D&D 5E Do you use/allow custom backgrounds?

[Sunseeker]

I honestly don't pay that much attention to backgrounds, so if someone came to me and felt a custom one would help flesh out their character, I'd probably jump right on board with that.

 

[ccs]

Yes.

 

[iserith]

In my current campaign, no. I use the set backgrounds for particular mechanics that grant advantages to PCs with the appropriate background for a given task. An Urchin might get advantage on checks to uncover useful locations in the city, for example. A Criminal might get a discount on goods and services in a seedy tavern that caters to thieves and the like. It makes sense in this particular city-based campaign I'm running, but I would probably encourage custom backgrounds otherwise.

 

[Azzy]

Yep.

 

[Ed Laprade]

I not only allow it, I encourage it. But so far no one has bothered, except to switch one thing out for something that fits the character better.

 

[77IM]

Custom backgrounds? Definitely. Custom features? Well, it has never come up, but I'd probably allow custom features that were fairly similar to the existing features.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

As a player, it wouldn't occur to me to ask the DM for permission to customize my background. It's a core rule.

 

[Li Shenron]

The first page of backgrounds in the 5e phb allow for customising a background with simple steps:

1. pick 2 skills
2. pick 2 tool proficiencies and/or languages
3. choose an existing background feature from the phb

How many of you use this in your games? The last point in particular seems like itd be a great way to anchor the pcs into a campaign world. Theyre not a guild artisan, theyre a qaarthian desert nomad spice trader, not a sailor but a dishonourably discharged former member of the red keep guard, etc.

I ask as I'm not much of a fan of the options in the phb as i find them quite bland, but i also think it's an option tha t can open up a great dialogue between player and gm.

I've allowed the option since the start. I have many times used it myself as a DM when designing pre-generated characters.

Once you allow the option, there is no reason for not actually just let a player pick a PHB background and freely swap any proficiency she doesn't like.

 

[Li Shenron]

If they can make it make sense and not be just a way to grab free skills that aren't on their class list, sure they can go for it.

Not sure if you remember the playtest years, but backgrounds were introduced to 5e exactly as a way to grab skills that aren't on your class list.

 

[The Crimson Binome]

How many of you use this in your games? The last point in particular seems like itd be a great way to anchor the pcs into a campaign world.

The last point, in particular, doesn't actually do anything. It's just formal declaration that NPCs will acknowledge you to be who you say you are. The "feature" of the Noble background is that you are a noble and people will treat you like a noble.

If none of the backgrounds in the book fit your character concept, then pick two skills and two tools/languages, and your "feature" is that people will treat you in accordance with who you are. If you want to customize your background by taking a different feature that doesn't fit - if you want to be a noble, but have everyone treat you like an acolyte, even though you're just a noble and there's nothing whatsoever about your character concept that suggests why they should do that - then I will ignore you.