Battle Brothers’ Backgrounds Guide [Updated!]

My mercenary company doesn’t judge… much.

Battle Brothers is an indie strategy and RPG game developed by Overhype Studios. Each member of your company can come from a specific background which determines their skills and how much they cost to recruit and their wage. Generally a Sellsword is better than a Servant but a background like in real life isn’t all that matters but has a noticeable impact on a characters starting abilities. This guide shows all the backgrounds currently available in the game.

Recruitment

New recruits can be recruited in Settlements. The cost of recruitment are based on: Character Background, starting equipment and Level. Recruits Morale will drop if Provisions and daily wages aren’t kept up with. Men will possibly desert when they have Angry Morale.

Wages are affected by: Character Background, their level (+10% of base, +3% after level 11), random modifiers, certain Traits such as the Greedy Trait, and Event modifiers.

Backgrounds

Adventurous Noble
+15 Resolve, +10 Melee Skill, +5 Melee Defence, -10 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 25 Crowns.
Start Level = 1-3.

Apprentice
+10% Experience Gain.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Assassin
-5 Hitpoints, -5 Fatigue, +10 Resolve, +20 Initiative, +12 Melee Skill, +5 Melee Defence.
Daily Wage = 20 Crowns.
Start Level = 4.

Barbarian
+10 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, +10 Resolve, +5 Initiative, +10 Melee Skill.
Daily Wage = 20 Crowns.
Start Level = 2-4.

Bastard
+10 Melee Skill, -5 Melee Defence, -5 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 14 Crowns.
Start Level = 1-3

Beggar
-10 Hitpoints, -10 Max Fatigue, -10 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 3 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Beast Slayer
+5 Fatigue, +5 Resolve, +7 Initiative, +5 Melee Skill, +11 Ranged Skill.
Daily Wage = 15
Start Level = 1-3.

Bowyer
+10 Ranged Skill, -5 Fatigue, -5 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Brawler
+7 Resolve, +5 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, +5 Initiative, +5 Melee Skill, +100% Damage when unarmed.
Daily Wage = 13 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Butcher
+3 Melee Skill, -3 Ranged Skill, +7 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Caravan Hand
+3 Hitpoints, +5 Fatigue, +3 Resolve, +4 Melee Skill.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Cultist
+15 Resolve, -5 Hitpoints, +3 Fatigue,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Companion (2 Handed)
+10 Hitpoints, +5 Fatigue, +10 Resolve, -5 Inniative, +10 Melee Skill, +2 Melee Defence, +2 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 14 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Companion (1 Handed)
+5 Fatigue, +10 Resolve, +10 Melee Skill, +5 Ranged Skill, +5 Melee Defence, +5 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 14 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Companion (Ranged)
+5 Resolve, +5 Initiative, +5 Melee Skill, +16 Ranged Skill.
Daily Wage = 14 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Cripple
-20 Hitpoints, -10 Fatigue, -25 Innitiave, -5 Melee Skill, -5 Ranged Skill.
Daily Wage = 3 Crowns.
Start Level = 1.

Crusader
+10 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, +15 Resolve, +10 Melee Skill, -10 Ranged Skill, -5 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 25 Crowns.
Start Level = 5-6.

Daytaler
+3 Fatigue.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Deserter
+5 Melee Skill, +5 Ranged Skill, +3 Melee Defence, +3 Ranged Defence, -15 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 11 Crowns.
Start Level 1-2.

Disowned Noble
+8 Melee Skill, +3 Ranged Skill, +3 Melee Defence, -5 Resolve, -10 Fatigue.
Daily Wage = 18 Crowns.
Start Level 1-3.

Eunuch
-5 Resolve, -5 Initiative,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Farmhand
+12 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, -2 Resolve,
Daily Wage = 10 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Flagellant
+5 Fatigue, -10 Hitpoints, +12 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Fisherman
+5 Fatigue, +5 Resolve, +5 Hitpoints.
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Gambler
-2 Hitpoints, -5 Fatigue, +12 Resolve, +12 Initiative, +2 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Gravedigger
+5 Resolve, +5 Fatigue, -5 Initiative,
Daily Wage = 5 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Graverobber
+5 Resolve, +5 Fatigue.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Hedge Knight
+10 Melee Skill, +5 Melee Defence, +9 Resolve, +12 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, -4 Initiative,
Daily Wage = 35 Crowns.
Start Level 3-5.

Historian
+15% Experience Gain, -2 Hitpoints, -5 Fatigue, -5 Melee Skill, -3 Ranged Skill.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Houndmaster
+5 Resolve, +3 Melee Defence, Unleashes confident wardogs.
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Hunter
+17 Ranged Skill, +5 Fatigue.
Daily Wage = 20 Crowns.
Start Level 1-2.

Juggler
+10 Initiative, +2 Ranged Skill, +5% Chance to hit the head, -5 Hitpoints.
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Killer on the run
+2 Ranged Skill, +10% chance to hit the head, -5 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

King’s Guard
+15 Resolve, +5 Melee Skill, -5 Ranged Skill, +5 Melee Defence, +5 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Lumberjack
+10 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, -5 Inniative,
Daily Wage = 13 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Mason
+5 Max Fatigue, +5% Experience Gain.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Messenger
+15 Fatigue, +5 Resolve, +2 Melee Defence, +3 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Militia
+3 Fatigue, +3 Resolve, +5 Melee Skill, +6 Ranged Skill, +2 Melee Defence, +2 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 9 Crowns.
Start Level 1-2.

Miller
+5 Max Fatigue, +3 Hitpoints.
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Miner
+10 Hitpoints, +5 Resolve, -10 Max Fatigue, +5 Melee Skill,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Minstrel
+5 Resolve, -10 Max Fatigue, -5 Hitpoints,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Monk
+11 Resolve, -5 Melee Skill, -10 Max Fatigue.
Daily Wage = 5 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Orc Slayer
+10 Hitpoints, +10 Fatigue, +15 Resolve, +10 Melee Skill, -10 Ranged Skill, -5 Ranged Defence,
Daily Wage = 25 Crowns.
Start Level 5-6.

Peddler
+2 Melee Defence, +2 Ranged Defence, -10 Melee Skill, +7 Initiative,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Pimp
+5 Resolve, +7 Initiative, -5 Melee Skill, +2 Melee Defence, +2 Ranged Defence,
Daily Wage = 7 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Poacher
+15 Ranged Skill, +2 Melee Skill -5 Resolve, +3 Fatigue, +4 Initiative.
Daily Wage = 8 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Raider
+12 Melee Skill, +5 Ranged Skill, +6 Melee Defence, +6 Ranged Defence, +2 Fatigue, -3 Resolve,
Daily Wage = 28 Crowns.
Start Level 2-5.

Ratcatcher
+15 Initiative, -5 Hitpoints.
Daily Wage = 4 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Refugee
+7 Fatigue, -8 Hitpoints, -5 Resolve.
Daily Wage = 4 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Retired Soldier
+13 Resolve, +13 Melee Skill, +5 Ranged Skill, +5 Melee Defence, +5 Ranged Defence, -10 Hitpoints, -10 Fatigue, -10 Initiative.
Daily Wage = 15 Crowns.
Start Level 2-3.

Sellsword
+5 Resolve, +13 Melee Skill, +12 Ranged Skill, +5 Melee Defence, +5 Ranged Defence,
Daily Wage = 35 Crowns.
Start Level 2-4

Servant
-5 Resolve, -5 Hitpoints, -5 Fatigue, +5 Initiative, +2 Ranged Defence.
Daily Wage = 4 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Shepherd
+5 Fatigue, +5 Resolve, +5 Ranged Skill.
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Squire
+7 Fatigue, +12 Resolve, +7 Melee skill, +7 Ranged Skill, +1 Melee Defence, +1 Ranged Defence,
Daily Wage = 20 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Swordmaster
-12 Hitpoints, -15 Fatigue, +12 Resolve, -10 Initiative, +25 Melee Skill, -5 Ranged Skill, +10 Melee Defence.
Daily Wage = 35 Crowns.
Start Level 3-6.

Tailor
-5 Fatigue, -3 Hitpoints, +5 Initiative.
Daily Wage = 5 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Thief
+5 Melee Defence, +5 Ranged Defence, +12 Initiative, +5 Resolve,
Daily Wage = 25 Crowns.

Vagabond
+10 Fatigue, -5 Resolve, -3 Hitpoints,
Daily Wage = 6 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Wildman
+12 Hitpoints, +18 Fatigue, +12 Resolve, -5 Inativie, +6 Melee Skill, -5 Melee Defence, -5 Ranged Defence, -15% Experience gain.
Daily Wage = 12 Crowns.
Start Level 1-2.

Witchhunter
+5 Ranged Skill, +12 Resolve, +20 Resolve at morale checks against fear, panic or mind control effects.
Daily Wage = 13 Crowns.
Start Level 1.

Updates

16/05/2019 (Patch: 1.3.0.14):

  • Added section about Recruitment.
  • Added 12 new backgrounds: Assassin, Barbarian, the three Companions, Cripple, Crusader, Eunuch, Houndmaster, King’s Guard, Orc Slayer, and Pimp.
  • Updated the rest of the backgrounds with the correct stats.
  • Added Start Level for each background.

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