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Do you plan to adopt D&D5.5One2024Redux?
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<blockquote data-quote="DEFCON 1" data-source="post: 9287282" data-attributes="member: 7006"><p>The generalized issue I always saw with Background Features is that some DMs "just say yes" and others "let the dice decide".</p><p></p><p>So when you have a Feature like 'Rustic Hospitality' that says the Folk Hero PC can find a place to hide and rest among the commoners, one DM would take that Feature on its face and just let the Folk Hero (and quite possibly their friends) find a place to hole up when they arrive in a village, no questions asked and no game mechanic check necessary because that's what the Feature grants.</p><p></p><p>But another DM runs their game through the mechanics, and finding a place to hide for their game might involve a whole series of checks and roleplaying... thereby rendering the Feature basically worthless. The Folk Hero just can't "find a place to hide" automatically, because D&D is a game and a game has mechanics and rules. And why have the mechanics if you aren't going to use them?</p><p></p><p>Now of course 5E24 is going in the opposite direction-- rather than a Feature that gives you something "for free"... they are giving you a Feat that has a distinct game mechanic and rule. Which is great for the latter group of DMs above, but the DMs of the former group are now losing what they enjoyed. So I don't begrudge anyone's pleasure or displeasure with the 5E24 rules regarding Backgrounds. Speaking personally... the actual solution would be for any DM to use the 5E24 Background Feat AS WELL as re-incorporate the 5E14 Background Feature into everyone's individual Backgrounds. There's zero reason why as a DM you can't just bring the Acolyte's Feature forward into 5E24 and give it to your player as a house rule, so just do it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="DEFCON 1, post: 9287282, member: 7006"] The generalized issue I always saw with Background Features is that some DMs "just say yes" and others "let the dice decide". So when you have a Feature like 'Rustic Hospitality' that says the Folk Hero PC can find a place to hide and rest among the commoners, one DM would take that Feature on its face and just let the Folk Hero (and quite possibly their friends) find a place to hole up when they arrive in a village, no questions asked and no game mechanic check necessary because that's what the Feature grants. But another DM runs their game through the mechanics, and finding a place to hide for their game might involve a whole series of checks and roleplaying... thereby rendering the Feature basically worthless. The Folk Hero just can't "find a place to hide" automatically, because D&D is a game and a game has mechanics and rules. And why have the mechanics if you aren't going to use them? Now of course 5E24 is going in the opposite direction-- rather than a Feature that gives you something "for free"... they are giving you a Feat that has a distinct game mechanic and rule. Which is great for the latter group of DMs above, but the DMs of the former group are now losing what they enjoyed. So I don't begrudge anyone's pleasure or displeasure with the 5E24 rules regarding Backgrounds. Speaking personally... the actual solution would be for any DM to use the 5E24 Background Feat AS WELL as re-incorporate the 5E14 Background Feature into everyone's individual Backgrounds. There's zero reason why as a DM you can't just bring the Acolyte's Feature forward into 5E24 and give it to your player as a house rule, so just do it. [/QUOTE]
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