Expanding 5E D&D Background Characteristics — Noble

Salutations, nerds! This time around I’m looking at the Noble background in fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons. For all of you who like to play characters from rich families with expectations, buckle up. I definitely am and this is probably the background I’ve used the most out of all of them. The background options in the 5E D&D Player’s Handbook offer suggested characteristics to help define a character and spark your imagination for roleplaying. Let’s get started.

Fluff like 5E D&D background characteristics is the game too

From the 5E D&D Basic Rules: Fleshing out your character’s personality — the array of traits, mannerisms, habits, beliefs, and flaws that give a person a unique identity — will help you bring him or her to life as you play the game. Four categories of characteristics are presented here: personality traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws. Beyond those categories, think about your character’s favorite words or phrases, tics and habitual gestures, vices and pet peeves, and whatever else you can imagine.

Technically inspiration in 5E D&D is presented as a rule Dungeon Masters can use as a reward for players who remain true to their characteristics. Even though these characteristics don’t include mechanical benefits along the same lines as most class features these components of characters are still a part of the game with implications during play.

“If you’ve got a copy of Icewind Dale: Rime of the Frostmaiden you’ll find a whole bunch of character hooks and secrets in the introduction to inspire your characters’ motivation. Likewise resources like the Heroic Chronical in Explorer’s Guide to Wildemount and This Is Your Life sections in Xanathar’s Guide to Everything can really help develop fun and intriguing ideas for motivation of your adventurers.“ — 5 Sources of Motivation for 5E D&D Adventurers

d8 — Personality Traits

1. I’ve been taught to look at the facts in front of me first instead of jumping to what they might mean. I only know what I know.
2. I’m an aristocrat of good humor. Laughing with the people brings them closer to you.
3. I have a particular area of interest my wealthy family indulged and I am still prone to doing so when I have the time.
4. There’s a lot I haven’t seen before due to my sheltered upbringing. Often I’ll want to stop and get a better look.
5. I am a bit of a picky eater but when I find something I like I am very vocal about praising it.
6. I’m always looking for the best way to spin a situation to my favor, or at the very least out of my disfavor. How it looks is most important.
7. Even if I don’t have a plan I am quick to garner attention.. The plan will come, but the first lie wins.
8. One has advisers for a reason. I always turn to a person with more experience on most subjects and I expect others to turn to me on the matter of rule.

d6 — Ideal

1. Charity. It is my life’s purpose to help the less fortunate and let’s be honest, everyone is less fortunate. (Good)
2. Composure. I am supposed to be here. No one should question this and no one should be able to rattle me. (Lawful)
3. Exemplar. The people take their cues from me and I should strive to embody what I most hope to see in them. (Good)
4. Peace. A noble’s first job is to bring peace and prosperity to the land. (Good)
5. Fairness. I strive to make sure people get what they earn and to make sure things are as even as possible. (Lawful)
6. Manipulation. My job is to know who I am dealing with and how to best leverage them at any cost. (Evil)

d6 — Bond

1. I have a sibling who did something very important and I am not going to let them outdo me.
2. No one else traveling with me knows my house and name have been broken, but I will restore them.
3. I was sweet on a poor urchin from the village my family presides over when we were kids and didn’t understand it wouldn’t work.
4. I’m searching for a way to bring wealth to my struggling people.
5. I’m traveling because my cousin tried to murder me for my inheritance.
6. I’m closer to the governess who raised me than I am to anyone in my actual family.

d6 — Flaw

1. What flaw? Flaws are for commoners.
2. I have a very hard time handling messes and don’t want to touch dirty things.
3. We’re friends but I still expect you to take my orders.
4. I tend to be passive aggressive towards anyone who wakes me up before noon.
5. One of my subjects got out of hand when I was younger and I had to resort to violence to get them settled. I’m fairly certain I still have their enmity.
6. Most of the people I’ve been around in my life have been very above board and it vexes me whenever someone is not.

For me, at least the suggested features in the book are always incredibly inspiring so hopefully you found something in all of this that’s inspired you as well. Let us know in the comments, connecting with us on Facebook or tweeting us @Nerdarchy. Feel free to comment or tweet me @Pyrosynthesis too and of course, stay nerdy!

*Featured image — Noble is one of the background options for characters found in the 5E D&D Player’s Handbook. This Kenrith family portrait shows one of Eldraine’s royal families. This Magic: The Gathering plane is a medieval world filled with knights, castles, and magical creatures. A 5E D&D player can get a lot of mileage from the MTG multiverse. For example Theros is one of the MTG settings officially represented in 5E D&D, which we’ve explored quite a lot not to mention the free Plane Shift supplements. There’s also Curriculum of Chaos, an upcoming 5E D&D release set in the Magic: The Gathering world of Strixhaven. [Art by Ryan Pancoast]

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