This tool is based on the work of user Arachobia on RPG Crossing with his permission. He had taken a list of tables from Dragon magazine #422 in an article called "Building Character" by Matt Sernett and updated them for 5th edition. I've turned them into an automatic tool for generating a characters background.

Instructions: Refresh the page to generate a new background story. As always, you can use it however you like and fill in your own details. Your age and acquired proficiencies are listed at the bottom and are based on the results you got. Try to pick a Race/Class/Background combo that fulfills all the proficiencies. Your age may also result in ability score modifiers that can be applied after building your character.

...or ignore everything and do whatever you want. Whatever.
Background Generator

(T.101): One of your parents was a great hero.

(T.102): One of your parents was a great hero.

(T.2): Two stepsisters.

(T.3): You were apprenticed or sent to be trained. Roll on Table 4 to determine who by or what as.

(T.4): What could be more honorable and glorious than enlisting as a soldier? Start your service at Table 22.

(T.22): War is hell! Surrounded by chaos and bloodshed, you turn craven and desert. Try to flee on Table 19.

(T.19): You are captured and (re)sold into slavery. Go to Table 16.

(T.16): You revolt, and lead your fellow slaves in an escape attempt. See what fate has in store for you on Table 19.

(T.19): Fate interrupts your flight on Table 17.

(T.17): A violent storm forces you to seek shelter from a location on Table 8.

(T.8): A friend's home. They are conspicuous by there absence. You begin searching for them on Table 11.

(T.11): You find what you are looking for. You will have proficiency in Investigation. Roll on the associated table depending on what you were looking for: Person - Table 12.

(T.12): The person needs your help on Table 18.

(T.18): Your friend needs help in illegal activites: roll on Table 15. You succeed, but the local criminal organization is alerted to your unsanctioned activities. Find out the consequences of Table 26.

    >>>> (T.15): Blackmailing.

(T.26): You preform well-enough, but the group is still not sure about your loyalties, even if they do pay you. You have +10% starting gold. Re-roll on this table.

(T.26): You're given a job, roll on Table 15 to see what. However, you mess it up and are caught. The guild manages to pull enough strings to prevent you going straight to prison, but you have to escape the law on your own. Flee on Table 19.

    >>>> (T.15): Swindling.

(T.19): Fate interrupts your flight on Table 17.

(T.17): You are press-ganged. Roll on Table 34.

(T.34): You are unwillingly forced into a life of piracy as the lowest mate on board. See how the life treats you on Table 31, then roll on this table again.

    >>>> (T.31): You barely make it. The experience leaves its scars, both physical and mental, but you find ways to compensate.

(T.34): The ship is becalmed for weeks. When the wind finally picks up, it blows you to the shore near a great temple. You decide to thank the gods by serving at the temple on Table 27.

(T.27): You clumsily ruin a religious ceremony and upset the temple. The furious priests attack you before you can explain, and you are forced to flee on Table 19.

(T.19): With the constant need to evade those who pursue you, you develop a lack of trust and are always trying to suss out everybody's intentions. You will have proficiency in Insight. Roll on Table 8 to see where you eventually end up.

(T.8): A travelling circus. You can travel with them, but only if you can join the act on Table 30.

[d20 = 5]
(T.30): A gymnast. Roll a d20. If you roll less than 12, you are a failure and return home in disgrace. Try leave again on table 3.

(T.3): You were apprenticed or sent to be trained. Roll on Table 4 to determine who by or what as.

(T.4): While others may seek out gold, magic or combat, you sought out a life of art and skill with a great craftsman or artist. Of course, being a tutor need not be uneventful, Find out what happened to your mentor on Table 12.

(T.12): You find out the person was just using to you, and that they actively hate you. After they push you away, you blunder about without paying much attention and end up on Table 17.

(T.17): You are robbed and left tied up. You will have 10% less starting gold. You swear vengeance on those that robbed you on Table 9.

(T.9): Your quest is put on hold as you become embroiled in other events. Roll on Table 17.

(T.17): A violent storm forces you to seek shelter from a location on Table 8.

(T.8): A haunted house. You escape, but are left with a curse. See Table 7.

(T.7): Your eyes constantly weep black ichor. A wizard knows how to remove this curse, but you have to work for them first on Table 10.

(T.10): Your bumbling attempt at a spell sets the tower on fire. The exasperated wizard teleports you away to Table 8.

[d20 = 8]
(T.8): A grove sacred to a community of dryads and treants. Roll a d20 now. If lower than 12, they curse you for your transgression. Roll on Table 7.

(T.7): One of your eyes is green, cat-like and surrounded by black, wrinkled skin. An object can remove this curse. Begin searching for it on Table 11.

(T.11): In your search, you turn up the activities of a villain. Roll on Table 5 to determine which villain. Then try escape their wrath on Table 19.

    >>>> (T.5): A vampire.

(T.19): You are captured and imprisoned on Table 21.

(T.21): You become known as a troublemaker, and eventually your captor or your guards decide it'll be easier to just hand you over to slavers. Roll on Table 16.

(T.16): You are liberated by an army and compelled to join them yourself on Table 22.

(T.22): Your unit and an enemy unit end up in a stand-off. Try negotiate a truce on Table 28.

(T.28): You make a convincing argument and win the respect of those who hear it. You will have proficiency in Persuasion. A noble comes to know of your skill and hires you on Table 33.

(T.33): Your 'service' is actually as a slave. Roll on Table 16.

(T.16): You are enslaved for years, but eventually a benevolent master frees you. Roll on Table 31 to see how the deprivations of slavery affected you. You will have proficiency in Survival. Your life of adventure begins.

    >>>> (T.31): You pull through easily enough. You will have proficiency in Survival.


Total Rolls: 48
Your age is VENERABLE
You have outlived most of your kind. This takes considerable knowledge and a fine ability to interact with others to get them to help you in your much frailer state.< br >+3 INT, +3 WIS, +3 CHA, -3 STR, -3 DEX, -3 CON

Proficiencies:
Investigation
10% More Starting Gold
Insight
10% Less Starting Gold
Persuasion
Survival