of harvesting from larger creatures or richer environments: a shield, any simple melee weapon, sling, net, or blowgun, 1d20 darts or pieces of ammunition, a holy symbol or spellcasting focus, or, with DM permission, an appropriate item of adventuring gear costing 1 gp or less, such as a bag of caltrops, a sack, a waterskin, or a torch. To use this trait, you need appropriate artisan's tools, such as leatherworker's tools.

Self sufficient. You gain proficiency with cook's utensils, leatherworker's tools, and cobbler's tools, and own all three of them.

Survival Strategy

Choose one from 1-3 and one from 4-6, or roll d6 twice (rerolling any abilities you already have):

1. Designated Distraction. As an action on your turn, you can distract nearby foes. Until the end of your next turn, your allies gain advantage on attack rolls against enemies within 10 feet of you that can see you. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
2. Nimble Escape. You can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of your turns.
3. Survivor's Lore. You gain proficiency with two of the following skills of your choice: Animal Handling, Nature, Perception, Stealth, and Survival.
4. Bite. You have learned to use your teeth as a natural weapon, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with your bite, you deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier if you are Medium, or 1d4 + your Dexterity modifier if you are Small. Also, in battle, you can throw yourself into a vicious feeding frenzy. As a bonus action, you can make a special attack with your bite. If the attack hits, it deals its normal damage, and you gain temporary hit points (minimum of 1) equal to your Constitution modifier, and you can't use this trait again until you finish a short or long rest.
5. Fury of the Small. When you damage a creature with an attack or a spell and the creature's size is larger than yours, you can cause the attack or spell to deal extra damage to the creature. The extra damage equals your level. Once you use this trait, you can't use it again until you finish a short or long rest.
6. Pack Tactics. You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn't incapacitated.

Multicultural

You grew up in two different cultures, and know both of their folkways and are at home in both of them, although learning how to do this has been mentally taxing. Roll d12 on the Upbringing table twice, rerolling duplicates.

Stat swaps: for both upbringings, replace any d8 swaps with d4 swaps and roll them. Do not roll any others.

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Any. Decide how being exposed to different philosophies of life has shaped you.

Starting with the languages, follow the instructions under both upbringings, taking or choosing abilities as directed. You also get the Cultural Immersion benefit for both upbringings.

As normal, if you would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, you can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill, martial weapon, simple weapon, tool) instead. However, if given a choice, you cannot deliberately choose a proficiency you already have in order to trigger this.

Unusual Upbringings

Animal

You were an animal for most of your life. You decide if you were turned into one when you were a baby, or if you were born an animal before something gave you sapience and the ability to transform into a member of your species. In some ways you still are an animal, and integrating into the society around you can be somewhat difficult.

Int swap d4
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Any, although usually non-lawful.

Speak Common and one language of your choice.

Transformation. Choose a beast of challenge rating 0. You can, once per short rest, transform into that animal as though using the druid's Wild Shape ability (PHB pg 66). You can stay in the animal form as long as you want.

Choose Pet or Wild:
*Pet. You were once a pampered pet and now you are a uncannily attractive member of your species. Choose Cha swap d8, or your Cha score increases by 2. Gain proficiency in the Persuasion skill.
*Wild. You were once a wild animal. Choose Wis swap d6, or your Wis score increases by 1. Gain proficiency in the Nature, Perception, and Survival skills.

Child Soldier

You grew up knowing nothing but training for battle or special operations, in an isolated barracks or camp. You decide if you escaped or were discharged at some point to make your own way in the world, or if you are currently still loyal to the organization and on a mission for it.

Int swap d4
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d4

If you left, roll a random Background. If not, roll d4:
1: Outlander - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Wis
2-3: Soldier - d4 swaps for Str, Con, Cha
4: Spy - d4 swaps for Dex, Con, Cha

Alignment. Any. Decide about who trained you, why, what the training was like, and how that shaped you.

Speak Common and one language of your choice.

Early Training. Your first level will be in the Fighter class. After making all choices for your character and the first level of Fighter, choose a different class and gain all of the features of its first level, except hit points, as though you were multiclassing into that class. You must meet the normal multi-classing prerequisites, and if you don't, reduce some stat by one and increase either your Strength or Dexterity score by one, repeating until it is 13. You are still a level 1 character for the purposes of experience and encounter calculations and proficiency bonus.

Fell From Heaven

You were found in a crater surrounded by shards of strange magical material. You have the body of a young adult, but no memories of your life before except brief flashes and strange dreams. Since then you've made your way through the world as best you could, and have recently begin to manifest innate magical powers.

Int swap d4
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d6

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Tends toward lawful good, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read and write Celestial. Speak Common and one language of your choice.

Heavenly Power. After making all choices for your character and gaining your class level, gain all of the features of the first level of bard, paladin, sorcerer, or warlock, except hit points, as though you were multiclassing into that class. This does not require you to meet any ability score prerequisites, and does not count as your current class, but if you do meet the multiclassing prerequisites, you can later advance in the chosen class as a normal multiclassed character. You are still a level 1 character for the purposes of experience and encounter calculations and proficiency bonus.

Magemarked

You have a magical marking on your body that gives you powers. Either you were born with it, or it manifested at some point in your childhood or adolescence. This set you apart from society, and you focused your efforts on mastering your powers and figuring out what they mean for your place in the world.

Int swap d6
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Any. Decide how society reacted to your appearance and powers, and how that shaped you.

Speak, read and write Common and one language of your choice.

Mark. Roll d12 for your mark. Each of the marks lists an ability, two or three spells, and two or three skills and/or tools. Gain a d6 swap in the listed ability or increase it by 1. It is your spellcasting ability for all of the listed spells. You can cast them without using material components. If the listed spell is a cantrip, you know it and can cast it at will. If it is a 1st-level spell, you can cast it once per long rest. If it is a 2nd-level spell, then starting at 3rd level, you can cast it once per long rest. Also, whenever you make an ability check using the listed tools or skills, you can roll a d4 and add the number rolled to the total ability check.

1. Detection: Int; Detect Magic, Detect Poison and Disease, See Invisibility; Investigation, Insight
2. Finding: Wis; Hunter's Mark, Locate Object; Perception, Survival
3. Handling: Wis; Animal Friendship, Speak With Animals, Calm Emotions; Animal Handling, Nature
4. Healing: Wis; Cure Wounds, Lesser Restoration; Medicine, Herbalism Kit
5. Hospitality: Cha; Prestidigitation, Purify Food and Drink, Unseen Servant; Persuasion, Brewer's Tools, Cook's Utensils
6. Making: Int; Mending, Magic Weapon (does not require concentration); Arcana, Artisan's Tools you are proficient with
7. Passage: Dex; Expeditious Retreat, Jump, Misty Step; Acrobatics, Land vehicles
8. Scribing: Int; Message, Comprehend Languages, Magic Mouth; History, Calligrapher's Tools
9. Sentinel: Wis; Shield, Shield of Faith; Insight, Perception
10. Shadow: Cha; Minor Illusion, Invisibility; Stealth, Performance
11. Storm: Cha; Feather Fall, Fog Cloud, Gust of Wind; Acrobatics, Navigator's Tools
12. Warding: Int; Alarm, Mage Armor, Arcane Lock; Investigation, Thieves' Tools

Vampire

At an early age, you were bitten by a vampire, or possibly transformed by some form of dark magic, and have lived on the fringes of society since then. You are weaker than most vampires, but still alive and (mostly) in control of your urges.

Int swap d6
Wis swap d4
Cha swap d4

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Tends toward lawful evil, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak, read, and write Common and one language of your choice.

Darkvision. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light and in darkness as if it were dim light. If you already have darkvision, its range increases by 60 feet.

Sunlight Sensitivity. You have disadvantage on attack rolls and Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of the attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.

Vampiric Bite. Your fanged bite is a natural weapon, which counts as a simple melee weapon with which you are proficient. You add your Constitution modifier to the attack and damage rolls when you attack with your bite. Your bite deals 1d4 piercing damage on a hit. While you are missing half or more of your hit points, you have advantage on attack rolls you make with this bite. When you use your bite and hit a creature that isn’t a Construct or an Undead, you can empower yourself in one of the following ways of your choice:
*Regain hit points equal to the damage dealt by the bite
*Gain a bonus to the next ability check or attack roll you make; the bonus equals the damage dealt by the bite
You can empower yourself with your bite a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Vampiric Power. Choose one:
*Mobility. Your speed increases by 5 feet, and you have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. In addition, at 3rd level, you can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free.
*Compulsion. Choose Cha swap d6, or your Cha score increases by 1. You know the Friends cantrip. At 3rd level, you can cast the Charm Person spell once per long rest. At 5th level, you can cast the Suggestion spell once per long rest. Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Werewolf

At an early age, you were bitten by a werewolf (or some other kind of lycanthrope), and have lived on the fringes of society since then. You have (perhaps very recently) learned to control your shifting, and do not shift involuntarily, although this has come at a cost: you are not as powerful as many others of your kind.

Int swap d4
Wis swap d6
Cha swap d6

Roll a random Background.

Alignment. Tends toward chaotic neutral, although individuals can be of any alignment.

Speak Common and one language of your choice.

Choose two proficiencies from among: Perception, Athletics, Intimidation, Acrobatics, and Survival.

Shifting. As a bonus action, you can assume a more bestial appearance. This transformation lasts for 1 minute, until you die, or until you revert to your normal appearance as a bonus action. When you shift, you gain temporary hit points equal to your level + your Constitution modifier (minimum of 1 temporary hit point). You also gain benefits that depend on your aspect, described below. Once you shift, you can’t do so again until you finish a short or long rest.

Aspect. Choose one:
*Beasthide: Whenever you shift, you gain 1d6 additional temporary hit points, and while shifted, you have a +1 bonus to your AC.
*Longtooth: While shifted, you can use your elongated fangs to make an unarmed strike as a bonus action. If you hit with your fangs, you can deal piercing damage equal to 1d6 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
*Swiftstride: While shifted, your walking speed increases by 10 feet. Additionally, you can move up to 10 feet as a reaction when an enemy ends its turn within 5 feet of you. This movement doesn’t provoke opportunity attacks.