D&D (2024) 2024 Player's Handbook Reveal: Feats/Backgrounds/Species

[JEB]

It feels like the designers are worried this can be abused or don't want new players feeling overwhelmed?

Personally, I suspect it's the latter. I'm now wondering what other 2014 PHB customizations might be moving into the DMG (or gone entirely) in 2024. (Matching skills with different ability scores occurred as a possibility in another thread, based on the new character sheets.)

 

[Weiley31]

My only problem with Backgrounds now is that I gotta comb through all the Backgrounds in my Adventures in Middle-Earth 5E players book and figure out which three feats to give to each one.

 

[Arilyn]

Personally, I suspect it's the latter. I'm now wondering what other 2014 PHB customizations might be moving into the DMG (or gone entirely) in 2024. (Matching skills with different ability scores occurred as a possibility in another thread, based on the new character sheets.)

I think you're right but their reasoning doesn't hold up since they have lots of examples.

 

[Pauln6]

And I'm right.

What's really funny is I 100% expect you and some others defending this and saying how much they like it will be quite critical of the specifics when they have absolutely all the specifics.

The game isn't just about bundling numbers to get the highest chance of success. Some people enjoy playing that way but others like to build a concept that is independent of the numbers.

I lament the loss of the highly intelligent fighter or rogue, which clearly SHOULD exist and did in 1e and 2e.

The previous edition confirmed that you could substitute other skills and tools in backgrounds. In most cases, this will still be possible. There is possibly an overreaction to a change that is little more than a half way point between the original rules and Tasha's. It's a minor limitation that can be rectified after a few levels and is already partially offset by an extra feat. It's not a conspiracy by a pantheon of evil deities to destroy all heroes.

 

[mellored]

I already mentioned this upthread but I really want players to create their own unique backgrounds, not just pick from the list in the book.

IMO

1: The player explains their background idea to the DM
2: the DM can decide what skills and stats would fit their description.

Story first, optimization second.

The example backgrounds in the book are just some ideas, or a quick start.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That's difficult to do exactly because they are much more significant.

Take flying for aarakocra and magic resistance from yuan ti, and your overpowered.

Take talons from aarakocra and poison resilience from yuan to, and your underpowered.

Playing something that just look like a featheres serpent isn't going to have an impact on the game.

I specified two options that both bypass those issues.

The new approach to mixed species in 2024 seems objectively worse and honestly more offensive than anything from original 5e.

Yep.

 

[Arilyn]

IMO

1: The player explains their background idea to the DM
2: the DM can decide what skills and stats would fit their description.

Story first, optimization second.

The example backgrounds in the book are just some ideas, or a quick start.

As a GM, I would offer advice if asked but wouldn't tell players what they have to take based on their description. As a player, I know my character's strengths and skills better than anyone else.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Nobody reads the DMG.

Which is everyone's own fault.

If one refuses to look at all the rules, one has no right to complain about a "missing" rule, which is actually there.

Books don't have endless pages.

Custom backgrounds and mixed species is either something to work with your DM and guidelines or you need robust rules.
Since core d&d does not want mix and match point buy rule elements, they probably opt for guidelines and dialogue.

Do you really want to have players play mixed heritage species just for optimization purposes? I certainly don't.

So hopefully we get some flexible system that allows mixing and matching which makes everyone happy.

 

[MoonSong]

Do you really want to have players play mixed heritage species just for optimization purposes? I certainly don't.

Great for you, but the current alternative is that NOBODY gets to play them anymore. Not in a meanignful way. Experience tells me that if something is in a sidebar on the DMG, I can expect to maaaaybee being able to use is at most once, and that is if I luck out.

And most important to me, there is just no halfelf lore anymore, just gone.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Great for you, but the current alternative is that NOBODY gets to play them anymore. Not in a meanignful way. Experience tells me that if something is in a sidebar on the DMG, I can expect to maaaaybee being able to use is at most once, and that is if I luck out.

And most important to me, there is just no halfelf lore anymore, just gone.

Do you have a copy of the new book?

So lets wait how it will be handled.
Whole section in the DMG about customizing origins could be possible. Only a sidebar in the PHB that will send you there?


If you refuse to use all materials, that is on you, not on the designers.

Also the lore is not gone. Noone can take that away.