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5e Background: The Bodyguard
Overview
You have spent your life protecting someone else's. Perhaps it was a noble, or a powerful crime boss; maybe even a brutal warlord. Maybe instead of someone more powerful than you, it was a physically weaker companion or family member. Whatever the case, your life up to this point has been focused around protecting someone.
Skill Proficiencies: Choose two from Insight, Intimidation, and Perception
Languages: One of your choice
Tool Proficiencies: You have proficiency in Vehicles (Land)
Equipment: A symbol or keepsake from one of the people you guarded (possibly denoting rank), a book of troublemakers who caused continuous problems for one of your charges, a pair of manacles, a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
Feature: Guardian's Eye
I have a keen eye when it comes to safety. My companions and I can travel at a normal speed through crowds; and I can always pick out the safest route to take through a town or city. This doesn't account for unseen or hidden dangers, such as a lair of vampires hiding in the noble quarter; but I can easily avoid slums and areas where thugs might hang around.
Suggested Characteristics
Body guards are generally good at protecting; whether they're protective by nature or simply good at their job is up to you.
Their skill at guarding and noticing dangers, as well as their relationship to their charges, affect how they act and think. Their flaws could be being overly protective or hesitant, or maybe something that somehow compromises their guarding abilities.
D8 Personality Trait
1 I am always quiet and stoic, rarely speaking or acting when I work.
2 I am aggressive and often get in people's faces while I work, trying to make sure others know to keep a distance.
3 I often hide in crowds while keeping an eye on my charge; stepping in out of the shadows when needed.
4 I always check the shadows wherever I go; you can never be too safe.
5 I fuss over my charge, swiftly and deftly tending to their every need; acting more like a servant than a bodyguard.
6 I don't like when strangers get too close to me or my friends; keep your distance, and we'll be fine.
7 I'm used to sleeping on the road and in uncomfortable situations; but I wake up at the slightest noise.
8 I always make sure that when we have to sleep, at least one person is on lookout.
D6 Ideals
1 Protection. it is my job to protect others; I would die for the ones I guard. (Lawful)
2 Guardian. I want to protect everyone, as best I can. (Good)
3 Fluid. When attacked, you can't be rigid and unmoving; you need to adapt to the situation. (Chaotic)
4 Money. I honestly just want to get paid; I couldn't care less about my charges. (Neutral)
5 Betrayal. As a bandit, you have to wait for people to wander out into the wilderness to kill them. As a bodyguard, they'll wander out into the wilderness with you! (Evil)
6 Friendship. I just don't want my friends to die. (Any)
D6 Bond
1 I am still loyal to my original master; and would die for them.
2 I will get revenge on the one who slaughtered those I was meant to defend.
3 I owe my life to my old master; and they owe their life to me.
4 One of my old charges was a cheat and a scoundrel; and swindled me out of my pay. Some payback would be nice.
5 I failed in my duties; it ruined my reputation, and is a stain on my honor.
6 I served (or serve) with a team of bodyguards, that offer protection to various people traveling in dangerous areas.
D6 Flaw
1 I am paranoid and overly protective, never letting those I guard out of my sight.
2 I'm lax in my duties; and this has gotten me into some trouble before.
3 Yes, actually; I do know best, and you will do as I say.
4 Sometimes my aggression towards strangers gets those I protect in more trouble, rather than help to avoid it.
5 I view myself and those I protect as higher than other people; looking down on the peasantry.
6 I am rigid in my hatred of criminals. I don't care why you did it or how long ago it was; you're still filth in my eyes.
You should rename guardian's eye to ocular patdown.
Then you’d have to give him a duster with those common clothes
I would really love an option feature along the lines of a disgraced bodyguard. "You failed your previous client, causing them to get killed while under your protection. You have since been fired (or quit in shame), and are looking for some way to make up for your failure."
I mean, that fits pretty well with bonds 2 and 5.
Reminds me of the Slayers Oath from Warhammer Fantasy, the Dwarf Slayers
I play a half orc cleric along those lines. He was a ward and later bodyguard to a very rich merchant family. The oldest son was killed on the guard's watch and he's been disgraced. Couldn't get any other guard jobs, so he joined adventurers.
Remember that the roll tables for background details are just jumping off points, if you want to play that character then just make it!
Well thought out! Like the alignment bound ideals.
I believe that's a fairly common thing.
Indeed, every background in the PHB and Xanathar's has alignment bound ideals.
But where's Whitney Houston?
"And IIIIIIIIIIIIII will always (impose disadvantage on an enemy's attack roll against) yoooooooooou!"
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Thanks
Also, in the second sentence under Guardian's Eye, it should be "My companions and I" rather than "me and my companions."
Nice.
ANND IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII...
I've found Valor bards make excellent bodyguards in practice, so this will be nice to throw in if I want to play one in the future.
Very interesting.
Not sure about the special ability. Maybe instead go the route of the Guild Artisan. You can get work as a bodyguard for the well to do, potentially networking with the well to do (if you manage the escort quests).
Also, land vehicle and navigation seem like things to consider, while two languages may not necessary.
I feel the special feature fits and here's why: The city watch background in SCAG has a similar feature and a bodyguard isn't too far of a stretch from a city watch official. I agree that the two languages seem out of place though which is ironic because the city watch background grants two languages. Possibly why the OP chose to add them. :)
I'd add a tool proficiency of some kind. Backgrounds in the PHB always have either:
Two tool proficiencies, or
One tool proficiency and one extra language, or
Two extra languages
I would also narrow down the skill options to just two, as the PHB backgrounds don't give a choice for skills. Perception should certainly be one of them.
Some SCAG backgrounds can give you options from a small list. I don't think its bad, it can give some flexibility, even though backgrounds are already pretty flexible. But I agree with the extra tool/language, perhaps cartographer's?
Perception AND insight or intimidation. The guard will always be perceptive but how he deals with people becomes the variable.
Now I wait for a "Long Lost Pal" background and make the most annoying (read: best) PC duo.