Grungs, the colorful and agile frog-like humanoids, offer a tribal yet sophisticated role-playing experience in Dungeons & Dragons.
Selecting the right background is essential to fully immerse yourself in the world of a Grung character.
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 Grungs
5. 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.
Blue Grungs are known to be the artisans of their tribe, even being skilled in other domestic roles. Therefore, the Guild Artisan fits many Blue Grungs perfectly.
4. Courtier
Skill Proficiencies – Persuasion, Insight
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Choose two
Equipment – Set of fine clothes and a pouch with 5GP.
Why the Courtier?
Courtiers have the Court Functionary feature, granting you knowledge of bureaucracies and access to records of governments and noble courts. You know who to ask for favors.
Whether serving as commanders or administrators, Purple Grungs must supervise the Green and Blue Grungs.
The Purple Grungs also understand the court’s workings quite well, but not as well as Red, Orange, and Gold Grungs, who usually know about anything court-related.
3. Outlander
Skill Proficiencies – Survival, Athletics
Tool Proficiencies – One type of musical instrument
Languages – One you choose
Equipment – A trophy from an animal you killed, a set of traveler’s clothes, a hunting trap, a staff, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Outlander?
Outlanders have the Wanderer feature, giving them an excellent memory for geography and maps. Allowing them to always recall the general layout of settlements, terrain, and features around them.
They can also find fresh water and food for themselves and up to five others every day if the land offers water, small game, berries, and other things.
Green Grungs make up the vast majority of Outlanders, as it is their duty to become hunters and laborers, knowing how to work and read the land.
However, others like the Orange Grungs can also be excellent Outlanders, as their battle experience has no doubt taught them how to live off of the land in case of an emergency.
2. Sage
Skill Proficiencies – History, Arcana
Tool Proficiencies – None
Languages – Two you choose
Equipment – A set of common clothes, a letter from a dead colleague posing a question you haven’t been able to answer, a bottle of ink, a small knife, a quill, and a pouch with 10GP.
Why the Sage?
Sages have the Researcher feature, allowing them to effortlessly recall information and lore.
If they do not know the information, they will know where to find the information, such as in a university, scriptorium, or some other place of knowledge.
However, some knowledge is extremely difficult to obtain and can take a long time to unlock or force you to perform questionable actions.
Red Grung are most likely to become Sages, mainly being their tribe’s magic users and scholars.
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.
Green Grungs are usually the warriors of their tribes. Foot soldiers who must die to protect the tribe.
However, there are also Orange Grungs, who are the elite warriors of their tribe, feared and respected by all Grungs and only falling short of the Gold Grungs.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, when picking backgrounds for your Grung in D&D 5e, consider those that emphasize their vibrant and poisonous nature.
Backgrounds such as Outlander, Sage, or Soldier can provide rich roleplaying opportunities, while the Courtier or Guild Artisan backgrounds offer unique perspectives and skills.