CapnZapp
Legend
Sorry, but you're leaping to conclusions here.But the PHB allows for the creation of any background that can be imagined. If your players are as creative and system-manipulative as you suggest, won't they just come up with a new background that still gives them what they want?
Again, I think Rule Zero "grown-up talk", where needs are expressed and everyone agrees to play in good faith, is such a hugely beneficial first step. It cuts out a lot of this end-around extra work, IMX.
Picking an existing background with an eye towards your class skills is one thing; completely abusing the offer to come up with your own background is another.
There is no need to assume the latter just because of the former, so let's not go where you just went - that is, accusing my players of having to grow up.
There is no "extra work", as in, I am not Reduxing to try to close off every avenue of abuse.
But saying "since we can't close off every abuse, we should not even try to improve the rules as written" is not a logical argument.
Just because there are still ways to abuse freedoms does not mean
1) that they will be
or
2) that it lacks value to plug up obvious holes in the rules.
The rules have definite deficiences. But the ability to create new backgrounds is not one of them.
What I want is a ruleset where printed options can be used without DM approval. Creating entirely new features (backgrounds, feats, classes etc) comes with automatic DM supervision so those aren't a problem. Things you're supposed to be able to just take and use (like GWM) is.
So I want to fix the latter category without having to discuss the former. Thanks.