Though Baldur’s Gate 3 has a self-contained campaign involving an impending Mindflayer invasion, fans of Dungeons & Dragons can still create their favorite characters thanks to the game’s immersive character creation system. Moreover, thanks to a massive modding community, players can enhance their Baldur’s Gate 3 experience with the character of their dreams.

However, while popular character modding options include new races and appearances, Larian Studios could further improve immersion by including new D&D Backgrounds. Describing a character's experience prior to adventuring, backgrounds can expand personal narratives by including special dialogue options or even exclusive tidbits unique to their Backgrounds. These D&D Backgrounds are worthy of addition in the acclaimed RPG.

10 Astral Drifter

With Mindflayers being the biggest threats in Baldur’s Gate 3, players creating a Githyanki Outlander can easily accommodate headcanons of a foreign adventurer stumbling upon Faerun. However, players can improve their immersion by including another Plane of Existence entirely, taking the form of the Astral Drifter from the Astral Seas.

This Background is perfect for players who want their characters to have come from faraway from Faerun, fitting the Githyanki and potentially other unique races that the game may eventually include. In its source material Spelljammer: Adventures in Space - Astral Adventurer’s Guide, this Background comes with the Divine Contact feature. This gives players access to the Magic Initiate: Cleric Feat, immediately giving players access to an expanded repertoire of combat options.

Proficiencies

• Insight (WIS)
• Religion (INT)

9 Cloistered Scholar

While Baldur’s Gate 3 does offer the Sage as an “academic” among its Background offerings, the Cloistered Scholar offers a more lore-focused take. Because the RPG deals with many of Faerun’s factions and cultures, the Cloistered Scholar’s mission to add lore among its institutions could help a character provide valuable insights.

The Cloistered Scholar’s original description ties its association with either the great library of Candlekeep, the Vault of the Sages, or Silverymoon’s Map House. Considering the activities of factions such as the Zhentarim and the Harpers, a Cloistered Scholar who represents another group can vastly improve a player’s immersion.

Proficiencies

• History (INT)
• Arcana (INT) or Nature (INT) or Religion (INT)

8 Faceless

Players who got used to Dungeons & Dragons games know that these titles often lead to “nobodies” becoming heroes. Such is the case in BG3, especially when combat can facilitate some epic fantasy fights. Unfortunately for the Faceless, characters of this Background might never have the chance to become a hero.

Related

Baldur's Gate 3: 10 Best Gameplay Challenges To Try

Players who want to spice up their Baldur's Gate 3 gameplay should try these interesting challenges.

A Faceless is forced to don a mask, literally or figuratively, due to circumstances surrounding them such as their family, social standing, or even their past. However, this Background can also make some of the most interesting characters, especially when the characters beneath the mask have to prove that they’re more than what they’re pretending to be.

Proficiencies

• Deception (CHA)
• Intimidation (CHA)

7 Faction Agent

The traders of the Zhentarim are among the first factions players will run into in their quest to save Faerun. Roah Moonglow is an agent offering some of the best early-game wares in their encounter in the Goblin Camp. While players get roped into Zhentarim business later on, it would be interesting if players could become a Faction Agent themselves.

Compared to other Backgrounds, Faction Agents have more intimate knowledge on the power dynamics of Faerun’s many organizations. In addition to the fair spies of the Harpers and the zealous Order of the Gauntlet, there are nature’s preservers among the Emerald Enclave, and government’s agents in the Lords’ Alliance. Allowing players to participate in the game as any one of these teams can offer valuable insights in subplots.

Proficiencies

• Insight (WIS)
• Any INT-based, WIS-based, or CHA-based Skill

6 Far Traveler

Just because Baldur’s Gate is one of Faerun’s most popular cities doesn’t mean everyone has been there. This is especially the case for the Far Traveler, a Background that may encourage players to create characters who are also Faerun natives but have yet to visit the iconic city. While much of the campaign in BG3 doesn’t reference a lot of places outside the eponymous city, the Far Traveler could give characters dialogue options that can give players a glimpse of life outside the bustling location.

Moreover, the Far Traveler can become an efficient way of introducing players to the world of Faerun. Since a Far Traveler is likely not familiar with Faerun and its immediate locations, the players can legitimately take their time to explore the game in character.

Proficiencies

• Insight (WIS)
• Perception (WIS)

5 Gladiator

Unlike the usual combatant Backgrounds associated with tanks, the Gladiator emphasizes the warrior’s ability to entertain just as well as they can fight. With combat happening almost all the time throughout BG3, adding the Gladiator Background to the existing character creation can give characters the opportunity to play their instruments without needing to be a Bard.

Related

Baldur's Gate 3: 19 Things It Improved From Divinity Original Sin 2

Baldur's Gate 3 has made substantial improvements from Divinity: Original Sin 2 that fans will appreciate.

If the Gladiator is fully adapted into BG3, the Background also gets access to Proficiencies with a Musical Instrument. While mechanically functioning the same as the Bard’s traditional Perform function, the added lore appeal of a Gladiator performing in the middle of a stunt can make their performances more riveting.

Proficiencies

• Acrobatics (DEX)
• Performance (CHA)

4 Hermit

Newcomers to D&D gameplay and the world of the Forgotten Realms might find Baldur’s Gate 3 difficult to get into from both a lore and mechanics standpoint. After all, not everyone is aware that the Guidance Cantrip can make many Skill Checks a breeze, or that Mage Hand is an efficient way of doing things from afar. As a Hermit, however, players have the in-lore excuse to say “Yes” when asked if they were “living under a rock.”

Someone from the Hermit background lived in a secluded community for much of their lives. This can take the form of a secluded village, a monastery, or a small community far from civilization. While this gave the player much-needed solitude away from city life, it also isolated them from much of the world. It's a great way to help players learn more about the world from the perspective of someone who finds most of Faerun quite foreign themselves.

Proficiencies

• Medicine (INT)
• Religion (INT)

3 Knight

While Astarion is built with the Noble Background in mind, his life in the city of Baldur’s Gate is tied to an aristocratic social culture. On the other hand, the Knight Background shakes things up. This lowly title of prestige comes with the need to prove oneself worthy of such a recognition.

Since the Knight is a “type” of Noble, players can also take advantage of the Background’s Retains Feature, which may allow them access to three Retainers or assistants that can do favors for them. Should BG3 eventually implement humanoid familiar-type mechanics, the Knight can be a decent way to command NPCs to do simple commands.

Proficiencies

• History (INT)
• Persuasion (CHA)

2 Mercenary Veteran

Players who want their characters to be experienced combatants can often rely on the Criminal, Folk Hero, or even Soldier Backgrounds. However, with the scope of Faerun and combat in Baldur’s Gate 3, the Mercenary Veteran could provide a better lore explanation as to how the player character is aware of so many Weapon Actions and combat maneuvers.

Related

Baldur's Gate 3: 10 Quality Of Life Changes The Game Still Needs

Although Baldur's Gate 3 offers players an excellent D&D experience, there are still a few things that Larian should consider implementing.

In the lore, a Mercenary Veteran is a seasoned adventurer who’s used to getting paid in exchange for taking care of missions. A Mercenary Veteran in Baldur’s Gate 3 could get roped into the plot amid a mission, proving their desire for coin may lead to more danger than they have anticipated.

Proficiencies

• Athletics (STR)
• Persuasion (CHA)

1 Pirate

Faerun is home to popular maritime trading centers, so it’s no surprise that a Pirate can find themselves adventuring near Baldur’s Gate. A Pirate character is the equivalent of a Criminal, but specifically one who operates in port towns and on the open sea.

Their Bad Reputation Feature lets them get away with petty crimes, and could be translated to Advantage in Intimidation checks when confronted with a crime. When tying a Pirate character to the main Baldur’s Gate 3 story, perhaps players are looking for a way to go back to their crew, or they may be a deposed captain seeking vengeance on the first mate who stole his role.

Proficiencies

• Athletics (STR)
• Perception (WIS)

MORE: Baldur's Gate 3: Things That Can Ruin Your First Playthrough