From this article we’re going over the criminal dnd 5e background or the spy depending on how you want to look at it. The spy is considered to be a variant of this background, however there’s zero mechanical difference between the two. So, it’s really just the same thing. It is found in the good old players handbook so everyone should have access to it and i do want to say this is probably one of the more popular backgrounds chosen belonging right up there with the charlatan and even the urchin as well. To be honest i can kind of see the appeal behind it. It fits in with a lot of the classes outright namely the rogue but who knows. In any case let’s dive right on into its description. After reading this article we recommend you to check all of the backgrounds of dnd if you haven’t checked them yet.
Table of Contents
Description
In dnd 5e backgrounds we have different kinds of backgrounds. So from those you’re an experienced criminal background 5e because of that you have a dare to break the laws too and of course you have done so many times. You’d got this experience of breaking the law from other criminals with whom you had spent more time among the other criminals and more over you’ve contacts within the criminal underworld too. Of course from all those people you know you are far closer to the world of the murder, theft and also violence which pervades the underbelly of the civilization and of course you’ve survived up to this point by simply flouting most of the rules and regulations of the society.
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set, thieves’ tools
- Equipment: A crowbar, a set of dark common clothes including a hood, and a pouch containing 15 gp
Suggested Characteristics
Of course all the criminal in dnd might have seem like the villains on a surface and most probably many of them are villainous to the core. But some of them have abundance of endearing and if not redeeming, characteristics. There might be a great honor among those thieves, but all the criminals rarely show any kind of respect for the law or the authority.
Personality Traits
| D8 | Personality Traits |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm always polite and respectful. |
| 2 | I'm haunted by memories of war. I can't get the images of violence out of my mind. |
| 3 | I've lost too many friends, and I'm slow to make new ones. |
| 4 | I'm full of inspiring and cautionary tales from my military experience relevant to almost every combat situation. |
| 5 | I can stare down a hell hound without flinching. |
| 6 | I enjoy being strong and like breaking things. |
| 7 | I have a crude sense of humor. |
| 8 | I face problems head-on. A simple, direct solution is the best path to success. |
Ideal
| D6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good: Our lot is to lay down our lives in defense of others. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility: I do what I must and obey just authority. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence: When people follow orders blindly, they embrace a kind of tyranny. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Might: In life as in war, the stronger force wins. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live: Ideals aren't worth killing over or going to war for. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Nation: My city, nation, or people are all that matter. (Any) |
Bond
| D6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I would still lay down my life for the people I served with. |
| 2 | Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 3 | My honor is my life. |
| 4 | I'll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 5 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| 6 | I fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. |
Flaw
| D6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | The monstrous enemy we faced in battle still leaves me quivering with fear. |
| 2 | I have little respect for anyone who is not a proven warrior. |
| 3 | I made a terrible mistake in battle cost many lives – and I would do anything to keep that mistake secret. |
| 4 | My hatred of my enemies is blind and unreasoning. |
| 5 | I obey the law, even if the law causes misery. |
| 6 | I'd rather eat my armor than admit when I'm wrong. |
Criminal Specialty
In dnd backgrounds there are so many kind of criminals, and of course within the thieves guild or the similar kind of criminal organization, individual members had specific specialties. Even the d&d criminal’s those who operate outside of the such organizations can have the strongest preferences for certain kinds of crime over the others. So you can select the role that you’ve played in your life when you being a criminal, or else you can simply roll on the below table.
| D8 | Criminal Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blackmailer |
| 2 | Burglar |
| 3 | Enforcer |
| 4 | Fence |
| 5 | Highway robber |
| 6 | Hired killer |
| 7 | Pickpocket |
| 8 | Smuggler |
Feature: Criminal Contact 5E
You do have the best reliable and also trustworthy contact those who acts as your liaison for a network of the other dnd criminals. Actually, you do know that how to get the messages to and from your contact, even over to the great distances; most particularly, you closely know the local messengers and the corrupt caravan masters, and even the seedy sailors those who can deliver messages for you.
Read our latest blog post on hermit background 5e and comment there your opinion on it.
Variant Criminal / Spy: Spy
Even though your abilities aren’t more differ from those of burglar or the smuggler, you’ve learned and also practiced them in a different context; Like an espionage agent. Of course, you might be an officially sanctioned agent of the crown, or else probably you’ve sold the secrets which you’ve uncovered to the highest bidder.