Ordinary hero is a series. Releasing a new background for TTRPGs, such as D&D, every other week.

Based on this

These backgrounds represent traditionally non-adventurous career choices. And are based on the Artisan’s Tools found in D&D 5e’s Player’s Handbook.

Backgrounds that strike the balance between mundane and fantastic.

These backgrounds focus on the “humble hero” archetype. That is to say, someone who, if not for their heroic actions, would otherwise be overlooked on the grand historical stage.

The main goal is to get a character that feels “salt of the earth”. However, they should also be viable as an adventurer. Therefore, their feats are based in the trained skills and know-how of their profession.

Detailed paragraph’s worth of information on the occupation

With most of my info coming from Wiki (continued research is encouraged), I try make a point of being cultural agnostic and filter for common practices and techniques that can be found in many different cultures. This helps me better explain the trade as a trade.

What role it plays in a culture; how important it is or how it is viewed, is up to the world builder.

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Skilled VS Unskilled Labor

The way I define “skilled” or “unskilled” depends on the complexity, mental or physical, of the task. An easy way I decide is if the task requires outside knowledge or the transportation of knowledge. That is to say, the ability to read and write.

Trade	Explanation	Labor Type
Alchemist	Make medicine	S
Blacksmith	Create metal objects	U
Brewer	Make beer and yeast	U**
Calligrapher	Write in specific script	S
Carpenter	Construct wooden structures	U
Cartographer	Draw / read maps	S
Cobbler	Make / repair shoes	U
Cook	Make meals	U**
Glassblower	Create glass objects	S*
Healer	Repair humans	S
Herbalist	Supply the Alchemist / Healer / Cook	S
Jeweler	Beautify gemstones	S*
Mason	Construct stone structures / Beautify non-precious stone	U**
Painter	Draw images	S*
Potter	Create ceramic objects	U
Tailor	Make textile clothing	U
Tanner	Create leather objects	U
Tinkerer	Repair mundane objects (Jake of all trades)	U
Woodworker	Create wooden objects	U

Any able-bodied human can move boxes from one room to another, but making a record that can be referenced and trusted, requires someone who can cross-reference previous records (read) and make a new one (write).

Inspiration

D&D Player’s Handbook (5e):
And the general lack of backgrounds that take advantage of artisan tools other than kits.

Almost no backgrounds tap into the jobs/skills associated with many of the Artisan Tools described in Chapter 5. Page 154.

The Guild Artisan focus on the benefits of being in a guild, rather than the specific trade.

The closest thing to an unskilled laborer background is the Urchin, which sets you up with skill proficiencies in stealth and slight of hand, and tool proficiencies in the disguise kit and thieves’ tools.

You could ply a locksmith’s trade with the latter skill set. However, at the end of the day, the background is based in the seedy underbelly of an uncaring urban sprawl. This makes the background good for building a scoundrel type character, like Han Solo. So, where is the background for the aspirational, farm-boy charterer, like Luke Skywalker?

The next closest is the Guild Artisan, which lets you choose what artisan tool you have proficiency in and gives you an artisan tool as part of your starting equipment. However, the mechanics of the game consider the Guild Artisan as a skilled laborer

As I explained in my article, How To Justify Adventuring: Money & Quality of Life,

Guilds are typically a collection of skilled laborers, who leverage collective bargaining power to demand better working and market (rights, monopolies, etc.) conditions…

This collective power can also be used to self-aggrandize.

By limiting the number of contracts, or withholding tutelage to keep their supply (skills) lower than the demand, the existence of a guild gate-keeps the ability to become a skilled laborer in the first place.

Durable Trades: by Rory Groves
A source of info on trades that stood the test of time. As well as those that do not fall neatly under any of the Artisan Tools.

This includes:
unskilled work ( Coachmen, Gardener, Shepard, etc. )
skilled work ( Advisor, Lawyer/Proctor, Judge, etc. )