D&D (2024) Backgrounds

[UngeheuerLich]

I really think D&D 2024 dropped the ball not giving the choice of two tools and two feats by default.

They noticed that 2 stat increases are too limiting.
Why are natural matches like druid and hermit or rogue and criminal duplicating the same tool...

And the entertainer annoys me even more, just by itself. And especially on a bard. As a tool you chose musical instrument. The feat also gives 3 musical instruments. And the bard class again, 3 instruments on top. That is 7 out of 10 possible musical instruments.*

The disguise kit would have been a great addition. Apply makeup. Create costumes. Would be perfect.
An entertainer would also be a good fit for the tavern brawler feat.

And while we are at it, maybe a third skill as a choice would have been great too.

Rant over.

Edit: *rant on.
Why are the two most useless proficiencies having variants.

Not only do you chose musical instruments (or gaming sets), you need to also settle on a specific one.

Rant over.

 

[bedir than]

I really think D&D 2024 dropped the ball not giving the choice of two tools and two feats by default.

They noticed that 2 stat increases are too limiting.
Why are natural matches like druid and hermit or rogue and criminal duplicating the same tool...

And the entertainer annoys me even more, just by itself. And especially on a bard. As a tool you chose musical instrument. The feat also gives 3 musical instruments. And the bard class again, 3 instruments on top. That is 7 out of 10 possible musical instruments.*

The disguise kit would have been a great addition. Apply makeup. Create costumes. Would be perfect.
An entertainer would also be a good fit for the tavern brawler feat.

And while we are at it, maybe a third skill as a choice would have been great too.

Rant over.

Edit: *rant on.
Why are the two most useless proficiencies having variants.

Not only do you chose musical instruments (or gaming sets), you need to also settle on a specific one.

Absolutely!

A "choose two, most ____ start with" type notation would have increased the types of stories we tell, rather than shrink them.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yeah, we need custom backgrounds as default.

 

[ezo]

Yeah, we need custom backgrounds as default.

Has it always been the default?? The ones in the 2014 PHB are examples, really.

 

[Charlaquin]

Has it always been the default?? The ones in the 2014 PHB are examples, really.

Kind of? In the 2014 PHB it was a core rule, rather than an optional rule. But in my experience it was typically treated as an optional rule, probably because the fact that backgrounds were packaged together and had different values of starting equipment made it feel like they shouldn’t be customizable. In the 2024 playtest they were presented as custom by default with prepackaged backgrounds explicitly as examples, yet people still seemed to treat them as the only options, and I’m less clear why. But in the 2024 PHB there is no custom background option presented at all. So, it seems that they have actually made custom backgrounds an optional rule, or else gotten rid of them completely. You can use the rules for updating backgrounds from older sources to backdoor your way into a custom background, but with no actual custom background rule in the PHB that seems very much like an exploit.

 

[Oofta]

I'm just telling everyone they can make custom backgrounds. Because I agree, every background should have had multiple options, it's far too restrictive as is.

I guess I can see the point that technically custom backgrounds are optional and at the discretion of the DM but the ones rarely work for most concepts.

 

[DragonLancer]

I plan on letting the players create their own by letting them choose where their stat boosts go, and what origin feat, skills and tools. Something we can work on together to create what they want.

 

[Charlaquin]

I kind of get why they might have opted for fixed backgrounds, as if they’re fully customizable, why are they even presented as background. Like, what does it mean to be a Noble if an Urchin can have the exact same abilities, skills, tools, and feat? But, if backgrounds are going to have niche protection, they need more flexibility.

 

[lall]

Musician is really good, arguably too good to be an origin feat. If I did my math right, a 5/9 chance my sorcerer will get 5 or higher on his d6 when leveling up (and 3/4 to get 4 or higher). Also, reduces 33% chance of losing Wish to 11%. Also, increases odds of getting an epic boon via Aberrant Dragonmark from 10% each level to 19%. Can’t imagine taking a background that doesn’t include it unless I was able to take it later.

 

[MarkB]

I kind of get why they might have opted for fixed backgrounds, as if they’re fully customizable, why are they even presented as background. Like, what does it mean to be a Noble if an Urchin can have the exact same abilities, skills, tools, and feat? But, if backgrounds are going to have niche protection, they need more flexibility.

Backgrounds already don't carve out any niche flavour-wise, because the one thing you can already customise to your heart's content is the description. You could take Noble and have the description be of your life growing up as an orphan on the streets.