From publisher blurb:
The world is broken. Whether through war, disaster, or slow decay, civilization as it was once known has fallen. Now, only the strong, the clever, or the lucky manage to carve out an existence in the ruins of the old world. In such a setting, people are shaped by their past just as much as their present—where they came from, what they did before everything collapsed, and how they learned to survive in a world that offers no second chances.
This booklet provides 30 unique survivor backgrounds designed for post-apocalyptic tabletop roleplaying games built on the foundation of a 5e-based system. These backgrounds replace traditional fantasy roles, offering players the chance to step into the boots of scavengers, warlords, traders, ex-soldiers, and more. Each background grants a distinct identity, shaping a character’s skills, proficiencies, starting equipment, and a special feature that reflects their experience in this brutal world.
How to Use These Backgrounds
When creating a character, players may choose one of these backgrounds to define their origins, skillset, and role within a post-collapse society. Each background provides:
A Narrative Foundation – A brief backstory explaining how the character survived before the game begins.
Skill Proficiencies – Two skills the character has mastered through their past experiences.
Tool Proficiencies – Knowledge of tools, vehicles, or other practical crafts relevant to survival.
Starting Equipment – A selection of useful gear reflecting the character’s former life.
A Unique Feature – A special ability or knowledge that sets them apart from ordinary survivors.
These backgrounds help flesh out a character’s identity, strengths, and connections, ensuring that each survivor feels like a lived-in part of the world. They are designed to be flexible, allowing players and game masters to adapt them to a variety of apocalyptic settings—from the aftermath of nuclear war to the remnants of a fallen space colony.
A World Without Limits
The collapse of civilization has left many stories to be told. Some survivors cling to the past, trying to rebuild what was lost. Others embrace the chaos, carving out power in the ruins. Some search for hope, while others survive simply because they refuse to die. No matter the setting, these backgrounds provide the foundation for characters with depth, purpose, and a history that shaped them into who they are today.
Welcome to the wasteland. Your past is written in the ashes, but your future is still unwritten.
This booklet contains a selection of 30 Backgrounds to replace those in the core rulebooks, aimed towards a Post Apocalyptic Setting.