D&D (2024) Just drop the backgrounds.

[Parmandur]

Not for me. That is relentlessly gamist.

Not necessarily. "I want to be Aragorn!" or "I want to be Robin Hood!" or "I want to be Merlin!" are not gamist takes, but thsthow I see people go about conceptualizing their characters. D&D is a Class based system, not a life path system.

 

[Yaarel]

In the same way that cantrips and other spells come with an "At Higher Levels" mechanic. The race should to.

For example, a race like Dragon can be able to fly at higher level. Such as shedding skin like a snake and emerging in a new form with wings (such as eaglelike or batlike). An Ardling-Aasimar might gain permanent flight at higher levels.

An Elf might swap its (choice of) lower level spells for a higher one instead.

A Dwarf might be able to phase thru earth at-will at higher levels.



I also want to see the background with stuff to do at higher levels. But in this case, I am looking specifically at levels 9 to 12, when acquiring a fortress, magic school, sacred community, thieves guild, even starting a business, or so on.

 

[Charlaquin]

That's what the document says, but it also makes sense from a character creation perspective rather than a biography perspective: the Class is the main source of powers and abilities for a character, the archetype in play. I actually usually think "Idlike to try a Wizard, or maybe a Fighter" before Race selection, and it makes sense that WotC may have found people usually are doing that.

The only time I choose race first is when I don’t already have a character concept in mind and want to generate one randomly. Then I’ll pick a race, assign the ASIs to the most typical selection for that race, roll scores in order, and pick a class that suits what I rolled. But it’s not often I go that route because between the campaign pitch and the other players’ characters I usually have enough of a starting point to build a character more intentionally

 

[niklinna]

I'm actually thinking the opposite - with customisable backgrounds and a selection of level dependent feats why bother to have Classes?

Just turn everything into a Customisable Background

Classes are one of the Things That Make D&D, D&D.

I'm no fan of them myself, especially since the whole paradigm reduces character creation to a menu of approved choices in the form of package deals, but that seems to be what's popular. Then again, there seem to be multiple thriving homebrew movements, so I guess it all works out, especially if your DM is cool with that.

 

[Corinnguard]

Backgrounds in A5e aren't just useful for the player to pick up. They're also useful to the Narrator thanks to each Background's list of Connections and Mementos. Does the character with this background have a lover, a mentor or a rival? The narrator could use it to make one of the NPCs be that person. Does that character have a particular memento? Maybe it's the item that the party's enemies are looking for, for some mysterious reason. Or maybe it's the much sought after key the party needs to reactivate a long dormant magic portal.

Backgrounds are a much needed story element, as are Heritage, Culture and Destiny.

 

[Parmandur]

The only time I choose race first is when I don’t already have a character concept in mind and want to generate one randomly. Then I’ll pick a race, assign the ASIs to the most typical selection for that race, roll scores in order, and pick a class that suits what I rolled. But it’s not often I go that route because between the campaign pitch and the other players’ characters I usually have enough of a starting point to build a character more intentionally

I think a random life path style system, as seen in Xanathar's and the Wildemount Guide, is really cool. Amd using a method like that, obviously heritage and background comes first. But in terms of priority for a careful design of a character, D&D as set up makes Class more of a priority.

 

[Lojaan]

Backgrounds in A5e aren't just useful for the player to pick up. They're also useful to the Narrator thanks to each Background's list of Connections and Mementos. Does the character with this background have a lover, a mentor or a rival? The narrator could use it to make one of the NPCs be that person. Does that character have a particular memento? Maybe it's the item that the party's enemies are looking for, for some mysterious reason. Or maybe it's the much sought after key the party needs to reactivate a long dormant magic portal.

Backgrounds are a much needed story element, as are Heritage, Culture and Destiny.

ASI should be in class. Where you grew up should in never determine what you can be.

Besides, who cares if you spent your early years as a <insert whatever>. You spend 2 years at fighter school you gonna get buff. You go to wizard school? If you survive, you going to come out smarter than you went in etc...

 

[Corinnguard]

ASI should be in class. Where you grew up should in never determine what you can be.

Besides, who cares if you spent your early years as a <insert whatever>. You spend 2 years at fighter school you gonna get buff. You go to wizard school? If you survive, you going to come out smarter than you went in etc...

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to do it all when it comes ASIs. You get ASIs from your ancestry, your background and your class at 1st level.

 

[niklinna]

Pathfinder 2nd edition tries to do it all when it comes ASIs. You get ASIs from your ancestry, your background and your class at 1st level.

It also has what @Yaarel brought up, in approch if not specifics.

In the same way that cantrips and other spells come with an "At Higher Levels" mechanic. The race should to.

For example, a race like Dragon can be able to fly at higher level. Such as shedding skin like a snake and emerging in a new form with wings (such as eaglelike or batlike). An Ardling-Aasimar might gain permanent flight at higher levels.

An Elf might swap its (choice of) lower level spells for a higher one instead.

A Dwarf might be able to phase thru earth at-will at higher levels.

I also want to see the background with stuff to do at higher levels. But in this case, I am looking specifically at levels 9 to 12, when acquiring a fortress, magic school, sacred community, thieves guild, even starting a business, or so on.

Looks like Pathfinder 2 does it all! The only problem is your character can't. So many feats, so few slots.

 

[Corinnguard]

It also has what @Yaarel brought up, in approch if not specifics.

Looks like Pathfinder 2 does it all! The only problem is your character can't. So many feats, so few slots.

It's why Pathfinder 2 also goes by the nickname, Featfinder. There are feats for just about everything in Pathfinder 2.