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

[EzekielRaiden]

If you don't start it (maybe as a DM first) you won't find a game. That is often a reality. Going to the 5e forum and bemoaning your tragedy won't help at all.

I have:

• Used Discord and other such programs
• Used four different forums (including this one)
• Embraced a variety of systems up to and including finally breaking down and accepting 5e
• Used multiple "find a game" tools (e.g. Roll20)
• Actually managed to pull two short-lived groups together that just didn't gel
• Repeatedly made use of Reddit

I put more than a year into trying to find a game of 4e, 13A, SR5e, PF1e, and (as noted) eventually 5e-with-hoped-for-tweaks. I don't want to DM for anyone but the small friend group I have, and zero people in that group are interested in DMing themselves, we've talked about it more than once. If they did, they'd almost certainly run DW or 5e, which wouldn't change my situation. As noted, Hussar has generously offered me a place at his table and I enjoy playing that game very much. But at this point, what have I left except noting how impossible it has been to actually find a 4e game?

 

[WanderingMystic]

Both are better in Level Up IMO, plus it adds the Culture axis for setting granularity and additional customization.

Honestly I don't think that backgrounds are better in Level Up, the safe for Heritages (although I do like how easy it is to make a mixed heritage). Where Leve up does excel is in the creation of cultures. Cultures are hands down my favorite aspect introduced in A5E with my second being the fizzle dice for Artificers.

 

[Arilyn]

I expect the vast, vast, vast majority of players to use the pre-canned options (as well as other options they provide in the future).

Why?

Well, in 2014 they had backgrounds. But in the PHB, it also allowed you to customize your background. That wasn't as powerful as what is proposed here, but it existed. And yet almost no one used it, to the extent that every now and then, someone would "discover" the feature.

I've seen players tie themselves in knots trying to choose an optimal background instead of just customizing. And, of course, a lot of people choose things for flavor, not pure DPS/optimization.

It's my mission as GM to stop the canned choices. It's a creative game and I encourage players to be as creative as possible. For example, I hate the traits being on tables you could roll on in the 2014 version. Too many players just pick from the tables, instead of creating their own character's traits. Show some examples and let players at it. Ironically, it is often the new players who are more willing to stretch their imaginations.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

And yet whenever I assert that most people just go along with what's in front of them, it's "insulting to suggest that people can't think for themselves".

Well, you know what they say!

If you sit down at a poker table, and you can't identify the mark ... you're the mark.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

It's my mission as GM to stop the canned choices. It's a creative game and I encourage players to be as creative as possible. For example, I hate the traits being on tables you could roll on in the 2014 version. Too many players just pick from the tables, instead of creating their own character's traits. Show some examples and let players at it. Ironically, it is often the new players who are more willing to stretch their imaginations.

In my experience, most (not all, but most) GMs love creative players.

Which is why I am always puzzled when I see people complain about GMs that won't let people do stuff. Yes, they exist (of course they do) but more often than not, the shackles that are upon you are those that you create.


In other words-

The GMs I am familiar with-

The GMs I keep hearing about-

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I have:

• Used Discord and other such programs
• Used four different forums (including this one)
• Embraced a variety of systems up to and including finally breaking down and accepting 5e
• Used multiple "find a game" tools (e.g. Roll20)
• Actually managed to pull two short-lived groups together that just didn't gel
• Repeatedly made use of Reddit

I put more than a year into trying to find a game of 4e, 13A, SR5e, PF1e, and (as noted) eventually 5e-with-hoped-for-tweaks. I don't want to DM for anyone but the small friend group I have, and zero people in that group are interested in DMing themselves, we've talked about it more than once. If they did, they'd almost certainly run DW or 5e, which wouldn't change my situation. As noted, Hussar has generously offered me a place at his table and I enjoy playing that game very much. But at this point, what have I left except noting how impossible it has been to actually find a 4e game?

When I started playing it was a decade before the birth of the internet. If you wanted players you had to go up to people who knew nothing about role playing games or fantasy and pester them until they agreed to play. There were no extant games to join of any edition, full stop. If you wanted it you had to build it yourself from the ground up.

 

[Scribe]

But at this point, what have I left except noting how impossible it has been to actually find a 4e game?

Way I see it, is you have 3 issues.

1. You want to play 4e.
2. You dont want to DM.
3. You dont want to play 5e out of the box, unless its your last option.

I dont know how you square that, but I would imagine with every passing day, and the release of 5.5, its only going to get harder for you.

 

[Demetrios1453]

With this being the case I don't see why anyone would use the more restrictive 2024 backgrounds.

People are answering the original question wrong. It's not "Will you or people you know use the 2024 backgrounds", it's "Will anyone use the 2024 backgrounds"

Of course there will be plenty of anyones out there who will use the 2024 backgrounds. In fact, probably the majority will, since they'll want specific choices to choose from to quickly pick and get on with character creation so they can start getting on with playing. I have to say that in my gaming groups, no one has created a custom 2014 background even though everyone is very much aware of the option simply because of those reasons. It's the same reason why most people buy off-the-shelf products even when customizing is available for the same price: I want it now, and I don't want to spend time thinking about it when the predetermined options are good enough.

(That's the problem with posting on a site dedicated to those who are much more into gaming than the vast majority of people who game are - those in the latter group just aren't that intensely into the game as we are and thus prioritize differently.)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I dont know how you square that, but I would imagine with every passing day, and the release of 5.5, its only going to get harder for you.

That’s the way it works. Culture changes, the game is updated to reflect the culture (or at least not lag so far behind) and the older players are left behind.

 

[Clint_L]

Sure, but you can apply that whether or not there is an official "farmer background".

Background is part of backstory, but you don't need the former to have the latter, and what if I want to be a rancher instead of a farmer (and get that bonus when investigating livestock disappearing)

Then that would be awesome. I would say go for it! The one thing that I don't want to see is players choosing a background that is ASIs, two skills and a feat. Period. I want those ASIs, two skills and a feat justified by the backstory, because that will generate interesting story and content.