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 villain. Roll on Table 5 to determine what kind of villain they were.

    >>>> (T.5): A powerful merchant.

(T.102): One of your parents was an undertaker.

(T.2): An identical twin.

(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.

Choose one...
(T.12): The person dies of a disease, and you get it too. Roll on Table 31 to beat the illness. You have begun adventuring at this point.
(T.12): The person dies of a disease, and you get it too. Roll on Table 31 to beat the illness. You can drown your sorrows in drink and become involved in a tavern brawl on Table 23.

    >>>> (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.23): You can't remember if it was the ale or the chair to the back of the skull, but you woke up on the tavern floor with some rather unimpressed guardsman looking down on you. Enjoy your cell 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 escape your life as a slave, and want to make the one responsible pay. If you have not yet encountered a villain who could be responsible for your enslavement, roll on Table 5 now. Either way, proceed to Table 9.

    >>>> (T.5): A wizard.

(T.9): You are tricked, and become lost underground. Roll 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 pull through easily enough. You will have proficiency in Survival.

(T.25): You survive your time beneath the earth well and become adept at exploration. You will have proficiency in Stealth and Survival. Roll on Table 8 to see where you eventually emerge.

(T.8): A friend's home. They are conspicuous by there absence. You begin searching for them 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): The leader of a criminal organization.

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

(T.21): You either voluntarily join a prison gang or are coerced into doing so. Their contacts get you free, but now you owe them a favor on Table 26.

(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): Spying.

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

(T.16): A noble purchases you and agrees to allow you to work of your debt on Table 33.

(T.33): You and one of the noble's children elope. Go to Table 12 to see what becomes of your lover.

Choose one...
(T.12): The person was a family relation all along. You can begin adventuring with this knowledge.
(T.12): The person was a family relation all along. You can re-roll on this table again to see what further happens to them.

(T.112): 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): War! You have been drafted. Roll on Table 22.

Choose one...
(T.22): You survive your time as a soldier, but not without cost. One of your limbs has been lost and replaced with a prosthetic. You learn to compensate for your loss, becoming stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Athletics. You have begun your life of adventure after the war.
(T.22): You survive your time as a soldier, but not without cost. One of your limbs has been lost and replaced with a prosthetic. You learn to compensate for your loss, becoming stronger than before. You will have proficiency in Athletics. You can roll on Table 11 to try searching for a magical false limb.

(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: Object - Table 13.

(T.13): The object is destroyed. You need to find a replacement. Your life of adventure begins.


Total Rolls: 32
Your age is OLD
At this point, many individuals are reaching the end of their natural span.
+2 INT, +2 WIS, +2 CHA, -2 STR, -2 DEX, -2 CON

Proficiencies:
Survival
Athletics
Stealth
Investigation