D&D 5E Traits, Flaws, and Bonds L&L May 5th

[Thaumaturge]

As you know, in the play test rules background confers the bulk of a character's skills, some proficiencies, and a trait. You are using background to be something much weaker than that. I too have been a student, a father, a gamer, a writer, but none of that is serving the mechanical function that we are discussing.

I can certainly understand that perspective.

It might just be cognitive dissonance, wanting previous choices to matter, that tells me my background (we'll say Student) is what gave me the skill sets that I use today. I've just built atop them and refined them with further experience.

Using the Priest in the playtest as an example, the history, insight, and religion proficiencies are something the character has learned to think of as part of his identity. A 15th level Acolyte Wizard would have a love of religious and historical lore that he could, if he were introspective, draw back to his days as an acolyte. The knowledge he gained then was the foundation he built atop as he adventured and learned more. He's gone on and studied as a wizard, but his days as an acolyte set his feet on a path. He doesn't practice as an acolyte to get better at those skills, he lives life and finds pleasure in learning more about the things he already has a strong basis in.

But you are right—the Temple Services trait makes it sound like the character is currently a part of the temple. I could certainly work with that with characters to make it sort of like a professor emeritus status, but that isn't how it reads at first blush.

Thaumaturge.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I can certainly understand that perspective.

It might just be cognitive dissonance, wanting previous choices to matter, that tells me my background (we'll say Student) is what gave me the skill sets that I use today. I've just built atop them and refined them with further experience.

You've levelled up!

 

[Thaumaturge]

You've levelled up!

Now I just need to figure out if I get any additional attacks per round.

Thaumaturge.

 

[I'm A Banana]

With this list, I see backgrounds embracing both of what you call backgrounds and profession.

So I think, if you want to do this, the way to do it would be to roll some downtime mechanics into the background. All Acolytes can also serve as Priests in their downtime (or whatever).

But I'm not sure I, personally, see a lot of value in rolling those together. There's some simplicity, yeah, but you lose out on cool stories like an Acolyte-background Warlock who fell from the faith of the gods into belief in more immediate power and now serves in their down-time as a Spy, dealing in forbidden lore the temple once tried to keep secret...or the strong identity of the Squire-Paladin who now serves as both a Priest (sometimes) and a Knight (at other times), depending on the needs of the country.

I think there's a lot of value to be found in keeping those elements separate.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I don't think anything I've said prevents those stories.

Nothing requires you to use your background in downtime, but it's always available to you (unless you have made a choice that excludes it, i.e. as a result of your role-playing).

 

[ForeverSlayer]

The only thing I fear is keeping all these extras as equal as possible. I don't want there to be a select few that are "must have".

 

[Wyckedemus]

Thanks all for your engagement here. It's good to see.

I agree -- this is the question. For me it's how the character connects t the world around them; what stops them from being murder hobos, if that phrase can be used neutrally.

As you know, in the play test rules background confers the bulk of a character's skills, some proficiencies, and a trait. You are using background to be something much weaker than that. I too have been a student, a father, a gamer, a writer, but none of that is serving the mechanical function that we are discussing.

Read the trait associated with priests. "Temple services" are what this background gives you -- that is, exactly, the specific hook into society that is unique to this background.

I recognize that the default might change, but going from the play test materials, I think the answer is clear.

Absolutely, I want the backgrounds to be able to include this.

With this list, I see backgrounds embracing both of what you call backgrounds and profession.

With slight modification, I agree: A priest is the guy or gal who may be found behind the altar "doing religion". Acolyte does not imply those responsibilities.

The OED's first definition of priest is exactly this: "A person whose office is to perform public religious functions."

Sadrik's proposal

meets my objections.

My end desire is for the background to matter to the character throughout his or her career. From the get-go backgrounds have done this for me -- they have driven me to think in terms of unique combinations for interesting characters and have provided mechanics that mark that character as unique as a result. A noble rouge knows different things than the thug rogue or the priest rogue or the soldier rogue, as well she should.

It's an easy but important choice, made early in the career that helps individuate each character. That's precisely the richness that I want in the game; my point is nothing more.

Here's how I see it. Backgrounds are exactly that.... "backgrounds". They need to represent the lowest common denominator for an archetype, that you can expand using story and RP. They are not written up so that they have to count as current classes, jobs, or professions. They need to be written this way so that they can be used merely as historical references if necessary.

Now that does not prevent you from saying that because you were an acolyte in your earlier years, you are still an active member of the church that acts as a priest, pastor, warrior-nun, officiant, shrine-maiden, or proselytizing pilgrim. The religions of the Forgotten Realms books starting with "Faiths and Pantheons" have all kinds of religious titles that you can call yourself for whatever faith you're a part of. Perhaps you were an acolyte of Chauntea who in addition to becoming a Ranger to protect Greenfields for the last 15 years, have also earned the title of Harvestmaster, with all the RP duties and benefits therein.

Having Race/Background/Class is fine. Your Background choice can be described on a scale based on our story. No longer a practicing member of the religion? Acolyte still works. Are you now a Harvestmaster in your church as well as a Ranger? That is great, and Acolyte was able to inform that part of your character development too.

We don't need Race/Profession/Class, or Race/Background/Profession/Class.

... in my opinion.

 

[Wrathamon]

I think this stuff is great for the game ... but, I am not fond of a lot of the wording.

always, obsessed, inflexible, etc

These can be taken too literally by some gamers and become horrible and destructive to a lot of gaming groups who don't know when to "use" it to the betterment of the game.

I think they could reword some of these to make them seem more often then not but not so black and white, imo.

Not as interesting to read but for public play I dont want to hear some guy be a jackass at the table say

"Just role-playing my character ... says I am inflexible in my thinking ..."

 

[Mistwell]

The only thing I fear is keeping all these extras as equal as possible. I don't want there to be a select few that are "must have".

Extras what? They have no mechanical effect. That was the entire point of the article.

 

[ForeverSlayer]

Extras what? They have no mechanical effect. That was the entire point of the article.

For now.