As a sailor background, you have served on a ship for many years, and while you were on your voyage, the ship on which you were sailing faced many hurdles like deep-sea monsters, and fierce storms to sink your ship down to the bottom of the deep dark sea. Your motive was to reach the horizon, but unexpected twists and turns made paved your way for a new adventure.
What was the attribute of your ship? You need to discuss this with your Dungeon Master. Was your ship a merchant ship? Was your ship a naval vessel? A discovery ship or a Pirate ship? Discuss with your Dungeon Master which ship it would be?
Attributes of ships also include the status of the ship itself; like how renowned your ship was? How widely has your ship traveled? Have your shipped been on any voyage? Or is your ship missing or just rumors have been spread about it being a missing ship?
Also, you have to determine by discussing with your DM your own status on the ship on which you were sailing.
Were you a cook? Cook? Or some other job you were doing. Who were you, captain? Or who were you bosom buddy on board? How did you leave your ship? it is also to be discussed with your DM.
| Skill proficiencies | Athletic, Perception |
| Tool proficiencies | Your tool proficiencies include Navigator’s tools, and vehicles (Water) |
| Equipment | There is a number of types of equipment that you will carry as a sailor which includes; a belaying pin (Club), 50 feet of silk rope, a lucky charm such as rabbit foot or small stone with a hole in the center (or you may roll for a random trinket on the Trinket Table in chapter 5), a set of common clothes, and a belt pouch containing 10 GP. |
Feature: Ship’s Passage
You can get a ship for you and for your companion who accompanies you on an adventure. Either the ship could be a ship on which you have previously sailed on or it could be a ship with whose crew you have a good relationship.
The ship from which you have asked for a favor; you don’t know the exact schedule of its route and are sure it will not meet your need for most of the time. DM will decide how long it will take where you want to go. And as you have asked for a favor so you and your crew will serve while you are boarding on the ship.
Suggested Characteristics
Personality Trait
| D8 | Personality Trait |
| 1 | My friends know they can rely on me, no matter what. |
| 2 | I work hard so that I can play hard when the work is done. |
| 3 | I enjoy sailing into new ports and making new friends over a flagon of ale. |
| 4 | I stretch the truth for the sake of a good story. |
| 5 | To me, a tavern brawl is a nice way to get to know a new city. |
| 6 | I never pass up a friendly wager. |
| 7 | My language is as foul as an Otyugh nest. |
| 8 | I like a job well done, especially if I can convince someone else to do it. |
Ideal
| D6 | Ideal |
| 1 | Respect The thing that keeps a ship together is mutual respect between captain and crew. (Good) |
| 2 | Fairness We all do the work, so we all share in the rewards. (Lawful) |
| 3 | Freedom The sea is freedom—the freedom to go anywhere and do anything. (Chaotic) |
| 4 | Mastery I am a predator, and the other ships on the sea are my prey. (Evil) |
| 5 | People I’m committed to my crewmates, not to ideals. (Neutral) |
| 6 | Aspiration Someday I’ll own my own ship and chart my own destiny. (Any) |
Bond
| D6 | Bond |
| 1 | I am loyal to my captain first, everything else second. |
| 2 | The ship is most important—crewmates and captains come and go. |
| 3 | I will always remember my first ship. |
| 4 | In a harbor town, I have a paramour whose eyes nearly stole me from the sea. |
| 5 | I was cheated out of my fair share of the profits, and I want to get my due. |
| 6 | Ruthless pirates murdered my captain and crewmates, plundered our ship, and left me to die. Vengeance will be mine. |
Flaw
| D6 | Flaw |
| 1 | I follow orders, even if I think they’re wrong. |
| 2 | I will say anything to avoid having to do extra work. |
| 3 | Once someone questions my courage, I never back down no matter how dangerous the situation. |
| 4 | Once I start drinking, it’s hard for me to stop. |
| 5 | I can not help but pocket loose coins and other trinkets I come across. |
| 6 | My pride will probably lead to my destruction. |
Variant Sailor 5e: Pirate
When talking of ships; how can one forget about the key characteristics of the sea (PIRATE).
In dnd Sailor background 5e, you have served under the ruthless and dread pirate. Under his guidance, you have learned to survive in a world that is full of sharks and savages. You are not afraid of bloodshed and you are known in many ports and towns for your unsavory reputation.
If you choose to role-play the dnd background of a Pirate then SHIP’s PASSAGE might not suit you as a feature rather you can go for a different feature.
Variant Feature: Bad Reputation
There is no doubt that you are a badass. People dread you because of your reputation and they are not willing to report you for your minor offense; like you might not pay for the food, you have just eaten or you knock on the door of the shops.
Why roleplay a Sailor’s Background?
For the love of voyage and sea, one might go for sailor background. You get to see the different places and in addition to it, you get a chance to build a relationship with people on board and off-board. Adventure is something that will always be a part of your and in addition to that, you get to decide every little detail of your ship, its journey, and your status on the ship.
And if you choose to go for the Pirate background you will be known in many towns for your reputation and for your ruthlessness and savageness.
