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 soldier.

(T.2): You were separated from your siblings at birth. Re-roll on this table to determine who they were, ignoring a result of 1, 2 or 20

(T.2): A younger brother.

(T.3): You leave in search of a family heirloom or some other valuable or powerful item. Roll 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 powerful merchant.

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

(T.16): You make a break for it! Run for your freedom 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 military camp. You are drafted to Table 22.

(T.22): Your unit is surrounded and only you escape the massacre by fleeing into the wilderness on Table 24.

(T.24): You wander the wilds for at least a year, living a meager existence and never coming into contact with civilization. You will have proficiency in Nature, but there may be a cost: roll on Table 31 to see. Then re-roll on this table.

    >>>> (T.31): You find this 'hardship' almost trivial and come out of it even stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Survival and Athletics.

(T.24): You wander the wilds for at least a year, living a meager existence and never coming into contact with civilization. You will have proficiency in Nature, but there may be a cost: roll on Table 31 to see. Then re-roll on this table.

    >>>> (T.31): You find this 'hardship' almost trivial and come out of it even stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Survival and Athletics.

(T.24): You wander the wilds for at least a year, living a meager existence and never coming into contact with civilization. You will have proficiency in Nature, but there may be a cost: roll on Table 31 to see. Then re-roll on this table.

    >>>> (T.31): You find this 'hardship' almost trivial and come out of it even stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Survival and Athletics.

(T.24): You survive by honing your hunting and trapping skills. You will have proficiency in Nature and Survival. With these new skills, you return a stronger person and your life of adventure begins.


Total Rolls: 19
Your age is ADULT
Adults are at the most equalized stage of development. From here their physical body will begin to weaken while their minds and personalities benefit from experience.
Adults have no modifiers to their attributes.

Proficiencies:
Insight
Nature
Survival
Athletics