D&D (2024) First playtest thread! One D&D Character Origins.

[Micah Sweet]

I'm actually fine with background thibg, after all, that's what they do in Level Up. I just have an issue with the philosophical point of being so hyper-focused on the individual.

 

[Charlaquin]

Why should I have to justify my ASI with a background? Why can't I have a super-strong scholar who got the strength from a rumored giant-ancestor and not from working in the library?

You literally can. Custom backgrounds are the default and the pre-written ones are only examples. If you want a background that’s identical to the scholar except that you get +2 Strength instead of +2 Intelligence, you are not only allowed but encouraged to do so.

 

[Charlaquin]

WotC decided to be lazy and do a melting pot (everyone can breed with everyone) but left out stirring the mix.

Ok, I disagree with your point, but this genuinely made me laugh. A tip of the hat to you.

 

[Charlaquin]

Maybe there could be a special race just for human hybrids and do them like Elves.

You get 2 bonus Skill pofiecienies, Darkvision, your other parent's language as a bonus language, and a racial trait: Fey Ancestry, Dwarven Resilience, or Relentless Endurance.

I’d be down with that.

 

[Cadence]

You literally can. Custom backgrounds are the default and the pre-written ones are only examples. If you want a background that’s identical to the scholar except that you get +2 Strength instead of +2 Intelligence, you are not only allowed but encouraged to do so.

But why does it have to be from anything to do with being a scholar at all? Why can't it be from the bloodline like a sorcerers magic would be?

What benefit is there from having the ASI come from the background instead of just being floating due to anything at all the player wants it to be? (Maybe background, maybe family history, maybe a curse, maybe a mystery?)

 

[Azzy]

Removing explicit half-races is a problem, because some settings make them a distinct culture, e.g. Eberron's Khoravar. It also messes up some of the dragon marked races.

To be fair, dragonmarks could easily be done as level-one feats under this rubric.

Though, I agree that just selecting a parent race and all its abilities is not... ideal.

 

[Ixal]

Removing explicit half-races is a problem, because some settings make them a distinct culture, e.g. Eberron's Khoravar. It also messes up some of the dragon marked races.

It's also throwing out something that's been part of the game since 1978. May as well throw out the rogue at that point.

I wonder why they were thrown out in the first place for a free for all between all races?
Did so many players really already create mixed racial parents in their backstories like the guy in the video claims? I have my doubts about that.
The most common backstory probably was the lone orphan with no mention of the parents.

 

[Charlaquin]

But why does it have to be from anything to do with being a scholar at all? Why can't it be from the bloodline like a sorcerers magic would be?

It could. That could be part of the story of your custom background.

What benefit is there from having the ASI come from the background instead of just being floating due to anything at all the player wants it to be? (Maybe background, maybe family history, maybe a curse, maybe a mystery?)

The ability to provide curated flavorful sets of them for players who want to make as few choices at character creation as possible.

 

[tsadkiel]

The ability to provide curated flavorful sets of them for players who want to make as few choices at character creation as possible.

I am one of those players, and I really dislike the fixed ASIs by background. Let them float free!

(Yeah, I know it's an easy fix, but I don't think farmers having +2 Con by default adds anything to my enjoyment of the game.)

 

[cbwjm]

It could. That could be part of the story of your custom background.

The ability to provide curated flavorful sets of them for players who want to make as few choices at character creation as possible.

Yeah, the background/bloodline could very well be giant-blooded scholar, granting both a Str boost and an Int boost.