D&D 5E (2014) I think I prefer backgrounds in 2014

[dave2008]

I suspect that's a pretty common reaction to anyone actually trying to use their background feature.

Why do you suspect that? I suspect people to follow the rules in general.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Both those statements are false, not sure how you can even think that honestly.

Well if my character can’t be The Absolute Strongest Mechanically Possible from the word GO then they can’t be classified as strong at all, Relativity doesn’t exist.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Both those statements are false, not sure how you can even think that honestly.

Apparently "strong" is "max strength score of 20". Those poor weak gnomes with 18 Strength.

 

[QuentinGeorge]

Honestly, since they moved ASIs out of species, where they (originally) helped show how a given species was different from humanity, I wish they'd just ditch them entirely. Tying them to backgrounds is okay, but if all they are is another way for players to optimize- I mean, just add a bit to your starting point buy or whatever. If ASIs don't represent anything in the world, or if the majority of players are going to complain about how they constrain your pc's starting background choice, just dump them.

Exactly. Once they were taken from the race they should have been removed entirely. It's just become a weird "and now some extra points for me".

 

[Dausuul]

Relativity doesn’t exist.

Little-known rule: Raising your Strength score above the maximum allows you to go back in time and change your action when you blow an Athletics check.

 

[Shades of Eternity]

Little-known rule: Raising your Strength score above the maximum allows you to go back in time and change your action when you blow an Athletics check.

...and people complained when I built a strength-based spellcaster.

*******************
The truth is adventurers are special snowflakes, but you need something to measure your special snowflake meter off of.

They got rid of species stereotypes only to put them back in the background.

At least the species sort of made sense.

They fixed it and then immediately forgot.

I would keep Tashas (A floating +2/+1, or three +1s, that aren’t attached to any other character creation step) and then list common bonuses under the species as "guidelines."

That Way, when you build that one orc who becomes a mighty wizard and likes to terrorize an elf who keeps crying, "Excuse me, princess," you should be able to respect the concept.

Because most orcs like to hit things with sticks, it makes your orc even more special for wearing a skullcap and stealing the Triforce.

I like the species stereotypes, but only to make it easier to play and something to subvert. For example, I did a small-sized species with a strength bonus (little bears) because the species goes against the common defaults.

But there are several quirks to this.

One of the side effects is that allowing attributes to be attributed somehow ended up making halflings the furry-footed master race because their luck was supposed to compensate for their lack of height and upper arm strength.

 

[Horwath]

Exactly. Once they were taken from the race they should have been removed entirely. It's just become a weird "and now some extra points for me".

they should just have increased point buy pool and give options to buy up to 18

new pool: 32pts


6: -2pts (optional)
7: -1pts (optional)
8: 0pts
9: 1pt
10: 2pts
11: 3pts
12: 4pts
13: 5pts
14: 6pts
15: 8pts
16: 10pts
17: 13pts
18: 16pts

for rolling:
3×5d6D2, 3×4d6D1

default array:
16,16,14,12,10,8

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

Both those statements are false, not sure how you can even think that honestly.

OK, I will now give you the longer, more detailed version, trying to make it easier to understand than the condensed version above, that was maybe not that clear:

Haven't you noticed back then, that enough people complained, since they wanted to get the maximum in their main ability as quickly as possible, complaining they had to play <insert race here> to optimize, so Tasha offered the option to have moving ASIs and lot of people were very happy after that because their half-orc wizard became on par with their friend's gnome wizard? Not every player is an optimizer, but enough people felt it constrained their choice to be as effective as another character at the table that WotC acted on it. There were litterally dozens on thread on this board and other discussing this change, and many supported it.

This is condensed in the tongue-in-cheek statement: "You couldn't be a strong gnome or a smart half-orc in 2014".

And now, they constrain ASIs to a list coming with background, instead of doing the exact same thing: +2/1 to two characteristics or +1 to three characteristics, instead of making them freely movable. Logically, people will be constrained in their choice the same way -- "if I want +2 to Charisma and +1 to Str, why can't my backstory allow me to be anything and why must I be either a musician or a nobleman?" The logical answer ("I'll create a custom background called charismatic guard or a strong acolyte background") is basically equivalent, so they might as well have included it in the PHB, and removed ASI altogether (just give more points at start, up to 18).

This is condensed in the tongue-in-cheek statement: "You can no longer be a strong acolyte or a charismatic guard in 2024"

I'd have hoped that they hadn't reverted to the fixed ASIs, just moving them from race to background.

This is the conclusion: "they could have just made the same floating ASIs part of the Origin instead of choosing the same constraint they initially had with species." or, as @Shades of Eternity put it: "they fixed it, then immediately forgot", which sums up exactly my thought when reading the ASIs in 2024.

 

[CreamCloud0]

floating ASI should've just remained floating, tying them down again but this time to background was a step backwards just stick them directly into stat generation if every species or background is going to provide the same +2/+1, the background features i don't think were a bad idea but i think they needed to be reworked less as abstract RP things and more as tangible abilities, a Sailor background wouldn't offer free passage on a ship but instead a choice of a swim speed, a 10 minute hold breath and the Shape Water and Gust cantrips.

personally if i was designing them a background would look something like:

SAILOR
Innate: +2/+1 ASI, 1 origin feat.
Skills: 2 of athletics, acrobatics, perception, nature, sleight of hand, performance.
Proficiencies: navigators tools or cartographers tools, vehicles (water), 1 language, 1 musical instrument or gaming set.
Equipment: 1 artisans tools or kit, 50ft of rope(silken), a spyglass(these shouldn't cost 1000 gold, that's stupid), a set of traveller's clothes. a pouch containing 10 gold OR a pounch containing 50 gold.
Boons(pick 3):
-A swim and climb speed equal to your walkspeed
-Hold Breath ability (5 minutes)
-Control Water and Gust cantrips (INT, WIS or CHA)
-Pick two extra skills from the Sailor list
-2 extra known languages
-Gain expertise on 1 tool proficiency you gained from Sailor
Suggested Characteristics: [Bonds/Traits/Ideals/Flaws lists....]

 

[Shardstone]

I prefer the new Backgrounds, but do lament the loss of Personality tables and a thematic feature.