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

[mellored]

I can see me taking it. 20% more hp sounds nice, but being able to McGyver your way around fights is even nicer.

I don't third McGyver would be any different if he had an extra $20 to work with.

At least in all the games I played, non-magical items became so cheap as to already be free.

But I would be delighted if cobblers tools let you make winged boots at higher level.

 

[mellored]

Right, but the player always gets to pay 20% less than that price. They don’t have to convince the seller to lower their price. They just get a discount automatically. Anyone else who wants a discount has to actually go through the action resolution process to get one.

And the tielfling gets 50% off all fire damage.
Just discounted automatically.
Anyone else who wants to take half damage has to succeed in their saving throw.

It's not different just because your reducing GP instead of HP.

 

[Charlaquin]

I still think, there are many situatiins where you don't play out shopping. I bet there are downtime rules for that. In those cases, the rule makes a lot of sense.

I disagree. Even during downtime it’s too broad. It’d be one thing if it applied to a certain settlement or certain faction or something, but a universal discount doesn’t compute to me.

 

[Charlaquin]

And the tielfling gets 50% off all fire damage.
Just discounted automatically.
Anyone else who wants to take half damage has to succeed in their saving throw.

That represents a specific adaptation of the species. The monsters don’t just decide to go easy on Tieflings with fire, Tieflings are adapted to survive more extreme temperatures than other humanoids are.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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.

All of your examples are actions the PC takes in the world. The discount is not. This has been explained in this thread more than once already.

 

[Micah Sweet]

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.

IMO WotC has been trying to bring back a 4e-like experience in fits and starts ever since too many fans bounced off it to suit WotC desires for profit.

 

[Micah Sweet]

A few things have subtly changed since UA. So lets wait and see. Athough there is a good chance you are correct.

Edit: maybe the reasoning is easy. Even today, stores get a discount when buying things from their distributer. So maybe as a crafter you get that too. At least in lands where this is common.

Except there are no exceptions to the rule as written (so far as we know). It's like the bad background features all over again.

 

[Charlaquin]

A few things have subtly changed since UA. So lets wait and see. Athough there is a good chance you are correct.

Edit: maybe the reasoning is easy. Even today, stores get a discount when buying things from their distributer. So maybe as a crafter you get that too. At least in lands where this is common.

But that explanation only makes sense if you’re buying from a store that you supply.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I still think, there are many situatiins where you don't play out shopping. I bet there are downtime rules for that. In those cases, the rule makes a lot of sense.
I would not use it in roleplaying encounters. Otherwise it would go:

PC: "I am a crafter, I get 20% discount."
Shopkeeper: "No problem, the prices just went up 25%."

And you don't think that dialogue sounds ridiculous?

 

[mellored]

I disagree. Even during downtime it’s too broad. It’d be one thing if it applied to a certain settlement or certain faction or something, but a universal discount doesn’t compute to me.

You spend years as blacksmith haggling over the price of iron and horseshoes. And have gotten good at negotiations.

All of your examples are actions the PC takes in the world. The discount is not. This has been explained in this thread more than once already.

Explain how purchasing an item is NOT an action PCs takes in the world?

How would they get a shovel if they did not take any actions?