In Dungeons & Dragons, the choice of background can significantly shape your character’s backstory, skills, and role within the party. For Warlocks, who draw their power from supernatural entities, selecting the right background adds depth and flavor to their narrative. Among the various options available in the Player’s Handbook and other supplemental materials, several backgrounds are particularly fitting for Warlocks, aligning well with their thirst for knowledge, intrigue, or urban survival.
Cloistered Scholar
One of the most compelling backgrounds for a Warlock is the Cloistered Scholar. As a child, your inquisitive nature led you to prestigious institutes of learning, where the instructors nurtured your pursuit of knowledge. Whether apprenticed in Candlekeep, the renowned library of Faerûn or mentored in other scholarly bastions like the Vault of the Sages or the Map House in Silverymoon, you now embark on a quest to expand your understanding of the arcane. With proficiency in History and an additional skill from Arcana, Nature, or Religion, you bring a wealth of lore to your adventuring party. The Library Access feature grants you free entry to many knowledge repositories, facilitating your research endeavors and granting you preferential treatment in other scholarly institutions.
Courtier
Warlocks who excel in social manipulation and intrigue may be interested in the Courtier background. Having once held sway in noble courts or bureaucratic circles, you can navigate the intricacies of power and influence. Whether you rose through the ranks in the Court of Silverymoon or honed your skills amidst the labyrinthine politics of Waterdeep or Baldur’s Gate, your connections and insights prove invaluable. With proficiency in Insight and Persuasion, you excel at reading people and swaying opinions. The Court Functionary feature grants access to privileged information and influential figures, providing avenues for diplomacy or deception in your adventures.
Faction Agent
The Faction Agent background is a strategic choice for Warlocks who prefer to operate as undercover agents or operatives. Serving a secretive organization with interests spanning the realms, your adeptness at gathering intelligence and executing covert missions is crucial to your gameplay. Whether openly acknowledged or operating in the shadows, your allegiance to your faction grants you access to a network of allies and safe houses, providing a safety net in your adventures. With proficiency in Insight and a skill tailored to your faction’s focus, you navigate the complex web of allegiances and rivalries that define Faerûn’s political landscape, further enhancing your strategic gameplay.
Urban Bounty Hunter
This background offers an exciting path for Warlocks with a penchant for urban survival and tracking down elusive targets. Before embracing the life of an adventurer, you made a living hunting down fugitives and criminals within the bustling streets of Faerûn’s cities. Whether prowling rooftops as a thief-catcher or cultivating contacts within criminal underworlds, you are a master of the urban jungle. With proficiency in two skills: Deception, Insight, Persuasion, or Stealth, you blend seamlessly into your surroundings, gathering information and pursuing your quarry with tenacity. The Ear to the Ground feature ensures you have a network of informants and contacts to aid you in your pursuit, wherever your adventures take you.
The choice of background adds depth and richness to your Warlock character in Dungeons & Dragons. Whether you seek knowledge, wield influence, serve a hidden agenda, or thrive in the urban wilderness, each player can tailor a background to their character’s story and aspirations. By selecting the background that resonates most with your character concept, you enrich your role-playing experience and contribute to the vibrant tapestry of adventure in the realms of Faerûn.
