Background Mechanics

Every background provides a set of starting mechanical benefits and a narrative origin.

What every background grants:

1. Two skill proficiencies — adds your proficiency bonus to checks with those skills.
2. Tool or language proficiencies — one or two tool proficiencies, or additional languages (varies by background).
3. Starting equipment — a thematic collection of gear; typically less gold value than rolling but more situationally useful.
4. Background feature — a unique narrative ability that provides social or exploration advantages (not combat mechanics). These are non-mechanical in the sense that they don't provide numerical bonuses but open narrative possibilities.

Characteristic tables: Each background has tables for personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. These are optional but help define character.

Mixing backgrounds: Variant rules allow taking skill proficiencies from one background and features from another, though this requires DM permission.

Background vs. class skills: If both your class and background grant the same skill proficiency, choose a different skill for one of them.