D&D 5E Drudge, a magical laborer background - advice sought

[bedir than]

@Cap'n Kobold I expected critique and pushback on the cantrips and background feature (it's going to get dialed back).

I did not expect someone to claim that farming doesn't require skill.

 

[Faolyn]

So far, all the tool sets are things that could also be used to benefit adventuring PCs in some way. How could Farmer's Tools help a PC? As an example, XGE says that proficiency in Cobbler's Tools can help people identify how shoes were damaged, could be used to help identify magical shoes, can be used to make comfortable shoes that help to prevent exhaustion on long hikes, etc.

That being said, cantrips should not be part of a background. Backgrounds don't give abilities like that, nor are they stand-ins for feats.

 

[Greenstone.Walker]

I did not expect someone to claim that farming doesn't require skill.

I read it as "drudge labour doesn't require a skill."

Which I agree with.

 

[bedir than]

How could Farmer's Tools help a PC?

There are four examples given at the link.

One simple one: Farmer's tend to know the weather.
Another: Traveling through a land you would be likely to know the culture or race based on the local crops

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

There are four examples given at the link.

One simple one: Farmer's tend to know the weather.
Another: Traveling through a land you would be likely to know the culture or race based on the local crops

That doesn't seem like tool use, but knowledge. And both of those examples could be covered under existing skill proficiencies.

 

[bedir than]

They're mimicking the uses of Tools from Xanathar's. A vast majority of the tool uses described there are things that combine with specific skills.

That doesn't seem like tool use, but knowledge. And both of those examples could be covered under existing skill proficiencies.

 

[bedir than]

2. The Feature is incredibly powerful, allowing players to overcome one of the biggest challenges in the edition. Features tend to give NARRATIVE benefits, not mechanical ones as here.

The feature took a shift away from things related to exhaustion, and instead into the idea that every tool can be a hammer.

Feature: This Will Work

Over the years you've learned that anything can be a hammer, or a shovel, or well, what you need. When you don't have the tool or mundane item designed for the job you are usually able to find something else that will work for it - maybe it's a rock, a brick, a busted up board, or something from someone else's pack. An imperfect tool is better than no tool at all.