D&D (2024) D&D Background and Origin Feat Article

[mellored]

I care about being obligated to have every single NPCs say “you seem like a swell guy, I’m gonna knock off a chunk of the price for you” about every single purchase a character makes

Nothing says that.

"You burnt down my shop, I am charging you double" still applies.
And it can apply to the Crafter Sorcerer, while the Monk who ran into the building to save the dog pays half.

The same way a DM can say "due to recent assassination attempts, the number of guards increased" does not mean you remove the PC's +4 stealth bonus. It means you adjust the DC.

 

[Clint_L]

And proficiency guarantees the Bard is 20% more likely to succeed on a performance check.
And reckless attack has a 20% chance to hit.
And hunters mark deals 20% more damage.
Reliable talent guarantees the rogue can pass any stealth check.
Bless adds % to everyone's attack and save.
Champions are % better at getting critical hits.

The entire game is built around some PC having a higher % than another in certain areas.

I do agree that it's a bit weird for a "Crafter" to get a discount when buying. Seems more like a Merchant backgound should get that.

But I can not see how one PC getting % better at shopping is in any way different from any other % better.

Seriously…would anyone in this conversation ever take or recommend this feat? Tool proficiencies: you already have any you need as a function of your class. Which is probably rogue or artificer. More are basically ribbons. Would 20% more crafting speed make a difference in any actual game situation you are likely to encounter? And you might save a little money here and there. Which might make a slight difference in some campaigns.

Seriously, this feat is awful. It’s likely to have basically zero benefit to a character. Just do your players a favour and house rule it out.

 

[Charlaquin]

Nothing says that.

"You burnt down my shop, I am charging you double" still applies.
And it can apply to the Crafter Sorcerer, while the Monk who ran into the building to save the dog pays half.

But a non-crafter who burned down the shop would be charged 220%.

The same way a DM can say "due to recent assassination attempts, the number of guards increased" does not mean you remove the PC's +4 stealth bonus. It means you adjust the DC.

You’re talking about a bonus to a check, which the DM decides to call for or not to call for, depending on the circumstances and specifics of the action the player declares. That’s not how this discount works, it just applies in all cases.

 

[Belen]

Love the improved feats, but dislike the new backgrounds.

Backgrounds are a Trap Mechanic now. It will restrict players who want to optimize their character (Attribute Choice and Feat), while those who don't care about mechanics (like new players) might choose backgrounds where their Attributes and Feat is useless.

Meh....

I will stick to my current rules. Everyone gets a feat of their choice.

If I use 5.5, then the Origin feats will all provide a +1 stat bonus to make them full feats and players get to choose any bonus feat.

ASI nor feats will be tied to background.

 

[mellored]

But a non-crafter who burned down the shop would be charged 220%.

Yes.

You’re talking about a bonus to a check, which the DM decides to call for or not to call for, depending on the circumstances and specifics of the action the player declares. That’s not how this discount works, it just applies in all cases.

I'm talking about a bonus to a check purchase, which the DM decides to call for or not to call for, depending on the circumstances and specifics of the action the player declares. That’s not how this discount works.

 

[Charlaquin]

I'm talking about a bonus to a check purchase, which the DM decides to call for or not to call for, depending on the circumstances and specifics of the action the player declares. That’s not how this discount works, it just applies in all cases.

This is nonsense. A purchase isn’t a thing the DM calls for.

 

[Belen]

The main benefit of Tavern Brawler seems to be the Push for tactical control of the combat area on a grid map.

Ugh...this is a main problem with 5.5. It brings bad the grid with junk like this and weapon mastery.

 

[Marandahir]

Ugh...this is a main problem with 5.5. It brings bad the grid with junk like this and weapon mastery.

v5.2 does seem battle-grid heavy and hard to do theatre of the mind with. In that way it's closer to 4e and v3.0-3.5's Miniature's Game, but mostly it seems like this was designed too sell subs to the virtual tabletop.

 

[Belen]

Folk hero had the exact same problem and I hated it too. If DMs routinely ignore features because they don’t like how they function, seems like it might be smart not to write features that work that way into the fancy new revised books.

I mean, it’s too late for it to change now, but I’m gonna have to house rule this one.

My experience is that the players forget about them and it is not my job as a DM to remember all of their features.

 

[mellored]

This is nonsense. A purchase isn’t a thing the DM calls for.

Yes, they do.

Player: I want to buy a shovel
DM: you're on a tiny boat in the middle of the ocean, you can't.

Or

Player: I want to buy a shovel
DM: your wallet takes 10 damage
Player: i reduce the damage by 2.

Not

Player: I buy a shovel for 8, and there is nothing you can do about it.
DM: