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

[Warpiglet-7]

Honestly, none of my players used Tasha's. They continued to use species. Most of them preferred the set choices because it added a dimension to the character.

I always choose the race stats of old…I like to at least pretend there is grounding in something

 

[FrogReaver]

I absolutely hate this change.

At least with base 2014 (no Tasha’s), I might have been stuck with 2-3 racial picks to get the 16 stats and maybe a couple of racial options were good even without the 16 stat (tortle for the ac fix comes to mind). I could then layer on whatever skills and background ability made sense. But… now my stats, skills and starting feat are all packaged together and I’ve only got 16 choices. This feels bad.

 

[CapnZapp]

I initially viewed the introduction of Feats into backgrounds with dismay, as I very much liked that Feats were opt-in in the 2014 rules. I don't like Feats, and I did like how simple character generation was in 2014. It felt like a step back to the super-involved chargen of 3e and 4e.

I am somewhat mollified to hear in the video that pure ASIs are still included in the game, so that you can opt-out of Feats as part of character advancement if you want to. They just wanted to beef up the backgrounds with mechanical weight instead of the more nebulous ribbons of 2014 Backgrounds. And I can live with that.

In the Gen Con TV retrospective on 5e, Mike Mearls made a very astute observation that I think needs to be considered when looking at their decisions for the 2024 PHB. And that was, while its said that most players only buy PHBs, in actuality the vast majority of players don't buy anything. The show up for a game, borrow someone's PHB to make a character, and that's it.

Everything I've seen about the PHB indicates that, while we who buy all the core books and lovingly pour over each page will still get all that we want and need, the design seems very much geared towards those who won't own the books, but rather will be making only periodic reference to it at the table. The Rules Glossary is one example of this. The Character Class and Subclass summary page is another. And I think moving the Custom Background rules to the DMG is yet another.

For regular players, Custom Backgrounds are virtually a fait accompli, but for a new or casual player, devoting the PHB's limited space to only the provided Backgrounds makes things clearer and more straightforward. And not only would making a Custom Background generally have to involve the DM anyway, but creating Custom Backgrounds for one's own homebrew is also something DMs will likely like to do. Seen from that lens, rather than the Player vs. DM power dynamics that are a favorite topic of forums like this, putting Custom Backgrounds in the DMG make eminent sense.

That said I do understand the criticism.

The way backgrounds are done now means asking for a custom background, where you can pick whatever options is best for your character will feel like blatant minmaxing.

Either the DM allows it and all that PHB space is effectively wasted because players will simply select from the gold and blue tier of options, with no regard for how they fit together thematically, or - as I suspect will be common - players will abide by restrictions imposed by the PHB selection of backgrounds, making certain char builds feel less desirable than in the 2014 rules, because they can't be achieved without accepting some sub-par combination.

Remember it's not that these builds are so powerful it's motivated to nerf them with these restrictions. More or less these restrictions hit different builds randomly, which can feel off-putting.

The above is my personal understanding of the dilemma only.

Edit to add: also the way WotC opens up to sell splatbooks merely because they contain backgrounds. Effectively gating PHB content behind supplementary materials.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Until i see otherwise, I am going to maintain hope. I am going to hope that there will be some customization of backgrounds in the PHB.

I'm not at all concerned about ability scores being constrained; that is workable for me, and there remains enough choice that I am going to have fun thinking around the constraints. Some constraints are good, good for storytelling.

But I am going to hope that there will be a single sentence along the lines of "if you want a different skill, or a different origin feat, than is given with your background, that's fine. Changing one variable is fine; for custom backgrounds that go beyond that, check out the relevant section in the DMG."

And what's great is that even if that isn't there, I can put it there at my table. Easily.

 

[cbwjm]

Until i see otherwise, I am going to maintain hope. I am going to hope that there will be some customization of backgrounds in the PHB.

I'm not at all concerned about ability scores being constrained; that is workable for me, and there remains enough choice that I am going to have fun thinking around the constraints. Some constraints are good, good for storytelling.

But I am going to hope that there will be a single sentence along the lines of "if you want a different skill, or a different origin feat, than is given with your background, that's fine. Changing one variable is fine; for custom backgrounds that go beyond that, check out the relevant section in the DMG."

And what's great is that even if that isn't there, I can put it there at my table. Easily.

It's easy for established players, I mentioned a while back that I thought it was a step back that they tied the abilities to the background, I think that new players might feel bound by them. If there is a sentence which says feel free to change up stats or skills to suit then it might not be so bad but I think many might feel constrained.

 

[John R Davis]

So much energy wasted on Backgrounds that could have been used better elsewhere,

Just do:

1. increase abilities by +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1
2. Pick two skills
3. Pick one feat

Agreed
"My characters origin is going to be from X, therefore I'll take these stats, these skills, this feat".
Done

 

[Horwath]

I absolutely hate this change.

At least with base 2014 (no Tasha’s), I might have been stuck with 2-3 racial picks to get the 16 stats and maybe a couple of racial options were good even without the 16 stat (tortle for the ac fix comes to mind). I could then layer on whatever skills and background ability made sense. But… now my stats, skills and starting feat are all packaged together and I’ve only got 16 choices. This feels bad.

now players instead of thinking up their background, maybe take few hints from PHB, will go at it backwards, find background that gives me ASIs and skills to fit my character concept and, well guess that is my character background.

 

[Minigiant]

The change too heavily favors "noobs".

It is one of my biggest gripe with 2014 5e. It heavily favored new players and old DMs.

I don't mind 1st level Background Feats if they are all horizontal. But tying ASI to Backgrounds is as the kids say, an ick.

Especially for MAD classes like monk, half casters, and third casters.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

The odd part of this discussion to me is how it is again predicated on moar power!

The last time thing I have heard and experienced in 5e is how hard it is. But we are tripping out over 15 vs 16 in a score.

In fact I see more concern that the game and monsters are too easy. So what do we do? Remove any impediments to bringing maximum firepower every round of combat. God forbid I choose to drink a potion or cast a non combat spell! We need to make sure we kill those monsters quick!

With this ASI stuff, we wring our hands because whether it’s racial or background based, we are worried we might miss out on a plus one for a few levels.

I get it. When I arrange stats and feats, I am keenly aware of how and when I get a bonus to hit, etc. it’s just a funny bit of human nature I guess.

I am amused about how much we all fuss and it really does not matter much. But it sure “feels” like it does.

To ground he scores in some way, I would say +1 from race, +1 from back ground and one point you are free to place.

(Though honestly I was fine with half orcs getting +2 str and +1 con). But that ship has sailed and here we are…

 

[Minigiant]

The odd part of this discussion to me is how it is again predicated on moar power!

The last time thing I have heard and experienced in 5e is how hard it is. But we are tripping out over 15 vs 16 in a score

5e is very easy.

But having a less than a 16 in your main ability scores can actually feel or create bad gameplay.

5e, for better or worse, assumes in default play your class primary score is 16 or higher unless you are 100% support.