A character’s background has a lot of depth behind it, even if some players don’t regard it as too important.
Backgrounds usually contain two essential aspects that a character needs to consider: whether the stats are beneficial and what the background says about the character before becoming an adventurer.
For a full roleplaying Monk, you might look for backgrounds focusing on seclusion, martial arts, and self-determination.
Contents
Best Monk Backgrounds
5. Far Traveler
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight, Perception
Tool Proficiencies – Any one musical instrument or Gaming set you choose, likely something native to your homeland
Languages – Any one of your choice
Equipment
- Set of Traveler’s clothes (Value: 2 GP Weight: 4 lbs)
- Any one musical instrument or Gaming set you’re proficient with
- Poorly wrought maps from your homeland depicting where you’re in Faerûn
- Small piece of jewelry worth 10 GP in the style of your homeland’s craftsmanship
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 5 GP
Explanation
Insight and Perception are great skills to have as a Monk, and Far Traveler makes them easy to get your hands on.
The rest might not be too useful, as the equipment itself isn’t too promising for a monk either.
4. Faction Agent
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight and one Charisma, Intelligence, or Wisdom skill you choose, as appropriate to your faction
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Badge or emblem (Value: 5 GP Weight: 0) of your faction
- Copy of a seminal faction text (or a code book for a covert faction)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
Faction Agent gives you some versatility when choosing skills, as it lets you pick up Perception or another skill you might want.
The languages aren’t very useful as you have low Charisma, but being associated with a faction could add some detail to your backstory.
3. Hermit
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Medicine, Religion
Tool Proficiencies – Herbalism kit
Languages – One of your choice
Equipment
- Scroll case (Value: 1 GP Weight: 1 lb) stuffed full of notes from your prayers or studies
- Winter blanket (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3 lbs)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Herbalism kit (Value: 5 GP Weight: 3 lbs)
- 5 GP
Explanation
Hermit gives you Religion, which is already a Monk skill, and Medicine, which is usually useless but can be used efficiently with your high Wisdom.
The Herbalism kit lets you make magical potions, like healing potions, which helps a lot if your party is limited to 4 or fewer members.
2. Criminal
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Deception, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies – One type of Thieves’ tools, Gaming set
Languages – None
Equipment
- Crobaw (Value: 2 GP Weight: 5 lbs)
- Set of dark common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs) including a hood
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
Criminal gives you Stealth skill, and you also gain proficiency with Thieves’ tools, both of which excel when used by a rogueish Monk.
You also get 15 GP, which is pretty decent, but the rest isn’t all too useful.
Criminal might not fit a Monk’s backstory as well as others, but it can definitely work if you’re playing a vagrant Monk or something of the sort.
1. Urchin
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Sleight of Hand, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies – Disguise kit, Thieves’ tools
Languages – None
Equipment
- Small knife (Value: 0 Weight: 0)
- Map of the city you grew up in
- Pet mouse
- Token to remember your parents by
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 10 GP
Explanation
If you’re a Monk who wants to act like a Rogue, then you should go with Urchin.
The Sleight of Hand and Stealth skills are incredible, and the Disguise kit, as well as the Thieves’ tools, will help your party access otherwise inaccessible areas.
It isn’t too difficult to imagine a Monk who’s gone through immense difficulty being taken in by a martial artist and learning how to defend himself, rising out of his miserable existence, and finding monastic peace.
Final Thoughts
Monks are the martial artists of the D&D world, focusing on monastic abilities to perform all kinds of crazy feats.
The backgrounds mentioned above generally fit Monks the best, giving them small benefits to increase their overall strength and versatility, which they desperately need.
Each background can even be changed to fit your Monk’s flavor, retaining the benefits but changing the events that led to them becoming an adventurer!