Isekai

The backgrounds real people have.

Isekai backgrounds

P
lay your favorite anime worlds with the best
backgrounds for characters of the isekai genre!
Give your player options for their characters so
you can run anything from Gate to Konosuba
with your best friends or run the most awesome
game ever in your college's anime club.
Apologies first
First and foremost, I'm sorry to all DMs who may get players
insisting they want to have an Isekai character. If this doesn't
fit your game, you as a DM should put your feet down and let
your players know they can't.
I assume that if you are reading this, you are considering
having these backgrounds to be allowed in your world, and it
may be very fun! Many anime and light novel fans around the
world watch and enjoy shows in the Isekai genre, and some
probably will, some day, come up with the idea of having a
D&D game with this genre!
But in D&D 5e the only background for a character like
this is Outsider, and you shouldn't have 4 players all have the
Outsider background.
So I welcome you to the magical world of Isekai with these
backgrounds!
What is Isekai after all?
Alice in the wonderland is probably the first Isekai ever, after
all, the name literary means another world, and the genre is
defined by a character from one world being transported to
another.
But people reading this are not trying to play Alice in the
wonderland in D&D (although there's nothing wrong with
that!), but rather want to replicate the most recent trend in
Isekai, the Earth human being sent into a fantasy world.
It can be very fun for a group to play themselves going into
the DM's fantastic world, and the role play value is great for
players who are great at role playing as themselves but not
others!
So call in your otaku friends and start an Isekai game in
D&D with the best backgrounds for real non fantasy humans
out there!

Backgrounds
This is the list of all backgrounds available for characters
from our world to a fantasy world. As a DM, you may choose
to change somethings to fit your narrative, and please do!
And an important thing, Isekai characters probably have to
be human! Other races offer a lot of interesting things, but
sadly, they are fantasy! However one way to make fantasy
races work with these background is through either "It's all
inside a virtual reality" or "You were reborn as X race".
The otaku
You were a huge fan of the entertainment from a specific
country in your world of origin, although no one knows this
country nor its pieces of entertainment. You may have been
completely obsessed with this culture to the point of having
no friends, or you could have been a normal fan, with several
different hobbies besides pop culture from that country.
How obsessed were you? Did you share your hobby with
other friends? Did you go to conventions? Are there other
hobbies that you share your attention with?
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Perception.
Languages: One language from your home world and
common.
Equipament: Weird clothes for the world you are in, a ball
pen, a notebook, a book from your world written in your
home language, a small trinket of special significance for you.
really addicted
You may also roll the genre of entertainment you love
following the table bellow.
d10 Favorite genre d10 Favorite genre
1 Action 6 Mecha
2 Slice-of-life 7 Magical Girls
3 Drama 8 Romance
4 Psychological 9 Harem
5 Historical 10 Space Opera
Feature: Genre savvy
You know the kind of story you are in, as such, you know if
your group has the level to fight a monster or not. Once a day
you may ask the DM if victory is attainable in an encounter,
although that doesn't mean you will be able to win, only that
winning was possible in the view of the DM.
Suggested Characteristics
As a fan of animated media, you love cultural references and
cliches you may find. Most otakus would travel around the
world trying to find their party of wackos with whom they'll
have a blast in this world. Some may want to use their
knowledge to fight against the evils of this world.
d8 Personality trait
1 My collection is gone, but I will collect as many fantasy
items as I can!
2 I'm found of magical beings, as long as I'm close to
one, I'm entertained.
3 I was sent to the wrong genre, I don't understand how
I'm supposed to live happily here.
4 These people should be amazed by my home world's
stuff, even if they don't believe my story.
5 No one should know where I'm from, I'll hide my
origins anytime I can.
6 I'm obviously the hero, so accepting quests are a must!
7 This world is too dangerous, I'll do anything to survive
this and find my way home!
8 I'm sure this is all a dream or a game I got stuck into,
so while I'm at it, I might as well as get good.
d6 Ideal
1 Go back. Fantasy worlds are nice and all, but I must go
back. (Any)
2 Be the best. This is a fantasy world, it's my duty to be
the very best. (Any)
3 Save the world. I was sent with a reason, it probably
involves saving the world! (Good)
4 Domination. These fools are way back in technology
and culture, they should be commanded by someone
who came from a more advanced world! (Evil)
5 Freedom. This is a new world, I can have a new life.
(Chaotic)
6 Heroic. I want to die a hero's death and end this story
with a bang. (Good)
d6 Bond
1 I loved my friends in my home world, I always talk
about them.
2 I want to know the truth behind this world.
3 I fell in love with a girl from this world who I want to
impress.
4 I hope my name to become a legend in this world.
5 I have to go back and see the end of my favorite series.
6 I was a terrible person in my world, I want to become
better.
d6 Flaw
1 I love to draw people in pairings I made up.
2 I believe I'm the protagonist, the others are secondary.
3 I find true love at every city, but never talk to them.
4 The protagonist never dies! I'm the protagonist.
5 I criticize people for not behaving in cliched manner.
6 Every villain should be converted into friends.
 d6 Ideal
The Gamer
1 Quit game. This game is getting old, I should find a way
From 16 bits to 4k, you've seen graphics evolve tremendously, to leave. (Any)
but nothing prepared you for how a real fantasy world would
be. You notice some aspects of the world you are in as being 2 Git gud. I'm always the best at the games I'm playing,
this one won't be any different. (Any)
close to RPGs, but maybe you didn't play them, or you played
a different one with different rules, but you are sure this 3 Paragon. I'll do my best to get the good ending! (Good)
world follows some form of tabletop rules. 4 Renegade. The fun part of gaming is being evil with no
You may believe you entered a game through your VR, or consequences, and I shall do that! (Evil)
maybe this is the heaven you were expecting to get. Were you
an active person? Did you play online or always solo? Did you 5 Level up. I'll focus in one objective and finish it, then I'll
get the next objective and so on until I get stronger.
play tabletop and board games? (any)
Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Perception.
Languages: One language from your home world and 6 Complete it. I'm here to complete every quest, save
common. every princess and collect every magical item I can get.
(Any)
Equipment: Weird clothes for the world you are in, a VR
set without batteries, arcade coins, gloves, a disc or cartridge d6 Bond
of your favorite game or a bag of dice.
1 I miss my games.
Real gamer 2 This world reminds me of a game I loved playing.
Your way of gaming is the best, everyone else is playing
wrong. You may choose one kind of gaming to be your 3 I'm sure I saw a bug in this world happen, and I must
find it.
favorite from the table below.
4 I got a glimpse of this entire world when I was arriving,
d10 Gaming d10 Gaming and it's beautiful.
1 Mobile games 6 Visual novels 5 I must protect the things I brought from the other
2 Portable console 7 Tabletop RPG world.
3 Virtual Reality 8 Card games 6 The smiles of the people of this land are begging to be
helped.
4 Home console 9 MMORPG
5 Board games 10 PC games d6 Flaw
1 I'm the only competent person in the world.
2 I'm very short tempered.
Feature: Pattern recognition
You know from games that everyone, even real people, 3 Stealing is part of the game.
behave in patterns and will repeat their actions everyday. 4 Even if I die, it'll all restart at the last save point!
With one hour of investigation, you can learn a neutral or
friendly NPC's daily routine by asking around and paying 5 I think I'm able to do much more things than I'm
actually able to.
attention to them.
6 I blame my losses on LAG.
Suggested Characteristics
You are competitive, you attentive, you try to get the best
outcome from conversations, combat and adventures. You are
sure there will be a great adventure somewhere, you know
that someone hid a treasure under the mountain, you know
that mage is evil.
d6 Personality trait
1 I'm always paying attention to try and find bugs in this
world.
2 I sometimes repeat a question to try and get a new
answer.
3 I try to do weird things like double jump and pause.
4 I see every NPC as unimportant.
5 I keep maps and potions in my field of view, most of
the times in the higher left corner.
6 I always expect coins to appear when a monster is
killed or a quest is completed.
 d6 Ideal
The Soldier
1 Low tech. This world should never face the terrors the
What happened? You were used to the war zone, but this is technology from mine created. (Chaotic)
totally different, and you could swear you saw a dragon flying
by and there are some weird folks walking around with 2 Conquest. Uncivilized people must be conquered and
educated. (Evil)
swords and stuff.
Maybe you were a brave soldier defending your country, or 3 Democracy. I'll bring democracy to this world! (Any)
a mercenary killing for those who paid more. What were you 4 Ranking. I shall join a group or organization and grow in
fighting for? Did you have a loved one to go back to? Was the their ranks. (Any)
war over and when you were finally returning when you woke
up in this place? 5 Diplomacy. I'll find a way to open a portal between my
country and this world. (Any)
Skill Proficiencies: Medicine, Athletics.
Tool kit proficiency: Tinker's tools, weaver's tools. 6 Protection. I'm not a soldier to kill someone, I'm a
Languages: One language from your home world and soldier to protect others. (Good)
common.
Equipment: Your soldier uniform, a small gun with one d6 Bond
bullet (range 100/800, weight 3lbs, 1d12 piercing damage), a 1 The love of my life awaits my return.
memento from home. 2 I value my time away from the war zone.
Soldier 3 The first people I met here treated me better than any
The table below gives you some options for your position in other in my world, I'm thankful for that.
the military before being transported to this world. 4 My gun is my memory, I would never fire it unless in
extreme cases.
d10 Position d10 Position
5 I gathered a lot of important information, I'll send back
1 Private 6 Petty officer first class this intelligence to my country.
2 Seaman recruit 7 Corporal 6 I fell in love with the peaceful day in a small medieval
3 Airman 8 Brigadier General town.
4 Technical Sergeant 9 Fleet Admiral
d6 Flaw
5 Specialist 10 General
1 I'm better than the people from this world at
everything.
2 I try to explain thing from my world that even I don't
Feature: Advanced tactics understand.
You time as a soldier taught you useful war tactics and
survival techniques that allow you the ability to know the size, 3 Everyone is a potential enemy.
number and general characteristics (if they are humanoid, if 4 Everything magical must be an illusion or lost
they are beasts) of any group of creatures that you detect. technology.
5 There is no such a thing as ethics in combat.
Suggested Characteristics
You have a tactical mind, you want to plan things ahead and 6 I'll avoid fighting as much as possible and enjoy an
prefer that everyone follows you, unless they rank above you. easygoing adventuring life.
You won't join another military in this new world, you are a
brave soldier of your home country's military and that is
something you are proud of.
d6 Personality trait
1 I act tough at all times.
2 I'm respectful towards other soldiers.
3 If someone doesn't understand my plans, I draw it for
them.
4 I like to clean my gun every night before going to
sleep.
5 I talk about my home experiences, even if this people
won't understand.
6 I feel like taking easy in this world, after all the fighting
I did.
 d6 Ideal
The Scientist
1 High tech. There must be a way to recreate technology
Did you teleport yourself here? Maybe. Was it your fault? in this magical world. (Any)
Absolutely not! Now, time to understand this world better!
You are a master of your memory and no secrets survive 2 Power. I'm the most intelligent man around, I know
science and science is power! (Evil)
enough testing!
Maybe you were simply investigating a new species of fire 3 Egalitarianism. This world can be molded to be a place
breathing lizard found in some lost jungle and got into a better than my home world! (Good)
portal to this world. Or you were testing a time travel method 4 Knowledge. I'll collect as much knowledge as possible,
that went wrong. Or even you were simply visiting your for that is what really matters. (Any)
neighboring lab for some coffee when their weird machine 5 Perfection. This world has to follow the same path my
started working (absolutely not because you touched that home world followed, I guarantee that. (Any)
button). What were you studying? Why were you studying
that? What are your views on magic, gods and mysticism? 6 Magitech. Well studied magic is the same as science.
Skill Proficiencies: Investigation, Nature. (Any)
Languages: One language from your home world and
common. d6 Bond
Equipment: Pen and a notebook with half the pages filled 1 I'll complete my research, be it here, or back there.
with notes from your research, a white coat, a working solar- 2 I have a new world to investigate.
powered scientific calculator, and a tiny useless gadget.
3 I have to go back to complete my life's research.
Researcher 4 These people are helpless without tecnology, I have to
The table below gives you some options for your area of help them.
study. 5 I have to find a person suitable to learn about my
d10 Research d10 Research research before I die here.
1 Computer science 6 Biology 6 Hopefully in here I have extra time to finish my paper
before going back.
2 Psychology 7 Chemistry
3 Mathematics 8 Astronomy d6 Flaw
4 Physics 9 Sociology 1 I'm really enticed about touching magical things.
5 Genetics 10 A.I. 2 I have to take something apart to understand how it
works/lives.
3 I use jargon when talking to anybody.
Feature: Scientific method 4 I forget they don't have technology in this world when
You can use a day of research to understand a characteristic asking for favors.
of something of this world, as long as you have access to this
thing, after that, you have a better chance of recognizing this 5 I get lost in thoughts easily.
pattern in other things. You can understand if a being is a 6 I hide my love for magical worlds in an aggressive
fiend, after that, you have advantage in finding out if a being is manner.
a fiend or not.
Suggested Characteristics
You believe what you can prove. If this world has magic, it's
probably some sort of energy that no one had the trouble to
study. Even if you are not a wizard, you have a tendency to try
to understand and rationalize everything magical that you
find.
d6 Personality trait
1 I use my science as a metaphor for everything.
2 I'll always try to investigate things I don't understand.
3 I don't value things like gods and religions, even if they
exist.
4 I'm easily amazed by any simple magic.
5 I must be hallucinating all of this.
6 I explain back things explained to me to be certain I
got it right.

The High schooler
There goes school! If you were an avid student it may have
been terrible, but if you were a lazy, or even terrible student,
this event was the chance you needed to escape the boring
routine!
What kind of student were you? Did you like school? Did
you have many friends? Were you gathering the courage to
talk to your high school crush?
Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Deception.
Languages: One language from your home world and
common.
Equipment: A sport's equipment (a soccer ball, a tennis
racquet, a pair of sport shoes), your school's uniform, a
textbook.
Feature: Learning Youth
A friendly NPC will always tell you details about things you
ask for as long as it's not harmful to them. You may get to
know other NPCs opinions on the party, secret passageways
only locals know about, and general gossips.
d6 Bond
1 I cling to the memories of my family.
2 I need to experience this new world.
3 My party is my new family.
4 I have to go home, this place is awful.
5 A world without school is great, but I miss my friends.
6 I will find my place in this world.
d6 Flaw
1 I sometimes mistakenly call adults "Dad" and "Mom".
2 I don't care for any explanations longer than a minute.
3 I'm condescending.
4 I tell my enemies that when I get back, I'll tell my mom
about everything they did!
5 I don't know how to properly spend money.
6 I like to write my name in tables, walls and benches.

Suggested Characteristics
You have your entire life to live yet, and you are now free from
that boring world into one of exciting adventure! Although
you may sometimes miss home, and you are certain your
mother's food was better than any of these, you'll live this
adventure to the fullest.
d6 Personality trait
1 I compare other people to teachers I have, and that
may influence my opinion on them.
2 I involuntarily worry about things being on the test,
even though there is no test.
3 I depend on older people to decide almost everything.
4 I act like I know better than others.
5 I easily have crushes on dependable NPCs.
6 I'll often cite something I learned in class relevant (or
not) to the situation.

d6 Ideal
1 Freedom. I'm not here to learn, I'm here to live.
(Chaotic)
2 Family. Until I can go back to my family, I'll gather a
group I can call family. (Any non-evil)
3 Life. I don't think we should waste time talking when
we can live this world. (Any)
4 Improvement. I'll take the time here to learn the lessons
I wouldn't at school. (Good)
5 Qualification. I need to prove that I can get a job and be
a professional adventurer by working hard. (Any)
6 Home. My home world is better than this one, so this
one should change. (Any)