D&D (2024) The New Custom Backgrounds Details

[occam]

I don’t know if you have to purchase the DMG or not. I just know that the 2024 custom background rules won’t be implemented on DDB until the DMG is released. It’s possible they will be added to the free basic rules, as those are going to be updated when both the DMG and the MM come out.

I don't know where this story got started, but this is incorrect. You can homebrew 2024-style backgrounds on DDB right now, and have been able to since the revised PHB was released.

 

[Kobold Stew]

It also got rid of a real problem 2024 backgrounds have: proficiency overlap. A criminal rogue will have thieves' tools proficiency from two locations and be unable to swap one by RAW. They just end up with one less tool proficiency than every other rogue.

I disagree that this is a problem. Not everything needs to be optimal.

As written the 2024 backgrounds give a balance of skills, proficiency, feat, abilities able to be affected by ASI. It's not written as take whatever you want (the way it was in 2014), and this means there is much more to balance in the choice. If you want a given feat it might mean you don't have access to some skill. If you are a rouge who wants Alert, you might choose to take Criminal so that you can also boost your Dex. But that then means you get double proficiency in your tools. That is a consequence of optimizing for other aspects of the background. If you are a STR-based rogue, you can get Alert by having taken Guard, and that gives you Athletics and Perception (both awesome skills on any character) , but you end up with a gaming tool proficiency which might never see play. The choice is yours.

The more I think about it, the more I like it: for new players, it gives a clear suite of related abilities that are easy to group together. for advanced players, balancing these different qualities requires a more thoughtful engagement than simply picking the best things that you want.

I know the DMG rules will change this. But, I'll say, it makes sense to me that one feat (Magic Initiate: Wizard) is paired with a background that allows you to boost Intelligence. You don't need to, but there exists an internal logic to that pairing that would be absent in a background that gave you, say:

MI: Wizard;
DEX, CHA, CON;
Thieves' tools,
Athletics and Perception.

That's a background that would work on many characters I might want to play, but I see why it shouldn't necessarily be made available to me all the time.

 

[Parmandur]

I don't know where this story got started, but this is incorrect. You can homebrew 2024-style backgrounds on DDB right now, and have been able to since the revised PHB was released.

I don't think k thst it is a rumor, but that @pukunui is speaking from experience.

How do you do custom Backgroujds on Beyond, if you donmind replicating the steps to ease communication? (I don't use it myself, so I don't know)

 

[occam]

I don't think k thst it is a rumor, but that @pukunui is speaking from experience.

How do you do custom Backgroujds on Beyond, if you donmind replicating the steps to ease communication? (I don't use it myself, so I don't know)

Go to Collections, under Homebrew click on Create Background, and under "Use an existing background as a template", select one of the 2024 backgrounds. Then change whatever you want and save it. If you have Homebrew enabled as a source when creating a PC, you can then select a new background you created, or one that your DM has created if you're creating a PC as part of a Campaign.

 

[Parmandur]

Go to Collections, under Homebrew click on Create Background, and under "Use an existing background as a template", select one of the 2024 backgrounds. Then change whatever you want and save it. If you have Homebrew enabled as a source when creating a PC, you can then select a new background you created, or one that your DM has created if you're creating a PC as part of a Campaign.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Nothing in the PHB tells players to talk to the DM about customizing backgrounds.

PHB p. 36:

"You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in Chapter 4, and your DM might offer additional backgrounds as options."

Basically, "Hey DM, do you offer additional backgrounds?" "Sure, the DMG has the rules for creating them! Let's go customize one for you..."

 

[Mistwell]

I don't think k thst it is a rumor, but that @pukunui is speaking from experience.

How do you do custom Backgroujds on Beyond, if you donmind replicating the steps to ease communication? (I don't use it myself, so I don't know)

I just tried it, and it appeared to be some weird mess between 2014 and 2024 rules for a custom background. Even though I had 2024 active and 2014 off. I suspect "custom background" is right now a 2014-only rule until DMG is released, so turning "custom background" on automatically pulls up the 2014 custom options.

 

[Parmandur]

I just tried it, and it appeared to be some weird mess between 2014 and 2024 rules for a custom background. Even though I had 2024 active and 2014 off. I suspect "custom background" is right now a 2014-only rule until DMG is released, so turning "custom background" on automatically pulls up the 2014 custom options.

Yeah, I am getting the impression that this is, at best, a problem with the App interface interface design, since posters here who are smart are experiencing trouble.

 

[Epic Meepo]

PHB p. 36:

"You can choose any of the backgrounds detailed in Chapter 4, and your DM might offer additional backgrounds as options."

Basically, "Hey DM, do you offer additional backgrounds?" "Sure, the DMG has the rules for creating them! Let's go customize one for you..."

That's not text encouraging players to collaborate with the DM to create custom backgrounds. That's text encouraging players to ask the DM what background options the DM offers. There's no rule suggesting the DM make custom backgrounds available by default the way the DM in your hypothetical conversation does.

Compare that situation to the situation in the 2014, when the PHB had explicit rules for players customizing the game mechanics of their backgrounds, without having to ask the DM for permission. Custom backgrounds were a default part of the character creation process described in the 2014 PHB. The 2024 PHB doesn't even mention that it's possible to customize a background.

 

[Oofta]

I just tried it, and it appeared to be some weird mess between 2014 and 2024 rules for a custom background. Even though I had 2024 active and 2014 off. I suspect "custom background" is right now a 2014-only rule until DMG is released, so turning "custom background" on automatically pulls up the 2014 custom options.

You have to set it up as a homebrew background. I thought there were instructions above? I won't be back online until morning (I don't want to futz with it on my phone) but a friend showed me how to set it up and it works fine.

EDIT: stupid auto finish.