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 Druid, you might look for backgrounds focusing on peace with nature, animals, and isolation.
Best Druid Backgrounds
5. Cloistered Scholar
Description
Skill Proficiencies – History, as well as a choice of one from among Religion, Arcana, and Nature
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- The scholar’s robes (Value: 1 GP Weight: 4 lbs) of your cloister
- Writing kit (small pouch [Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb] with a quill [Value: 2 CP Weight: 0], a bottle of ink [Value: 10 GP Weight: 0.0625 lb], some folded parchment [Value: 1 SP Weight: 0], and a small penknife [Value: 0 Weight: 0])
- Borrowed book (Value: 25 GP Weight: 5 lbs) on the subject of your current study
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 10 GP
Explanation
Cloistered Scholar gives you two knowledge skills as well as two languages, the skills being more useful than the languages because of your low Charisma.
The equipment you get isn’t bad, and the Cloistered Scholar is probably one of the best backgrounds in terms of roleplay for the Druid.
4. Acolyte
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Insight, Religion
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two of your choice
Equipment
- Holy symbol (a gift given to you when you entered priesthood)
- Prayer book or prayer wheel
- 5 Sticks of incense
- Vestments (Value: 0 Weight: 0)
- Set of common clothes (Value: 5 SP Weight: 3lbs)
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 15 GP
Explanation
Acolyte gives you Insight (which is a Druid skill), as well as a knowledge skill, which is pretty good.
You also get access to two languages, which seems good but is less useful because of your low Charisma.
The equipment you get is good, and the Shelter of the Faithful feature will come in handy when you need it most.
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 a knowledge skill, and Medicine, which isn’t that good, but it does use your Wisdom.
Druids already get proficiency with a Herbalism kit, so you can just trade it out for another proficiency you need.
The rest of this background isn’t too good, but the background itself is a lot like Cloistered Scholar, as it has a fitting roleplaying aspect to it.
2. Urban Bounty Hunter
Description
Skill Proficiencies – Choose two from among Deception, Insight, Perception, and Stealth
Tool Proficiencies – Choose two from among one type of Gaming set, one musical instrument, and Thieves’ tools
Languages – None
Equipment
- Set of clothes appropriate to your duties
- Pouch (Value: 5 SP Weight: 1lb) containing 20 GP
Explanation
Urban Bounty Hunter is a very versatile background, giving you access to some Druid skills and some Face skills, which can be made to work for your build.
The tool proficiencies aren’t too useful, except for the Thieves’ tools, which can be useful if you’re lacking someone with the capability to get through doors without using magic.
1. 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 is even better than Urban Bounty Hunter in terms of skill versatility, giving you access to one Druid skill and one choice between a lot of other useful knowledge and Face skills.
You also get access to two languages, but because of your low Charisma, it isn’t as useful as you’d think it is.
Final Thoughts
Druids are your typical nature-obsessed mage working diligently to protect both the purity and brutality of nature.
The above-mentioned backgrounds provide some of the best benefits to Druids, even if they’re quite minuscule.
You can even change up some of the details surrounding a background to fit your persona!