I'm making my first ever character for DnD and an idea came to me in terms of background. The idea in question being that the character is a personal assistant to a museum curator. I'm not completely sure if sage would fit that bill or if I would need to use some homebrew stuff.
Also not sure what class to use as well. Currently have Rogue selected.
I'm thinking a historical museum, something along the lines of the Smithsonian, just not nearly as big of a scale. So naturally, I would have hella good investigation and history modifiers.
I'm thinking a historical museum, something along the lines of the Smithsonian, just not nearly as big of a scale. So naturally, I would have hella good investigation and history modifiers.
Inquisitive rogue (thematically and mechanically), ancestral guardian barbarian (thematically more than mechanically), or a wizard (thematically and mechanically and is INT based for the skills you want). Lorehold (strixhaven) background for wizard would be the best thematically and mechanically, so Lorehold wizard is my top suggestion. If not, sage background.
Ancestral Guardian is a barbarian subclass. Inquisitive is a rogue subclass. Lorehold is a Strixhaven background specializing in history and arcana (comes with two intelligence skills, History and Arcana and an expanded spell list for a spellcaster). Order of Scribes (subclass) wizard sounds thematic but doesn't mechanically help other than wizard being an intelligence based class that would be good at intelligence skills like history, religion, arcana, etc).
You choose subclasses at level 1-3 depending on what class (clerics start with them).
Knowledge Cleric would work too (Knowledge is the subclass).
BTW, if it is a planetarium type museum, Stars Druid would work (Stars is the subclass).
Do a google search for each class and 5E and you'll find their descriptions and subclasses. There is also a new player guide in the menu on the top of this page.
If you're new, I'd say try Inquisitive rogue. If you really want to be a spellcaster, then knowledge cleric.
If you want a character who's, like, just a guy, rogue is probably what you want, as that's the "Mundane person who has useful skills that don't involve hitting things" class. Of the Player's Handbook rogue subclasses, arcane trickster makes good use of a high intelligence score, which is probably a plus. In other books, inquisitive or mastermind, both in Xanathar's Guide to Everything, also make good use of intelligence and are more explicitly mundane. Inquisitive may have better-fitting flavor, as you could think of the investigative skills as pertaining to research rather than detective work.
If your character or the museum could be more magically inclined, a wizard or artificer (the artificer class itself is in Eberron: Rising from the Last War and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything) is a good choice. As a wizard, you may want the school of abjuration (a good fit for protecting or preserving interesting specimens/displays/artifacts) or divination (more of a fit for research), both in the Player's Handbook. As an artificer, you could maybe be a battlesmith and view the homunculus companion as a sort of assistant your character uses to maintain or protect the museum.
Knowledge cleric (Player's Handbook again) isn't bad either, if the museum might be devoted to some setting-appropriate knowledge deity like Oghma, Delleb, or Aureon. Doesn't use intelligence much, which means you won't get quite as much benefit out of those skills you're after.
Like I said in a previous post, I'm thinking an in world equivalent of something akin to the Smithsonian, so I would have experience with the whole gamut (arts, magic, historical, religious, etc). Looking at everything, I'm REALLY looking at inquisitive rogue due to the fact that there is some combat capability to boot (insightful fighting and steady eye).
Since you are the assistant, you could be a Horizon Walker ranger, you just happen to find all those weird spots (Portals) that have all the really interesting things for the museum.
You could perhaps create a custom background. It's not hard.
Custom Background: Museum Curator/Docent
Skill Proficiencies: History, Performance
Other Proficiencies: Two language or tool proficiencies, or one of each
Feature: Criminal Contact - You know an art aficionado who is willing to operate outside the law. This person acts as your liaison to a network of other criminals. You know how to get messages to and from your contact, even over great distances; specifically, you know the local messengers, corrupt caravan masters, and seedy sailors who can deliver messages for you.
Alternate Feature: Guild Membership - You are a dues-paying member of a museum worker's guild.
Alternate Feature: Researcher - If a museum patron asks you a question and you don't know the answer, you know where you can find the answer.
Alternate Feature: Retainers - You have the services of three aides, or interns, to assist you in your museum duties.
Alternate Feature: Shelter of the Faithful - Those who share your passion and profession will support you (but only you) at a modest lifestyle.
You could try any magic-based class (Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock) as they always seem to find old stuff. Maybe even a druid if you're looking for old stuff using plants and animals to help you/ you get to make sure archeology digging practices aren't too disruptive to the environment.
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I'm making my first ever character for DnD and an idea came to me in terms of background. The idea in question being that the character is a personal assistant to a museum curator. I'm not completely sure if sage would fit that bill or if I would need to use some homebrew stuff.
Also not sure what class to use as well. Currently have Rogue selected.
Depends on kind of museum. Some background ideas:
Archeologist
Anthropologist
Clan crafter
entertainer
Guild artisan
Srtrixhaven/Prismari (perfomance) If spellcaster (bard especially but also, paladin, sorcerer, warlock, maybe druid). Maybe even Silverquil.
Strixhaven lorehold for history or quandrix for where math meets nature. I'm running a Lorehold stars druid in a one shot tomorrow.
Maybe...sage...but i think you have better options.
Class:
If its arts related, check the bard subclasses (creation, eloquence, glamour, lore, etc).
If exhibit is astronomy or planetarium related: Stars Druid.
Knowledge Cleric could work too. Then sage or lorehold could work as background.
Arcana cleric or wizard for a museum of magic. Then sage or lorehold could work as background.
You also need to think about races. Satyr is good for the arts...but other races would work too.
There is an actor feat.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
I'm thinking a historical museum, something along the lines of the Smithsonian, just not nearly as big of a scale. So naturally, I would have hella good investigation and history modifiers.
Inquisitive rogue (thematically and mechanically), ancestral guardian barbarian (thematically more than mechanically), or a wizard (thematically and mechanically and is INT based for the skills you want). Lorehold (strixhaven) background for wizard would be the best thematically and mechanically, so Lorehold wizard is my top suggestion. If not, sage background.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
now since I am new to Dnd, I am gonna ask for a few clarifications
what is lorehold, an ancestral guardian and Inquisitive?
Ancestral Guardian is a barbarian subclass. Inquisitive is a rogue subclass. Lorehold is a Strixhaven background specializing in history and arcana (comes with two intelligence skills, History and Arcana and an expanded spell list for a spellcaster). Order of Scribes (subclass) wizard sounds thematic but doesn't mechanically help other than wizard being an intelligence based class that would be good at intelligence skills like history, religion, arcana, etc).
You choose subclasses at level 1-3 depending on what class (clerics start with them).
Knowledge Cleric would work too (Knowledge is the subclass).
BTW, if it is a planetarium type museum, Stars Druid would work (Stars is the subclass).
Do a google search for each class and 5E and you'll find their descriptions and subclasses. There is also a new player guide in the menu on the top of this page.
If you're new, I'd say try Inquisitive rogue. If you really want to be a spellcaster, then knowledge cleric.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
Is Lore Bard off the table? I can't think of anything better.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
There is also the Paladin oath of the Ancients subclass for a link to history....thematically.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
If you want a character who's, like, just a guy, rogue is probably what you want, as that's the "Mundane person who has useful skills that don't involve hitting things" class. Of the Player's Handbook rogue subclasses, arcane trickster makes good use of a high intelligence score, which is probably a plus. In other books, inquisitive or mastermind, both in Xanathar's Guide to Everything, also make good use of intelligence and are more explicitly mundane. Inquisitive may have better-fitting flavor, as you could think of the investigative skills as pertaining to research rather than detective work.
If your character or the museum could be more magically inclined, a wizard or artificer (the artificer class itself is in Eberron: Rising from the Last War and Tasha's Cauldron of Everything) is a good choice. As a wizard, you may want the school of abjuration (a good fit for protecting or preserving interesting specimens/displays/artifacts) or divination (more of a fit for research), both in the Player's Handbook. As an artificer, you could maybe be a battlesmith and view the homunculus companion as a sort of assistant your character uses to maintain or protect the museum.
Knowledge cleric (Player's Handbook again) isn't bad either, if the museum might be devoted to some setting-appropriate knowledge deity like Oghma, Delleb, or Aureon. Doesn't use intelligence much, which means you won't get quite as much benefit out of those skills you're after.
Medium humanoid (human), lawful neutral
Like I said in a previous post, I'm thinking an in world equivalent of something akin to the Smithsonian, so I would have experience with the whole gamut (arts, magic, historical, religious, etc). Looking at everything, I'm REALLY looking at inquisitive rogue due to the fact that there is some combat capability to boot (insightful fighting and steady eye).
Since you are the assistant, you could be a Horizon Walker ranger, you just happen to find all those weird spots (Portals) that have all the really interesting things for the museum.
If you're interested in UA, the old Archivist class for the Artificer might be a fitting choice.
Warlock. The museum is your patron.
Great old ones were there throughout history or you could do undying/undead in reference to historical figures (or ghost busters).
Personally I'd go hexblade with your character having accidentally made a pact with a literal museum artifact.
Boring answer though is strixhaven has a whole magic sect related to history so Wizard.
You could perhaps create a custom background. It's not hard.
Custom Background: Museum Curator/Docent
You could try any magic-based class (Sorcerer, Wizard, Warlock) as they always seem to find old stuff. Maybe even a druid if you're looking for old stuff using plants and animals to help you/ you get to make sure archeology digging practices aren't too disruptive to the environment.