5 Backstory Ideas for Your Rogue in Dungeons and Dragons (D&D)

The Rogue is the ultimate skill monkey, they are often the stealthiest member, the scout, the face and more. They are best at doing tons of damage, but not at taking too many hits. They are stealthy and fast and play loose with the rules. The Rogue brings skills to the table. Literally, the rogue has more skills than any other class in the game (save maybe Lore Bard). Now it’s time to come up with a few quick backstory ideas to help bring your character to life. Here are five intriguing ideas to use in your game, or to build off of to create a unique character you’ll love to play.

#1: The Criminal

You live your life on the run, moving through the shadows in search of the next big score. The Criminal is the classic background for a Rogue, using their skills in stealth and ability to move in the shadows to perform the next big heist. Your Criminal could be from a thieves’ guild, acting amongst the hierarchy of the guild and paying their dues, or you could be a freelance agent, working for only yourself. Maybe you’re a professional thief, or an excellent agent at casing the joint. Maybe you’re a conman or a pickpocket, working crowds instead of moving undetected in the shadows of the night. If you are going to play a Criminal, think about questions such as what made you turn to crime in the first place. Does your Criminal have a specialization, safe cracking or cat burglary? Do you do it for the rush or do you do it simply because you have to to survive?

For many Criminals, you may have been forced into the trade by poor circumstances, or you may try to hit the next big score. For some, you seek riches, for others, you simply try to survive. Did you join the adventuring group to lend your skills to theirs in order to gain riches, or are you using adventuring as an avenue to escape your poor upbringing? Perhaps you’ve angered someone you stole from or were almost caught by the law and now you’re on the run. Work with your DM to position yourself amongst the Criminal landscape or create a Thieves’ Guild.

#2: The Assassin

Similar to the Criminal in many aspects, the Assassin is a step above normal criminals, using their skills to kill, either for gold or in the employ of a powerful organization. They could even be employed by the Crown or an intelligence organization. The Assassin is like a ghost, moving into others houses and past guards to take out their targets. As an Assassin you might move through the darker realms of society or you might be amongst the upper class, a fixer no one wants to acknowledge. Consider how your character became an Assassin and why it is that they do what they do.

As an Assassin, the kill comes first. Consider whether your character has any remorse for the ones that they kill, or do they simply do it for the money, or are they forced to kill to remove a debt? Does your Assassin have a code or limitations, or will they assassinate whoever if they have to? The Assassin might work for an organization like a guild or even a secret organization that removes political dissidents or attempts to root out corrupt politicians. Work with your DM to determine what your Assassin has done, if they are on the run, and who they might be in contact with.

#3: The Apothecary

The Apothecary grew up learning medicine and alchemy. They might have been apprenticed as a child or they could have taken an interest later in life. The Apothecary uses their skills to create alchemical projects or maybe they’ve used their medical skills to translate into a perfect poisoner. Consider how your Apothecary came to learn their skill set they have developed. Whether they still practice medicine or they’ve learned how to take their skills and turn them onto the black market.

Consider how your Apothecary was taught, did they develop the skills themselves? Or were they part of a guild or apprenticed to a mentor? The Apothecary uses their skills of medicine to disable or kill their enemies. Consider how your Apothecary came to turn their trade to the underground, or how they went from a healer to joining an adventuring group and what pressured them to make this decision.

#4: The Spy

While most rogues have training that makes them useful in covert situations, most use these for criminal purposes. For some, however, those abilities are better placed in working for their country. The Spy might work for their kingdom, or a private intelligence organization, or they could even be involved in some kind of corporate espionage between guilds. Maybe they use their abilities with persuasion and disguise to blend in and learn more information to ferry to their employers. The Spy has spent their entire lives leading a double life. Consider whether your Spy ever wants to escape the game or are they happy to never truly be who they are?

Consider why your Spy left their organization, or whether they ever have. A Spy might be working for their organization even as they leave to adventure, gathering information under just another guise. Maybe they’ve been tasked with learning and informing on a particular target, or maybe they’ve simply been given the task of watching over one of the other party members. Decide what your Spy’s ultimate goal is. Work with your DM to determine who you might be working for, and what your long-term goals could be.

#5: The Pirate

As a Rogue, your skills often lie in stealth, deception and ability to disable traps. But, not all rogues are necessarily the quiet shadowy figures. Some are dashing, daring swashbucklers that take to the high seas. Using their skills in the employ of raiding coast lines and other maritime vessels. While some rogues pilfer treasures from inside vaults, the Pirate takes to sea, stealing from merchant vessels or even battleships in the navy. Consider on what ship your Pirate serves, whether they are one amongst the crew or maybe even the captain. Does your Pirate still consider their loyalty to their former crew or have they renounced it for the adventuring party.

Consider whether your Pirate was an independent agent, jumping from ship to ship, or did they belong to a single crew. Were they taken in by their captain, or simply jumping into the seafaring life out of necessity. Maybe they were sold into slavery or taken hostage, told to fight for the crew or be thrown to the sharks. Do they want to rise to fame, maybe even captaining their own ship one day? Or, do they simply seek riches to retire lavishly on their own island. Work with your DM to decide who your Pirate might be, and why they left. If they left on good terms the NPCs you make could be great contacts in the future of the campaign.

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• Best Magic Items for Rogues
• Best Feats for Rogues

This is part of a series of backstory ideas for each class. To check out the other articles in this series, follow the links below!

• Barbarian
• Bard
• Cleric
• Druid
• Fighter
• Monk
• Paladin
• Ranger
• Rogue
• Sorcerer
• Warlock
• Wizard