Basic Backgrounds

Scholar

A

Scholar

or Sage embodies a character background full of knowledge and studies. Scholars devote much of their time to books, manuscripts and the experts around them. A Scholar background is often connected to particular character classes or specialities. You may see Scholars and Sages amongst Alchemists, Librarians, Scribes or Wizards.

A Scholar is rarely seen without a book or manuscript in hand. They take pride in their knowledge and put it to good use during their adventures. Who else would you trust to identify an old crest on an ancient ruin? Or recount the exact incantations to an important spell? Scholars make excellent allies in the face of danger, providing information where it's needed most.

Some Scholars become so emboldened by their knowledge that the way they speak seems to change to that of an academic. Their years in the books have advanced their vocabulary substantially. Of course there are those that simply talk down to others with no patience for their lack of knowledge.

Scholars are not known for their social skills, having spent much of their life with pages rather than people. Though they are sharp minded and highly logical, which many companions can appreciate and they can be excellent teachers, delighting in sharing their knowledge with those eager to listen.

There are a few Character Classes and In Game jobs that may require a

Scholar

mindset. Let's Review what are the most common areas to find a

Scholar

.

Classes

• Wizard - The magic class best known for Scholar backgrounds. Wizards largely know magic from years of study and can learn extra spells largely from reading material they come across in the world. In a classic roleplay party, Wizards are the ones to turn to for History and Arcana.
• Bard - Many bards are scholars of music and stories. They cleverly use their poetic and musical gifts to share their knowledge to the world.
• Artificer - This is an inventive class that uses their logic and advanced knowledge to craft unusual and complex systems with the aid of magic. They can craft magical items that are of great use to everyday life.
• Cleric - While it's less common for Clerics to align themselves with scholarly pursuits, there are some that devote themselves to ancient, religious manuscripts and studying old sites of historical value to their clergy. There are also some deities that embody a domain of knowledge.
• Druid - Druids are less concerned with books and libraries, unnatural creations. However, they can be an encyclopedia of knowledge for the natural world. You can often trust a druid to be a fountain of information concerning flora and fauna in the area.

In Game Jobs

• Scribe - A person gifted with the written word and tasked with writing or transcribing manuscripts.
• Alchemist - A scholar experienced with creating concoctions and mixtures for potions, ointments and powders.
• Historian - A scholar of historical records and facts. They know how to find the hidden details of history that could change perspectives.
• Astronomer - A scholar of the skies, with great knowledge of the stars and celestial bodies.
• Skill Master - A Skill Master is a site job tasked with teaching others about their subject of expertise. They could be considered a scholar of their profession.
• Eld Keeper - An Eld Keeper is a site job that keeps up to date with every character's history. They would be considered a scholar and keeper of citizen information.

For more detailed sources of information, see the following links:
Hall of Attainment
Guild Registry
DND 5th Edition: Homepage
DND 5th Edition: Sage