FitzTheRuke
Legend
"Officially" you can't, but your DM can entirely make up a custom background for you, which amounts to (nearly) the same thing, as long as your DM is sufficiently "generous".What's all this about changing around background stats?
I know you could do that with the 2014 rules, but it didn't look like you could with the 2024 rules.
I personally prefer, as I think I describe somewhere above, to let people swap out any one thing for any other of the same sort. And if something gives you a redundant proficiency, you can just take another of the same type (tool or skill). I also allow "liberal reskinning". Call things whatever you want to call them.
I'm open to allowing more customization when needed, but start there.