Monster Fan (5e Background)
Monster Fan[edit]
Like most people, you grew up on stories of adventure and heroism. However, it was something else in these tales that resonated with you. While the other kids idolized the brave adventurers and dreamt of becoming mighty heroes, you were far more fascinated with the monsters they fought! Great beasts! Powerful beyond compare! Ancient beyond reckoning! You read everything you could about these creatures, drew pictures of them, collected toys of them, even pretended you were one of them.
Even after growing up, your obsession never faded. If anything, it only grew stronger. You became an adventurer in order to be closer to monsters, and you learned that, while they could be dangerous and frightening, you still loved them!
When creating a monster fan character, ask yourself some questions. How did you feel on your first time seeing a real monster up close and personal? Was it terrifying, or exciting, or both? How do you reconcile your love of monsters with the fact that they do pose a legitimate threat to humanoid civilization and sometimes must be dealt with violently? How do other humanoids react to your love of monsters? Are you considered a respected expert, or just a weird nerd, or possibly even as an evil person and a traitor to humanoidkind?
Skill Proficiencies: Two skills, based on specialization.
Tool Proficiencies: None
Languages: None
Equipment: A book of monster trivia, a trinket shaped like your favorite monster, a set of common clothes, and a pouch containing 15 gp.
Favorite Type[edit]
Every monster fan has a favorite type of monster. Choose one or roll on the table below. Your favorite monster type also decides your skill proficiencies.
| d10 | Specialization |
|---|---|
| 1 | Arcane creations. Beings made from magic. Constructs, oozes, elementals, chimeras, etc. (Arcana, History) |
| 2 | Cryptids. Even in fantasy, some beings are too strange to be real. (History, Investigation) |
| 3 | Demihumanoids. Like us, but cooler. Orcs, harpies, centaurs, werewolves, etc. (History, Nature) |
| 4 | Fey. Horned and winged gods from the old reckoning times. Fairies, satyrs, hags, etc. (Nature, Religion) |
| 5 | Great Beasts. The pinnacles of nature. Giant animals, rocs, dinosaurs, etc. (Animal Handling, Nature) |
| 6 | Mythic Monsters. The stuff legends are made of. Dragons, titans, the tarrasque, etc. (History, Religion) |
| 7 | Plants. Greenery that moves and hungers. Treants, myconids, man-eating plants, etc. (Arcana, Nature) |
| 8 | Undead. Spooky, scary, and eternal. Ghouls, ghosts, vampires, liches, etc. (Arcana, Religion) |
| 9 | Visitors. Strange beings from other worlds. Celestials, fiends, aberrations, aliens, etc. (Investigation, Religion) |
| 10 | Other. (Pick two skill proficiencies from the following: Arcana, History, Investigation, Nature, or Religion) |
Feature: Monster Nerd[edit]
You know plenty of odd facts about monsters, and enough about different kinds to have a general idea of what sort of monster someone is referring to from even a very basic description, though you still don't know specific gameplay details like weaknesses or abilities unless you pass a relevant skill check first, or see it in action. Contrariwise, you have difficulty dealing with other humanoids, most of whom think you're really weird.
Suggested Characteristics[edit]
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I make constant monster-based puns. I hope they don't drag-on you down. |
| 2 | I am a fountain of monster trivia. Did you know a quickling's top speed is 27 miles per hour? |
| 3 | I will always remember the time I saw one of my favorite monsters in person. |
| 4 | Look there, it's an Aquila giganticus! What do you mean "it's a roc"? That's what I said! |
| 5 | I like to pretend to be a monster sometimes. Rooooar! |
| 6 | Fear is defeated by understanding. Monsters don't scare me at all anymore. |
| 7 | I've got a million and one scary stories to tell around the campfire. |
| 8 | I have trouble fitting in with normal people. |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Hunter. They are beautiful, strong... the perfect challenge for my skills! (Any) |
| 2 | Research. I want to discover a new monster that no one has ever seen before! (Any) |
| 3 | Coexistence. I want humanoids and monsters to be able to live in peace. (Good) |
| 4 | Monster King. I want to have an army of monsters at my beckon call! (Evil) |
| 5 | Like the Beast. Monsters don't care about rules and niceties, neither should we. (Chaotic) |
| 6 | Warden. Monsters have their place and we have ours. These two worlds should be kept separate for the good of both. (Lawful) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | I saw that rare monster when I was little, and I won't stop until I see it again. |
| 2 | I enjoy sharing my love of monsters with my friends. Let's nerd out together! |
| 3 | People called me stupid for believing in a legendary cryptid. I need to prove that it's really real! |
| 4 | An older sibling, parent, or mentor used to read monster stories to when I was little. Monsters remind me of my loved one. |
| 5 | I want people to understand monsters better, even if they don't love them like I do. |
| 6 | I want to be friends with monsters, if I can. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I'm not as cautious as I should be around monsters that I think are cool. |
| 2 | I know monsters are dangerous, but I still can't help but get upset when I hear my fellow adventurers talk about killing them. |
| 3 | I look down on anyone who knows less about monsters than me. What do you mean you've never heard of a snallygaster?! No, that's a bandersnatch, you idiot! |
| 4 | I honestly think I like monsters more than I like other people. |
| 5 | Humans are the real monsters and should be treated as such. |
| 6 | No one can ever know I secretly fantasize about... |
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