You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law. You have spent a lot of time running and hiding from officers chasing after you. Maybe it's time to change. Whatever the reason, you have decided that you want to turn your life around. Whether that was a personal choice or an option given to you, either way, you want to be a better person. But it's not easy to escape the life of a criminal.
- Skill Proficiencies: Deception, Stealth. Choose one from the following: Sleight of Hand, Persuasion, Acrobatics, Performance, Intimidation.
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of gaming set. Choose one from the following list: Thieves' Tools, Forgery Kit, Disguise Kit.
- Languages: If you choose the Criminal Specialty role of Smuggler, then you can read, write, and understand Undercommon.
- Equipment: The gaming set you chose, The kit or Thieves' Tools you chose, a set of Clothes, Common, Backpack, and a pouch containing 2 gp
There are many kinds of criminals in the underworld. Which role did you play in it? Roll a d8 to randomly get a role or choose the one that best fits your character.
| d8 | Criminal Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Blackmailer |
| 2 | Burglar |
| 3 | Enforcer |
| 4 | Forger |
| 5 | Armed robber |
| 6 | Thief |
| 7 | Pickpocket |
| 8 | Smuggler |
Being a former criminal means you have a good knowledge of where other criminals would hide, attack, and deciphering who is and isn't a criminal. You gain advantage on checks that relate to finding criminal hideouts, figuring out where they strike next, and determining whether or not somebody is a criminal in hiding or lying about not being one. (These are constant advantages regardless of anything related to the feature.)
Since your character is reforming from their criminal ways, every time you commit acts of crime/evil or lawful/good you must roll a d20 to determine whether you reform or relapse. Make a scale from 1 to 20, when you roll the dice and it lands on specific numbers, which will be shown later, the scale will either move up or down depending on what you roll. The scale starts at 10.
Relapsing - When performing criminal/evil acts, and you roll anything other than a 1 or 15-20, then you will move down one time on the scale. However, if you do roll a 1 then you will move down two instead, but rolling a 15-20 will stop you from moving altogether. If the scale is at any number from 2-5, then rolling a 1 will only move you down one time, but rolling anywhere from 10-20 will move you back up two and give you disadvantage on the criminal/evil act. Rolling any number not mentioned will neither move the scale up or down. Being at 2-5 on the scale will also grant you a 1d4 that you can use for performing criminal/evil acts. You add the d4 roll to the already rolled number of the act if applicable. A long rest is required to gain the die back after use.
Relapsed - You fully relapse when the scale is at 1. You get an extra d4 to use alongside the other one for performing criminal/evil acts, but each die requires a long rest separately to get both back for use. Since you experienced being a normal citizen, you have advantage when blending into crowds or impersonating as a officer or law official. Officers and law officials are at disadvantage when trying to determine whether you are who you say you are. However, only if, they figure you out, then you are at a disadvantage to them when interacting or combating them. Only attacks and Charisma based skills are at disadvantage. Performing lawful/good acts are also at disadvantage, but you are given 3 Relapsed points that you can use to bypass the disadvantage. Using all Relapsed points will immediately move the scale back up to 5.
Reforming - When performing lawful/good acts, and you roll anything other than a 20 or 1-5, then you will move up one time on the scale. However, if you do roll a 20 then you will move up two instead, but rolling a 1-5 will stop you from moving altogether. If the scale is at any number from 15-19, then rolling a 20 will only move you up one time, but rolling anywhere from 1-10 will move you back down two and give you disadvantage on the lawful/good act. Rolling any number not mentioned will neither move the scale up or down. Being at 15-19 on the scale will also grant you a 1d4 that you can use for performing lawful/good acts. You add the d4 roll to the already rolled number of the act if applicable. A long rest is required to gain the die back after using it.
Reformed - You fully reform when the scale is at 20. You get an extra d4 to use alongside the other one for performing lawful/good acts, but each die requires a long rest separately to get both back for use. Since you were once a criminal, officers and law officials will inherently trust you when regarding things involving criminals or criminal activity, and infiltrating criminal ranks or organizations is much easier. Criminals/Evil people are at disadvantage when trying to determine whether you are who you say you are. However, only if, they figure you out, then you are at a disadvantage to them when interacting or combating them. Only attacks and Charisma based skills are at disadvantage. Performing criminal/evil acts are also at disadvantage, but you are given 3 Reformed points that you can use to bypass the disadvantage. Using all Reformed points will immediately move the scale back down to 15.
This feature will end by two conditions: You either fully relapse or reform twenty times, or you reach level 14. If this feature ends with you being either fully relapsed or reformed then you will gain all advantages given at each level with all disadvantages and points taken away. If this feature ends and you are neither fully relapsed or reformed, then you will become down the middle and will only have the base advantages that the feature gives (the first paragraph are the base advantages). Acts of crime/evil or lawful/good are determined by your DM and why your character is doing these things. Murder is not always an act of evil and can be self-defense or protection depending on why you are doing it.
Suggested Characteristics
Reforming from something is always a tricky and tough road, but it can be done. Why is your character reforming? How did they get to the point of deciding to reform?
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I always have a plan for what to do when things go wrong. |
| 2 | I am always calm, no matter what the situation. I never raise my voice or let my emotions control me. |
| 3 | The first thing I do in a new place is note the locations of everything valuable—or where such things could be hidden. |
| 4 | I would rather make a new friend than a new enemy. |
| 5 | I am incredibly slow to trust. Those who seem the fairest often have the most to hide. |
| 6 | I don’t pay attention to the risks in a situation. Never tell me the odds. |
| 7 | The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t do it. |
| 8 | I blow up at the slightest insult. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Honor. I don’t steal from others in the trade. (Lawful) |
| 2 | Freedom. Chains are meant to be broken, as are those who would forge them. (Chaotic) |
| 3 | Charity. I steal from the wealthy so that I can help people in need. (Good) |
| 4 | Greed. I will do whatever it takes to become wealthy. (Evil) |
| 5 | People. I’m loyal to my friends, not to any ideals, and everyone else can take a trip down the Styx for all I care. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Redemption. There’s a spark of good in everyone. (Good) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m trying to pay off an old debt I owe to a generous benefactor. |
| 2 | My ill-gotten gains go to support my family. |
| 3 | Something important was taken from me, and I aim to steal it back. |
| 4 | I will become the greatest thief that ever lived. |
| 5 | I’m guilty of a terrible crime. I hope I can redeem myself for it. |
| 6 | Someone I loved died because of a mistake I made. That will never happen again. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | When I see something valuable, I can’t think about anything but how to steal it. |
| 2 | When faced with a choice between money and my friends, I usually choose the money. |
| 3 | If there’s a plan, I’ll forget it. If I don’t forget it, I’ll ignore it. |
| 4 | I have a “tell” that reveals when I’m lying. |
| 5 | I turn tail and run when things look bad. |
| 6 | An innocent person is in prison for a crime that I committed. I’m okay with that. |
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