What's Character Background?
In Baldur's Gate 3, selecting a character background is an early decision that shapes your character's skills, interactions, and narrative journey. Backgrounds provide specific skill proficiencies and influence how your character engages with the game world, including opportunities to earn Inspiration Points through actions aligned with their backstory.
Note
Once you customize your character's race, subrace, and background (or pick an origin character), those choices are locked in. Not even Withers or the Magic Mirror, which I'll cover in later articles, can change those three character choices. But fear not, this article will help you make the best choice for your upcoming character.
Background Mechanics
Each background gives you two skill proficiencies, a fancy way of saying that your character is extra special at certain things. For instance, the Acolyte background grants proficiency in Insight and Religion, reflecting a life dedicated to religious service, while the Criminal background provides proficiency in Deception and Stealth, indicating a history of shady activities. These proficiencies add a bonus to your rolls whenever you use those skills—specifically, you get to add your proficiency bonus, which scales as you level up. At the start of the game, that bonus is +2, which increases to +3 at level 5, and ends with +4 at level 9.
Backgrounds also influence Inspiration Points. These points are like little rewards for role-playing in alignment with your character's history. For example, if your background is Folk Hero, helping out innocent bystanders might earn you some inspiration. These points are super handy since they give you the option to reroll certain checks outside of combat, offering a second chance when the dice don’t go your way.
Pro Tip
Chose a background around certain skills you want that aren't normally allowed to certain classes. For example, if you want to play as a seductive Wizard, choosing Guild Artisan gives you access to Persuasion.
All the Background Options
Here’s a quick rundown of all the backgrounds and their associated skill proficiencies:
- Acolyte: Insight, Religion
- Charlatan: Deception, Sleight of Hand
- Criminal: Deception, Stealth
- Entertainer: Acrobatics, Performance
- Folk Hero: Animal Handling, Survival
- Guild Artisan: Insight, Persuasion
- Noble: History, Persuasion
- Outlander: Athletics, Survival
- Sage: Arcana, History
- Soldier: Athletics, Intimidation
- Folk Hero: Sleight of Hand, Stealth
There's also a special background option for the “Dark Urge” origin, but I'll cover that in a later article. In any case, each background has its own vibe and flavor, so pick one that makes sense for the story you want to tell or the skills you think will be fun to use.
Keep in mind that you don't always have to pick a stereotypical background because it fits your class. Not all pickpockets grew up as street Urchins, just as not all troubadours grew up as Entertainers. You might fancy playing a Noble that turned to a life of wooded seclusion, or a feral Outlander who learned to read books about the mystic arts. The most important thing is that you create a intriguing character that will carry your interest from start to finish.
Impact on Gameplay
Backgrounds affect gameplay by:
- Enhancing Role-Playing: They provide context for your character's actions and decisions, enriching the storytelling experience.
- Influencing Interactions: NPCs may respond differently based on your background, unlocking unique dialogue options and quests.
- Affecting Skill Checks: Proficiencies improve your chances of success in related skill checks, impacting outcomes in various scenarios.
Your background does a lot of behind-the-scenes work. Beyond giving you those skill bonuses, it can unlock unique dialogue options and even shape how NPCs see your character. And since your race and background are locked in for the whole game, they form the gist of your character's identity. Thoughtfully choosing a background that aligns with your character's class and personal story can lead to a more immersive and rewarding experience.