Play Your Next 5E D&D Game as a Library Agent

Over at Nerdarchy the YouTube channel Nerdarchists Dave and Ted fulfill a community request for a fifth edition Dungeons & Dragons character who dutifully carries out their responsibilities as a librarian adventurer. The Library Agent is a 5E D&D character who procures lore and protects a sacred library and museum of arcane wonders. Late returns won’t be tolerated by this crusader of academia and easily accessible collections of materials, books or media. Let’s get into it.

Behind the CBG — Library Agent

Every CBG we create considers the journey as much as the final outcome. We aim to present a guide suitable for any level of 5E D&D play whether you’re pursuing an epic campaign from start to finish, starting beyond 1st level or choosing a character for a one shot. Then we take those concepts and develop an NPC or creature version of the character build for DMs to incorporate into their games. All of this gets packaged up and laid out in a PDF you can find over at Dungeon Master’s Guild. We’ve got dozens of pay what you want products at DMG, many of them best sellers so if you want to check those out start with the Library Agent here.

All about the character story

Each CBG starts with a character concept sticking to a particular schtick, from the Mind Breaker’s psyche crushing smites to the Library Agent’s adventuresome practicality. Sometimes puns and pop culture references instigate the creation of a CBG too. At every step of the way we considered options for obtaining and manipulating knowledge along with protecting the secrets they uncover.

For us it’s important to consider who these characters are as individuals and why they follow these particular paths. One special thing to note with this CBG is while we always aim to make the journey to 20th level as practical as possible — none of these characters “come online” after an awkward slog through many levels — the Library Agent fulfills my goals at 7th level when they become a Horizon Walker ranger. When they throw the book at a library offender their Planar Warrior feature ensures they feel the sting of their transgression. From this point the rest of the way to 20th level focuses on expanding the breadth and depth of their knowledge while core features help them keep pace with fellow adventurers.

We put together the Library Agent fairly early in the CBG series, coming in at No. 14 out of what’s now over 60 5E D&D Character Build Guides over at DM’s Guild. This month it joined a select few of those titles as a new bestseller. We’re excited to see these continue to gather steam and evolve along the way. After three years they’ve become something of a signature for us and based on the response we’re incorporating them with our monthly Patreon rewards. The versions you’ll find at DM’s Guild expand to include Out of the Box style encounters based on the creatures and NPCs in these modules. The Party Animal represents our first step in this transition, which you can learn more about here on the website.

“Maybe we can live without libraries, people like you and me. Maybe. Sure, we’re too old to change the world, but what about that kid, sitting down, opening a book, right now, in a branch at the local library and finding drawings of pee-pees and wee-wees on the Cat in the Hat and the Five Chinese Brothers? Doesn’t HE deserve better? Look. If you think this is about overdue fines and missing books, you’d better think again.” — Philip Baker Hall as Lt. Joe Bookman on Seinfeld season 3, episode 5: The Library

A few final thoughts related to the Library Agent looking back at it now over two years later come to mind. Recent comments on the video below mention how the Order of Scribes from Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything might fit well with this particular 5E D&D character build. Looking over the guide I could see foregoing some rogue levels in favor of this Arcane Tradition or even outright replacing it altogether. This take would focus more on the studious and thoughtful approach than skillful action. I totally dig leaning so heavily into the book theme too.

The Library Agent also pairs well with the Order of the Wizened, which among other things includes a new background for those who belong to an ancient order dedicated to the discovery and preservation of knowledge. You might even swap out the rock gnome for an Oreamnos, or goatfolk, for another fresh twist on the Library Agent. Now I want to revisit this concept with all these new ideas. Such a character sounds perfect for adventures from Candlekeep Mysteries, the upcoming Strixhaven: Curriculum of Chaos or really any 5E D&D campaign. Nerdarchist Dave came up with some ways for 5E D&D players to use these Candlekeep Mysteries adventures beyond the obvious ones the Dungeon Master has at their disposal in another blog post here. The upcoming Strixhaven book expands what 5E D&D can be too and a Library Agent character sounds like a terrific fit for a campaign like that.

Library Agent NPC for 5E D&D

Full disclosure — the NPCs and creatures we make in CBGs are some of my favorite bits of 5E D&D content to create. We step back and look at the character build to find the standout features that feel like signature abilities. The juice! From there we consider what sort of person or people would possess or gain these abilities and build a stat block around them. More often than not the section of a CBG For Dungeon Masters presents a generic creature.

Earlier CBGs like the Library Agent reflect the player versions much more closely so there’s rarely the same sorts of unique actions and traits you’ll find on all our more recent titles. We still make sure to include narrative hooks upon which to hang these NPCs though and selling that sizzle does a lot of heavy lifting in the evocative player experience department.

Our Library Agent works for a clandestine organization charged with safeguarding and procuring arcane secrets. These agents can be found in their libraries and museum strongholds or out in the world on secret missions. Some objects and pieces of lore are just too dangerous to remain in the world. They answer to a powerful being who is rumored to take their orders from the gods themselves. It’s this entity deciding what items are too potent to remain in the world.

New Action! That being said I cannot abide a Library Agent NPC without the ability to make those late fees really hurt so I’ll share an alternative action you can give the Library Agent’s in your games.

“Overdue Charge. Ranged Spell Attack: +5 to hit, range 60 ft., one target. Hit: 36 (6d10 +3) lightning damage and the target can’t take reactions until the start of its next turn. In addition it must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 10 feet in a straight line toward the Library Agent.”

If your next 5E D&D game needs an adventurer who draws their strength from books — whether you’re the DM or a player — check out the Library Agent Character Build Guide here.

*Featured image — From a secret stronghold carefully concealed high in the mountains, the Order of the Wizened guard vast repositories of ancient knowledge. Cursed by Baphomet for stubborn refusal of its gifts the Oreamnos, or goat folk, now act as guardians against the Horned King’s return to the world. These sentinels of civilization are ever watchful for agents of the Labyrinth, devotees of the demon lord ever plotting to reach the secluded stronghold and seize the knowledge within. And they need the help of heroes! Learn more about the Order of the Wizened here.

New videos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Nerdarchy the YouTube channel here