D&D (2024) 2024 PHB Background discussion

[Azzy]

Backgrounds have become more expansive than how they are in the current PHB. I'm cool with that.

With regards to making ASIs part of the background building, I'm fairly ambivalent. Purely floating ASIs were fine with me, but this works just as well (given that backgrounds are meant to be customized).

Some of the choices they made for the sample backgrounds is questionable, but, again, you're supposed to customize these anyway.

 

[Corinnguard]

Backgrounds have become more expansive than how they are in the current PHB. I'm cool with that.

With regards to making ASIs part of the background building, I'm fairly ambivalent. Purely floating ASIs were fine with me, but this works just as well (given that backgrounds are meant to be customized).

Some of the choices they made for the sample backgrounds is questionable, but, again, you're supposed to customize these anyway.

A5e's Backgrounds also provide ASIs. But unlike One D&D's approach to Background ASI's, one of them is fixed while the other is a floater. For instance, the Soldier Background in A5e gives you a +1 ASI to STR and allows you to pick one of the other five ability scores for the other +1 ASI.

This is why I feel Level Up has an objectively better origin system. You have heritage, culture, and background, which allows plenty of space for different abilities to be appropriately sourced.

Agreed. Then there's Destiny, which can give a player an idea as to why their character is adventuring in the first place.

 

[Aldarc]

Not that they would be included as part of the playtest, but I am curious whether Bonds, Ideals, and Traits will be given the ax.

 

[Neonchameleon]

They're fine. I like stats moving off races to backgrounds. I think that the background mini-feats that need to be written for each background being turned into pick one from a list of weak level 1 feats both makes them more useful and less fiddly. And will lead to more not less customisation. Everything's IMO solid here.

 

[dave2008]

Some of my initial thoughts.

I'm not sure how I feel about ability modifiers yet. I kind of liked the model of just picking a +2 and +1. Now it's just harder to play cross background instead of cross race.

I definately think having a specific language for each background is silly. Whey do all guards know dwarvish?

Yes it's super easy to modify, but then why not just say pick one language?

The default is make you own background. Optional is pick a premade background or pick a premade background and modifying per the make your own guidelines. I think they have you covered.

 

[dave2008]

Not that they would be included as part of the playtest, but I am curious whether Bonds, Ideals, and Traits will be given the ax.

I have wonder that too. Did those show up in any of the recent supplements (like Ravenloft)?

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

I wonder why they even bothered printing these "backgrounds" when they have 0 unique game features? If I want to play a character who used to be a farmer I see no reason to even look at the "Farmer" background instead of doing a custom background with just the right features for my character.

 

[WarDriveWorley]

I wonder why they even bothered printing these "backgrounds" when they have 0 unique game features? If I want to play a character who used to be a farmer I see no reason to even look at the "Farmer" background instead of doing a custom background with just the right features for my character.

Because there are some people that have a hard time creating something outside the "box" and also because it can make it easier in some cases to make up characters for new players/pick up game pre-mades.

Personally I would have printed like 6 generically ubiquitous backgrounds (Maybe Acolyte, Sage, Criminal, Soldier, Farmer, and Noble) to cover the tropes seen the most that could be used as a guide for those that need it or a pre-made background for those that need it. Anything else can be custom built.

 

[Remathilis]

Some of my initial thoughts.

I'm not sure how I feel about ability modifiers yet. I kind of liked the model of just picking a +2 and +1. Now it's just harder to play cross background instead of cross race.

I definately think having a specific language for each background is silly. Whey do all guards know dwarvish?

Yes it's super easy to modify, but then why not just say pick one language?

You're still looking at it like a 2014 background. These are suggestions. Precons for people who don't want to think about it, just grab and go. They are for players who flip open the book, say "my character is a farmer" and copy down the suggestions. No different than the quick builds in each class section.

The default is to build your own. Don't like the Nobles ASI, or the Acolytes skills? Build your own. Having pre-built backgrounds that say "make a choice" defeats the purpose of having pre-builts.

 

[Remathilis]

I have wonder that too. Did those shop in any of the recent supplements (like Ravenloft)?

Ravenloft and Witchlight had giant generic tables for all backgrounds. Strixhaven has a small personality table for each school. Spelljammer had none.

I think bonds/flaws/traits will become for NPCs or PCs to "make up your own".