D&D (2024) 2024 PHB Background discussion

[Hriston]

I was hoping the feats would be more like the 2014 background features but not as DM dependent.

 

[edosan]

For me, the biggest loss of the new backgrounds is the loss of these features. I liked the tables outlining the basic motivations -- really helpful for new and younger players, I felt. The new backgrounds are now instead just a bundle-of-mechanical-abilities, including several (languages, ASI) that do not seem to fit comfortably.

Strongly agree. It feels like a shift away from the (tentative) steps toward a more narrativist style of play they had been making in 5e back toward a purely mechanical one and makes me wonder about the future of BIFTs.

I am hoping this isn’t going to be the start of a trend of throwing out the more “squishy” parts of chargen because it doesn’t translate well to their VTT or something - that would represent a shift back to the 4e style of play I would not be comfortable with.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Are Vehicle profiecenies cut?

It appears so. Sailor would seem to be the obvious place for them, and now all sailors are Navigators, rather than proficient in vehicles.

I really liked the vehicle proficiencies -- an easy way to synergize with skills when at sea.

 

[Parmandur]

Strongly agree. It feels like a shift away from the (tentative) steps toward a more narrativist style of play they had been making in 5e back toward a purely mechanical one and makes me wonder about the future of BIFTs.

I am hoping this isn’t going to be the start of a trend of throwing out the more “squishy” parts of chargen because it doesn’t translate well to their VTT or something - that would represent a shift back to the 4e style of play I would not be comfortable with.

Their isn't a lot to wonder about the future of BIFT: they aren't present here at all, and haven't been provided for any Background in a book in years now, including the new Starter Set. They are done for.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

Prodigy is in Xanathar's, not Tasha's. Tasha's printed Skill Expert, which anyone can take. However, it's a half-feat (gives a bonus to an ability score), so it would have to be changed to become a level 1 feat.

thank you for fixing that. Yeah it might need to be changed but the idea of 1 skill and 1 expertise sounds better then 3 skills to me

 

[GMforPowergamers]

My problem with these backgrounds is that there aren't any. It's just pick stat bonus, pick feat, pick language. None of these need to be connected in anyway to your character history. So they won't be. Give it a minute and people won't even mention backgrounds, they'll just say what their starting feat is.

yeah, I see it already in games that don't use the features much... people just pick 2 skills a tool or language and call it a day

 

[Parmandur]

thank you for fixing that. Yeah it might need to be changed but the idea of 1 skill and 1 expertise sounds better then 3 skills to me

3 Skills, plus another 1st Level Feat, helps with a lot of concepts. A Level 1 Human Rogue, under the current playtest, gets 10 Skill Proficiencies. There are only 17 in the game!

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Are Vehicle profiecenies cut?

Those count as Tool Proficiencies, just like Instruments and Gaming Sets.

 

[Stalker0]

Strongly agree. It feels like a shift away from the (tentative) steps toward a more narrativist style of play they had been making in 5e back toward a purely mechanical one and makes me wonder about the future of BIFTs.

I am hoping this isn’t going to be the start of a trend of throwing out the more “squishy” parts of chargen because it doesn’t translate well to their VTT or something - that would represent a shift back to the 4e style of play I would not be comfortable with.

I will also echo, so much that I don’t see the point of having backgrounds at all. Frankly custom backgrounds are going to be so much stringer anyway, the base ones are just a trap.

If they are going this route, then simply say:

Background abilities: choose two skills, one language, 50 gp in starting equipment, and one 1st level feat.

Don’t make it a whole big mechanical “thing” when it’s really not anymore

 

[Aldarc]

Their isn't a lot to wonder about the future of BIFT: they aren't present here at all, and haven't been provided for any Background in a book in years now, including the new Starter Set. They are done for.

Though I respect those who found them useful, I say "good riddance" to BIFTs. They were a waste of space. Though anecdotal, I have never seen a 5e table use them in any of my groups in either the USA or Austria.