D&D General Playstyle vs Mechanics

[Bae'zel]

no, the idea that your 1st level Rogue is one of them is

I think that this really depends on the context at hand. Is the 1st level rogue a 16-year old newbie who lived their entire life in one alley? Probably not. Is your 1st level rogue a 50 year old commoner with a life of experiences, forced to take on a life of crime late in life? Perhaps!

I always assumed that these sorts of declarations are not automatic; that there should be some back and forth between player and DM.

Personally, I love it when players suggest these connections and contacts. Saves me some work improvising. However, I always have follow-up questions: "how did yo make this contact? what was the nature of it? Why havent you mentioned it before? Is it because something went badly last time you interacted?" etc. To keep things interesting.

 

[soviet]

I think that this really depends on the context at hand. Is the 1st level rogue a 16-year old newbie who lived their entire life in one alley? Probably not. Is your 1st level rogue a 50 year old commoner with a life of experiences, forced to take on a life of crime late in life? Perhaps!

In fact we know the answer to this already. The player chose the background that says 'you have access to a network of criminal contacts' rather than something like an orphan or a craftsman etc.

 

[TwoSix]

it says nothing about how they acquired the contact list, but yes, they know messengers that in turn know how to reach their actual contact everywhere

I'm assuming that determining the "how" is based on the character concept.

For a level 1 Rogue or Fighter or… anything, I find that hard to believe. It’s something else if your character is a Prince, Ironman or James Bond, those probably have an extensive contact list (that still falls short of ‘everywhere’ however)

No idea. I'm not even sure what background has this divisive feature on it, and I've been playing 5e for 10 years.

 

[Bae'zel]

In fact we know the answer to this already. The player chose the background that says 'you have access to a network of criminal contacts' rather than something like an orphan or a craftsman etc.

Absolutely! Plus, due to the low level of the PC, the hoops that they may need to jump through to connect with that network and gain a favor is golden adventure-building material.

Thieves' Guild Rep: "What? You're a nobody, you can't just ask for private audience with the boss... Well.. maybe I can arrange something... if you do a favor for us first..."

 

[mamba]

Why? Are all first level characters in your game fresh off the farm? None of them have had any kind of lived experiences prior to the start of play?

not that kind of lived experience, no, and if they did they would not start out with a criminal background from it…

 

[mamba]

I think that this really depends on the context at hand. Is the 1st level rogue a 16-year old newbie who lived their entire life in one alley? Probably not. Is your 1st level rogue a 50 year old commoner with a life of experiences, forced to take on a life of crime late in life? Perhaps!

which goes back to what I just replied with, if they did have that life experience, the background reflecting that would not be criminal…

 

[mamba]

I'm assuming that determining the "how" is based on the character concept.

I am assuming WotC gave it no thought or ran out of time, which is why we have such an ill considered or poorly worded background in the first place

No idea. I'm not even sure what background has this divisive feature on it, and I've been playing 5e for 10 years.

good for you… compare the PHB criminal to the GoS smuggler to see how to do the criminal correctly. Guess the 5 or so years between them helped

 

[Bae'zel]

which goes back to what I just replied with, if they did have that life experience, the background reflecting that would not be criminal…

Fair enough. This is why a conversation needs to happen with the player.

In this specific example, perhaps the character was a low level "runner" or messenger. Or a carrier for illicit goods. Not a full on rogue, but part of the criminal system out of desperation to feed his family.

As a DM, I'd accept that answer from a player. Or suggest it to them.

Regardless, this Background Feature rule is no longer part of 5e, officially, so maybe this doesn't matter anymore.

 

[soviet]

Absolutely! Plus, due to the low level of the PC, the hoops that they may need to jump through to connect with that network and gain a favor is golden adventure-building material.

Thieves' Guild Rep: "What? You're a nobody, you can't just ask for private audience with the boss... Well.. maybe I can arrange something... if you do a favor for us first..."

That's the funny thing isn't it. What makes the background traits so good is that they help set up all kinds of cool situations like this. 'No they dismiss you out of hand' is not only a loss of player agency it's a loss of colourful things to play out.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

which goes back to what I just replied with, if they did have that life experience, the background reflecting that would not be criminal…

I mean, the mechanical effect of criminal never made sense to me. It's "criminal", not "postman"!