D&D 5E Why does the "criminal" background start with low wealth?

[The Black Ranger]

Not all criminals are poor people, especially those that make a career out of gaining money through criminal type action, for example Gentleman Johnny Marcone from The Dresden Files. I think there should be varying degrees of starting wealth for a criminal.

 

[Wolfskin]

Balance reasons, I suppose. Otherwise, the Noble background should start with high wealth more than any other.

 

[ExploderWizard]

These are supposed to be backgrounds for people who are currently adventurers.

A successful criminal would be very well off and thus have little reason to adventure.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Because crime doesn't pay? That's why you had to go adventuring ...

 

[Scrivener of Doom]

Read Freakanomics.

Echoing some of the other answers, criminality is generally a response to poverty so a neophyte criminal should start poor.

 

[dream66_]

Because 5th edition is all about story

Sounds great in practice but it's worried me the whole time. It didn't come out that bad, but still a bit limitiing in places, such as here.

Criminal Background isn't a background for anyone who had a criminal past.

It's a specific story.

It's someone who's on the run from their criminal past. It's not Danny Ocean, it's not Robin Hood (he'd be folk hero). It's Harrison Ford in the Fugitive, or Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk

That's tighter more defined than just criminal, makes better "story" but it's also limiting such as here. And yes, someone on the lam tends to be tight on cash.

 

[Crothian]

Not all criminals are poor people, especially those that make a career out of gaining money through criminal type action, for example Gentleman Johnny Marcone from The Dresden Files. I think there should be varying degrees of starting wealth for a criminal.

Marcone did not start out rich. When we first read about him in the Dresden Files he is already established thus not a starting first level character.

 

[sidonunspa]

Because 5th edition is all about story

Sounds great in practice but it's worried me the whole time. It didn't come out that bad, but still a bit limitiing in places, such as here.

Criminal Background isn't a background for anyone who had a criminal past.

It's a specific story.

It's someone who's on the run from their criminal past. It's not Danny Ocean, it's not Robin Hood (he'd be folk hero). It's Harrison Ford in the Fugitive, or Bruce Banner in the Incredible Hulk

That's tighter more defined than just criminal, makes better "story" but it's also limiting such as here. And yes, someone on the lam tends to be tight on cash.

Correct, you can play a Nobel who is also a criminal... or a Charlatan (Example: Locke Lamora... What?!?! You have yet read the Gentlemen Bastards books? what are you doing reading this? go.... shoo.... get... buy the first book (Lies of Locke Lamora) and thank me later.

 

[The Black Ranger]

Marcone did not start out rich. When we first read about him in the Dresden Files he is already established thus not a starting first level character.

Sure but what about a drug dealer who gets rich quick, and I mean has loads of cash in his pocket from the first few sales, or the cat burglar, or swindler?

 

[edhel]

Balance reasons, I suppose. Otherwise, the Noble background should start with high wealth more than any other.

Nobility denotes privilege, not necessarily wealth. You're probably a second or a third son, or a daughter, of a noble so you won't inherit anything. Thus you need to make something out of yourself.