D&D (2024) Backgrounds

[Epic Meepo]

There's text on page 36 explicitly allowing for custom backgrounds with the DM's permission.

It doesn't say that at all. I'm looking at it right now.

The 2024 PHB says, "You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in chapter 4, and your DM might offer additional backgrounds as options." On page 177, it adds, in reference to a background's non-rules text, "Alter the details of this narrative however you like." That's it.

For comparison, the player-facing "Customizing A Background" section in 2014 PHB says, "you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds."

 

[Demetrios1453]

It doesn't say that at all. I'm looking at it right now.

The 2024 PHB says, "You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in chapter 4, and your DM might offer additional backgrounds as options." On page 177, it adds, in reference to a background's non-rules text, "Alter the details of this narrative however you like." That's it.

For comparison, the player-facing "Customizing A Background" section in 2014 PHB says, "you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds."

Player: "Can you offer an additional background as an option? Here are my ideas..."

DM: "Sure"

Also, again, we need the DMG to see how such optional custom backgrounds are going to be done. This sort of discussion is in the end pretty meaningless since we have very incomplete info at the moment.

 

[lall]

For what it’s worth, some older backgrounds can be used in AL.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/posts/1819-d-d-adventurers-league-update-for-the-2024-core

 

[Xeviat]

My 2CP?

Ability score increases should have been done in one of two ways:

A) one fixed +1 and one semi-floating* +1 from species; two pseudo-floating** +1s from background

(+1 to one of two abilities normally associated with the species; *+1 to a selection of 3-4 abilities associated with the background)

B) Attach ability score increases to level like 4th Edition did; then feats have no need to include +N at all

...perhaps both

Also, don't remove the 2014 special features. Instead, flesh them out more.

What if each species, class, and background gave a +1, floating between 2 options? You can put a max of +2 in one.

 

[Oofta]

What if each species, class, and background gave a +1, floating between 2 options? You can put a max of +2 in one.

If it were up to me I wouldn't associate ability bonuses to anything, just make it part of the ability score generation. Then again, I don't think backgrounds really add much any more, there should just be a section talking about backstory and working with your DM on where your PC came from.

 

[Lazybones]

I was never bothered by racial ability score bonuses in 5e, and am not really bothered by the limitations expressed in the default 2024 PH backgrounds, but then again I tend to focus on the character's story more than the mechanics while building characters. I've read a lot of these threads, and the general vibe from many folks seems to be that if a player character has a primary ability score bonus that is +1 less than optimal, they are unplayable. That said, I will almost certainly extend the Custom Background option promised to be in the DMG to my players as soon as I have that book, as I have a lot of optimizers in my current groups.

 

[Argyle King]

What if each species, class, and background gave a +1, floating between 2 options? You can put a max of +2 in one.

You could do that.

My own preference would be one static and one semi-floating (choice between two abilities) for most races species.

That then would allow humans to keep their schtick of versatility by being the only species to get two floating +1s.

Half-Elves could get +1 to something associated with elves (probably Cha, Int, or Dex) and also one floating +1 to show their human side.

Half-Orcs could get +1 to something associated with Orcs (let's say Con or Str) and also one floating +1.

I feel that strikes a middleground between having some flexibility while also retaining some amount of special identity and archetypes for each character creation option.

 

[Oofta]

I was never bothered by racial ability score bonuses in 5e, and am not really bothered by the limitations expressed in the default 2024 PH backgrounds, but then again I tend to focus on the character's story more than the mechanics while building characters. I've read a lot of these threads, and the general vibe from many folks seems to be that if a player character has a primary ability score bonus that is +1 less than optimal, they are unplayable. That said, I will almost certainly extend the Custom Background option promised to be in the DMG to my players as soon as I have that book, as I have a lot of optimizers in my current groups.

Like I said above, if you want to wear plate armor you have to have a 15 strength or better. If I'm using point buy that means I'm forced to up my strength later on which could be annoying.

It's not a huge deal, just one of a couple of changes I dislike. I'll allow people to use custom origins, just like they won't be making a DC 15 stealth check to sneak past a sleeping guard (one of the other things I dislike).

 

[Epic Meepo]

Player: "Can you offer an additional background as an option? Here are my ideas..."

DM: "Sure"

Player: "Can you offer an additional class based on the 4e warlord? Here are my ideas..."

DM: "Sure"

None of which means the 2024 PHB supports a warlord class.

Also, again, we need the DMG to see how such optional custom backgrounds are going to be done. This sort of discussion is in the end pretty meaningless since we have very incomplete info at the moment.

The fact that we need the DMG to even know how the designers intended custom backgrounds work in the revised rules is one of my problems with the 2024 PHB. Custom backgrounds were an option in the 2014 PHB. Unless we import them from the 2014 PHB, custom backgrounds are no longer an option in the 2024 PHB.

That's neither meaningless nor premature. As soon as I purchased the 2014 PHB, my players could customize their backgrounds without requiring my input as the DM. They had all the rules they needed to customize their backgrounds. If we use the 2024 PHB, that's no longer true. The 2024 PHB is making it harder for me as the DM to offer the options I want to make available at my table.

 

[overgeeked]

The fact that we need the DMG to even know how the designers intended custom backgrounds work in the revised rules is one of my problems with the 2024 PHB. Custom backgrounds were an option in the 2014 PHB. Unless we import them from the 2014 PHB, custom backgrounds are no longer an option in the 2024 PHB.

We really don't. We just need to read the background section and see what's there. Then we can make our own. There's no deep mystery to it. It's not a feat or a class or a race. There's no real design to the individual backgrounds. It's literally a pick of skills, tools, stat mods, a feat, and gear. It's literally spelled out in the "Parts of a Background" section at the start of the chapter. Everything you need to know is right there.