Hello, I'm another returnee to D&D 
I got really sick of 4E/D20 at end of my Ptolus 4E campaign, I was tired of it already when 4 heroes eliminated a 11 levels higher solo (was supposed to be a situation to be handled with negotiation) with few resources, some of the characters left at full HP... I was hesitant of 5E initially but have now gotten PHB & DMG, and MM is on the way! In the meantime, I've run Savage Worlds games and like the system a lot, and will surely return to it later - in fact I really love it's Plot point mechanic and would be happy to find a D&D Plot point campaign (for those not familiar with PP's, they are somewhere between sandbox and scripted campaign).
To the topic - I'm curious how you are using backgrounds and their tables. I really like rolling on the tables randomly, but with a backdoor. Getting a result you didn't think of initially forces you to broaden your mind and may create really enjoyable character concepts, but there's always a chance for a really unfitting result so I allow my players to change the result if they wish. I also believe the background table options start to repeat themselves at some point, so eventually people will need to start inventing new ones or modifying existing options. And backgrounds might not fit well career changes, eg. former Charlatan becoming a Paladin, so mixing these should be allowed - perhaps taking mechanical benefits from Charlatan background and rolling on ideals and other tables from Acolyte would work well.
Another thing, I'm starting a game where players are located in a small area, mainly a village and a city near it. I'm thinking of creating some character ties mechanic, but I wonder if it should be a background or addition, where players could gain it during the game too. I'm thinking of giving players luck -like effect, usable per session (or between long rests?), times depending how involved the characters are in the location. Spouse, kids, business or other obligations, strong attitudes concerning the home village etc. increases amount of times these can be used, but will also give GM more tools to but characters in interesting situations. And these rolls could be used where player can justify he has a benefit for knowing the place he is in - using loose board distract an enemy invading his home, using a shortcut in a chase in the forest he regularly hunts in etc.
Thoughts? How would you do the area familiarity mechanic?
I got really sick of 4E/D20 at end of my Ptolus 4E campaign, I was tired of it already when 4 heroes eliminated a 11 levels higher solo (was supposed to be a situation to be handled with negotiation) with few resources, some of the characters left at full HP... I was hesitant of 5E initially but have now gotten PHB & DMG, and MM is on the way! In the meantime, I've run Savage Worlds games and like the system a lot, and will surely return to it later - in fact I really love it's Plot point mechanic and would be happy to find a D&D Plot point campaign (for those not familiar with PP's, they are somewhere between sandbox and scripted campaign).To the topic - I'm curious how you are using backgrounds and their tables. I really like rolling on the tables randomly, but with a backdoor. Getting a result you didn't think of initially forces you to broaden your mind and may create really enjoyable character concepts, but there's always a chance for a really unfitting result so I allow my players to change the result if they wish. I also believe the background table options start to repeat themselves at some point, so eventually people will need to start inventing new ones or modifying existing options. And backgrounds might not fit well career changes, eg. former Charlatan becoming a Paladin, so mixing these should be allowed - perhaps taking mechanical benefits from Charlatan background and rolling on ideals and other tables from Acolyte would work well.
Another thing, I'm starting a game where players are located in a small area, mainly a village and a city near it. I'm thinking of creating some character ties mechanic, but I wonder if it should be a background or addition, where players could gain it during the game too. I'm thinking of giving players luck -like effect, usable per session (or between long rests?), times depending how involved the characters are in the location. Spouse, kids, business or other obligations, strong attitudes concerning the home village etc. increases amount of times these can be used, but will also give GM more tools to but characters in interesting situations. And these rolls could be used where player can justify he has a benefit for knowing the place he is in - using loose board distract an enemy invading his home, using a shortcut in a chase in the forest he regularly hunts in etc.
Thoughts? How would you do the area familiarity mechanic?
