D&D 5E Questions about the noble background ability Retainers

[TrueBagelMan]

Just to clarify, the character I’m playing ran away because he was trying to be killed and met people along the way of different races that were misfits like him. Those people became the “retainers”.

 

[TrueBagelMan]

I see background ability’s as something to build off. For example Bad Reputation could mean you know how mess with a persons head and get away with minor crimes.

 

[bedir than]

Just to clarify, the character I’m playing ran away because he was trying to be killed and met people along the way of different races that were misfits like him. Those people became the “retainers”.

This doesn't read like why a noble has retainers, and not much like a noble.

 

[Li Shenron]

Retainers is a variant background feature, so its inclusion is at the DM’s discretion to begin with, AL or not.

Personally, I would be inclined to allow it, but would generally expect the retainers to be the same race as the PC to whose family they’re loyal.

I would do the same but I would not apply all PHB racial features necessarily. Those are meant for PCs certainly, but not mandatory for NPCs.

I would not likely let the player choose retainers races in order to get more benefits than intended.

 

[TrueBagelMan]

I would apply at least traits like Darkvision and trance. It wouldn’t make any sense if an elf didn’t have those at bare minimum.

 

[Enevhar Aldarion]

Retainers are fluff and do not even have HP, and in AL play, they will also not go into dungeons with you or into combat, as of the last time I did anything with AL games.

 

[Charlaquin]

Yes, a commoner of a particular race has the racial features of that race. For example, a human commoner typically has 11in all of its ability scores rather than 10.

I don’t think that’s true. The DM can certainly modify NPC stat blocks in this way, but it’s not the default.

 

[TrueBagelMan]

What are the uses of retainers then? All I can think of is they can carry an extra 450 pounds and keep watch during a long rest. Also they can help you put on and take off armor in half the time. That’s it that I can think off if they don’t gain racial traits.

 

[TrueBagelMan]

Polishing armor and such doesn’t do anything in game. I think.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

Retainers are fluff and do not even have HP, and in AL play, they will also not go into dungeons with you or into combat, as of the last time I did anything with AL games.

Don't they use the Commoner statblock (or if you're a Knight, one of them has the Noble statblock)? Those have HP.