D&D (2024) Is anyone going to use the new 2024 backgrounds?

[UngeheuerLich]

I like restrictions forcing tough choices on the players, and there's an interesting design space if you were to actually restrict people to only the core backgrounds (and the game had been designed for that in the first place, and there was more of them than just the 16, and perhaps the equipment package wasn't just your starting inventory but rather some permanent part of the character that remained useful).

Like the feat?

But, what I saw in the UA was just examples that, if taken as the limits of what you can do, would lead to restrictive options (no Cleric would ever have been an Acolyte, because that'd just give them Magic Initiate, for spells they get anyway), and sometimes pure nonsense combinations being the norm (like sailors giving +Dex +Wis and Tavern Brawler, why are all monks sailors).

You don't need armor on a ship. So monk is not the worst choice.

Plus, it's just so much faster to tell people '+2/+1 to stats, pick two skills, pick a starting feat'.

Yes. You can do that.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

There are other games to play out there.

If only one could actually find any people running them...

 

[mellored]

The backgrounds don't mean crap. It's ridiculous to think all "farmers" or "merchants" are the same. These tags have almost no value in helping anyone to roleplay better, nor will GM's be riding on someone to act a certain way because of these templates. It's a superficial useless change that's packaged as some meaningful thing, in order to sell books.

Just pick the feat / proficiencies / stat bonuses that you want. Literally faster to do that anyway than to read through all of the pre-made background descriptions.

For experienced players, sure.

But for new players having some examples of connecting story with mechanics is helpful.

 

[Zuranthium]

There's nothing relevant to the story in the backgrounds. Forcing them on a player just reduces their own creativity. New players haven't ever had any problem with that part of character creation, if it's what they're interested in. If they are just in the game for the combat and narration, giving them one of these backgrounds isn't going to make them any more active or interesting of a roleplayer.

 

[Oofta]

Some of it depends on campaign, in one campaign everyone has a custom background because of how the campaign started. In other cases I'll let the players choose, although if they want to ignore the ability modifiers and take something else they can.

But background has never really been all that important in any game I've run or played. Back story can matter but that's different.

 

[Vael]

Yeah, with the assumption that if a player really wanted to swap out a stat upgrade or otherwise customize a background, I'd allow it as a DM. These are starting points to me, and if they fit as written, great, if not, ask and we'll change it.

 

[payn]

If only one could actually find any people running them...

So far, ive been able to build groups for everything I want to play online.

 

[payn]

Plus, it's just so much faster to tell people '+2/+1 to stats, pick two skills, pick a starting feat'.

My guess is there will be newer to RPG groups that follow the 5.2 backgrounds by the book. Then, there will be pros that will just construct quickly with whatever. Paizo came up with a fancy A,B,C system for stat gen, but basically all the pros now just pick one of three different arrays to suit their PC. I can see a 5E version popping up of that.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

So far, ive been able to build groups for everything I want to play online.

Are you the DM for those groups?

 

[Tonguez]

There are other games to play out there.

yeah, after looking at the background material I spent some time looking at some options I'd not considered before