When creating your character, selecting a background that aligns with your vision for the character is crucial. Backgrounds serve as a representation of the life your character has led up until the start of their adventuring journey. It's essential to choose a background that not only complements your character concept but also enriches their backstory.

Your character's background should harmonize with their backstory, providing depth and context to their experiences and skills. It helps players and the game master understand the character's origins, upbringing, and the events that have shaped them into the individual they are at the beginning of the campaign.

For instance, if you envision playing an orphan who survived by stealing in the streets, selecting the criminal background would grant you proficiency in skills like stealth and pickpocketing. This proficiency not only reflects your character's past but also enhances your ability to role-play their street-smart and cunning nature, adding a layer of authenticity and intrigue to your character's persona.

A life filled with unrelenting hardships, where every day was a struggle for survival. This category encompasses individuals such as peasants, woodcutters, miners, and others engaged in laborious and demanding occupations. While you may carry a wealth of life experiences, your possessions are meager, and your coin purse often remains near empty.

In this background, you've learned to navigate adversity and thrive through determination and resourcefulness. Although your material wealth may be limited, your character possesses a rich tapestry of practical knowledge and resilience, making them well-prepared to face the challenges of adventuring life.

In the complex tapestry of society, there exists a segment of individuals who, driven by necessity or emboldened by ambition, make a fateful choice—to embrace a life of crime. This diverse category spans a broad spectrum of illicit activities, ranging from the nimble-fingered street thief, adept at lifting purses and slipping through the darkest alleyways, to the crafty con artist, skilled in the art of manipulation and deception. Beyond these, there are those who find their place within the intricate workings of organized crime, where clandestine operations and sinister dealings rule the day.

Regardless of their motivations, those within this category harness their cunning, wit, and resourcefulness to carve out a niche in the shadows. In the world of crime, secrets are traded like currency, alliances are forged and betrayed in equal measure, and only the most shrewd and adaptable can hope to thrive.

Born with a silver spoon in your mouth, your privileged upbringing and prestigious pedigree have ensured that you never had to worry about empty pockets or financial hardships. Your family's wealth has provided you with a life of comfort and luxury, shielding you from the harsh realities that many others face. However, this sheltered existence has come at a cost—your lack of firsthand life experience.

From a young age, you've been surrounded by opulence, attended the finest schools, and enjoyed the privileges of your noble lineage. Your every need has been catered to, and you've had the luxury of pursuing education and refinement in various arts and skills. Yet, this cocooned existence has left you somewhat inexperienced when it comes to the challenges and struggles that those from different walks of life endure daily.

Whether by force or by choice, your life has been shaped by rigorous military training, preparing you to serve as a soldier in various capacities, be it as a member of the town's guard or a dedicated soldier in your country's army. This training has not only honed your physical prowess but has also equipped you with the skills and discipline necessary to excel in combat.

From early on, you underwent grueling drills, mastering the use of weapons, tactics, and battlefield strategies. Your life became a series of regimented routines, fostering physical fitness and mental resilience. You've learned to march in formation, wield weaponry with precision, and adapt swiftly to changing battle conditions.

Your life until now has been driven by knowledge. Whether through your own pursuit, a religious upbringing, or through long studies, you've been immersed in the pursuit of understanding and wisdom. From an early age, you've delved into books, absorbed lectures, or engaged in deep theological discussions, thirsting for knowledge and seeking to unravel the mysteries of the world.

Your days have been filled with intense study sessions, exploring various subjects and disciplines. You've devoted countless hours to mastering complex concepts, refining your analytical skills, and broadening your intellectual horizons. Your pursuit of knowledge has shaped your worldview and fueled your intellectual growth, while simultaneously limiting your worldly possessions.

You have lived the life of a merchant, either through working in a shop selling goods bought or made by yourself. Perhaps you spent your days behind the counter, engaging with customers and managing inventory. Or maybe you traveled from town to town, setting up stalls at markets and fairs, constantly on the lookout for profitable opportunities.

This lifestyle has sharpened your skills in identifying quality merchandise and securing the best possible deals. You've learned to assess the value of goods, negotiate prices with suppliers, and anticipate market trends to stay ahead of the competition. It has left you with some capital in your pocket as a result of your hard work and savvy business practices.