Maybe I'm just blind, but I can't seem to find where to set the equipment package for a custom background in the character sheet editor. I sort of expected there to be a combobox selector for background to inherit an equipment package from just like there is for the feature and characteristics.

A custom ad-hoc equipment set is pointless when you can just add the items directly anyway. Using the custom background is a "only for this character" thing and you are making up what to give it.

If you want to create a homebrew background with equipment then use the Background homebrew tool.

A custom ad-hoc equipment set is not what I was talking about. The way the Customizing a Background rules work is you pick an equipment set from an existing background (assuming not using the gold spend method for all equipment). It's basically supposed to work the same as selecting a background feature, but it's not set up that way in D&D Beyond's character creator/editor.

I know it's possible to manually add things, but that's a rather annoying hassle, especially for the equipment sets that include non-standard flavor items.

It's strange that equipment package selection is the only part of the Customizing a Background rules that wouldn't be implemented in the character builder. I thought they might've put the selector on the equipment page when you have a customized background, but it doesn't seem to be there either.

The easiest way to address that is to select that “close” background first, then add your equipment, and then go back change the background to your custom version after adding the equipment.

I hope that helps.

Not a bad workaround. Thanks. Hope they fix this, though.

Bumping, since this is still a strange bug in an otherwise complete-seeming feature.