Details
- Abilities: Dexterity, Intelligence, Charisma
- Skills: History, Persuasion
- Tool: Disguise Kit
- Feat: Skilled
Description
You are well-versed in the subtle arts of diplomacy and intrigue, navigating the intricate social webs of noble courts. Your keen intellect and charm allow you to read history’s lessons and sway powerful figures alike. Skilled in adopting new personas, you move through high society with grace, always alert to shifting alliances and hidden motives.
Equipment
Choose A or B: (A) a Disguise Kit, a fine set of clothes, a letter of introduction from a noble, a small notebook, 10 GP; or (B) 50 GP
At a glance
- Table role: Social operator
- Family: Courtly
- Primary pillar: Social
- Secondary pillar: Downtime
- Themes: noble intrigue, political alliances, social manipulation, court ceremonies, hidden motives
What this background is good for
Choose Courtier if you want a character who turns noble intrigue, political alliances, social manipulation, court ceremonies, and hidden motives into usable table momentum. Its skill package points toward History and Persuasion, so the background naturally rewards players who ask questions, notice patterns, and act on practical details. As a Courtly background, it gives the character a clear place in the world instead of just a mechanical bonus. The Skilled feat, Disguise Kit, and Dexterity, Intelligence, and Charisma abilities help define how this character contributes before initiative is rolled.
Play this if...
- You want to play a Master of Facades rather than a generic adventurer.
- You want scenes built around noble intrigue, political alliances, social manipulation, court ceremonies, and hidden motives.
- You are considering Bard, Rogue, Wizard, and Paladin and want the background to support that identity.
How to play this background
You navigate noble courts with charm and wit, manipulating alliances and uncovering secrets to gain influence.
Table cues
- Identify who controls information flow in the court.
- Watch for subtle shifts in alliances during gatherings.
- Note the use of disguises and false identities.
- Observe who holds influence behind closed doors.
For Dungeon Masters
Use Courtier when the campaign benefits from scenes about noble intrigue, political alliances, social manipulation, court ceremonies, and hidden motives. The Courtly angle gives you a quick way to attach NPCs, locations, favors, and complications to the character. Build scenes where History, Persuasion, and Disguise Kit can reveal information, open a route, or change how an NPC reacts. A simple recurring cue: identify who controls information flow in the court.