Your mind is fractured, home to multiple personalities—each with distinct motivations,
behaviors, and even combat styles. Whether this is due to trauma, magic, or an
unknown force, these personalities emerge unpredictably, sometimes taking control of
your actions. While you retain your skills and knowledge, moments of stress may cause
an alter to surface, influencing your decisions in unexpected ways.
This background provides unique roleplaying opportunities but also introduces
unpredictability in both combat and social situations. The struggle for control is
constant—you never truly know which aspect of yourself may take over next.
- Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from: Deception, Insight, Intimidation, Performance, Persuasion,
Athletics, Perception, or Survival. - Tool Proficiencies: One of your choice: Disguise Kit, Gaming Set, or a Musical Instrument.
- Languages: One of your choice.
- Equipment: A small token that represents each of your alters (a ring, locket, journal, or
symbolic item).
A set of common clothes.
A personal notebook filled with fragmented thoughts from different alters.
A pouch containing 10 gp.
Your mind is divided, leading to moments where control slips from your grasp. When
making an ability check, attack roll, or casting a spell, roll 1d20 against DC 6:
20: Gain advantage on the action.
6 or higher: Act as normal.
5 or lower: A different personality takes over, altering your action.
1: Gain disadvantage on the action.
Personality Shift Mechanics
When a shift occurs, it affects your actions as follows:
Skill Check Shifts
If a shift happens during a skill check, use the counter-skill instead:
Original Skill Counter-
Skill Original Skill Counter-
Skill
Acrobatics-Athletics
Medicine-Survival
Animal Handling-Intimidation
Nature-Survival
Arcana-Religion
Perception-Investigation
Athletics-Acrobatics
Performance-Deception
Deception-Persuasion
Persuasion-Intimidation
History-Investigation
Religion-Arcana
Insight-Perception
Sleight of Hand-Performance
Intimidation-Persuasion
Stealth-Performance
Investigation-Perception
Survival-Nature
Spellcasting Shifts
If a shift occurs while casting a spell:
1. Roll randomly from your known spells of the same or lower spell slot.
2. The new spell is cast at the original slot level.
Example: A wizard tries to cast Counterspell (3rd level) but loses control. Instead, they
cast Magic Missile (1st level) at 3rd level.
Combat Shifts
If a shift occurs during an attack or tactical decision, roll 1d6:
d6 Roll Combat Shift Effect
1 Reckless Abandon – Attack with advantage, but enemies also gain advantage against you until your next turn.
2 Defensive Reflex – Instead of attacking, you must take the Dodge action.
3 Tactical Retreat – Instead of attacking, you must move away from combat (use Dash if possible).
4 Berserk Rage – You must attack the nearest enemy, regardless of strategy.
5 Passive Personality – You cannot attack this turn; instead, you must use the Help or Ready action.
6 Focused Precision – Gain advantage on your next attack, but you cannot move this turn.
Resisting a Shift
Once per long rest, you can make a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw to resist a
shift and maintain control.
An ally who understands your condition can attempt to snap you out of it
using a DC 15 Persuasion or Insight check as a reaction.
Suggested Characteristics
| d6 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | A brilliant tactician, but cold and ruthless. |
| 2 | A cowardly alter that avoids confrontation at all costs. |
| 3 | A cheerful optimist who befriends everyone they meet. |
| 4 | A vengeful and paranoid alter that sees enemies everywhere. |
| 5 | A pacifist who refuses to harm others. |
| 6 | A thrill-seeker who chases danger and chaos. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | Easily manipulated due to naivety. |
| 2 | Prone to violent outbursts in stressful situations. |
| 3 | Becomes withdrawn and nonverbal under pressure. |
| 4 | Reckless and ignores danger. |
| 5 | Struggles with memory gaps due to shifting personalities. |
| 6 | Deeply distrusts even close allies. |
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