Oofta
Legend
Dang. I had picked 30 as my bet in the pool for the number of first post to turn this thread into a complaint about WotC. So close!
D&D 5E (2024) The New Custom Backgrounds Details
- Thread starter Mistwell
- Start date
Dang. I had picked 30 as my bet in the pool for the number of first post to turn this thread into a complaint about WotC. So close!
Horwath
Legend
should have cut me in on the pool, I would have wait for another hour.Dang. I had picked 30 as my bet in the pool for the number of first post to turn this thread into a complaint about WotC. So close!
Oofta
Legend
I've said before that I think the backgrounds don't really add much to the game any more. I like the idea of a little bit of customization outside of class and species, I think it was a good addition to 5E. I just don't see any reason to bundle it together so tightly in backgrounds. Instead they could have had a section in the PHB (and DMG) about working on your backstory and origin that wouldn't have had any mechanical effect, with any "soft" benefits like we had with the 2014 version discussed in the DMG.
At the same time I don't have an issue with the direction they took, it might matter to some DMs. I also don't see any real issue of "power builds" because the benefits are not that dramatic.
At the same time I don't have an issue with the direction they took, it might matter to some DMs. I also don't see any real issue of "power builds" because the benefits are not that dramatic.
Arilyn
Hero
I prefer the UA playtest where the backgrounds were examples but players were free to create their own. Yes, I know this can be easily done at tables that prefer it. WotC should be encouraging player creativity, however.
The current backgrounds are all mundane and will mostly be chosen for mechanical benefits, and frankly should be. Some of the logical backgrounds are very poor choices. Why take the musician background for a bard? It'll just double up on what a player already has. Same with acolyte for cleric or guide for druid. This seems like easy traps for new players to fall into, yet we are told a curated list is good for newbies. Not this list in particular.
The current backgrounds are all mundane and will mostly be chosen for mechanical benefits, and frankly should be. Some of the logical backgrounds are very poor choices. Why take the musician background for a bard? It'll just double up on what a player already has. Same with acolyte for cleric or guide for druid. This seems like easy traps for new players to fall into, yet we are told a curated list is good for newbies. Not this list in particular.
Always take the under of gaming complaining.Dang. I had picked 30 as my bet in the pool for the number of first post to turn this thread into a complaint about WotC. So close!
The active part of the fanbase voted it out.
Horwath
Legend
did they?
or did they got voted out by those awful backgrounds with fixed +2/+1 ASIs in 1st UA playtest?
That's the thing.
The playtest did not have fixed backgrounds.
The playtest offered custom background. Then it offered examples.
People skipped over the custom background part and focus on the examples. Then they voted custom backgrount out.
Horwath
Legend
examples were with fixed +2/+1 with option to change them, they were not with 2 out of 3 option or +1/+1/+1 option in suggested backgrounds.
but, since CME got into the final print, one must ask; Did they actually read any feedback at all?
and OFC, next to CME, Hunter's mark without CONC was too much and was breaking the game
Oofta
Legend
I agree, especially things like the acolyte's benefit really makes no sense for a cleric PC other than some extra spells I suppose. The other main issue is that it assumes that the character with an acolyte background always intended to be a cleric. What if they were just no good at being a cleric but were there for a different reason? The player is envisioning a religious fighter who reveres the gods but never felt the call of a specific deity to me is an interesting option. I have the benefit of a couple of handy spells and once a day a free healing word. But the acolyte background is also not one I'm going to take from the existing backgrounds because the ability bonuses don't make much sense.
Ah well. Easy enough to just let people use custom backgrounds and let them buy equipment for 50 GP.
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