Building Your D&D Character Backstory
- Irma Hoyt
- Jan 28
- 5 min read
If you’re brand new to Dungeons & Dragons 5e, reading a character sheet can feel like learning a new language ... minus the menacing green owl. Every great adventurer starts with blank boxes and big questions like: Who is this person? Why are they adventuring?
Before you roll on my random tables, look at these sections of your character sheet for some backstory starters:
Species traits → What special abilities does your species have/how can you use it with your backstory? Dragonborn's breath weapon = your clan uses it in coming-of-age rituals, dwarf's poison resistance = former poison tester for a noble
Class features → How did you gain your powers? Wizard = years of study, Sorcerer = born with it, Warlock = made a pretty noice deal
Background → What was your old life? Use the skills, tools, and features as literal job experience (more options in the tables below)
Ability scores → What are you naturally good/bad at? High WIS but low CHA = a perceptive hermit, High CHA but low INT = charming fool
But FIRST ... why does my backstory even matter?
Your backstory does three main things:
Helps with roleplaying ... it's easier to make decisions when you know who your character is
Helps your DM create plot hooks ... gives your DM stuff to work with and makes the campaign feel more personal for the party
Just straight up makes D&D more fun ... characters with personality are just more enjoyable to play, especially the chaotic ones (what's more fun than an unpredictable, chaotic good autognome artificer?)
Think of your backstory as the pilot episode of your character's story in the campaign and the real show starts at session one.
THB Quick-Build Backstory
Roll a d6 for each category below, or just pick what sounds cool. Mix and match until you've got a character that makes you excited to play :)
Where did you come from?
Think about where your character would have grown up and what kind of life they had before adventuring.
d6 | Origin |
1 | Small village/farm: You grew up in a quiet, rural community where everyone knew everyone |
2 | Big city streets: You navigated through a big city (Baldur's Gate is pretty big...), whether in the markets, slums, or noble districts |
3 | Nomadic/traveling: Your family moved around A LOT as [merchants, performers, refugees, etc.] |
4 | Isolated/wilderness: You grew up FAR from civilization in a [forest, mountains, desert, sea] |
5 | Temple/monastery: Raised in a religious or spiritual community |
6 | Unusual place: Pick something weird! Feywild, Underdark, traveling circus, pirate ship, etc. |
What's your family situation?
Your family doesn't have to be tragic if you don't want it to be. Seriously, it's okay to have living family members who love you or that you're embarrassed about.
d6 | Family |
1 | Close-knit family: Your family is alive, supportive, and you keep in touch |
2 | Complicated relationship: Your family exists but there's tension or distance |
3 | Orphaned: You lost your family and were raised by someone else |
4 | Estranged: You left on bad terms, were kicked out, or left on your own terms |
5 | Never knew them: You were abandoned, adopted, or raised by a non-family member |
6 | Chosen family: Your real family is your found family [guild, crew, adventuring party] |
What was your job BEFORE adventuring?
Your D&D background covers some of this, but there's nothing wrong with adding some flavor!
What were you actually doing day-to-day?
Classes: Fighter | Barbarian | Monk | Ranger | Rogue
d6 | Occupation |
1 | Guard/soldier/mercenary |
2 | Hunter/trapper/scout |
3 | Criminal/thief/smuggler |
4 | Gladiator/pit fighter |
5 | Bodyguard/bouncer |
6 | Athlete/performer/acrobat |
Classes: Wizard | Sorcerer | Warlock | Bard | Cleric | Druid
d6 | Occupation |
1 | Student/apprentice/researcher |
2 | Street performer/con artist |
3 | Healer/herbalist/midwife |
4 | Priest/acolyte/temple worker |
5 | Fortune teller/occultist |
6 | Sage/librarian/writer |
Classes: Paladin | Artificer | Any Support
d6 | Occupation |
1 | Craftsperson/blacksmith/artisan |
2 | Merchant/trader/shop owner |
3 | Sailor/dockworker |
4 | Farmer/laborer |
5 | Noble's servant/assistant |
6 | Investigator/detective |
What made you start adventuring?
This is the BIG one: why did your character leave their old life? This is the thing that keeps you moving forward.
d6 | Motivation |
1 | Seeking something: Lost family member, ancient artifact, hidden knowledge, cure for a curse |
2 | Running from something: Bad reputation, dangerous enemies, painful memories, the law |
3 | Proving yourself: Want to be worthy of something/someone, live up to expectations, or defy them |
4 | Survival/desperation: Broke, homeless, in debt, or your home was destroyed |
5 | Curiosity/wanderlust: Just want to see the world, find excitement, experience adventure |
6 | Duty/obligation: Sworn oath, family tradition, divine calling, or you were sent/hired |
What's your personality quirk?
Give your character one memorable trait that makes them them.
d6 | Quirk |
1 | You collect something weird or just random (buttons, wanted posters, pressed flowers, teeth, etc.) |
2 | You have a catchphrase you use way too much |
3 | You're superstitious about something specific (never walk under ladders, always knock on wood, etc.) |
4 | You're terrible at lying OR you lie about the dumbest things for no reason |
5 | You have a strong opinion about something random (best type of cheese, proper sword maintenance, etc.) |
6 | You're oddly formal/casual in situations where you probably shouldn't be |
Who's your connection?
Give yourself one person who matters to your character. This can also give your DM something to work with when they're tying your backstory to the campaign, or to connect with the rest of the party.
d6 | Connection |
1 | Mentor/teacher: Someone who trained you and you still respect (or resent) |
2 | Rival: Someone you're competing with or trying to surpass |
3 | Friend you left behind: Someone from your old life you miss or worry about |
4 | Family member: Sibling, parent, or relative you're protecting/seeking/avoiding |
5 | Former partner: Business partner, romantic partner, or adventuring companion |
6 | Mysterious stranger: Someone who helped you once and you don't know why |
Putting it all together
Example Backstory
Let's say you're playing a half-elf rogue with the criminal background and you rolled:
Origin: Big city streets
Family: Complicated relationship
Job: Criminal/thief
Motivation: Seeking something
Quirk: Collect weird stuff
Connection: Mentor/teacher
Quick backstory: You grew up in the city working as a thief under a skilled burglar who taught you everything. Your half-elf heritage meant you never quite fit in with either humans or elves, which pushed you toward the criminal underworld. Your family's disappointed in your choices, creating tension when you visit. You're searching for a legendary treasure your mentor mentioned before disappearing. You keep every broken lockpick as good luck charms. Your elven ancestry gives you keen senses; perfect for casing jobs and hanging back as a lookout.
