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

[Swarmkeeper]

"Custom Backgrounds are the default, unless your GM bans them." and "Your GM can allow you to make a custom background, as an optional rule" are very different positions.

I'm just showing you ways that things could work, supported by the guidance in the books, so that they won't cause anyone's PC to "suffer significantly" at character creation. Which also includes the fact that the 2024 books don't talk about "Optional Rules" or the DM "Banning" anything.

That you don't wish to accept that guidance b/c... external reasons... is beyond my ability to help.

 

[jayoungr]

This is one of those things where I feel WotC simply can't win no matter what they do.

I dunno, the Tasha's compromise seemed to be working pretty well.

I'm guessing somebody internally was pushing for backgrounds to be more mechanically relevant, which is exactly the direction I didn't want them to go.

 

[cbwjm]

I dunno, the Tasha's compromise seemed to be working pretty well.

I'm guessing somebody internally was pushing for backgrounds to be more mechanically relevant, which is exactly the direction I didn't want them to go.

I found itnweird that they went with floating ASIs and then with the new edition decided to restrict them again. It's not really that big a deal since anyone used to floating ASIs would probably keep using it, but otherwise shifting them to background seemed like a backwards move.

 

[Ringtail]

every time i see this argument i want to ask the community 'is it biological essentialism that a tiger is more agile than an ox and the ox tougher?' the species of DnD are not comparible to the various races of humanity, because the human races are fundamentally still all humans and the fantasy species aren't, no matter how much their visually distingushing features just seem to be the length of their ears, the colour of their skin or how tall they are.

I always assumed the issue was that some races had penalties, such as to CHA, WIS or INT. This carries with it some sketchy implications. Having a "stupid" race is kind of a bad look no matter what, and saying an entire race is grumpy with bad CHA sort of creates the mono-culture problem.

But I think this is easily fixable, you just... don't do penalties. Just do bonuses. I don't think anyone would have issue with an Orc having a Bonus to STR if they're are physically larger than most humans. Or perhaps only do bonuses/penalties along the physical stats (STR, DEX, CON) and leave the mental stats untouched, as that has unsavory implications.

 

[Zardnaar]

Far Wanderer is great background now.

 

[Minigiant]

Perish the thought our 500 page combat and magic simulator includes anything about roleplaying!

Hey. A good vocal noticeable percentage of the community only want the stuff they are very unlikely to use.

 

[Aldarc]

every time i see this argument i want to ask the community 'is it biological essentialism that a tiger is more agile than an ox and the ox tougher?' the species of DnD are not comparible to the various races of humanity, because the human races are fundamentally still all humans and the fantasy species aren't, no matter how much their visually distingushing features just seem to be the length of their ears, the colour of their skin or how tall they are.

Every time I see this argument, I think, "Oh, is this person not listening to the argument that people are making about the problematic aspects of race in D&D?"

 

[CreamCloud0]

Every time I see this argument, I think, "Oh, is this person not listening to the argument that people are making about the problematic aspects of race in D&D?"

no, it's simply that we recognise the difference between ethnicity and species, even if the latter has shared the inaccurate title of 'race' that belongs to the former.

 

[Aldarc]

no, it's simply that we recognise the difference between ethnicity and species, even if the latter has shared the inaccurate title of 'race' that belongs to the former.

If you say so...

 

[Azzy]

I'm of mixed opinion on the new backgrounds. My biggest beef is that they've (like elsewhere in the PHB) reduced the flavor text of them are removed the BIFTs. I liked the ribbon in 2014, but those so rarely came up in play that I will probably never miss them. I also don't like that the rules for creating custom backgrounds are shunted off to the DMG. Moving ASI to backgrounds instead of having them floating is also not my favorite choice. I do like the addition of origin feats, but feel that there are too few to really differentiate backgrounds well (hopefully, if the choose to add new backgrounds in further products, they'll add more origin feats).