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 farmer.

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

(T.2): Two stepsisters.

(T.3): Your family is ruined and blacklisted by the machinations of a rival. You have to take to a life of crime to survive, or become a political criminal due to the circumstances. Roll on Table 15 to see what your crime was. Then continue with a roll on Table 26.

    >>>> (T.15): Blackmailing.

(T.26): During your work for the group, you are press-ganged. Sail on to Table 34.

(T.34): A sea monster sinks your ship. You are treading water: roll on Table 31 to see the effects of this. Eventually, a passing nobleman's ship rescues you and takes you to Table 33.

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

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

(T.16): You are forced to mine for precious minerals underground. You will have training in Nature from developing a good knowledge of terrain. One day you become lost and have to find your way out on Table 25.

(T.25): You wander in dark caverns for who knows how long, subsisting on insects, bats and whatever else you can catch. It's a miserable existence: roll on Table 31 with a -5 penalty to see how it affects you. Then re-roll on this table.

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

(T.25): Beneath the earth, you discover a huge statue with ruby eyes. You pry one lose, but then are forced to flee when a tribe of goblins chases you out of the tunnels. On the bright side, they chase you back to the surface where you sell the ruby for a tidy profit. You will have +50% starting gold. On the downside, it turns out the ruby cursed you. 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): You discover you need more information to find what you seek. You will have proficiency in Investigation. Roll on this table again, but regardless of what you were searching for originally, you now are seeking information.

(T.11): You discover you need more information to find what you seek. You will have proficiency in Investigation. Roll on this table again, but regardless of what you were searching for originally, you now are seeking information.

(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 warlord.

(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 private hunting grounds owned by a noble. Try to explain your way out of it at Table 28.

(T.28): All you manage to do is anger one party to the point it wants to hunt you down. Roll on Table 19 to try escape their wrath.

(T.19): You evade your pursuers for now, but you know they are never going to be far behind and you must remain alert. You will have proficiency in Perception. Your life of adventure begins.


Total Rolls: 22
Your age is MIDDLE-AGED
The beginning of physical decline.
+1 INT, +1 WIS, +1 CHA, -1 STR, -1 DEX, -1 CON

Proficiencies:
Nature
50% More Starting Gold
Investigation
Insight
Perception