D&D (2024) Just drop the backgrounds.

[Azzy]

Realistically, you are born as a member of a particular race/heritage, you grow up in a particular culture, and you get a job/background. Then something comes along which can only be an act of destiny. The class you then pick up is the one you always wanted to be if it wasn't for that meddling background. "I wanted to be a Fighter, but my parents insisted that I had to be a lawyer...."

Realistically? Who cares? We're creating a fictional character. What aspect of character creation you choose to focus on first when coming up with a character concept is a matter of preference (that can differ from character to character). There is no right or wrong way here.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Realistically, you are born as a member of a particular race/heritage, you grow up in a particular culture, and you get a job/background. Then something comes along which can only be an act of destiny. The class you then pick up is the one you always wanted to be if it wasn't for that meddling background. "I wanted to be a Fighter, but my parents insisted that I had to be a lawyer...."

Yeah, sure. That's how the character's STORY tends to go, but it has pretty much nothing to do with how you build them. I mean, it's pretty weird that they start all grown up, too. Time is such a malleable thing when you're telling stories!

 

[Corinnguard]

In fiction, yea, but I don't see people make characters that way.

True. It's easier to pick a class, a background and then a race in 5e.

 

[Corinnguard]

In A5e, however, there is an attempt to make more of your character's origin before they picked up a class. While class is still important and still the first thing a player is likely to look at, I think A5e is trying to narrow the gap on how you build your character.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Realistically? Who cares? We're creating a fictional character. What aspect of character creation you choose to focus on first when coming up with a character concept is a matter of preference (that can differ from character to character). There is no right or wrong way here.

I agree, there's no right or wrong way. But that means my way is exactly as right as yours is. I care about "realism" as far as it goes. What I don't care about is how many people agree with me.

 

[Parmandur]

I agree, there's no right or wrong way. But that means my way is exactly as right as yours is. I care about "realism" as far as it goes. What I don't care about is how many people agree with me.

OK, but WotC has to care about the general user experience and accessibility.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I agree, there's no right or wrong way. But that means my way is exactly as right as yours is. I care about "realism" as far as it goes. What I don't care about is how many people agree with me.

I don't think anyone was trying to tell you that you do it "wrong", but you absolutely do it differently than (at least IME) most players do. I also believe (maybe I'm wrong) that you started this tangent by suggesting that WotC ought to push doing it your way. (I admit that if I'm mistaken, it's a common mistake when communicating by text).

I know that @Parmandur was only pointing out that WotC is likely trying to move toward the common method, and not away from it.

 

[Azzy]

I agree, there's no right or wrong way. But that means my way is exactly as right as yours is.

That's pretty much implied by what I said.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I agree, there's no right or wrong way. But that means my way is exactly as right as yours is. I care about "realism" as far as it goes. What I don't care about is how many people agree with me.

You said "who cares about realism" (paraphrased) that is a value judgement. I care. Having a character be created organically matters to me far more than slotting into the empty "melee fighter" space in the party.

 

[Parmandur]

You said "who cares about realism" (paraphrased) that is a value judgement. I care. Having a character be created organically matters to me far more than slotting into the empty "melee fighter" space in the party.

But why should WotC care about procedural "realism" over fitting the process to actually usage by most players...?