D&D 5E Jeremy Crawford Discusses Details on Custom Origins

[Parmandur]

So, pretty good discussion of the custom lineages in Tasha's here. Crawford explains the balance concerns around Mountain Dwarves +2's (TL,DR: it's fine), confirms that what we see in the AL document is the bulk of what we are getting.

Interestingly, he confirmed the details the new "custom lineages" option, which is pretty similar to the Variant Human:

• You get a +2 to place where you wish
• Choose between darkvision or one proficiency
• Pick a Feat

 

[ChaosOS]

Good stuff, I'm a fan.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The reasoning is good.
It is good to hear, that stat bonuses only rarely are there for balance concerns. I still think, the mountain dwarf only deserved the +2 str because of the combination with the armkr proficiency. I still think, swapping every tool and or weapon for something different is a bit too much in some cases.
But that is where the DM comes into play and can veto certain options. I still hoped for more guidelines for such vetos, but in the end, it does not really matter.

On a different note though, i could see swapping the soldier gaming set proficiency for a single simple weapon proficiency. That could also allow for a few more nice variants.

 

[DnD Warlord]

Ugh... I was so honoring for something more.
I am currently playing a human (variant) who is a warlock of Baba Yaga who was once a soldier who died and she brought her back to life changed.

I was hoping I could make a reverent feeling character. I guess not.

I also had hoped to make a deva (4e) like character that was the 12th renincarnation of a character.

if +2 to a stat a feat and dark vision is it that is so lame. I mean look at drow they get 3 spell like abilities over a few levels let us build THAT kind of feature.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

Its a little dull, but it works well and gets the job done, so I'm good with it.

I hoped for something similar to XGtE's ''Its your life'' generator, but that gave you stats in addition to your background informations,

Oh well...

 

[DnD Warlord]

So one of my players (who doesn’t come to forms) saw the video and asked me how many free skill/tools I think a mountain dwarf monk or mountain dwarf wizard is going to walk away with...

I can’t believe the wizard would not want the armor. But the monk I would say it looks good.
Dwarves get 4 weapons and a tool set already so that is 5. Mountain dwarf gets light and med armor so that is 7.

So you would get 7 “extra” profs

 

[Sir Brennen]

So one of my players (who doesn’t come to forms) saw the video and asked me how many free skill/tools I think a mountain dwarf monk or mountain dwarf wizard is going to walk away with...

I can’t believe the wizard would not want the armor. But the monk I would say it looks good.
Dwarves get 4 weapons and a tool set already so that is 5. Mountain dwarf gets light and med armor so that is 7.

So you would get 7 “extra” profs

Are you talking about ones you can swap per the Tasha rules, or that the character would get just for being a mountain dwarf?

Because there's nothing preventing you from being a straight PHB mountain dwarf monk or wizard today and getting all those proficiencies.

 

[DnD Warlord]

Are you talking about ones you can swap per the Tasha rules, or that the character would get just for being a mountain dwarf?

Because there's nothing preventing you from being a straight PHB mountain dwarf monk or wizard today and getting all those proficiencies.

I think since he brought up the sage advice video he meant to trade them all for skills.

Edit: yeah I just texted him back he is asking if I think he could trade them all in for any 7 skills/Tools.

he is looking for alchemy tools tinkerer tools theives tools and some extra skills. I also mid understood thinking he was making 2 characters 1 a monk and 1 a wizard. But it looks like he wants to make a monk/wizard

Edit2: now he is also asking if I think the book would let him trade other weapon profs from wizard class for skills

 

[Aaron L]

We've already been doing similar stuff for quite a while.
We allow every PC to have a Feat at 1st level to allow for greater character customization (and in compensation give all monsters the Tough Feat.)
Because of this we don't allow the Variant Human (no starting out with TWO Feats at 1st level.) Instead we created a Variant Variant Human that gives +1 to five stats (rather than all six) and one bonus Skill Proficiency, with the reasoning that, if giving up +1 to four stats gives one Skill Prof and a Feat, then the Feat must be equal to three +1s and the Skill Prof equal to one +1 (because one Skill Prof and one Feat are definitely not of equal value, so one has to be worth more than the other.)

It's worked out just fine.

I really don't see why anyone actually needed rules like this, but I suppose if someone just desperately needs to play, say, a Half-Elf/Half-Dwarf (ugh) and have them be mechanically distinct, then they can do this... even though I myself would just use the mechanics of a Dwarf.

 

[jmartkdr2]

We've already been doing similar stuff for quite a while.
We allow every PC to have a Feat at 1st level to allow for greater character customization (and in compensation give all monsters the Tough Feat.)
Because of this we don't allow the Variant Human (no starting out with TWO Feats at 1st level.) Instead we created a Variant Variant Human that gives +1 to five stats (rather than all six) and one bonus Skill Proficiency, with the reasoning that, if giving up +1 to four stats gives one Skill Prof and a Feat, then the Feat must be equal to three +1s and the Skill Prof equal to one +1 (because one Skill Prof and one Feat are definitely not of equal value, so one has to be worth more than the other.)

It's worked out just fine.

I really don't see why anyone actually needed rules like this, but I suppose if someone just desperately needs to play, say, a Half-Elf/Half-Dwarf (ugh) and have them be mechanically distinct, then they can do this... even though I myself would just use the mechanics of a Dwarf.

The "need" is for situations where dm's are sticklers for only doing stuff allowed in the books - which is usually when you're not playing with the same people every week. (Or especially: when you aren't playing with the same dm every session.) AL, open-table games, West Marches, etc have a need to keep rules clear and consistent, so just houseruling to deal with special cases isn't a sustainable option. This book would add a bunch of pre-defined customization points to work from.