New Feats | Backgrounds | Species | 2024 Player's Handbook | D&D

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[@AunShiLord]

Funny, I like to create characters in reverse - to create a character concept at first and THEN decide which class fits better.

[@JKSSubstandard]

Same. But there's nothing stopping you from doing it that way.

[@AunShiLord]

Yeah, that is true

[@stephengreen6683]

I get a picture that inspires me, then work my way from there

[@garthodowd6846]

Same I work backwards from the end point.

[@astaroththedaeva9717]

Likewise. Almost all my characters start with a concept for a personality and whatnot before settling on a class.

[@MrHarryw87]

I’d be interested to watch a 2024 rule actual play from the D&D team… i feel like I pick up rules better when I’m watching them being enacted

[@TheBucketOfTruth]

Oh I'm sure they'll do this closer to the actual release

[@mattbriddell9246]

YES! One of the ways I picked up rules from 4th and 5th edition was watching/listening to the original Acq. Inc. series and I'd love to see a return to something like that.

[@tksje]

Not quite the same but this is very similar to the Pathfinder heritage system so might be worth looking at that .

[@dragonboyjgh]

If nothing else, I'd love to see how they've been playing monk so differently from most of the fanbase. Because they kept nerfing it from UA version, meaning they're worried about making it TOO powerful, but the general consensus among players is it's the weakest class. I trust the internal playtests to be accurate, but this means the majority of people are getting lackluster results from monk because they're playing it wrong. Personally, my guess is it has something to do with who you target in combat. I think monks might be designed to be anti-mage skirmishers, think Ty Lee from Avatar, but people keep trying to use them as frontliners that go toe-to-toe fisticuffs with the biggest guy in the room, like they're Goku or Luke Cage or VI.

[@AcePlaysTCGs]

I know Gen Con will be a month early, but that sounds like the perfect spot for a special 2024 rulebook preview one shot.

[@espinos13]

"Humans start off each day with heroic inspiration." I've never seen ego/hubris turned into a stat, but there it is.

[@chipmercury]

Humans: "I'm a genius!" Humans 5 seconds later: "OH NO!"

[@sketchyfox7368]

Indomitable human spirit

[@SophiaAphrodite]

They don't get a stat buff.

[@smugreptile6695]

@@SophiaAphrodite What was wrong with the plus one to everything?

[@GrandGoblin]

Hobgoblins have been here the whole time with the racial feat of "Clutch or kick."

[@ZachVahlia]

For years, I've felt that Backgrounds in 5e were the most undercooked system in the game. Most of the background abilities were useless so it more or less just ended up being how your PC gained two skill proficiencies. I'm really optimistic about the new Background system!

[@blackshard641]

Really wish they'd reworked them into being life paths, but I suppose they wanted to keep it minimalist.

[@LithmusEarth]

I mean, with create-your-own in the PHB, they have felt just moot altogether. Usually as the DM I just remove them. The most fun we had with them, was probably when we had to roll randomly on the origins tables I put together based on the everything book, xanathar's. @timhaldane7588

[@NageIfar]

I'm just annoyed that 5e pretends that your ASI choice can ever be driven by flavor and thus be a free choice no matter what class you are playing. It's a core design issue with the game, and while ASIs have been shifted from species to backgrounds, it's still the same old issue of the illusion of choice. It might make minor differences in Tier 1 play, but quickly loses all relevancy. 5e dictates maxing your main stat, requires high Con, and doesn't provide nearly enough ASIs to do anything interesting with attributes, and ALSO has them compete with Feats. Attributes don't give linear or diminishing returns but rather quadratic ones, and if an Attribute is low already, increasing it to catch up is always a waste, no exception (except for multiclassing i guess?). Enemy and challenge DCs increase more and more as you level, and your weaknesses grow in severity faster than you could ever hope to catch up. Proficiency bonus also grows, quickly making it 4 times (!!!!) more valuable than an ASI for e.g. Skill Checks. Other games solve this with diminishing returns, allowing you to actually choose between patching weaknesses or squeezing out maximum power. But beyond that, the game system requires you to plan your builds. No matter how often they pretend that isn't true, it's a fact that people who don't plan multiclassing in advance are basically screwed. ASIs are rare and valuable, and compete with the number 1 method of character customization (feats).

[@BuddhaMonkey7]

I think the old background abilities were meant to formalize the roleplay impact of a given background, allowing players to have associations and social advantages in a way that would be balanced and wouldn't be totally dependent on negotiation with the DM. That hasn't turned out to be the way people play, though -- instead, most players and DMs care more about the story they want to tell than about perks that might come with it, and no one is much worried about whether one player has more useful friends than another. Like most of 5e's bigger weaknesses, it comes down to the game not being played the way the designers expected.

[@FrankDrebbin-de3te]

Agree. In the original 5e playtest rules, backgrounds were very deep both in terms of mechanics and roleplaying. These new, expanded backgrounds are returning to the original ideas that were brushed aside for something simpler and less meaningful.

[@ryuutama8622]

Custom backgrounds should be part of the Players Handbook. Its great that the book has examples for newer players, but some of us would like to do more.

[@astutheit]

I mean, then just make one w/the DM's input for the campaign that falls in line with how they are currently making background in the new version.

[@WeaselSpanzor]

@@astutheit Exactly this, just because it's not in the core rule book (which could arguably make things more confusing for new players), doesn't mean you need to buy whatever sourcebook these options come from. Just work with the DM.

[@AunShiLord]

@@WeaselSpanzor it will be easier to work with the DM if the is some sourcematerial. Jeremy mentioned that this will be a part of DMG, but it will be nice for players to know about that "variant" rule.

[@TheDeadb3ar]

Custom backgrounds are handled in the new DMG. So we Gucci

[@astutheit]

@@TheDeadb3ar which won't be out till what, January right?

[@hexipo2352]

Pretty redundant for the statement to be “we don’t want species or backgrounds to constrict which classes are played alongside them” paraphrased - when that is still exactly what they’re doing

[@xiongray]

I definitely like the backgrounds being more prominent than before. I hope though that these are merely samples, retaining its accessibility to customize, mix & match ability scores, proficiencies & languages, and origin feat.

[@egrettacaerulea]

We recognize the council has made a decision, etc etc

[@ShurikenSean]

that was mentioned in the UA that they are sample feats and you could create your own just like in 2014 In this video they mentioned that the DMG has rules on making custom backgrounds, but think it should have been in the phb

[@SadBoi_1066]

that functionality is part of the game still, its just going ro be in the DMG, instead of the PHB.

[@outofideas42]

It sounds like the option to customise backgrounds has been made an optional rule that DMs can allow or not. I can understand why

[@CooperAATE]

He stated in the video that you could, the rules for it are in the DMG.

[@RoninXDarknight]

Dunno why they thought it was a good idea to limit the ability scores you could pick from for each background. Now people are going to feel forced to pick a background that matches their class...they literally took the issue they said they were trying to fix and just moved it elsewhere. My guess is that'll be the first homebrew change which will become an official optional rule in Tasha's 2.0.

[@Klaital1]

I am sure that between 16 backgrounds, each giving you 3 stats to choose from, they will cover every 2 stat combo there is, so you can still put your stat bonuses to whichever stats you want.

[@RoninXDarknight]

@@Klaital1 You're misunderstanding the issue. Each class still has a set of 2-3 stats it wants to prioritize over others. Thus if only certain backgrounds bump those 2-3 stats you're effectively locking each class to those specific backgrounds if you want to play optimally and punishing players if they want to go a different route.

[@JeremiahGosdin]

​@@RoninXDarknight This is just false. You aren't forced to min/max 3 stats with every character. There are many characters that will be incredibly fun, varied, and powerful regardless of what you choose to do with these 3 stat points.

[@Klaital1]

@@RoninXDarknight Why is that a problem? Minmaxers don't care about the flavor anyways, and rpers don't care about the minmaxing.

[@asterodon]

​@@Klaital1That's just untrue, many players, myself included, love to both maximize power levels and make interesting characters. This new change just makes that a greater challenge than it has any right being.

[@nickcampbell3812]

Are they saying they took the "Build your background" section out of the PHB? I think that section gave a lot of freedom and customizability. You could simply choose a sample background if you wished, customize an existing background by replacing features with the customizable ones, or create your own entirely custom background. I don't really like when options like that that should be core are treated as optional by being put in the DMG rather than the PHB.

[@Ricardo-zo1ti]

I hope this doesn't mean there's some backgrounds that are more optimized than others and we see with some of them the same as we saw with variant humans or hexblade dips with 2014 rules...

[@demonheart13]

Yep, they just moved the problem to a new area of character building. Instead of every drow being a rogue, it will be ever soldier is now a barbarian or something similar. The problem was never that races were linked to skills, it was that problem players were problem players and nothing will stop that some people just want to win. Nothing wrong with that if they are playing in a party with a similar mindset and a DM that facilitates it, but there are definitely going to be players who don't care about the flavor and enter parties where rule play is a thing.

[@johnrhoadhouse1377]

We see that even with the 2 they mentioned here. How many single class builds need 2 of the mental stats offered by Acolyte versus Dex, Con, and Wis given by Guide. Just based on that Guides will make better clerics than Acolyte and if Acolyte isn't a good choice for Cleric what IS it a good choice for?

[@edarddragon]

being a human now gives you 2 feats so, way ore customisation as regular

[@tnatstrat7495]

I always feel like this was talked about on the internet more than it was actually done. This isn't a competitive game.

[@kilamandaros]

@@johnrhoadhouse1377 yea you almost never need more than one of int, wis or cha - the other 2 are generally dump stats. I think they should have just stuck with the lineage of pick where your ASIs go at 1st level. Removes any limitation.

[@BackflipBucky]

I'm going to be honest, I'm just going to keep it like BG3 and let people do the +2/+1 wherever they want (or the +1/+1/+1)

[@marcducorsky8736]

So, you almost have to pick a background based on your class not your character unless you want to start with 15 in class stat (if not in Background you want) and wait till level 4 catch up to players who have Class stat at 18/19 by Level 4 (+2 bonus vs + 4 Bonus and DC 12 vs DC14). Hoping Adventurers League allows Custome Backgrounds.

[@SophiaAphrodite]

Since the backgrounds seem to have 3 stats to buff. This seems like a bad take. Expanding to 3 stats to buff for a background is literally HALF your stats.

[@narlantweed]

​@@SophiaAphrodite pretty sure you can just make a custom background as well, with mechanically optimised stats, if you wish. (at least, it was like that in the unearthed arcana).

[@davidlewis5312]

@@SophiaAphrodite and is irrevelent unless you pick an background that is optimal to your class.

[@Bigryguy95-epic]

@@SophiaAphrodite(example) I’m playing a barbarian but I want to roleplay them as a holy warrior, a brute who is loyal to their religion/church. They may not be the smartest or most charismatic but they attend every sermon and prayer session. They are by most accounts eligible to be considered an acolyte. I want my barbarian to at LEAST get a bonus to strength if I want it to feel comparable to other characters in the party. A barbarian with a 15 strength is just so sad to see.

[@jayjaybob2]

@@Bigryguy95-epic exactly this. Let us just put the bonuses where we want, I can't begin to understand why they are restricting it again. Why would anyone care where we want to put our ASIs?

[@jakelecroy5553]

The Beholder hot air balloon is the best! 😂

[@Kolobius]

Feats at 1st level is something I have been doing since 2014, but I limited them to a dozen or so. Ones that make sense that you were born with or something and not trained. Like Observant for instance. Glad to see that idea put into the game.

[@MarcusArtorius]

I wish any of my DM's did that. Feats are fun, add flavor, but you get so few.

[@lordcinderwell]

This honestly seems a lot worse than 5e+Tasha's. There should be a lot more than 16 backgrounds if they're this rigid, I guess I just won't play at tables that don't allow custom background.

[@ticozayas6430]

So we went from having full autonomy on where stats go to having them fixed again... seems like a step backward not forward

[@williamtorres4140]

I think. It was mentioned that Rules are backwards compatible so You can use that Rule from Tasha's still

[@avsabari1263]

I like it that way. So it's good they give the option for me, and you can always use the optional rule.

[@damondusklight]

Overall, it's something we'd have to test when the new rules come out. I'm personally all for a change that makes a characters history more relevant.

[@graemehutton2433]

Or an acknowledgement that giving full autonomy was not a step forward at all, but instead a misstep? Thus making this a step back in the right direction? Lol in terms of having a bit of realism and weight to how an upbringing affects a person, some restrictions make sense.

[@Jabberwokee]

They have said a few times this is backwards compatible I’m telling you now that this will not be without significant revision

[@egrettacaerulea]

Not every experienced playgroup *immediately* reverting to free floating Ability Score Bonuses.

[@ShurikenSean]

they mention that the option to make custom backgrounds are in the DMG, so already have that option. though yeah probably most experienced groups will do that anyway

[@pdegan2814]

If they don't offer the Custom Background option in the D&D Beyond Character Creator, that's gonna SUCK.

[@GLORPDORP]

They learned their lesson with the Tasha's racial ASI rules then forgot the lesson immediately 😂

[@CooperAATE]

You're right, not every group. Including mine, who is really liking what we see in the new books.

[@Shroom-Mage]

Being able to put +1 to three is very cool, though!

[@finncullen]

Ahwcolytes sound interesting, but I'm more comfortable playing a Fyeaghter.

[@trise2033]

A "fuckter"?

[@samtro]

Why not just put the ASI at the _Class_ or even better, bake it into Attribute Generation directly?

[@sk8rdman]

Or just keep it with races where it makes the most sense, and let DMs decide whether to allow any exceptions, like they've always done. My group has always used the racial abilities and we've never found them problematic. Certain races being better with certain classes isn't a bad thing.

[@Sexpizza]

YES THIS. They need to separate the ASI in character creation from EVERY OTHER ASPECT OF THE CHARACTER CREATION. It should be a standalone part of the character creation process. Stop trying to package it with other things that limit player agency.

[@RulesLawyerDnD]

Because sometimes you like to play it differently. The strength rogue. The strength ranger and not dex. The wisdom casting paladin and not heavy tank. It can still be done but they are trying to make the background actually important and make the players have more depth to the character and also have the players actually remember what their background is.

[@jackdiddles4304]

@@sk8rdman why does the ASI make the most sense from species (from a concept level or a game mechanic level)? from a concept level, doesn't it make more sense that a fighter is a fighter because they were a gladiator in their past, rather than because they're a half-orc? from a mechanics level, doesn't it make more sense to incentivise species/class combinations equally rather than disincentivising certain combinations by not allowing their primary ability to be as high? is it really good for game design and variety of play that people lean more towards certain combinations of the two rather than any combination being (roughly) equally viable numerically?

[@RulesLawyerDnD]

@jackdiddles4304 I think it's fine to have it work either way. The problem is people if we are being honest. Because people want to mid max as much as possible. Because why would you play the farmer who has okay strength and some Con to back it up just to play a wizard with a starting 14 Int. Because people want that 16, people want to mid-max, people believe that if you don't mid-maz than you are playing the game wrong.

[@darkblue099]

I wonder what Jeremy thinks of Star Wars: The "Ockolyte"

[@peleg6748]

So now my religious Barbarian who spent his life in a temple till the temple was destroyed and he went on a frenzy doesn't work anymore. Thanks Wizards of the Coast 👍 (how do I do sarcastic font on KZbin again?)

[@AlvarM]

Why wouldn't it work? Choose the proficiencies you want and move on, they're giving people options not telling them the only approved ways of making characters...

[@peleg6748]

@@AlvarM RAW an Acolyte can't increase STR. Putting me behind most Barbarians = not fun

[@elkilian2]

​@@peleg6748 If the way to "have fun" is to be "optimal" allows us to say that this is not fun but "competitive." You could also choose a subclass that takes advantage of a stat from your background.

[@AlvarM]

@@peleg6748 raw is meant to work for people who prefer being given concise usage of the rules or examples of said usage. If you feel like having an STR boost and a background "doesn't allow it" change it. Like ehat if you're a subset of acolytes of a religious organization that basically trains barbarians as their version of crusaders, then it justifies you growing dying withing that group and having knowledge boosts related to the background. It less presprictive and restrictive than vanilla 5.0 in my personal opinion

[@carlcramer9269]

Having ability modifiers in background sounds very restrictive. You will only be able to choose the backgrounds that give you ability modifiers in ability scores you want at 14 or higher. :o

[@marcos2492]

Anyone think they went back like two steps with backgrounds? They buried the more free form in the DMG instead of making it the default. I'm glad pre-made backgrounds are available for people who don't want to mix-and-match, but the default should not be THIS limited IMO

[@DefaultSeaTurtle]

I'm so excited to ignore the stat increase options completely. ❤

[@tylerreed2409]

This is all cool, but it does further frontload all the choices. It would have been nice if they had made specialization points at successive levels, or something of that sort so you aren't just locked into a set path after level 3

[@pontusleblanc1481]

I really hope they include custom background where you pick the ability scores, proficiencies and feats...

[@CooperAATE]

He mentioned in the video that rules for that are in the DMG

[@pontusleblanc1481]

@@CooperAATE Yeah I posted before I got to that part in the video. My bad!

[@theREALfearsKLOWNs]

​@@CooperAATETranslation: "Buy even more book$!!"

[@andrewdowns3673]

I'm just gonna use the 16 backgrounds they provide as examples for what Starting Equipment ya get, but the Ability Scores, Proficiencies, Languages, and Origin Feats are customizable.

[@AlvarM]

@@theREALfearsKLOWNs a company that mainly sells books is shilling for their own books? What's next, you telling me live in a capitalist society? 😂

[@beajoh]

Looks like a nod to the D&D cartoon at the start.

[@Manahyde]

Yeah I heard somewhere that they're gonna use the 80s cartoon characters like Pathfinder their Iconics

[@twincast2005]

They already used them for the 2022 Dragons of Stormwreck Isle starter set. And yes, they've said that they'll be using them a lot (at least in the 2024 core books; not sure whether they've said anything about the edition going forward). I just find the timing odd, as we're no longer in 1980s nostalgia era, but firmly in 1990s nostalgia era.

[@leifcatt]

Yep. Nerfed it all.

[@Vespuchian]

Oh nice, Goliaths get different abilities depending on giant affinity. That's the sort of thing I always felt was missing in the last edition. Looking very forward to reading the full thing!

[@michaelmuirhead910]

So the fighting classes will pretty much all be farmers because that’s the background that has Str, Dex, and Con for stat boosts with the tough feat. Great…so many new options. Thanks. You want to make the new core rules dumbed down for beginners, that’s fine. I’m good with customized background options. It was in the 2014 book, why remove it? Just seems overly restrictive to move that to the new DMG.

[@SophiaAphrodite]

Who is giving +1 to 3 stats? We ALL know it is almost ALWAYS +2/+1. I swear you 3.5 transplants whine about everything.

[@narlantweed]

@@SophiaAphrodite but consider! point buy for 3x 15s and 3x 8s, then +1 to each 15 to get a +3 to 3 ability scores at first level :D

[@ibervang]

With my current half-elf I could decide between 5 stats, where I wanted to place my extra points. So with the new backgrounds, you could be more limited, as some races/species, could place them as they wanted. So no, we don't have more flexibility, we have less. F.x with my half-elf I put 1 point in con and 1 in Dex. You probably can't do that with a background that also gives charisma. Plus now people are more likely to just pick a background for certain stats.

[@Gismidon]

Not all Skill Proficiencies are worth the same. Perception is obviously far more valuable than Animal Handling. D&D 5E has not been good at balancing options. Some Backgrounds will inevitably be better than others.

[@adamg0013]

Why isn't custom background still not the default... the other backgrounds are way too restrictive. I don't care what whiteboard warriors say about lightly armored. I just want to my witcher like ranger with the crafter feat. Dex wisdom or possibly con.

[@goji253]

Some of these upgrades sound fun but I swear they oughta have playtested some of the stuff they just pulled out of nowhere now. No one wanted locked ASI's. Yet they moved them to backgrounds as if it is better. And they straight up made variant human the standard now as if the reason why a lot of people homebrew beginners feats wasn't specifically to avoid people picking variant human for the sake of the feat.

[@asuitfullofbees]

Just attach ASI to the stat generation portion of character creation. Otherwise you will run into the same issue as when it was tied to ancestry/species.

[@animewatcha]

Feel like this backgrounds portion is gonna bomb a bit cause a creative enough person can link +2 +1 to any score for any background. Also, woulda been better to do an ASI AND a feat at levels like 4th, 8th, etc.

[@phistoroboto8419]

My initial thoughts on the backgrounds giving stat bonuses is it seems to really limit what that background looks like. For example, what if I wanted to play a guide that has spent their life reading books and maps in a study and uses their vast knowledge of the maps to guide people, so Intelligence and Wisdom would make more sense for the character to have gained in their training. I will obviously have to wait to see the book before making any real judgements, but yeah it seems to limit concepts that you can play of that background. Like maybe I want to be an Acolyte but one that didn't like book learning and spent their days avoiding studies by climbing/running around the monastery/church and surrounding area.

[@chrisg8989]

I'm sure there is a custom background option. Which means you can do whatever you want and get the stats you want too.

[@zachmitchell4616]

Haven't watched the whole video yet, but is there an optional rule that would allow you to take any background, and add any stat boost, you'd like?

[@zachmitchell4616]

Ah. Just read through more of the comments. Apparently its in the dmg. Yeah, that's a bit restrictive.

[@TylerHanna]

@@chrisg8989 There is, but only in the DMG (@7:57)

[@davescrams]

@@zachmitchell4616 That customization is apparently in the DMG.

[@heatran1919]

Hold on, did they put a Warforged in this thumbnail despite not having Warforged in the new PHB? Thats just mean

[@warioskapelli3100]

Yeah still excited by the reveals but I was kinda hoping, even if it wasn’t Warforged specifically, we’d get a golem or golem equivalent.

[@Aidscapade71]

Do you not know what a Construct is..? 😂

[@warioskapelli3100]

@@Aidscapade71 in his defense, many artists outside of official DnD draw Warforged with solid wood limbs instead of the twisted branches they’re known for in official art. Simple mistake, especially for a video advertising character building.

[@silentbobkris]

It looks like a Shield Guardian construct. Having the chest plate open to store the spell they can use looks like it's one of those. Great if you can get control of one in a game.

[@jonnil1997]

Thats not a warforged, thats a Shield Guardian

[@rhylin26]

RIP fighter acolytes. 🤦‍♂️

[@williambradford6575]

Create a custom background with your DM 🤷‍♂

[@Jabberwokee]

@@williambradford6575and therefore the DM can say “No, I’m not allowing custom or anything non-core” So instead of giving players the power, they gave it to the DM who can just say no, which is stupid

[@johnhartman9432]

If your DM says no to that, then they’re lame and not worth playing with anyways

[@tnatstrat7495]

You can just do it anyway and make do without an extra +1 or whatever.

[@wooly8151]

Do it the ockolyte way

[@chaseguymon1877]

Came for this

[@VinceValentine]

Obviously a religious octopus

[@Kirinboy39]

don't forget the potion! Never nevah nevah

[@promatheus951]

Doesn't that just restrict it back down from where Tasha's had made us able to choose whatever ability scores we wanted? I mean, yeah, we have 3 to choose from up from 2, but that wasn't even an issue anymore with Tasha's.

[@AdamRox42]

Wouldn't it make more sense and allow for more diverse storytelling with character backstories if you just tied the stat changes directly to class? Your class is what really should be caring about your main stats and it feels bad when your backstory is limited by what stats you need for your class of choice. Many monks would reasonably take the acolyte background for storytelling, but lack of DEX makes it feel very bad for them. Then you could just add a rule to multi-classing that says you don't get the level 1 class stat boosts when multiclassing. I feel that it would also help to streamline the character creation process since you're now choosing your class first (especially for new players). You can get all of your stats and class skill tree set before you start looking at other character choices.

[@BluestoneGargoyle]

To me, they've got it backwards. I always chose species *and* background, then class. Species has an impact on how your background affects your character.

[@zeddwulfen7737]

They very clearly don't get it and they are taking the "everyone is equal" or "everyone is the same" approach which defeats the purpose of having different species and such. It makes it boring and meh.

[@opmaus]

I'm not entirely sold on all of the changes for the new PHB and such. I thought it would be a better idea to just build on what they already had in 5e by adding more races, spells, subclasses, etc. I'm not sure the drastic overhaul was needed, and from what I saw in the UA updates, I was not that impressed. It might turn out to be really cool, but so far I haven't seen anything that truly wows me or excites me. And hopefully on D&D Beyond, we will have the option to play 5e or this new version, not be forced to make a change.

[@joshuasmith9061]

You messed up, the custom background needs to be in the PHB and it needs to be the first option listed. The psychological effect of not having it in the PHB will cause most new players to feel uncomfortable picking custom later. This is even more important now that your bonus ability scores are now picked with your background, now say I wanted to play an urchin who was taught some magic from an old spell book he found but the urchin background only gives you dexterity, constitution and wisdom. Now just like the races from 2014 most new players will feel locked into specific backgrounds for their classes.

[@ayindehorton2803]

While I disagree with you, I respect your opinion. The "Custom Background" the new revisions to the rules and mechanics of the game makes sense for a balancing standpoint. A variant rule for a custom background could be in the 2024 PHB though. I just mean to say that custom backgrounds are for the more experience players looking for something niche, or even the power gamers. It's a little early to tell for me anyway.

[@joshuasmith9061]

@@ayindehorton2803 I'm taking them at their word, and they said it's in the DMG. This is also a psyche issue as well, remember at the start of the UA tests they said how a decent number of people were still unsure about using feats, so they built them in backgrounds to cement them as part of the game. If it's listed in the PHB first it will tell new players it's a main part of the rules, then you can list some premade ones. This is a step back on the freedom we were promised and will limit people who are neurodivergent.

[@LordTonzilla]

Just ask your DM to let you move the starting ability score bonuses per the Tasha's rules. They should let you.

[@joshuasmith9061]

@@LordTonzilla It will mainly be an issue for new players and those with OCPD, also it may force you to buy the DMG on DnDBeyond to use the feature there.

[@GALL0WSHUM0R]

​@@joshuasmith9061yeah, so much of 1D&D is incredible and i'm loving what i'm seeing, but this change is incredibly disappointing. they've moved the powergaming discourse from "what species makes the best barbarian?" to "is it more optimized to be grow up as a farmer or a noble?" it increases complexity by requiring analysis for which backstory makes the most powerful character. it limits my ability to create the kind of weird, flavorful, diverse character concepts i use to make the same basic ruleset interesting to play for the thousandth time, and it locks the fix behind DM approval. pregen backgrounds are great for newer players or quick character generation, but it's terrible for experienced players. and i very much sympathize with neurodivergent people who struggle when the best way to play the game is to lean on variant rules and play"the wrong way." god i hope it's not too late to revert this change.

[@horrorsage1346]

I got a new feat. Pinkerton. If the tatget has cards in their inventory you get advantage on attack rolls and intimidation checks

[@JohnvanCapel]

Tbh I'm still not sure if I like how backgrounds provide ability score boosts. It still feels very much like a restrictive element rather than providing creative freedom - let's say I want to play a Guide Wizard, I've still done a self-nerf because Intelligence isn't an option there. The only way to really un-restrict it is to just bake the ability score boosts directly into the class. Pretty much all characters of a certain class are going to follow the same build anyway - good luck finding a Paladin that won't put their +2 and +1 into Strength and Charisma.

[@danjbundrick]

I don't like the idea of my preferred proficiencies being locked behind certain backgrounds. I hope this isn't too restrictive. Or if they want it to be restrictive, leave the idea of "custom lineage" in the game.

[@johnobrien7562]

it feels like tying stat bonuses to just background is a bit weird. I would think it should be split among background and class, reflecting the training to hone your mind and/or body to pursue that as your "occupation"

[@masongoodyear9258]

I believe it’s tied to character level or class level still when obtaining an Ability Score Increase feat, so you have the starting ability score increase through background and the rest through character/class progression. If you meant the class should decide which stats increase through level up after you choose a background then never mind, but I don’t believe it’s all tied to your background as I believe you’ve inferred.

[@jasonsumma1530]

I believe 3.5 did it this way. I think the even spaced it out, mostly, where you would get the ASI and feat at different levels. The only exception was 12th level.

[@Mr_Maiq_The_Liar]

Honestly, there's no reason why making a background couldn't just be, the base rule. There's not really any way to combine origin feat, ability scores, and 2 proficiencies that would problematic on any class, Especially if it included restrictions such as only providing proficiencies in skills governed by ability scores that the background also increases. Save the paper on 16 examples, just print the rules for making them in the PHB So we can avoid situations like how barbarians can't be acalytes because it doesn't increase your strength. That kind of "This option that I wanted doesn't increase an ability score that I need to increase to be good at my neiche" Was the kind of thing that you were trying to move away from in the first place when you distanced lineage from ability scores back in Tasha's, And it's a shame That the solution to that is simply to push the problem onto a different aspect of your character's origin And hiding the real solution to the problem in an optional rule That players don't even know exists.

[@Gismidon]

Custom Backgrounds were part of the 2014 Players Handbook. Sad to see this option taken away from players.

[@j.r.bergwick1826]

Hearing that the changes to goliath in the UA were kept has made my day!

[@ReinoudvanReekumナウト]

Look at those characters in the very first frame. If you recognize them from long ago, then you know.

[@Abelhawk]

I wish they could've just used the term Lineage or Ancestry. "Species" sounds so scientific and loses all the fantasy vibes.

[@RobertHartleyGM]

I prefer species. To each their own!

[@Mattychii]

no because for example Tiefling or Aasimar doesn't necessarily happen because of your lineage of ancestry. Species is a way better term and medieval fantasy is not the only campaign setting in D&D.

[@SUPERMavic]

​@@Mattychii But, didn't some tieflings born from non tiefling parents? Mostly humans, that because someone had something to do with infernal agents.

[@Abalabexabandraba]

@@SUPERMavic Sure, but a Tiefling born to non-Tiefling parents is still a Tiefling biologically. In fact Species emphasizes that more than Ancestry or Lineage because your parents, your ancestors, weren’t Tieflings, but you still are

[@SUPERMavic]

@@Abalabexabandraba This is partially true because Tieflings are considered a planetouched human, it's stated that they literally are of human ancestry but part of their bloodline come from evil extraplanar beings such as devils, archdevils and so on.

[@MarcoPecoraro]

custom backgrounds should be the default option, while giving standard background as examples or for speed up creation for newbies. And backgrounds are still irrelevant and useless after creation. They should expand relations with npc and pc, and give a mechanic useful while in game tied on relations. 10 years passed and all changed so nothing changed

[@kedraroth]

I really hope that I at least can choose my 1st level feat freely no matter what background....

[@CooperAATE]

They specifically mentioned that Origin Feats are the ones you can take at 1st level. So if it isn't in that category.... Ask your DM

[@GALL0WSHUM0R]

​@@CooperAATEi believe they meant that they hope the choice of 1st level feat isn't specified in the background e.g. you could be a Soldier and then pick Alert or Healer. sounds like a lot of the feats are background-locked though. i'm personally massively disappointed in this announcement. backgrounds were the weakest part of 1st level character creation and the UA made great strides in fixing that. they basically rolled back half of the changes and made the best version a variant rule in the DMG

[@rhylin26]

It sounds like each background has a preselected list. The only way around that is play a human for an extra one, or ask your DM for a custom background.

[@djscrawny1565]

I haven't listened all the way through yet and it might be awhile. Are they pushing feats now like the 3rd edition or is still not as robust?

[@GALL0WSHUM0R]

@@djscrawny1565 some things like ability score improvement & fighting styles are feats now, and there's a category of feats available at level 1; you get one as part of your background, and humans get an extra one, both from that limited list. feats are mandatory now, but because ASI is a feat and a lot of them are background locked, it doesn't actually change much conplexity-wise

[@chaseguymon1877]

I love the Background origin direction, but only 16? It seems a shallow number.

[@mojin7470]

Then start creating your own backgrounds analoguous to the presented options. Its not that hard.

[@heatran1919]

​@@mojin7470but Custom Backgrounds are officially a Variant Rule, and isn't an option in the PHB. It's still bad game design even if you can technically ignore it!

[@jasonsumma1530]

If you did the math, you would have 12 base classes X 16 backgrounds X 10? "species" to get 1920 different character combinations. If you intend on playing only one class and species with your backgrounds, than you will get 16 different character options.

[@jesse-kz8ru]

​@jasonsumma1530 but you don't... they said some backgrounds are locked to class so it will be much less

[@stidgemon]

Stat bonuses tied to background are still going to hard lock people into classes. What if i wanted to play an acolyte who became jaded with the church and decided to become a fighter? Choosing that background would hamper them stat wise. Species choice should be cosmetic only and should not driven by abilities or bonuses that it gives. Backgrounds should be story driven and not a choice you wont make because the stats are bad for my class.

[@parheliaa]

Predefined abilities restrict it somewhat from an optimization perspective Custom backgrounds should be in PHB (maybe marked "Needs DM approval" or something) As a DM probably I would allow 1 any, and 2 from those predefined three (of course no stacking allowed)

[@longhaulpreacher5823]

That last parting shot is confusing to me. Using D&D Beyond, does this mean the program has to get completely revamped to make up for the backgrounds that are still not updated? Will a player easily be able to do this or will it be like pulling teeth and stitching them back in?

[@partyontheobjective]

13:23 That gnome Rosie the Riveter over there is absolutely amazing. Huuuge kudos to the author of this artwork.

[@reedjos08]

Love that wizzards is assisting people in sampling feets.

[@pederw4900]

Wizards LOVES feets!

[@someoneelse4939]

F E E T S ...for free!

[@jamesfoster9613]

I am disappointed that we are taking a step backwards on creation attribute bump. I am fine with it coming from background and the sample backgrounds kisting options, but custom should always be default and in the PHB. Not allowing the flat bonus per Tasha's is...a bad call. And I'm ine if your biggest yes folk.

[@Cornfiglep]

I gotta say the custom backgrounds were far better. My group will probably keep it anyway.

[@marcusjones6098]

10:27 that orc in the chaps though

[@magnificent_cat]

I don't get how the new rules will be "backward compatible" with 5e when the differences between a 2024 character and a 5e character is so unfair. I can't allow one player to go for options in the new rules because we would all have to upgrade our books or lag behind. Existing feats have been "massively reworked"? Races even? How is that backwards compatible?

[@binolombardi]

seems like a failure that they locked to 3 attributes in the PHB. already figured it out with floating scores and went a step backwards. “optional” DMG rules limit the customize rule from players and DMs. most DMs don’t know the optional rules, let alone entertain their use.

[@RotaFury]

I haven't finished watching yet BUT I am a little worried on ability scores restriction to backgrou d if I heard that right as it could narrow options. Example what if I want to be a fighter in the rogues guild? A sorta bruiser or guard or such. The other funny thing i find is there taking pathfinder 2.0's ideas which is fine....but doing a worse job with them. I havent played pathfinder 2 yet but ive read it and looked over videos and find this amusing. Isnt to say i wont get this new edition but i will be heavily tweaking the hell out of this already.

[@Mercurial_Me]

Definitely still removing all ability scores from everything, giving an ability modifier array and letting my players choose an extra background feat (could be Ability Modifier Improvement if they please) tied to their backstory. Same homebrew I use now. Ability scores are archaic, unnecessary, and VERY confusing for new players. Overall still an improvement, though custom background rules being put in the DMG is a little dirty. As a PLAYER, I never once used a preset background in 5e. It belongs in the Player's Handbook.

[@Jason-96]

I created a custom acolyte background for my players to apply to their characters. This is how I wanted them to be linked together. It was very flexible to allow them to get the skills they wanted while also giving them a common denominator....

[@Mark-ki7ic]

More Dwarven and Halfling spell casters builds now at least

[@Jockyr]

Why lock performance with RP at all?? Completely unnecessary. Let the players decide how their characters got to where they are. Just let everyone distribute the 3 points and RP can do the rest. Now I feel really punished for making a cool Acolyte backstory for my Fighter 😑

[@michaelthomas8539]

Just do it anyway. Who cares. As a long time DM, I can tell you that the backgrounds are fluff. Custom out and call it a day. None of it can break the game.

[@Yasha277]

I like that they skipped the elephant in the room which is that they changed the name of races to species. Not a hard one to tackle, it makes sense as a change, just feels like you should give a very quick nod to it instead of ignoring, lol.

[@PingPongFlute]

Let's hope there are more allowed feats for the Warlock's new "Lessons of the First Ones" invocation so I can have 15 or so useful feats on my character at level 20 🤡 Some of those feat prerequisites seemed a bit restrictive imo.

[@johnjackett368]

Quick question . . . Can you use other 5E races in the 2024 rules? How would ability score modifiers work? Are they still attached to race or do you ignore racial modifiers?

[@snoweefrost4412]

You can use D&D 5E races from 2014 and its associated supplemental books with the upcoming 2024 Core Rules. He said that there will be a section in the book explaining how the transition of 2014-2023 races can be updated to the 2024 system

[@ElocNodnarb]

Will Backgrounds have the option from Tasha’s Cauldron to choose how to assign ability score adjustments rather than being locked into prescribed ability score adjustments?

[@daleanddale]

Just make ability score generation it's own thing.

[@FLYBOY611]

God, the new artwork hits so hard! 🤯

[@dandmadeeasy]

Some of this looks great. I imagine a lot of players will want to generalize the ability score improvements and treat it like Tasha's rules. I wonder if feats are tied to class level like they are in D&D 2014, or the character level like they are are in 3.5E. I expect it's the former, but hope it's the latter!

[@Wildstag]

I know I sound like a grognard, but I wish you'd leaned more on the Races of Stone as an inspiration for Goliaths rather than leaning on the 4e version that merged them with Dark Sun half-giants. I'd honestly say that they already had a lot of fantasy, the resident fantasy for goliaths was "what if we made a super-athlete species". WotC's 3.5 online archive featured interviews that said as much. I think you should have leaned in on the markings as fantasy inspiration. Back when they were created, there was the idea that their markings meant something *culturally* to them, that because they were born with those specific markings it was a clue to their destiny. A good way to work that into 5e would have been to look at the "Markings of the X" feats and turn those into species options. Maybe one Goliath was born with Markings of the Hunter and can reroll initiative a number of times per day equal to your proficiency. Another could be born with Markings of the Blessed and get a similar option but for saving throws. Yet another Goliath could be born with Markings of the Warrior and get a similar option but for attack rolls. They weren't *just* big people before 4e/5e. Their language and naming convention was based heavily in the Hawaiian language. They were consummate athletes and sportsmen. They showed off their markings and lithoderms (which would also work well in a dysphoric narratives, since changing one's markings with tattoos is seen as taboo generally). They were an egalitarian species with minimal sexual dimorphism (limited only to the hair grown on the head but NOT height/weight). I think they were kinda wasted once they were merged with the Half-Giant in 4e, and they've been on that path since. They might as well just be renamed since they don't really reflect any of their origin in art or description.

[@resevil2396]

I always take the background for the proficiencies and throw away the actual story aspect to them. That concept kinda sucks because there are only so many backgrounds and there isnt always one that fits the character im designing. I dont really understand why they didnt just drop the backgrounds entirely and just let you pick a feat and 2 proficiencies. Only purpose of the backgrounds i can think of is to serve as vauge inspiration or a guide for new players.

[@damengundo]

10:29 sad to hear the warforged aren't joining the phb, hopefully they can get an updated version too

[@jwall1646]

I would want for them to stay in Ebberon where here we’re in Grayhawk

[@thethingOOO]

Speciesist doesn't have the same ring when describing my feelings towards the knife ears.

[@Thyrrry]

Making feats, ability scores and background interlock in such a way is a good thing if you have a proven record of balancing them properly. Which you don't. Can't wait for players to all select the same 5 backgrounds everytime.

[@RichardHopkinsLobosSolos]

Opening shot. I see, Hank, Bobby, Diana, and Presto.

[@Internetmademedoithalloween]

Will there be a collector's edition variant of the core rule books?

[@matthewdavis9966]

Ew… the custom backgrounds guidance is only in the DMG?! Wtf! In the UAs, the default was custom backgrounds!

[@HowtoRPG]

So the personality traits, ideals, bonds and flaws are gone from backgrounds. Strange how the greatest development in D&D 5e to help people make characters that aren't just abilities and numbers has been dumped 10 years later.

[@switchimpulse]

Traits, bonds, ideals, and flaws were never part of the Background feature, there's no reason to believe they're gone

[@LastOneAlive96]

Basically the ruined all the work that was done in every additional rule book that was released after 2014. The new concept makes absolutely no sense if they want us to be „creative“ and „tell our own story“..

[@chaysebell1140]

I don’t understand limiting tremor sense a certain amount to dwarves . If it’s apart of them biologicaly speaking

[@heatran1919]

"Sorry, I already ate twice today, I cant taste anything until tomorrow"

[@Aidscapade71]

1. Balance. 2. Just because you lack the ability to comprehend it, doesn't mean it is a problem. It makes perfect sense!

[@chaysebell1140]

@@Aidscapade71 nah it doesn’t

[@steven_r33d]

Are certain species features still available? Specifically, the elf weapons training that gives proficiency with shortswords, longswords, shortbows, longbows?

[@T0beyeus]

Tying the ASIs to Backgrounds still does exactly what Races did in the PHB. Acolytes are going to be Spellcasters, but now they are wasting a ASI since if they are a Cleric they get +2 Wis and +1 into either Int or Cha which are of less value than a Guide who gets +2 Wis and +1 Con or +1 Dex. They should have given the player the option to add +2 to one of three stats and then +1 to any stat of your choosing for the Background. All Acolytes did not live cloistered lives, some would have been missionaries or war priests with high Dex, Str or Con. No mention of the Drow, Half Races and odd the Orc got greater Darkvision. Wanting to steer away from prior lore, it is a bit odd to still tie them to creatures of the night that would ambush at night, maybe r@pe and pillage a village, etc... WotC likes to charge money normally to tell us to make our own rules but they were clear to tell us that these new more politically correct "species" are the canonical version ROFL!

[@Dabbling124]

I would have preferred the system from pathfinder where every 4th level gives you an ability score improvement of 1 plus a feat. That way, you dont need to make the agonizing decision between having good stats and good feats because you wont always roll the stats you need to make your playstle or build work. So it would just make peoples lives easier.

[@SchplatJR]

I had never heard acolyte pronounced Ock-o-light. You learn something every day!

[@infinitedm5396]

Ah so they shifted custom backgrounds from phb to dmg. Interesting

[@dane4073]

Got to make money somehow

[@mojin7470]

Does it really matter honestly? You can just make your own Background by selecting a feat, giving it ability scores and some other stuff that the other backgrounds give you... you dont need to buy the DMG just for these 3 to 4 sentences of written text.

[@TVMAN1997]

Custom backgrounds are so easy 3 +1’s or +2 and +1. Pick a feat that corlates to background

[@GALL0WSHUM0R]

​@@mojin7470it's kind of frustrating that the ability to customize backgrounds is being relegated to the same level of DM fiat as the Oathbreaker paladin was in 2014.

[@ADHDnD13]

Wait, we're going backwards to restricted ASI's?!?!

[@mariop8852]

I dont see why custom backgrounds cant be in the PHB. if the feats, skills, and Abilities are equal why cant you just list those numbers and let us have fun?

[@yoroshiku137]

Bobby is all grown up now! Does that mean that the kids never made it back home?

[@sanchi.chi69]

Wait do I gotta start a new character and background 🤔

[@greevar]

Why didn't WoTC just do what they did in Tasha's? I'd rather choose my ASI's independently of my background and specieis. Why not just let us choose the origin feat? Let the backgrounds be the quick and easy templates for inexperienced players and say, "Hey! If you know what you're doing, Pick one origin feat, pick your ASI's (just like Tasha's), and pick a background that comes with a language, a skill, and a tool proficiency." Don't put it in the DMG. It will be ignored or forgotten.

[@openmoose]

Will the Actor feat have updated placement alphabetically?