Lucky Fumbler (5e Background)
Lucky Fumbler[edit]
The Wizard, tripping over his own robes, unknowingly saves his life, jumping out of the way of an axe. The Bard, stringing a wrong note, gives the party just enough time to gain the advantage in the fight. The Barbarian accidentally throws his weapon, only to cleave through the skull of an attacker sneaking up on them. You have been one of these lucky few. Just managing to pull ahead by the skin of your teeth because fate smiled upon you. You're not sure why you're so lucky; it's been this way for as long as you can remember. Sometimes, your luck runs out, and you get into a tricky situation, but there are still times when your luck has come around. Do you enjoy this luck and prefer not to ask questions? Do you wish it would go away somehow so you can trust in your own skills rather than fate? Or perhaps your luck has stopped recently? Maybe you seek to discover why this fortune you were blessed with is gone so you may either reclaim it or leave it in the dust. Only you, time, and a little bit of luck will tell.
Skill Proficiencies: You gain proficiency in Acrobatics, Investigation, History, and Performance.
Tool Proficiencies: One gaming set of your choice or A deck of cards that can never be damaged
Languages: Two language of your choice
Equipment: A pouch containing 15 gp, a gaming set you are proficient with, a set of common clothes, and an item that reminds you of your luck.
Fortunes Favor: Your unexpected good fortune is reflected by a minor boon. You gain the Lucky, Magic Initiate, or Skilled feat (your choice). Your choice of feat reflects the transformation that changed your life. An encounter with a genie who gave you three wishes might have resulted in magical powers represented by Magic Initiate. If you paid off all your family debts with a fortuitous round of three-dragon ante, you might be Lucky instead. Alternatively, you could use the Skilled feat to reflect whatever trial you endured to secure your new destiny and to model the knowledge and abilities imparted to you by whatever force transformed your life.
Feature: Fool's Fortune[edit]
Lady Luck often smiles upon you, but not usually in the way you may be expecting. When you wander around a town, whether it be back alleys, main thoroughfares, or even the town square, you will have the uncanny ability to stumble onto something helpful. Whether that be a place to sleep for the night, whether for free, payment, or gold, or a seedy gambling hall where you can earn some coin or information, you can always stumble upon something in any town, city, or village.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I am rather clumsy near people I admire or am in love with. |
| 2 | When speaking, I usually slip up and then try again from the top. |
| 3 | I hate my luck and feel like I should be legitimately good. |
| 4 | I hate my luck and feel like I am legitimately good, even though everyone else thinks I'm just lucky. |
| 5 | I depend on my luck, usually. |
| 6 | People around me commonly comment on my luck. |
| 7 | I usually go unnoticed until my luck comes into play. |
| 8 | I believe my luck is not luck at all; it is a skill. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Redemption. I seek to prove my skill is what I use, not Luck. (Lawful) |
| 2 | For the Better. I depend on my Luck and want to spread it to others. (Good) |
| 3 | Unnoticed. I want my Luck to go unnoticed, to be normal. (Any) |
| 4 | Overbearing. I shove my Luck into other peoples' faces, trying to prove something. (Evil) |
| 5 | Arrogant. Because of how lucky I seem to be, I believe I can do whatever I want. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Belief. My luck is nothing but the universe picking where I end up. Let's see where the dice take me. (Neutral) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm in love with someone, and I'm hoping to get lucky as to be theirs one day. |
| 2 | Out of sheer luck, I beat a noble in a gamble. They now want my head for dishonoring them. |
| 3 | My father taught me about how luck works in the world. I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for him. |
| 4 | My bad luck may or may not have gotten me in trouble with the law a few times. Now I'm wanted... Just my luck... |
| 5 | A group of scholars are hunting me down. Their goal I think, is to figure out how to harness my luck for their personal desires. |
| 6 | I've caught wind of a faraway treasure worth more than the world. If I'm lucky, it is real, and I'll find it. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I can never not stumble in a - a - a conversation. |
| 2 | I make my teammates uncomfortable due to my clumsiness. |
| 3 | I sometimes do cool things only to screw them up again. |
| 4 | My luck is something I like to shove into other people's faces... even if it gets me in trouble. |
| 5 | Because of my luck, I have a terrible gambling addiction. |
| 6 | I never stop and think things through, believing my luck will always get me out of a sticky situation. |
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