Homebrew Background & Feat - Bounty Hunter
As we continue presenting new backgrounds for 5.5e (I'll eventually figure out what to call the latest edition), I present the bounty hunter. Bounty hunters abound in TV shows and movies. The Mandalorian is the most famous space bounty hunter in recent TV history. There's the British TV show Bounty Hunters, the classic TV show The Fall Guy (recently made into a movie), the reality TV show Dog the Bounty Hunter, and my favorite anime of all time, Cowboy Bebop.
So here's the Bounty Hunter background to use when creating your character. I hope you enjoy it, and as always, constructive feedback is always welcome.
Bounty Hunter
Ability Scores: Strength, Intelligence, Wisdom
Feat: Nowhere to Run
Skill Proficiencies: Insight and Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: Thieves’ Tools
Equipment: Choose A or B: (A) Hooded Lantern, Ink Pen, Manacles, Parchment, Rope, Thieves’ Tools 16 gp or (B) 50 GP
Numerous motivations could have led to a career in bounty hunting. There are those who are in it for the gold. The most significant bounties paid more than you could make as an ordinary worker could dream of. For some, it's the glory, always taking on the bounties of the most dangerous criminals. Others in your trade may shy away from the vicious killers, but not you. Others saw being a bounty hunter as an admirable trade. You did your part to bring criminals to justice. As wrongdoers, you feel they should suffer the consequences of their actions, living by the motto, "Crime doesn't pay."
Whatever the reason, this is the living you choose. You learn a variety of skills to assist in your profession. You have excellent communication skills; you can cajole information from law enforcement, hostile people who have information, and other unsavory people. You understand the law and can quickly figure out local rules and regulations, ensuring you don't run afoul when hunting your quarry. You can use various weapons, as not all targets can be subdued with a simple sword.
Sometimes, you work for the local government, while other times, you're employed by private companies or wronged individuals when the local law enforcement fails to locate the criminal and bring them to justice. You talked to your contacts to gather information, followed up on leads, and pursued your quarry to the ends of the earth. Once found, you know you to subdue and capture them, or in some cases, bring back their dead body.
Background Story Ideas
Knowing that the career of a bounty hunter was your calling, you searched out a legendary bounty hunter and begged to be their apprentice. After taking you on, you trained for years, learning the skills to make you as successful as they were. Upon their retirement from the trade, you found yourself at a crossroads. Continue hunting bounties for a living or seek out new adventures and, along with it, greater glory.
Being a bounty hunter wasn't your first career choice. Once you were of age, you joined the military. You fought in various skirmishes and defended the city from invaders, developing expertise in combat tactics and survival. Once the war ended, you used your skills to become a bounty hunter with your military background serving you well in your endeavors.
You wanted to bring those who committed crimes to justice. In your work as a bounty hunter, you encountered all manner of people, each with their own stories of why they ended up on the wrong side of the law. You learned to approach your work empathetically, understanding that many were simply products of their circumstances. This drove you to commit to making a difference by helping some fugitives find a better path.
Nowhere to Run
Origin Feat
Your bounty may think they are safe, but it is a foolish dream. They can’t run or hide from you, even if they don’t know it yet.
You gain the following benefits:
The Hunted. You spend an hour gathering information about your target, and then you may designate that creature as your bounty. You know the direction and distance, up to 1 mile, of your bounty’s location. You may only have one bounty at a time.
You Can’t Run. When you’re within 120 feet of your bounty and can see them, you can take the Dash action as a Bonus Action.
You Can’t Hide. You have Advantage on perception check to notice your bounty, and when your bounty attempts to hide from you, your passive perception is increased by 5.
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Art Credit - WotC
