Battle has been your life for as long as you care to remember. You trained as a youth to become the strongest fighter around. You've taken blows that would shatter most men's spines, you've fought creatures from all over the world. What ever they put in the ring you will fight and you will kill.
When you choose this background, work with your DM to determine where you fought. Maybe it was in an underground fight club ,or a great colosseum.
- Skill Proficiencies: choose two from Athletics, Intimidation, Acrobatics,Animal Handling
- Tool Proficiencies: vehicles (land)
- Languages: Choose one standard language
- Equipment: a trophy taken from a fallen enemy (a dagger, broken blade, or piece of a banner), a set of bone dice or deck of cards, studded armor, and a pouch containing 10 gp
Every fighting entertainer has a particular competition or event they are masters of. Roll a d6 or choose from the options in the table below to determine your favorite tournament event:
| d6 | Specialty |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hand to hand combat |
| 2 | Archery |
| 3 | Team combat |
| 4 | Jousting |
| 5 | Beast fighting |
| 6 | Dueling |
During your time spent fighting in the arena you've learned how to fight dirty and how to resist those that would try to cheat you out of a fair fight. You can throw sand into your opponents eyes forcing them to make a dexterity saving throw or become blinded. You also have advantage on saving throws against melee attacks that would knock you prone.
Suggested Characteristics
The horrors of combat and the praise of fans leave their marks on all Arena Combatants, shaping their ideals, whether it leaves them scarred or hardy.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I’m always quiet. |
| 2 | I’m haunted by memories of the bloodiest fights. 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. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Greater Good. I live to entertain those that can do more for the world. (Good) |
| 2 | Responsibility. I always obey the rules of competition. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Independence. In the arena your only ally is yourself. (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 | Honor. If you have no honor you have nothing.(Any) |
| d4 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | Someone saved my life on the battlefield. To this day, I will never leave a friend behind. |
| 2 | My honor is my life. |
| 3 | I’ll never forget the crushing defeat my company suffered or the enemies who dealt it. |
| 4 | Those who fight beside me are those worth dying for. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | A monstrous enemy I once 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 that 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 fight what my manager tells me to fight. Even if I know it will die facing me. |
| 6 | I’d rather eat my armor than admit when I’m wrong. |
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