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

Druids are a variable divine caster with less overall spellcasting ability than wizards and clerics, but with a few extra skills surrounding the natural world. Druids have a solid hit point pool and their access to wild shape at higher levels gives them a bit of extra health to survive in longer fights. Just like Clerics, Druids are able to learn healing spells and have access to armor unlike wizards and sorcerers. 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 Acolyte

The Acolyte is the kind of druid that studies their craft under one of the Deities of Nature or has a direct connection to nature itself. Instead of becoming a Cleric of a nature deity, the Druid has a deeper connection directly to the land. They are able to connect to the land and the natural way in a way that others aren’t. The Acolyte is a studier of the natural world. You might be the local hedgewitch, or you could be a sage dedicated to finding the mysteries of the natural world. Radagast the Brown from Middle Earth is a good example of an Acolyte. Think about what brought you into the natural world, what called you to study nature and learn its secrets. How did you come to serve your deity, or do just have a direct connection?

Once you’ve decided upon your faith, determine what brings you to study the natural world. Are you more interested in the flora or fauna? Do you have a connection to a particular biome or even a particular region? Lastly, determine what has forced you from onto the road, hunting for adventure. Did a mentor send you on a quest, or has the natural world fallen out of order and you seek to repair the damage.

#2: The Guardian

The protector of the natural world, the Guardian is someone who protects the natural world. They fight against the injustices and tragedies of civilization, preventing the spread of the engines of destruction. The Guardian might protect a specific grove, or a religious site for their deity, or they might simply be a protector of nature wherever they find it. Perhaps your druid is a Guardian of the natural order, fighting against undead, demons, devils and aberrations. The Guardian could belong to an organization such as the Emerald Enclave in Forgotten Realms or they could be tasked by a powerful natural entity like a Faerie Queen.

Consider how your character came to their position in the first place. Do they see the tragedies of human loggers, or were they born into natural societies like elves or firbolgs? Do you have a specific enemy like Undead, or do you simply travel, trying to educate people on why they should protect the natural order? Work with your DM to determine what fits best in their world, or what entity may have tasked them with their quest.

#3: The Shaman

Whether you are a witch doctor from a small tribe or a Dawncaller for a village of goliaths in the mountains. D&D is full of societies that rely on their Druids to provide healing, care for the sick, and prediction of the future. The Shaman is the perfect backstory for a character who comes from the outskirts of society, either raised to lead their clan or to provide guidance for their people. Is your Shaman a healer, a prophet or maybe in their culture, the shaman leads the tribe. The Shaman is a protector of their people. Was your shaman chosen by their people or a mentor? Or maybe they were selected through a trial?

Why has your character left their people? Were they forced to abandon their people, or did they lead their people into a problematic situation and they were abandoned? How does your character’s traditions and culture affect their day to day? Is magic a big part of your tribe, or were you specifically blessed with powers beyond the norm for shamans of your culture? As all druids, decide how important your deity is to your traditions.

#4: The Faerie Child

Perhaps your Druid didn’t study and learn the way most did, but instead was born with their gifts. You don’t necessarily have to be a child of the Fey, but maybe you were blessed by some natural entity attuned with the powers of the land. Whatever entity you serve, what does it ask of you in return for the gifts its given you? How did your character become involved with this entity, or at what point did they discover the gifts that they were born with?

This backstory idea is perfect for a druid who wants to be more supernatural. Who wants to engage in the more mystical areas of the natural world. Maybe your character has a connection to the Feywild or the Beastlands. Does your character want the gifts they’ve been given, or is the magic they wield forced on them? Work with your DM to determine what kinds of natural entities might be available to connect your Druid to.

#5: The Explorer

Outside the bounds of normal Druids, maybe your character uses their natural gifts to explore magical realms or chart the far reaches of the sea. Your character might use their ability to speak with animals to scout new locations, or ability to predict weather to chart long sea voyages. The Explorer strikes out to find new places, to delve into new dungeons and chart new islands all in the name of exploration. Perhaps you grew up yearning for new locations, or maybe you had a vision of a place that you must find.

Consider why your character has been struck with their wanderlust. Maybe their magic is a menagerie of tricks they learned as they travelled the world. Does your character prefer to map new places themselves, or are they constantly looking for maps to secret places and treasures? How does your character like to travel? Work with your DM to determine what places you’ve been and where you might wish to go in the future. This is also a great time to create some contacts you’ve met as you travelled.

If you like this article or any others I have written, consider liking, subscribing, tipping or pledging here on Vocal as it really helps me continue writing! If you're looking for other articles on Druids, follow the links below!

• Magic Items for Druids
• Best Spells for Druids
• Best Feats for Druids
• Guide to Spore Druids

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