Guild Artisan

You are a member of an artisan's guild, skilled in a particular field and closely associated with other artisans. You are a part of the mercantile world, freed by talent and wealth from the constraints of a feudal social order. You learned your skills as an apprentice to a master artisan, under the sponsorship of a guild, until you became a master in your own right.
As an established member of a guild, you can rely on certain benefits that membership provides. Fellow guild members will provide you with lodging and food if they can. In some cities and towns, a guildhall may offer a place to meet with others of your guild.
Guilds are generally found in cities large enough to support several artisans practicing the same trade, and they often wield great political power in those locations, which your membership can help in cases where you need to speak to figures of power, defend your self against false accusation. To maintain such connections, you must pay guild dues of 5gp per month to the guild. If you miss payments, you must make up back dues to remain in the guild's good graces.
Some guilds might instead be a loose network of artisans who each work in a different village within a larger realm. Work with the DM to determine the nature of your guild.

Guild Business Examples

1. Alchemists and Apothecaries
2. Armorers, Locksmiths, and Finesmiths
3. Brewers, Distillers, and Vintners
4. Calligraphers, Scribes, and Scriveners
5. Carpenters, Roofers, and Plasterers
6. Cartographers, Surveyors, and Chart makers
7. Cobblers and shoemakers
8. Cooks and Bakers
9. Glassblowers and Glaziers
10. Jewelers and Gemcutters
11. Leatherworkers, skinners, and tanners
12. Masons and Stonecutters
13. Painters, Limners, and Sign Makers
14. Potters and Tile Makers
15. Shipwrights and Sailmakers
16. Smiths and Metal forgers
17. Tinkers, pewterers, and casters
18. Wagon-makers and wheelwrights
19. Weavers and dyers
20. Woodcarvers, Coopers and Bowyers

Personality Trait Examples

1. I believe that anything worth doing is worth doing right. I can't help it - I'm a perfectionist.
2. I'm a snob who looks down on those who can't appreciate fine art.
3. I always want to know how things work and what makes people tick.
4. I'm Full of witty aphorisms and have a proverb for every occasion.
5. I'm Rude to people who lack my commitment to hard work and fair play.
6. I like to talk at length about my profession.
7. I don't part with my money easily and will haggle tirelessly to get the best deal possible.
8. I'm well known for my work, and I want to make sure everyone appreciates it. I'm always taken aback when people haven't heard of me.

Ideal Examples

1. Community. It is the duty of all civilized people to strengthen the bonds of community and the security of civilization. (Lawful)
2. Generosity. My talents were given to me so that I could use them to benefit the world. (Good)
3. Freedom. Everyone should be free to pursue his or her own livelihood. (Chaotic)
4. Greed. I'm only in it for the money. (Evil)
5. People. I'm committed to the people I care about, not to ideals. (Neutral)
6. Aspiration. I work hard to be the best there is at my craft. (Any)

Bond Examples

1. The workshop where I learned my trade is the most important place in the world to me.
2. I created a great work for someone, and then found them unworthy to receive it. I'm still looking for someone worthy.
3. I owe my guild a great debt for forging me into the person I am today.
4. I pursue wealth to secure someone's love.
5. One day I will return to my guild and prove that I am the greatest artisan of them all.
6. I will get revenge on the evil forces that destroyed my place of business and ruined my livelihood.

Flaw Examples

1. I'll do anything to get my hands on something rare or priceless.
2. I'm quick to assume the someone is trying to cheat me.
3. No one must ever learn that I once stole money from guild coffers.
4. I'm never satisfied with what I have - I always want more.
5. I would kill to acquire a noble title.
6. I'm horrible jealous of anyone who can outshine my handiwork. Everwhere I go, I'm surrounded by rivals.

Skill Proficiencies: Insight, Persuasion
Tool Proficiencies: One type of Artisan's Tools
Languages: One of your choice

Equipment:

• A set of artisan's tools (one of your choice)
• A letter of introduction from your Guild
• A set of traveler's clothes
• A pouch containing 20gp

Variant: Guild Merchant
Instead of an artisan's guild, you might belong to a guild of traders, carvan masters, or shopkeepers. You don't craft items yourself but earn a living by buying and selling the works of others (or the raw materials artisans need to practice their craft). Your guild might be a large merchant consortium (or family) with interests across the region. Perhaps you transported goods from one place to another, by ship, wagon, or caravan, or bought them from traveling traders and sold them in your own little shop. In some ways, the traveling merchant's life lends itself to adventure far more then the life of an artisan.
Rather then proficiency with artisan's tools, you might be proficient with navigator's tools or an additional language. And instead of artisans tools, you can start with a mule and a cart.