D&D (2024) Backgrounds

[UngeheuerLich]

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).

I am pretty sure that hp rolling on level up is an oversight.

Also, reduces 33% chance of losing Wish to 11%.

Which is great. But you don't need musician to get heroic inspiration.
A human can give heroic inspiration to everyone given enoigh long rests.

Also, increases odds of getting an epic boon via Aberrant Dragonmark from 10% each level to 19%.

Legacy content.

Can’t imagine taking a background that doesn’t include it unless I was able to take it later.

Also is a bit off topic. This thread is not about balance.

 

[Oofta]

As an example, I was writing up a barbarian. I want a bonus to strength and probably dex or con. But then I look at the backgrounds and ... ugh. Aritisan? Entertainer? Why do those have strength and dex? Okay, looking further down the list and it's sailor and soldier. Soldier has savage attacker which I'm not really fond of because it's more rolls than I want to deal with. That and I don't really see him as the follow orders military type. Sailor? Well I guess I could see a Viking Berserker type, but then Tavern Brawler? I guess I can see if that is ever useful. Oh, and yay. I get Acrobatics.

In another example I was converting over a paladin. I would really like the magic initiate for cleric because I'm turning out to be the healer of the group and healing word would really help and it fits my backstory. Except ... ugh again. I can only bump to intelligence, wisdom, charisma.

What if I want to play against type? Like with my paladin, he was raised with the expectation that one day he would be a cleric and carry on the family tradition. But it was always a bad fit so he rebelled and became a paladin. As much as I'm not overly concerned about min/maxing, a 15 strength is required for plate armor.

So if you get lucky (which would have been awesome feat for my barbarian) it works. But most of the time? It's just too limiting.

In any case if anyone else wants a quick reference

Spoiler: Feat Table

Background	Str	Dex	Con	Int	Wis	Cha	Feat	Skill 1	Skill 2	Tool
Acolyte				X	X	X	Magic Initiate (Cleric)	Insight	Religion	Calligrapher’s Supplies
Artisan	X	X		X			Crafter	Investigation	Persuasion	Choose one kind of Artisan’s Tools
Charlatan		X	X			X	Skilled	Deception	Sleight of Hand	Forgery Kit
Criminal		X	X	X			Alert	Sleight of Hand	Stealth	Thieves’ Tools
Entertainer	X	X				X	Musician	Acrobatics	Performance	Choose one kind of Musical Instrument
Farmer	X		X		X		Tough	Animal Handling	Nature	Carpenter’s Tools
Guard	X			X	X		Alert	Athletics	Perception	Choose one kind of Gaming Set
Guide		X	X		X		Magic Initiate (Druid)	Stealth	Survival	Cartographer’s Tools
Hermit			X		X	X	Healer	Medicine	Religion	Herbalism Kit
Merchant			X	X		X	Lucky	Animal Handling	Persuasion	Navigator’s Tools
Noble	X			X		X	Skilled	History	Persuasion	Choose one kind of Gaming Set
Sage			X	X	X		Magic Initiate (Wizard)	Arcana	History	Calligrapher’s Supplies
Sailor	X	X			X		Tavern Brawler	Acrobatics	Perception	Navigator’s Tools
Scribe		X		X	X		Skilled	Investigation	Perception	Calligrapher’s Supplies
Soldier	X	X	X				Savage Attacker	Athletics	Intimidation	Choose one kind of Gaming Set
Wayfarer		X				X	Lucky	Insight	Stealth	Thieves’ Tools

 

[UngeheuerLich]

As an example, I was writing up a barbarian. I want a bonus to strength and probably dex or con. But then I look at the backgrounds and ... ugh. Aritisan? Entertainer? Why do those have strength and dex? Okay, looking further down the list and it's sailor and soldier. Soldier has savage attacker which I'm not really fond of because it's more rolls than I want to deal with. That and I don't really see him as the follow orders military type. Sailor? Well I guess I could see a Viking Berserker type, but then Tavern Brawler? I guess I can see if that is ever useful. Oh, and yay. I get Acrobatics.

I think tavern brawler is nice. But it used to be athletics.
I have a thread for background complains.

I think adding one more skill, tool and feat to chose from would have been great for all backgrounds.

 

[mamba]

You could take Noble and have the description be of your life growing up as an orphan on the streets.

sorry, doesn't pass the sanity check. If you want the Noble background, make your backstory fit that. An orphan will not get that background...

"You were raised in a castle, surrounded by wealth, power, and privilege. Your family of minor aristocrats ensured that you received a first-class education" is not what comes to my mind when thinking of an orphan

 

[MarkB]

sorry, doesn't pass the sanity check. If you want the Noble background, make your backstory fit that. An orphan will not get that background...

"You were raised in a castle, surrounded by wealth, power, and privilege. Your family of minor aristocrats ensured that you received a first-class education" is not what comes to my mind when thinking of an orphan

The text you just quoted is precisely the part of the background that you get to change as you wish, so it has no bearing whatsoever upon your sanity check.

 

[overgeeked]

You can make custom backgrounds from the info provided in the book. The only thing missing is a line of text explicitly stating it's acceptable to do so. So what's the problem?

 

[Demetrios1453]

Honestly, we really should be holding off this conversation until the rules on custom backgrounds come out in the DMG.

But backgrounds look pretty standardized, so I imagine the rules for customizing them should be pretty simple. Just switch out the stats, skills, origin feats, and equipment until you get something that is both cohesive and what you want.

 

[Demetrios1453]

You can make custom backgrounds from the info provided in the book. The only thing missing is a line of text explicitly stating it's acceptable to do so. So what's the problem?

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

 

[Argyle King]

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.

 

[mamba]

The text you just quoted is precisely the part of the background that you get to change as you wish, so it has no bearing whatsoever upon your sanity check.

eh, I do not see 'alter the details of this narrative as you like' as a 'completely contradict the narrative if you feel like it'