D&D 5E Legends & Lore 8/4/14: Here Comes the Player's Handbook

[Kobold Stew]

"swap out one tool or skill for another without messing anything up"

I'm a little suspicious of this, frankly, and think it will likely slip easily into game-creaking gimmicks. .

1. It can't be saying you can swap a skill for a tool (or, more regularly, the reverse) -- it has to mean skill for skill, tool for tool. I don't see many characters hesitating to lose their artificer's tools to get, well, proficiency in any skill in the game. I understands some tools are effectively skills -- Thieves tools. But "gaming set" and "musical instrument" simply don't measure up.

2. I suspect it also has to be "when talking about backgrounds": if the Bard still ends up giving tool proficiencies in three instruments, you shouldn't be able to instantly lose two of them and take poison and disguise (for example).

that's my take.

 

[The Hitcher]

I got rid of my shell,
Learned Arcane spells
And now I roam the seabed
With my Fighter/Snail pal.

...

 

[The Hitcher]

"swap out one tool or skill for another without messing anything up"

I'm a little suspicious of this, frankly, and think it will likely slip easily into game-creaking gimmicks. .

1. It can't be saying you can swap a skill for a tool (or, more regularly, the reverse) -- it has to mean skill for skill, tool for tool. I don't see many characters hesitating to lose their artificer's tools to get, well, proficiency in any skill in the game. I understands some tools are effectively skills -- Thieves tools. But "gaming set" and "musical instrument" simply don't measure up.

2. I suspect it also has to be "when talking about backgrounds": if the Bard still ends up giving tool proficiencies in three instruments, you shouldn't be able to instantly lose two of them and take poison and disguise (for example).

that's my take.

Yep and yep. All of that is already stated in Basic (p. 36).

 

[Atomo]

I bet the ancient gold dragon benefit is that you have a old brother that breath... ahem... spank that ones bullying with you at school

 

[Ichneumon]

The Gold Dragon, Ancient background had better be there.

Or I'll have to /ragequit.

 

[Henry]

5E, the sea creature edition of D&D

I got my shell, I used to be a Hermit, but now I have learned arcane spells and I'm Wizard and I've never looked back

View attachment 63298

"Is that you, Mr. Crabs? Patrick said you'd gotten a fancy new house, but I had no idea it was THAT fancy!"

 

[Patrick McGill]

Luciender over at the Wizard's forums took the idea for Ancient Gold Dragon and ran with it quite effectively. Transcribed from here:

Because of that "red herring", I had to do this. DMs, feel free to change starting equipment as you see fit, lol. And yes I know the altered feature gives a bit of a boost over the original. Take as is, or come up with something better.

Background: Ancient Dragon
You are not the race you appear to be. Contrary to what any others might think, you are an ancient dragon, trapped in your current form. As such, you have centuries of knowledge on which to draw, yet are limited by the primitive mind of the form you now inhabit. Whatever force has imprisoned you in a body not your own also denies you access to the natural abilities, both magical and mundane, that you normally possess. Completely cut off from your draconic heritage, you must learn to navigate the world as one of the fragile creatures that would run screaming if they knew your true nature.

Skill Proficiences: History, and one other of your choice.
Languages: Draconic, and one other of your choice.
Equipment: A set of fine clothes, a pouch containing 30 gold and 5 semi precious gems worth 20 gold each (all you could grab from your hoard after you were transformed).

Dragon Type: Choose one, or Roll 1d10 on the following table for the type of dragon you really are.

1.) Red
2.) Silver
3.) Black
4.) Bronze
5.) White
6.) Gold
7.) Blue
8.) Copper
9.) Green
10.) Brass

Feature: Draconic Recollection (Researcher modified).When you attempt to learn or recall a piece of lore, if you do not know that information, you often know where and from whom you can obtain it. Usually, this information comes from a library, scriptorium, university, or a sage or other learned person or creature. Your DM might rule that the knowledge you seek is secreted away in an almost inaccessible place, or that it simply cannot be found. Unearthing the deepest secrets of the multiverse can require an adventure or even a whole campaign. If the information you are attempting to recall is related to dragons, you may spend four hours meditating on your ancient past, and then attempt to recall it once more, with advantage. You may do this only once for any single piece of lore.

 

[variant]

Luciender over at the Wizard's forums took the idea for Ancient Gold Dragon and ran with it quite effectively. Transcribed from here:

Would be a great background for a sorcerer or warlock without a patron at all.

 

[TheWriterFantastic™]

I, for one, cannot wait to play a character with the "Gold Dragon, Ancient" background -- I expect his Bond and Flaw will both be "Treasure, Any."

 

[Plaguescarred]

Looks good to me. I like that you can easily swap skill or tool proficiencies to tailor it even more!


My only gripe is that there are not enought Backgrounds to my taste. I WANT MORE already!!