D&D (2024) Is anyone going to use the new 2024 backgrounds?

[Corinnguard]

What is the 2024 background for raised as an adventurer?

Take Your Kid Adventuring Day.

 

[mamba]

As for Scholar, it is not one of the 2024 backgrounds, so that is not a good example to use. If you want to build a scholar you need to use a custom background.

it’s about the principle, not the individual example. I did not check what backgrounds there are or what ASIs they get

In any case, sailor on a Longboat is not climbing rigging at all, and neither is a sailor on many of the Spelljammers or a dozen other examples I could use that background for. Further, I don't know what the 3 abilities for a sailor are, but it is a safe bet I can certainly come up with an example that would have warranted other abilities or other feats.

so what? unless it is a better example (and by better I mean one that is widely accepted as being more representative of the background) that does not matter

If for whatever reason you were a sailor on a ship with no rigging (and that is an important fact rather than you being ‘difficult’ to make a point), then pick a different background that makes more sense (including creating a custom one) or find an explanation that does work

 

[Yaarel]

I am waiting to see the full rules.

So far I am leaning toward going with the 2024 backgrounds, and allowing ability, skill-tool, and feat swaps for players who care.

I am happy to allow a player to customize a new background, but that means I need to figure out a place to put it in the setting.

I assume the DMs Guide will give advice for customizing a background.

 

[ECMO3]

Okay. No cookie cutter background, just the customize background option for everyone then. That way everyone will be required to think about what background they want their character to have.

Well you can keep the story elements if you want it to be easy and then just let the PCs pick the ASIs and Feat.

Putting the ASIs into the backgrounds is very similar to putting the ASIs in the races, and there is a reason we went away from that.

I should be able to make a high-intelligence Sailor just like I can make a high-Intelligence Orc.

 

[ECMO3]

it’s about the principle, not the individual example. I did not check what backgrounds there are or what ASIs they get

But it is. If you are in a game that only uses the 2024 backgrounds then Scholar can't be your background. It is not an available choice. It is like saying you want to play a Swordmage or a Gnoll character. It is not an option.

You can always play Criminal though if that has what you think you want for a Scholar ..... and that is the problem.

so what? unless it is a better example (and by better I mean one that is widely accepted as being more representative of the background) that does not matter

Because I have strength from climbing rigging that did not exist on the boats I sailed on? That makes no sense.

If for whatever reason you were a sailor on a ship with no rigging (and that is an important fact rather than you being ‘difficult’ to make a point),
then pick a different background that makes more sense (including creating a custom one) or find an explanation that does work

There are numerous sailors who do not sail ships with rigging, fishermen, riverboats ..... and the point is in the example I gave no other background makes more sense.

I spent my younger years sailing with my father on his charter, taking rich people on rides .... so I am going to choose the Soldier background? That makes no sense at all.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well you can keep the story elements if you want it to be easy and then just let the PCs pick the ASIs and Feat.

Putting the ASIs into the backgrounds is very similar to putting the ASIs in the races, and there is a reason we went away from that.

I should be able to make a high-intelligence Sailor just like I can make a high-Intelligence Orc.

You don't need an Int bonus to make a high Int character.

 

[Valetudo]

I allow custom backgrounds. None of my players have used it.

 

[ECMO3]

You don't need an Int bonus to make a high Int character.

It depends on your rolls, but regardless of rolls, a character with an Intelligence bonus will always have a higher intelligence than one without a bonus. If we are supposed to tie the ability bonuses to a story element, then it should be the story, not to the background.

I mean we could argue that there should be no bonuses at all or no feats at 1st level and I would be ok with that, but if we have them they should not be mechanically restricted by your race or class or the background you pick or any other mechanical element you choose for your character.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It depends on your rolls, but regardless of rolls, a character with an Intelligence bonus will always have a higher intelligence than one without a bonus. If we are supposed to tie the ability bonuses to a story element, then it should be the story, not to the background.

I mean we could argue that there should be no bonuses at all or no feats at 1st level and I would be ok with that, but if we have them they should not be mechanically restricted by your race or class or the background you pick or any other mechanical element you choose for your character.

I'm not interested in mechanics associated with story elements, only setting ones. And you said you wanted to make a high intelligence sailor, not the highest intelligence the game allows. Those are different things.

 

[ECMO3]

I'm not interested in mechanics associated with story elements, only setting ones. And you said you wanted to make a high intelligence sailor, not the highest intelligence the game allows. Those are different things.

The highest that my rolls allow more specifically. But if I can't make a Sailor with an intelligence bonus why even have the bonuses at all?