Malfunctioning (5e Background)

Malfunctioning

You are a warforged or other living construct with a glitch in your system. For whatever reason, something inside you is wired incorrectly. This can cause unusual things to happen to you at strange times, causing episodes of discomfort for yourself. Maybe this causes strange tics or ways of thinking for your subrace. Maybe this caused usual sparking or other effects that should not happen to a healthy warforged. Whatever the effects, one thing is certain, some wires got crossed during your manufacturing.

Do you know what the problem is? Are you content living with these glitches, or do you wish they could be repaired? Do these glitches have an affect on your overall outlook on life, either negative or positive, or do you just want to live a normal life as a living construct?

Skill Proficiencies: Due to your life with constant malfunctions, you can tell when things are wrong and convince others that you are fine. You are proficient in Nature and Persuasion.

Tool Proficiencies: Due to having to learn to do minor repairs on yourself to fix damages caused by your glitch, you are proficient in Warforged Repair Kit and one of the following: Tinker’s Tools, Smith’s Tools, Leatherworker’s Tools, or Woodcarver’s Tools.

Languages: One of your choice (Be it the language of the one who created you, or someone who helped you learn to cope with your physical state.)

Equipment: A Warforged Repair Kit, Either a set of Tinker’s Tools, Smith’s Tools, Leatherworker’s Tools, or Woodcarver’s Tools, a trinket that helps keep you calm during one of your “episodes,” traveler’s clothes, a backpack, a pouch of 25 gold (needed for purchasing repair items for yourself)

Type of Glitch

What type of glitches occur to your character? Your DM can decide that your glitch has happened at random, deciding how this affects your interactions with the environment, other players, or NPCs.

d6	Glitches
1	Random tics occur throughout your body.
2	Minor electrical surges and discharges
3	Verbal tics, causing your dialogue and audio to sound garbled or say random words or sounds.
4	Random digits on hands and feet to stop working at usual times for a few seconds.
5	Strange grinding noises coming from inside your chest or head.
6	The motors running your eyes and ears randomly shutdown, causing you to be blind or deaf.

Feature: Downtrodden Machine

Often, your glitches and malfunctions can cause other to look at you differently. This can often result in people taking pity on you. You can often find a safe haven to sleep with those who work on mechanical implements, as well as good hearted people who see you as a living being. Also, if you find someone who works on machines, they may be willing to help you. They can't fix what is wrong with you, but they may have supplies that could help a living construct out in the world.

Suggested Characteristics

Your life has been greatly affected by your glitches. How have you handled your life?

d6	Personality Trait
1	My glitches make me unique, and that makes my life interesting.
2	These glitches have ruined my life! I hate them and I just want to find a way to make them stop.
3	My glitches are just part of me. Everyone has problems they have to face in life, these are no different.
4	My glitches are exhausting. I malfunction a lot while I am resting, and I am constantly tired.
5	I take advantage of my glitches and the pity people give me because of them.
6	Life is supposed to be lived, no matter what form it takes. I don’t ever let my malfunctions hold me back!

d6	Ideal
1	Repair. I will find a way to fix these malfunctions, maybe even help others with similar problems. (Good)
2	Acceptance. This is my life. No use fighting it, just accept what comes. (Neutral)
3	Take That! I have to live with these glitches, and I am going to make that your problem too! (Chaotic)
4	Infection. I will not rest until I can make sure others of my kind have similar malfunctions. For if everyone is like me, no one can treat me differently! (Evil)
5	Acknowledgement. I know there are others with these similar malfunctions. I must do what I can to spread the word, so that even if I am not repaired, maybe others can be. (Lawful)
6	Existence. I just want to live my life. (Any)

d6	Bond
1	I will find someone who can repair me, fix these malfunctions and glitches, and I will live my best life.
2	I have one friend who never has treated me differently, and has always been understanding and helpful during my “episodes.” I owe them everything.
3	The person who put me together and missed these malfunctions is going to pay! I will end them, no matter what it takes!
4	I track when my glitches happen and how. Maybe that can help me find a way to avoid them.
5	I’ve never known a life without these malfunctions. I just want to know what that life would be like.
6	I just want to feel accepted for who I am.

d6	Flaw
1	I get very angry after an episode, and I tend to take it out on whoever is near.
2	I refuse to acknowledge my glitches to others, preferring to deal with them on my own.
3	I judge those who pity me.
4	Sometimes, I am too scared to do more than I have to, for fear I will glitch at a horrible time.
5	There are days I don’t speak to anyone, not wanting to deal with them while I malfunction.
6	When I glitch, I scream loudly.

0.00

(0 votes)

---

Back to Main Page → 5e Homebrew → Backgrounds