You have been travelling the world, following the lay-lines of magical energy to find points of magical power where you can research and study the true nature of magic at its most base and primal form. You became set on this path for any number of reasons, some of which may be from the given examples. You seek the powers of magic, learning of its nature and even gaining some of it for yourself along the way.
This version of the Travelling Magic Researcher background has has minor grammar changes that make the background easier to understand.
- Skill Proficiencies: You are proficient 2 out of the skills Arcana, Religion, Investigation, and History.
- Tool Proficiencies: You are proficient with a set of Artisan's tools out of the Alchemy supplies, Brewer's supplies, Caligrapher's supplies (for making spell scrolls), or Cartographer's tools.
- Languages: You are able to speak, read, and write in one exotic language.
- Equipment: You have a journal for writing in, two common magic item out of staves, spell scrolls, wonderous items, and potions, a fancy quil, a personal treasure worth at 20 gp or less, and an equipment pack out of a scholar's pack, a priest's pack, or an explorer's pack.
This table lists some of the possible reasons for having started your research of magic.
| d8 | Research Inspiration |
|---|---|
| 1 | You witnessed a duel between two magic users and were inspired to work towards the level that they were at. |
| 2 | Your parents were killed by an evil necromancer and you want to gain the power to prevent that from happening to others. |
| 3 | You witnessed the summoning of a devil and were scarred by it, you now want the power to prevent a creature like that from coming into the world again. |
| 4 | Your parents were cultists who performed many terrible deeds with their magic, you seek the power to undo their wrongs. |
| 5 | You witnessed the enacting of a True Resurrection spell, and wish to attain even a fraction of the power that you witnessed. |
| 6 | You discovered a magical tome in a library that caused you to become interested in the study of magic. |
| 7 | Your soul was severely damaged by a demon or devil and you seek the ability to repair it. |
| 8 | Your best friend is afflicted with a fatal disease that nobody knows the cure of. You are on a journey to find that cure. |
Through your research into the nature of magic, you have learned to alter the properties of the spells you cast. When you cast a spell that causes cold, fire, force, lightning, necrotic, or radiant damage, you may change the damage type to one of the types listed. You may also change the saving throw type of one of the spells that you cast once per short or long rest.
Suggested Characteristics
These characteristics are only recommendations and do not have to be used.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I look up to all practitioners of magic, for I know the effort it took to achieve the control they have of it. |
| 2 | Those who insult my craft are the people I hate the most. |
| 3 | I always seek to right the wrongs of other magic users, even if they do not concern me. |
| 4 | Magic is my calling, I will follow it and the teachings of it to the best of my ability. |
| 5 | I enjoy my studies greatly, to the point that I would rather study than spend time with people. |
| 6 | I seek to be the most powerful mage in the world and will seek to surpass my limits, especially when someone says I can't do something. |
| 7 | I wish to inspire others in the same way that my idol inspired me. |
| 8 | I keep my cool, even in the most stressful situations. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Knowledge. I will learn from any source, it does not matter if it is good or evil. (Neutral) |
| 2 | Change. I will use the knowledge I gain to make the world a better place. (Good) |
| 3 | Aspiration. I seek to prove myself to a mentor or personal idol who helped shape who I am today. (Any) |
| 4 | Power. I will stop at nothing, and kill anyone who gets in my way, to achieve true magical might. (Evil) |
| 5 | Discovery. I seek to know the reasoning behind the ancient traditions of magic. (Lawful) |
| 6 | Prestige. I will use my discoveries to make myself rich and famous. (Chaotic) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have a teacher / role model who I seek to emulate and surpass. |
| 2 | The head priest of my church is an inspiring man who never ceases to amaze our god's followers. |
| 3 | The devil that I witnessed the summoning of is still out there somewhere, and I am determined to send him back to where it belongs. |
| 4 | My parents have supported me at all stages of my work. I owe them everything. |
| 5 | My bloodline consists of many powerful mages, but I chose to focus on other fields of work and study the nature of my ancestor's abilities. |
| 6 | My companions are all that have kept me from going mad from the difficulty and mystery of my work. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | My research is my legacy; if it is lost, my life will have been meaningless. |
| 2 | I will seek the deepest secrets of magic, even if I put others in danger as a result. |
| 3 | I have a deep fear of fiendish creatures, I will flee from one even if it might be an ally to me. |
| 4 | I am the greatest strategist alive, nobody alive can come up with a better plan than me. |
| 5 | I have a nervous tick that occurs when I'm scared or nervous. |
| 6 | I work best when I'm alone, but I am very awkward socially as a result of the isolation that I have induced on myself. |
You delve into the most dangerous places imaginable, places charged with so much arcane energy that most don't even dare to go near them. You however, choose to brave these places to gain the deepest secrets or arcane knowledge and put your own life at risk to learn as much as you can. This has had a profound effect on your body and research, enabling you to perform extraordinary feats.
If you choose this variant, increase one of your ability scores by 2.
Due to your proximity to points of magical power, your body has become accustomed to absorbing magical energy and even using it to bolster your stamina. Once per short or long rest, when you are struck with a spell that causes cold, fire, force, lightning, thunder, or radiant damage, you may choose to instead absorb the magical energy of the spell. Doing this will add half of the damage you would have taken on to your stamina as temporary hit points.
Previous Versions
| Name | Date Modified | Views | Adds | Version | Actions |
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3/19/2018 6:25:12 AM
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113
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3
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1.2
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Coming Soon
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5/9/2018 4:00:58 PM
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406
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12
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1.3
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Coming Soon
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