TLDR The criminal spy background in DnD 5E adds depth to the players’ backstory and can have a significant influence on the party’s direction and quests.
Key insights
📚The spy background is one of the more popular choices, belonging right up there with the charlatan and even the urchin.
🕵️♂️The criminal spy background in DnD 5E allows players to have a history of breaking the law and contacts within the criminal underworld.
📜The criminal contact feature can be a favorite for dungeon masters, providing a great tool for storytelling and adding depth to the players’ backstory.
🕵️The criminal contact can have a significant influence on the party’s direction and may even issue quests and adventures.
🔮”Let’s take a look at some suggested characteristics here for personality trait.”
🕵️♂️The criminal spy character has a code of honor and doesn’t steal from others in the trade, adding complexity to their moral compass.
🤝The criminal background is strong enough to justify being more lenient with party members, as there’s likely a reason you all grew up together in the first place.
Highlights
🕵️00:00 Criminal and spy backgrounds are essentially the same, found in the players handbook, and are popular choices for adventurers.
🕵️00:47 You are an experienced criminal with a history of breaking the law, with contacts within the criminal underworld and a d8 table to determine your specialty.
🕵️01:22 Criminal spy background in DnD 5E has useful skill and tool proficiencies, equipment, and diverse play options.
🕵️♂️02:19 Criminal Spy background provides a reliable contact for delivering messages and can be a useful tool for the dungeon master to provide clues and exposition.
🕵️03:19 The criminal contact forms a sentimental attachment with the party, influencing their direction and potentially requesting favors and quests.
📜03:51 Incorporate magic in messages, suggested characteristics for personality trait.
🕵️♂️04:08 Always has a plan for when things go wrong, doesn’t steal from others, but can’t resist stealing valuable things.
🕵️04:53 Be mindful of not using the criminal background as an excuse to be a jerk to other party members, focus on the common goal and avoid pursuing criminal activities with the group.