Hi there! So I'm in a bit of a conundrum as I'm having trouble picking a Background for one of my character concept. Let me describe them and, if you have any idea, let me know please.
So as the title said, the character would be a Warforged Sorcerer. Specifically, Wild Mage. The idea is this: Imagine an Empire who gained its power through magical experimentations and such. One of those major experimentation would be, of course, the creation of the Warforged as an army for their conquests. But now the mages of this empire wanted to go one step further: Create Warforgeds that could control magic. After some failed attempt, introducing my character: The first Warforged that can use spells and magic! They are, however, a bit buggy at times, which is reflected by the whole "Wild Magic" part of it all! Pleased by their progress but still feeling like they could do better (aka a magic-using Warforged who doesn't "bug" into Wild Magic), those mages kept my character prisoner, as a prototype, until they can make better magical Warforged. But fearing what would happen once those mages would be successful, my character escaped their prison and are now on the run! And that's my backstory!
So the issue is, I can't find any Background that truly "fits" this backstory! Some are close (I'm thinking things like the Hermit, the Criminal or the Far Traveler), but they are not exactly what I'm looking for: the Hermit, for instance, usually goes through some form of spiritual enlightenment during their isolation, as reflected by their Medecine and Religion proficiencies, but that's not the case for my character. Or the criminal: While technically on the run from the law, my character doesn't actually pursue any criminal activity whatsoever.
So, yeah, I'm stuck there. I guess I could homebrew a Background, sure, but before going there, do you guys see any Background that already exists and could fit the described backstory? That would be helpful, thanks!
an Izzet Engineer could be a fun choice. matches quite well with the wild magic/warforge combo. could always reskin the name a bit if it needs to fit in with certain lore. It would make sense that if you lived your whole life being surrounded by inventors, you yourself might have a bit of a flair for eccentric, unpredictable engineer/magic stuff. you probably learned a bit just by learning to do maintenance on yourself!
So the issue is, I can't find any Background that truly "fits" this backstory! Some are close (I'm thinking things like the Hermit, the Criminal or the Far Traveler), but they are not exactly what I'm looking for: the Hermit, for instance, usually goes through some form of spiritual enlightenment during their isolation, as reflected by their Medecine and Religion proficiencies, but that's not the case for my character. Or the criminal: While technically on the run from the law, my character doesn't actually pursue any criminal activity whatsoever.
You're taking the flavour text of these backgrounds as absolutes, and that's completely unnecessary. An honest, wrongfully convicted character who doesn't break the law (other than being on the run) can certainly be a Criminal - they'd need Stealth and Deception in order not to get captured and they might have met actual criminals in the course of their escape, giving them a contact if needed. A Hermit would certainly have been secluded while stashed away and experimented on, meeting only their jailers, and finding the gift of innate magic seems like a pretty important discovery. A character who's known only captivity for most of their life, never got any sort of education, could never learn how to be social from interacting with a community would definitely appear foreign to anyone in a normal society, so Far Traveller could certainly work too. Just look at the proficiencies and abilities of the backgrounds without being too concerned with the flavour and see what fits - the flavour will come from your unique backstory.
All that said, maybe run the create-warforged-that-control-magic bit by your DM first. By RAW, warforged-that-control-magic can exist already, so this origin story might not be entirely compatible with the setting and/or campaign your DM has in mind. I doubt they'll make an issue of it, but it's the polite and helpful thing to do.
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Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Hi there! So I'm in a bit of a conundrum as I'm having trouble picking a Background for one of my character concept. Let me describe them and, if you have any idea, let me know please.
So as the title said, the character would be a Warforged Sorcerer. Specifically, Wild Mage. The idea is this: Imagine an Empire who gained its power through magical experimentations and such. One of those major experimentation would be, of course, the creation of the Warforged as an army for their conquests. But now the mages of this empire wanted to go one step further: Create Warforgeds that could control magic. After some failed attempt, introducing my character: The first Warforged that can use spells and magic! They are, however, a bit buggy at times, which is reflected by the whole "Wild Magic" part of it all! Pleased by their progress but still feeling like they could do better (aka a magic-using Warforged who doesn't "bug" into Wild Magic), those mages kept my character prisoner, as a prototype, until they can make better magical Warforged. But fearing what would happen once those mages would be successful, my character escaped their prison and are now on the run! And that's my backstory!
So the issue is, I can't find any Background that truly "fits" this backstory! Some are close (I'm thinking things like the Hermit, the Criminal or the Far Traveler), but they are not exactly what I'm looking for: the Hermit, for instance, usually goes through some form of spiritual enlightenment during their isolation, as reflected by their Medecine and Religion proficiencies, but that's not the case for my character. Or the criminal: While technically on the run from the law, my character doesn't actually pursue any criminal activity whatsoever.
So, yeah, I'm stuck there. I guess I could homebrew a Background, sure, but before going there, do you guys see any Background that already exists and could fit the described backstory? That would be helpful, thanks!
You're directly encouraged by the background rules to disregard the listed proficiencies and just pick two skills and two tools-or-languages that fit your actual character, so definitely don't get hung up on those. Pick a background based on the "feature" it provides (for Ravnica backgrounds, like Izzet Engineer, the feature generally does nothing outside of the Ravnica world, but you get spells added to your spell list, which functions like your feature elsewhere), looking for one that meshes well with your backstory. What is your warforged plausibly good at?
This can be anything you and your DM agree is appropriate. Here's an example for rule of funny: you could pick Soldier, fluffing it as part of your escape: you forged your serial number, and now you present as well-respected warforged soldier from the front lines, letting you "pull rank" with that other warforged's rank.
One possibility to consider would be the Inheritor background (or at least the Inheritor background feature), treating the character's magical ability as their Inheritance. A magical artifact was integrated into their body to fuel their power, or they're the creation of a single brilliant arcanist who saw something more than a weapon within this warforged and granted the character a special kernel of knowledge, or some other means of "inheriting" power. Clearly, the Evil Empire of Wickedness wants both the secrets of a magical warforged and whatever it is that you've Inherited back, providing story impetus for the critter.
Alright guys, thanks for all your answers! I'll keep those in mind trying to figure something out! :) Thanks again!
Also, obviously I won't play that one in a setting that doesn't work with the DM. That's kinda true for all characters! I do like creating character concepts in advance, and that's one I found interesting to have in hand, save for the whole "Background" thing! But thanks for the warning! :)
In my campaign the Warforged isn’t called that, and was created by a Githzerai as an effort to bolster the depleted forces in the war with the githyenki.
Long story short automomon in limbo attracted a soul and became living meaning the Githzerai was then duty bound to teach it how to be a Gith. So you basicly have a mechanical Spock trying to understand mortal behaviours
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Hi there! So I'm in a bit of a conundrum as I'm having trouble picking a Background for one of my character concept. Let me describe them and, if you have any idea, let me know please.
So as the title said, the character would be a Warforged Sorcerer. Specifically, Wild Mage. The idea is this: Imagine an Empire who gained its power through magical experimentations and such. One of those major experimentation would be, of course, the creation of the Warforged as an army for their conquests. But now the mages of this empire wanted to go one step further: Create Warforgeds that could control magic. After some failed attempt, introducing my character: The first Warforged that can use spells and magic! They are, however, a bit buggy at times, which is reflected by the whole "Wild Magic" part of it all! Pleased by their progress but still feeling like they could do better (aka a magic-using Warforged who doesn't "bug" into Wild Magic), those mages kept my character prisoner, as a prototype, until they can make better magical Warforged. But fearing what would happen once those mages would be successful, my character escaped their prison and are now on the run! And that's my backstory!
So the issue is, I can't find any Background that truly "fits" this backstory! Some are close (I'm thinking things like the Hermit, the Criminal or the Far Traveler), but they are not exactly what I'm looking for: the Hermit, for instance, usually goes through some form of spiritual enlightenment during their isolation, as reflected by their Medecine and Religion proficiencies, but that's not the case for my character. Or the criminal: While technically on the run from the law, my character doesn't actually pursue any criminal activity whatsoever.
So, yeah, I'm stuck there. I guess I could homebrew a Background, sure, but before going there, do you guys see any Background that already exists and could fit the described backstory? That would be helpful, thanks!
You're taking the flavour text of these backgrounds as absolutes, and that's completely unnecessary. An honest, wrongfully convicted character who doesn't break the law (other than being on the run) can certainly be a Criminal - they'd need Stealth and Deception in order not to get captured and they might have met actual criminals in the course of their escape, giving them a contact if needed. A Hermit would certainly have been secluded while stashed away and experimented on, meeting only their jailers, and finding the gift of innate magic seems like a pretty important discovery. A character who's known only captivity for most of their life, never got any sort of education, could never learn how to be social from interacting with a community would definitely appear foreign to anyone in a normal society, so Far Traveller could certainly work too. Just look at the proficiencies and abilities of the backgrounds without being too concerned with the flavour and see what fits - the flavour will come from your unique backstory.
All that said, maybe run the create-warforged-that-control-magic bit by your DM first. By RAW, warforged-that-control-magic can exist already, so this origin story might not be entirely compatible with the setting and/or campaign your DM has in mind. I doubt they'll make an issue of it, but it's the polite and helpful thing to do.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
You're directly encouraged by the background rules to disregard the listed proficiencies and just pick two skills and two tools-or-languages that fit your actual character, so definitely don't get hung up on those. Pick a background based on the "feature" it provides (for Ravnica backgrounds, like Izzet Engineer, the feature generally does nothing outside of the Ravnica world, but you get spells added to your spell list, which functions like your feature elsewhere), looking for one that meshes well with your backstory. What is your warforged plausibly good at?
This can be anything you and your DM agree is appropriate. Here's an example for rule of funny: you could pick Soldier, fluffing it as part of your escape: you forged your serial number, and now you present as well-respected warforged soldier from the front lines, letting you "pull rank" with that other warforged's rank.
One possibility to consider would be the Inheritor background (or at least the Inheritor background feature), treating the character's magical ability as their Inheritance. A magical artifact was integrated into their body to fuel their power, or they're the creation of a single brilliant arcanist who saw something more than a weapon within this warforged and granted the character a special kernel of knowledge, or some other means of "inheriting" power. Clearly, the Evil Empire of Wickedness wants both the secrets of a magical warforged and whatever it is that you've Inherited back, providing story impetus for the critter.
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Alright guys, thanks for all your answers! I'll keep those in mind trying to figure something out! :) Thanks again!
Also, obviously I won't play that one in a setting that doesn't work with the DM. That's kinda true for all characters! I do like creating character concepts in advance, and that's one I found interesting to have in hand, save for the whole "Background" thing! But thanks for the warning! :)
In my campaign the Warforged isn’t called that, and was created by a Githzerai as an effort to bolster the depleted forces in the war with the githyenki.
Long story short automomon in limbo attracted a soul and became living meaning the Githzerai was then duty bound to teach it how to be a Gith. So you basicly have a mechanical Spock trying to understand mortal behaviours