Hermits unlike any other 5e backgrounds like Entertainer, Folk Hero, or Guild Artisan who has to surround themselves with people chose to live a life of solitariness. They are the ones who choose to live their lives in isolation. Their isolation could be with a sheltered community or they isolate themselves without any other peers.
The reason for the seclusion of a hermit could be anything; it could be enlightenment or you are forcefully exiled from your town, it could be that a hermit is looking for serenity or it could be an answer they might get in complete solitude.
Skill Proficiencies: Skill proficiencies of a Hermit include Religion and Medicine.
Tool Proficiencies: You are proficient with Herbalism Kit.
Languages: One of your choice.
Equipment: A scroll case in which you have your notes or prayers, a winter blanket, a set of common clothes, an herbalism kit.
Life of Seclusion
| D8 | Seclusion |
| 1 | I was searching for spiritual enlightenment. |
| 2 | I was partaking in communal living in accordance with the dictates of a religious order. |
| 3 | I was exiled for a crime I did not commit. |
| 4 | I retreated from society after a life-altering event. |
| 5 | I needed a quiet place to work on my art, literature, music, or manifesto. |
| 6 | I needed to commune with nature, far from civilization. |
| 7 | was the caretaker of an ancient ruin or relic. |
| 8 | I was a pilgrim in search of a person, place, or relic of spiritual significance. |
Isolation of a Hermit
A hermit chose to live his formative stage of life incomplete or partial isolation. But the question is what motivates a hermit to live a life of isolation and what motives are behind it when he ends the solitude phase of his life. To determine this work with your DM or look through the table to decide which reason suits your hermit.
Feature: Discovery (hermit discovery 5e)
Because you spend your lion’s share of your life in isolation so there must be some motive/s that forced you to go for a life of solitude. And you manage to discover what you were looking for. It could be some truth about the cosmos that you were looking for or you came to know about a powerful being.
In your isolation, you might have discovered some unseen place or dug out some relic, or you get something that will help you take revenge from the enemies that forced you to live a life of exile. Ultimately, your reason for your discovery can be determined with the help of your DM and it will have an influence on your campaign.
Other Hermits
Because Hermits go into seclusion and there must be the reason behind his isolation from the people/community. People might confuse hermit with other backgrounds like Acolyte, Outlander, and Charlatan. You can play an Acolyte rather than play Hermit who has given up the materialistic world and has become more religious and pious or you can play the background of an outlander if you are living off the land in the company of people who shares the same wilderness as you and you can also play a Charlatan who has disguised into an acolyte and makes naïve people follow him.
Suggested characteristics
Personality Trait
| D8 | Personality Trait |
| 1 | I have been isolated for so long that I rarely speak, preferring gestures, and the occasional grunt. |
| 2 | I am utterly serene, even in the face of disaster. |
| 3 | The leader of my community had something wise to say on every topic, and I am eager to share that wisdom. |
| 4 | I feel tremendous empathy for all who suffer. |
| 5 | I am oblivious to etiquette and social expectations. |
| 6 | I connect everything that happens to me to a grand, cosmic plan. |
| 7 | I often get lost in my own thoughts and contemplation, becoming oblivious to my surroundings. |
| 8 | I am working on a grand philosophical theory and love sharing my ideas. |
Ideal
| D6 | Ideal |
| 1 | Greater Good My gifts are meant to be shared with all, not used for my own benefit. (Good) |
| 2 | Logic Emotions must not cloud our sense of what is right and true, or our logical thinking. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Free Thinking Inquiry and curiosity are the pillars of progress. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Power Solitude and contemplation are paths toward mystical or magical power. (Evil) |
| 5 | Live and Let Live Meddling in the affairs of others only causes trouble. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Self-Knowledge If you know yourself, there’s nothing left to know. (Any) |
Bond
| D6 | Bond |
| 1 | Nothing is more important than the other members of my hermitage, order, or association. |
| 2 | I entered seclusion to hide from the ones who might still be hunting me. I must someday confront them. |
| 3 | I am still seeking the enlightenment I pursued in my seclusion, and it still eludes me. |
| 4 | I entered seclusion because I loved someone I could not have. |
| 5 | Should my discovery come to light, it could bring ruin to the world. |
| 6 | My isolation gave me great insight into a great evil that only I can destroy. |
Flaw
| D6 | Flaw |
| 1 | Now that I’ve returned to the world, I enjoy its delights a little too much. |
| 2 | I harbor dark, bloodthirsty thoughts that my isolation and meditation failed to quell. |
| 3 | I am dogmatic in my thoughts and philosophy. |
| 4 | I let my need to win arguments overshadow friendships and harmony. |
| 5 | I’d risk too much to uncover a lost bit of knowledge. |
| 6 | I like keeping secrets and won’t share them with anyone. |
Why roleplay a Hermit Background?
Isolation is the reason that makes a Hermit background 5e more interesting for a role play, their isolation has a reason which makes it more worthwhile. A hermit does not isolate himself without reason, and there are multiple reasons for a hermit’s isolation.
The isolation of the hermit does not go in vain; he finds what he was looking for which makes a hermit a sort of a character that sounds mysterious to most of the audience. He might have got a power that makes people afraid of him or his isolation motives him to discover something that is ancient.
