Courtier 5e
In your earlier days, you were a personage of some significance in a noble court or a bureaucratic organization. You might or might not come from an upper-class family; your talents, rather than the circumstances of your birth, could have secured you this position.
You might have been one of the many functionaries, attendants, and other hangers-on in the Court of Silverymoon, or perhaps you traveled in Waterdeep's baroque and sometimes cutthroat conglomeration of guilds, nobles, adventurers, and secret societies. You might have been one of the behind-the-scenes law-keepers or functionaries in Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter, or you might have grown up in and around the castle of Daggerford.
Even if you are no longer a full-fledged member of the group that gave you your start in life, your relationships with your former fellows can be an advantage for you and your adventuring comrades. You might undertake missions with your new companions that further the interest of the organization that gave you your start in life. In any event, the abilities that you honed while serving as a courtier will stand you in good stead as an adventurer.
Source: Sword Coast Adventurer's Guide
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: None
Languages: Two of your choice
Equipment: A set of fine clothes and a pouch containing 5gp
Features
Court Functionary: Your knowledge of how bureaucracies function lets you gain access to the records and inner workings of any noble court or government you encounter. You know who the movers and shakers are, whom to go to for the favors you seek, and what the current intrigues of interest in the group are.
Suggested Characteristics
Use the tables for the guild artisan background as the basis for your traits and motivations, modifying the entries when appropriate to suit your identity.
The noble court or bureaucratic organization where you got your start is directly or indirectly associated with your bond (which could pertain to certain individuals in the group, such as your sponsor or mentor). Your ideal might be concerned with the prevailing philosophy of your court or organization.
Should You Be A Courtier?
Review by Sam West, Twitter:@CrierKobold
This is an odd duck of a Background- it uses the stencil provided in the Sword Coast Adventurer’s Guide of copying the traits of a Player’s Handbook background, but is an actual unique identity that is now lacking corresponding tables. It reads close to Noble, and definitely is lacking in substance. It probably should exist, but needs to be WAY better than this to deserve a spot on your sheet.
Feature: Library Access
Court Functionary has a home at tables where intrigue between courts and decorum are a major element; how many of those exist is another question entirely. There is value in knowing the basic inner workings of the systems you come across, as in high fantasy you’re often going to be dealing with these kinds of systems, but its still not on the same level as modern backgrounds that offer reasonable feats out the gate.
Skills:
Insight and Persuasion both shine in social circumstances; characters that want to be negotiators for the party want both usually. Bards, warlocks, sorcerers, and other charismatic characters all can find value in both during most adventures.
Other Proficiencies
Two languages hardly counts as bonus proficiencies- there are tons of possible languages in fantasy games. Most species and societies default to common, or at least can speak in common, making it unlikely more than a handful of times per campaign these languages will come up. It isn’t nearly enough when artisan’s tools and kit proficiencies are given out here.
Equipment
You get nothing interesting. How. How is it a background built around political court intrigue in Silverymoon doesn’t have anything intriguing? No seal, blackmailable letter, details of affairs, heck, writing utensils would go a long way. You get fine clothes and 5 gold. What a scam.
Bonus Tables
As for bonus tables, despite your background being in the interworkings of courts, you’re pointed towards craftsman tables in Guild Artisan. These are two entirely distinct character types. They actively don’t work together in some cases- a Courtier with the background traits “I’m well known for my work, and I want to make sure everyone appreciates it” or “The workshop where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me” don’t work with it.
All Together
This option is a mess. Don’t take it. A lot of the background tables you’re supposed to pair with it don’t function. It reuses guild artisan’s tables with the basic premise Noble offers, gives you fine skills and nothing else, and leaves you to it. Man, what a scam the Sword Coast’s Adventurer’s Guide is in terms of playable options.
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