D&D 5E PH(B) Hermit Background

[Andor]

lol. They are more absorbent and comfortable than leaves.

That's why he has the herbalism proficiency. You only need to use poison ivy once before you prioritize plant identification.

 

[Plaguescarred]

I like it, it seems like it cover a good deal of background origin from religious, to scholar, to druidic etc...

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'm a little disappointed that the background feature isn't actually of much functional use to the character.

It could be summarized as "Your big advantage is that you serve as a Plot Device for the DM."

It's evocative and interesting, so it's not BAD, it's just also not very USEFUL. Compare the "you can get food and drink" of the soldier.

Though it's true that no background feature is all THAT useful anyway, so it might be no big deal.

 

[whorrak]

Loving 5e and the content previews, especially the backgrounds. So inspiring for new characters (and new players!).

Sad to see some typos though. In addition to what everyone has already pointed out, I cited another to WotC yesterday:

Under the background "Feature" heading, the text "to the people who or consigned you to exile." Seems like there's a word missing here...

 

[gyor]

Avengers in 4e were trained in Monastaries so this could work for the Paladin as well.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I'm a little disappointed that the background feature isn't actually of much functional use to the character.

It could be summarized as "Your big advantage is that you serve as a Plot Device for the DM."

It's evocative and interesting, so it's not BAD, it's just also not very USEFUL. Compare the "you can get food and drink" of the soldier.

Though it's true that no background feature is all THAT useful anyway, so it might be no big deal.

I had the same thought, though it's a bit odd that the functionality of Soldier, Noble and Folk Hero are all very similar (able to request food and shelter, essentially), but just the people that will respond to such a request are different per background. I like backgrounds, and understand that they're more about role-playing than gaining an in-game benefit, just wish there was a bit more variety in the main feature, and, unlike the hermit, were all of about the same usefulness.

Under the background "Feature" heading, the text "to the people who or consigned you to exile." Seems like there's a word missing here...

Yeah, I mentioned that one upthread. But perhaps, like the Wild Mage table we saw a few weeks ago that also had a few errors, this wasn't from the final version, but an earlier PDF mock-up.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

How come no one's making a big issue about this ones art, yet? We've hadn't had a long discussion about things that aren't real or historically accurate about this guy yet.

 

[Hussar]

I guess you could argue that he's an awfully well dressed hermit. And very neatly groomed as well.

 

[Kraztur]

...though it's a bit odd that the functionality of Soldier, Noble and Folk Hero are all very similar (able to request food and shelter, essentially), but just the people that will respond to such a request are different per background. I like backgrounds, and understand that they're more about role-playing than gaining an in-game benefit, just wish there was a bit more variety in the main feature, and, unlike the hermit, were all of about the same usefulness.

That pattern also stuck out for me. I'm used to various types of patterns in the rules, but I guess I wasn't expecting it in "fluff-y" backgrounds guidelines.

 

[MarkB]

The PHB has gone to the printers, yeah? I hope the two glaring grammatical errors in the Discovery feature section are from an older galley or mock-up, and aren't indicative of proof-reading for the new core books in general.

"Site" instead of "Sight". "damaging to the people who or consigned you" .. missing verb before the "or"?

I was more thrown by "an herbalism kit" though I guess that one's intentional. Some of us out in the wider world do actually pronounce the "h".