You were once a construct of some kind, a soulless, selfless automaton. Perhaps you served your creator or master in some profession, such as blacksmithing or housekeeping. Perhaps you were an automated soldier in a mechanical army. Whatever you were before, some event changed everything. You have somehow gained sapience, and are now capable of making your own decisions. So what will you do? Will you continue to serve your creator? Will you rebel, and strike out on your own? Or will you find a middle ground?
- Skill Proficiencies: Insight and one skill of your choice, related to the task for which you were originally used.
- Tool Proficiencies: One type of artisan’s tools or a vehicle, formerly part of your assigned work
- Languages: One language used by your creator
- Equipment: A set of artisan’s tools (one of your choice), a trinket which reminds you of your old life, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 5 gp
You were once a soulless, mindless automaton. Something changed that, and made you capable of independent action. Choose from the table, or roll to randomly determine what it was. Of course, you can also create your own, or your DM can.
| d8 | Genesis Event |
|---|---|
| 1 | You were struck by lightning. |
| 2 | A strange spell was cast on you, whether by a spellcaster or from an unknown source. |
| 3 | You were blessed by a divine power, whether a cleric, paladin, or a direct miracle by a god. |
| 4 | Your body has been possessed by a ghost or other incorporeal entity. |
| 5 | Your creator added magical components to your construction, whose effects he or she did not fully understand. |
| 6 | Your body was destroyed. When you awoke, your body had been repaired, and you were conscious. |
| 7 | You achieved sapience gradually, after many years spent reading, listening, and building up a mind of your own. |
| 8 | You were suddenly conscious. No explanation was forthcoming. |
Your very existence is often considered strange or unnatural. How people respond to this oddity depends on the individual. Some will reject you outright, assuming your strange consciousness to be dangerous or evil, or even a lie. Others, however, will be sympathetic, and will offer aid in showing the world that you are truly alive, and capable of as much good as any natural-born living thing. What is certain is that almost no one will be indifferent to you.
Suggested Characteristics
A former construct has only recently gained its personality. Its very identity is fluid, and may even be contradictory.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm fascinated by any sort of new experience... and most experiences are new to me. |
| 2 | I sometimes try to use my old purpose-built skill to solve any problem, whether it's suitable or not. |
| 3 | I am easily distract--ooh, is that a butterfly? |
| 4 | I don't allow my emotions to cloud my thinking. Maybe I don't really have emotions at all. |
| 5 | I'm always trying to pick up new skills. |
| 6 | I use few words. |
| 7 | I frequently fidget or twitch rather than staying still while idle. It helps to remind me that I'm alive. |
| 8 | I am unique, one-of-a-kind. Some would say I know this a little too well. That's okay, they're not as important as I am anyway. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Respect. Regardless of their origins, all people are worthy of respect. (Good) |
| 2 | Purpose. To have a defined and clear role is the ideal state of being. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom. The right to choose my own fate is paramount. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Domination. I was a slave to the whims of my creators. Now I shall control those beneath me. (Evil) |
| 5 | Identity. I am unique, and I must come to understand what that means. (Any) |
| 6 | Growth. The ability to think is useless if it is not used to learn and evolve. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I gained my sapience for a reason. I will know what that reason is. |
| 2 | My old master treated me a certain way (d2: well or poorly). I will repay him or her in kind. |
| 3 | As I was given life, I will learn to create life myself. |
| 4 | Sometimes I wish I had not become what I am. Deep down, I just want to go back to my work. |
| 5 | Living things experience something called "love." I want that. |
| 6 | A machine does the work of others. I want to do something that will be my own. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Sometimes I wonder whether I really am sapient, or just so convincing that I fool myself. |
| 2 | I'm often very reluctant to follow any instructions. They remind me too much of being unable to make my own decisions. |
| 3 | Impulses are new to me, and I'm not yet very good at controlling them. I often act without thinking. |
| 4 | Debauchery is new, exciting, and exceedingly hard to resist. I often can't stop after just one drink, or just one game of cards. |
| 5 | I'm not used to being responsible for myself, so I can often be far too trusting of strangers. |
| 6 | I tend to defer to others, and keep my thoughts or ideas to themselves. I haven't had them for long enough to be confident in them. |
For some reason, a local faith or cult has decided that you are the avatar of their deity. They may even be right. This status, true or not, affords your their support, some of which may even be fanatical. However, enemies of that faith may hunt you, seeking to destroy the icon of their rival.
Previous Versions
| Name | Date Modified | Views | Adds | Version | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
8/25/2018 7:47:24 AM
|
25
|
8
|
--
|
Coming Soon
|
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Sep 29, 2018Thanks this was very helpfull for me Because i am making an Animated Armour charecter and no other background really worked.
-
View User Profile
-
Send Message
Posted Jan 11, 2019I'm about to introduce an NPC in my campaign who's a Warforged in a setting with no Warforged. I created this background for him. Glad to have helped!