So I’m building a character who owns two buildings—one in the capital and one in a more rural town—and is renting them out to apothecary shopkeepers. However, I can’t find a single Background that suits a Landlord or Property Owner type.
The closest I can find is a Guild Merchant (the PHB variant of the Guild Artisan), although it being so tied to a guild didn’t really suit the character and what comes with it doesn’t suit the character, either. Basically, only about a third of this Background (if even that much) really fits my character, but that’s the closest I can find.
Does anyone have any tips or recommendations? Is there a Background in a source other than the PHB that might suit a Landlord or Property Owner type of build? Or one in the PHB I just missed? I even tried looking for Landlord and Property Owner Background homebrews online and came up with nothing.
Any tips or leads you might have would be a huge help! I’d really like to stay away from homebrewing this myself from scratch, so if there’s something out there that’s perfect or only needs a slight tweak would be such a relief!
I don't think you're going to find a background that provides a steady stream of income...even a noble has but 25gp to his name (setting aside the 'work with DM' of course, which is entirely open) and a character with a Noble background has a family that owns land, the character doesn't.
Personally, i think a starting background where the character has a stream of income is OP unless you then allow every character at the table to have income. I've found that in many games, gold is only an obstacle in the first few levels anyway and that's the only phase where people really care about it....if you take that away its one less interesting aspect of the game (in my opinion anyway).
also imo, there's no point of even caring about gold if there's just a steady stream of it coming in because of nothing you've done, other than saying you get it.
you could do failed merchant from acquisitions inc if you want to scrap the steady stream of income idea.
You can customize backgrounds as you see fit...and it's in the rules. PHB p125 all the listed options are simply examples...thank you Jeremy Crawford!
maybe...most of customizing a background is interchanging pieces from other existing backgrounds...and I'm not sure if your 'as you see fit' is the same as RAW's 'work with your DM'
Customizing a Background
"You might want to tweak some of the features of a background so it better fits your character or the campaign setting. To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds. You can either use the equipment package from your background or spend coin on gear as described in chapter 5. (If you spend coin, you can’t also take the equipment package suggested for your class.) Finally, choose two personality traits, one ideal, one bond, and one flaw. If you can’t find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one."
"If you can't find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one."
Work with them for their assistance in finding something that fits your build. Not you need their permission...dammit!! I'm rules lawyering!! Nevermind, dont mind me!
Freaking hate rules lawyers!!! I'm really not a bad person!
"If you can't find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one."
Work with them for their assistance in finding something that fits your build. Not you need their permission...dammit!! I'm rules lawyering!! Nevermind, dont mind me!
Freaking hate rules lawyers!!! I'm really not a bad person!
i'm not sure if its rules lawyering or big-picture balancing. would a DM really want one character to have a steady/fat stream of income and not the other players? That could very well throw off the entire reward structure of the game - or cause friction among players because the mage is still walking around in commoner clothes with torn foot wrappings, trying to sell his mess kit so he can get enough coppers to copy the awesome level 1 spell scroll he found....while the trustbaby is rolling down the street in a chariot with the word "ye ol' bentley" stamped on the side.
Backgrounds are (probably) the easiest thing in the game to homebrew.
Choose 2 skills that will fit in with what your background did. I'd do Persuasion and Perception for a landlord
Next, either 2 languages, 2 "tool" proficiencies, or one of each. (there are a few backgrounds that break this pattern, but 90% of them do follow this.)
For landlord, I'd do one language and proficiency in woodcarver's tools.
Then, starting equipment. I'd do papers describing what your job used to be, the deed to your property, 20 gp, and a trinket you found when someone you were renting to left.
Then, personality traits are up to the DM, but I wouldn't create a new set of tables, I'd use Noble and Guild Artisan for inspiration.
There is normally an additional trait, and I'd make it be the property you own that you were renting out.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Courtier from SWAG could be flavored for a landlord easily. You get two languages (to better talk to your tenants) but if you rather you could trade one or both languages for carpentry or masonry tools if you built the places yourself.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So I’m building a character who owns two buildings—one in the capital and one in a more rural town—and is renting them out to apothecary shopkeepers. However, I can’t find a single Background that suits a Landlord or Property Owner type.
The closest I can find is a Guild Merchant (the PHB variant of the Guild Artisan), although it being so tied to a guild didn’t really suit the character and what comes with it doesn’t suit the character, either. Basically, only about a third of this Background (if even that much) really fits my character, but that’s the closest I can find.
Does anyone have any tips or recommendations? Is there a Background in a source other than the PHB that might suit a Landlord or Property Owner type of build? Or one in the PHB I just missed? I even tried looking for Landlord and Property Owner Background homebrews online and came up with nothing.
Any tips or leads you might have would be a huge help! I’d really like to stay away from homebrewing this myself from scratch, so if there’s something out there that’s perfect or only needs a slight tweak would be such a relief!
Maybe a noble? Depending on the location and era, they might be the only people to actually own property.
I was also thinking noble. Even if its a minor noble, owning two properties meant you had land and titles.
You can customize backgrounds as you see fit...and it's in the rules. PHB p125 all the listed options are simply examples...thank you Jeremy Crawford!
Call it "slum lord" proficient in deception and intimidation. Got to get that money! Language spoken F U pay me.
I don't think you're going to find a background that provides a steady stream of income...even a noble has but 25gp to his name (setting aside the 'work with DM' of course, which is entirely open) and a character with a Noble background has a family that owns land, the character doesn't.
Personally, i think a starting background where the character has a stream of income is OP unless you then allow every character at the table to have income. I've found that in many games, gold is only an obstacle in the first few levels anyway and that's the only phase where people really care about it....if you take that away its one less interesting aspect of the game (in my opinion anyway).
also imo, there's no point of even caring about gold if there's just a steady stream of it coming in because of nothing you've done, other than saying you get it.
you could do failed merchant from acquisitions inc if you want to scrap the steady stream of income idea.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
maybe...most of customizing a background is interchanging pieces from other existing backgrounds...and I'm not sure if your 'as you see fit' is the same as RAW's 'work with your DM'
Customizing a Background
"You might want to tweak some of the features of a background so it better fits your character or the campaign setting. To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds. You can either use the equipment package from your background or spend coin on gear as described in chapter 5. (If you spend coin, you can’t also take the equipment package suggested for your class.) Finally, choose two personality traits, one ideal, one bond, and one flaw. If you can’t find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one."
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
"If you can't find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one."
Work with them for their assistance in finding something that fits your build. Not you need their permission...dammit!! I'm rules lawyering!! Nevermind, dont mind me!
Freaking hate rules lawyers!!! I'm really not a bad person!
i'm not sure if its rules lawyering or big-picture balancing. would a DM really want one character to have a steady/fat stream of income and not the other players? That could very well throw off the entire reward structure of the game - or cause friction among players because the mage is still walking around in commoner clothes with torn foot wrappings, trying to sell his mess kit so he can get enough coppers to copy the awesome level 1 spell scroll he found....while the trustbaby is rolling down the street in a chariot with the word "ye ol' bentley" stamped on the side.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Oh, as far as a "steady income"; nah, that's not happening.
If you want gold you'll have to kill and loot like the rest of us.
Except for Waterdeep Dragon Heist.
Backgrounds are (probably) the easiest thing in the game to homebrew.
Choose 2 skills that will fit in with what your background did. I'd do Persuasion and Perception for a landlord
Next, either 2 languages, 2 "tool" proficiencies, or one of each. (there are a few backgrounds that break this pattern, but 90% of them do follow this.)
For landlord, I'd do one language and proficiency in woodcarver's tools.
Then, starting equipment. I'd do papers describing what your job used to be, the deed to your property, 20 gp, and a trinket you found when someone you were renting to left.
Then, personality traits are up to the DM, but I wouldn't create a new set of tables, I'd use Noble and Guild Artisan for inspiration.
There is normally an additional trait, and I'd make it be the property you own that you were renting out.
Please check out my homebrew, I would appreciate feedback:
Spells, Monsters, Subclasses, Races, Arcknight Class, Occultist Class, World, Enigmatic Esoterica forms
Courtier from SWAG could be flavored for a landlord easily. You get two languages (to better talk to your tenants) but if you rather you could trade one or both languages for carpentry or masonry tools if you built the places yourself.