D&D (2024) The New Custom Backgrounds Details

[Horwath]

I have a feeling that somewhere well above 90% of DMs are going to just go "Sure!" when asked by a player about making a custom background anyway, so for most tables, it's likely to be moot anyway.

this, maybe even more than 90%, as I said, they wasted 9 pages of PHB that could have been used better for other thing.

 

[Minigiant]

I have a feeling that somewhere well above 90% of DMs are going to just go "Sure!" when asked by a player about making a custom background anyway, so for most tables, it's likely to be moot anyway.

It's in the DMG because there is that 10% of players who will customize a background outside the power range of the rest of the party.

Best to have the core rule to have everyone on rails and tell DMs how to take hem off.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

It's in the DMG because there is that 10% of players who will customize a background outside the power range of the rest of the party.

True.

Also, so WotC can sell the myriad of products containing new official backgrounds which will no doubt appear over the next couple of years to players.

 

[Minigiant]

True.

Also, so WotC can sell the myriad of products containing new official backgrounds which will no doubt appear over the next couple of years to players.

That too.

Each new book could come out with a new origin feat and ASI combo.

Like Dungeon Delver could be rebalanced and added to an Indiana Jonesesque Explorer backguard. with Dexterity Intelligence Charisma ASI bumps.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I have a feeling that somewhere well above 90% of DMs are going to just go "Sure!" when asked by a player about making a custom background anyway, so for most tables, it's likely to be moot anyway.

It's just giving the DM the right to veto anything they consider unsuitable.

"My Space Marine Background comes will power armour and a chainsword".

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Like Dungeon Delver could be rebalanced and added to an Indiana Jonesesque Explorer backguard. with Dexterity Intelligence Charisma ASI bumps.

Technically, that would be a revamped old background. There is an Indiana Jones inspired Archaeologist background in ToA.

 

[Minigiant]

Technically, that would be a revamped old background. There is an Indiana Jones inspired Archaeologist background in ToA.

So are the other backguard.

The new part is the feat converted to an origin feat.

 

[Horwath]

It's in the DMG because there is that 10% of players who will customize a background outside the power range of the rest of the party.

Best to have the core rule to have everyone on rails and tell DMs how to take hem off.

please, how can a choice of origin feat, 2 skills, ASIs and tool be outside power range of any background printed?

PHB2024 are worse part of the book and honestly a waste of printing space, we could have gotten artificer for that page count.

and people will take backgrounds for mechanics they give and not what backgrounds should be, RP ideas and flavor.

 

[Minigiant]

please, how can a choice of origin feat, 2 skills, ASIs and tool be outside power range of any background printed?

PHB2024 are worse part of the book and honestly a waste of printing space, we could have gotten artificer for that page count.

and people will take backgrounds for mechanics they give and not what backgrounds should be, RP ideas and flavor.

The power difference between someone who that's purposely suboptimal and purposely optional in custom background is noticeable at low levels.

So you should have base options so a newbie doesn't take INT WIS CHA and Caster on their fighter.

Sometimes you have to think about new players.

 

[Horwath]

The power difference between someone who that's purposely suboptimal and purposely optional in custom background is noticeable at low levels.

So you should have base options so a newbie doesn't take INT WIS CHA and Caster on their fighter.

Sometimes you have to think about new players.

ok, then make Custom background default and later put in few suggestion. with advice that some if not all suggestions can be tweaked.

Honestly best class description was in 3/3.5e
every class came with one or two feat suggestion and what skills to take at 1st level.