Autognomes, the clockwork marvels of the D&D 5e world, bring a blend of ingenuity and charm to any adventuring party.
Selecting the perfect background for your Autognome character can enhance their mechanical prowess and add depth to their role-playing potential.
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What Are Backgrounds in D&D 5e?
Backgrounds are more than simple stat boosts in Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition. They reveal where your character came from, why you became an adventurer, and your place in the world.
Before choosing your Background, ask yourself a few questions:
- What was I before I became an adventurer?
- Why did I stop doing what my Background explains and become an adventurer?
- Where did I get the money to buy my starting equipment?
- Where did I learn the skills used in my class?
- What’s different about me compared to others with the same Background?
Best Backgrounds for Autognomes
5. Spy
Skill Proficiencies – Stealth, Deception
Tool Proficiencies – Thieves’ tools, One type of gaming set
Languages – None
Equipment – A set of dark common clothes, including a hood, a crowbar, and a pouch with 15GP.
Why the Spy?
Spies aren’t much different from normal Criminals or Smugglers, but they have practiced in vastly different ways.
In fact, most spies are trained espionage agents. Many work as sanctioned agents of the crown or sell uncovered secrets to the highest bidder.
Autognomes might not be real Gnomes, but that doesn’t mean they can’t act and play like normal Gnomes.
One of the best ways to play a Gnome is as a Scout or Face, and with the Spy background, you can easily turn your Autognome into the perfect stealthy character.
4. Rune Carver
Skill Proficiencies – Perception, History
Tool Proficiencies – One set of Artisan’s tools
Languages – Giant
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a set of Artisan’s tools (choose one), a whetstone, a small knife, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Rune Carver?
Rune Carver Autognomes have the Rune Shaper Feat, giving them access to much-needed spells, especially when playing spellcasting builds.
Not to mention that Autognomes were initially created by Gnomes, which allows you to delve deeper into a backstory of how you started carving runes and who taught you.
3. Mercenary Veteran
Skill Proficiencies – Persuasion, Athletics
Tool Proficiencies – Vehicles (land), One type of gaming set
Languages – None
Equipment – A gaming set of your choice, an insignia of your rank, a uniform of your company (traveler’s clothes in quality), and a pouch with the remainder of your last wages (10GP).
Why the Mercenary Veteran?
Mercenary Veterans have the Mercenary Life feature, letting you identify mercenary companies, find places where mercenaries abide, and get mercenary work between adventures.
Although the exact reason for the creation of Autognomes is unknown, it’s known that they can act freely and have been known to hold onto sentiments given to them by their creators.
However, Autognomes might’ve also been used for war as inexpensive soldiers, and thus, when their masters die, they may turn away from their community and become mercenaries.
2. Guild Artisan
Skill Proficiencies – Persuasion, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – One type of Artisan’s tools
Languages – Choose one
Equipment – A set of Artisan’s tools (choose one), a set of traveler’s clothes, a letter of introduction from your guild, and a pouch with 15GP.
Why the Guild Artisan?
Guild Business gives you proficiency with Artisan’s tools, and Guild Membership can guarantee safe lodging and food for your party.
Autognomes may be machines, but due to some of them being built differently, it’s possible they’ve picked up on tinkering, crafting just like their masters crafted them.
1. Soldier
Skill Proficiencies – Intimidation, Athletics
Tool Proficiencies – Vehicles (land), One type of gaming set
Languages – None
Equipment – A trophy you took from a fallen enemy (a piece of a banner, dagger, or broken blade), a set of common clothes, a deck of cards or a set of bone dice, an insignia of rank, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Soldier?
Soldiers receive the Military Rank feature, allowing you to exert your rank and impose authority over soldiers lower than you.
This authority can grant you and your party access to fortresses, encampments, simple equipment, and horses.
If there’s one thing that constructs do well, it’s fighting, and if there’s one thing Gnomes would’ve rather had someone else done, it’s also fighting.
So, it’ll be no surprise if an Autognome has not only learned how to fight with weapons but served as a Soldier for their creator or in some other army.
Final Thoughts
Backgrounds such as the Spy, Guild Artisan, or Rune Carver can amplify their skills and technological prowess, while the Soldier or Mercenary Veteran backgrounds can add depth to their backstory and motivations.
Choose a background that resonates with your Autognome’s personality and goals, and embark on an adventure that showcases their unique blend of intellect and ingenuity.