New video just dropped.
Background gives much more than in 2014.
Origin (first-level) feats: still available at later levels.
Species (much of this as in playtest docs):
EDIT: Here's a list of confirmed backgrounds that I've seen:
Acolyte (mentioned in video)
Guard
Guide
Feat not clear; ends in a Y and so probably Lucky.
Wayfarer
A fuller list here.
- After choosing class, you go to the Character Origins chapter.
- Species and Background combine to give game capabilities.
- There is a sidebar on how to use backgrounds/species from previous books.
Background gives much more than in 2014.
- Backgrounds "determine ability score bonuses"
- each background has 3 ability options, and player chooses +2/+1, or +1/+1/+1 (e.g. Acolyte gives Int, Wis, Cha; Guide is Dex, Con, Wis).
- Backgrounds "interlock" with "appropriate" classes, but greater freedom from the advantageous species/class combos from 2014.
- 16 backgrounds provided.
- DMG will provide guidance for creating additinal backgrounds. (This is a BIG CHANGE from 2014, where customization was a built-in, player-controlled option; now it is "under DM supervision".)
Origin (first-level) feats: still available at later levels.
- Alert and Skilled offered by more than one background
Species (much of this as in playtest docs):
- orc, goliath, and aasimar are new.
- Goliath have the giant-themed flavor from the playtest. They also have the option to become large.
- Tremorsense for dwarves
- dwarves and orcs have 120' darkvision.
- humans get extra origin feat, and start with Heroic Inspiration
- some species have choice-points, but halfling, dwarf, orc do not have choice points (and so a lower complexity level).
- dragonborn can include breath weapon as one of their attacks.
- aasimar can change option for celestial revelation each time it gets used.
EDIT: Here's a list of confirmed backgrounds that I've seen:
Acolyte (mentioned in video)
Guard
Guide
Feat not clear; ends in a Y and so probably Lucky.
A fuller list here.
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