So I have, what I believe, to be a bug with the skill proficiencies given through homebrew backgrounds. If your homebrew background gives you History and Intimidation, but your class options have intimidation in it and you choose it, then you suddenly get to pick from ANY other skill. To get around this I had my player choose their backgrounds first and then go back to the first page. It was a little inconvenience.
Is there a way in the homebrew feature to avoid this? I also don't know off the top of my head if this bug applies to official backgrounds as well, I just know it works this way with homebrew.
I'm pretty sure this is working as intended. This is what the backgrounds section in the Basic Rules says.
Proficiencies
Each background gives a character proficiency in two skills. Skills are described in the Using Ability Scores section.
In addition, most backgrounds give a character proficiency with one or more tools. Tools and tool proficiencies are detailed in the Equipment section.
If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiencyof the same kind (skill or tool) instead.
So if my wizard chooses proficiency in arcana from his class and then picks the sage background which also gives arcana as a proficiency, I can instead choose any other skill proficiency such as insight, perception, ect.
I'm pretty sure this is working as intended. This is what the backgrounds section in the Basic Rules says.
Proficiencies
Each background gives a character proficiency in two skills. Skills are described in the Using Ability Scores section.
In addition, most backgrounds give a character proficiency with one or more tools. Tools and tool proficiencies are detailed in the Equipment section.
If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiencyof the same kind (skill or tool) instead.
So if my wizard chooses proficiency in arcana from his class and then picks the sage background which also gives arcana as a proficiency, I can instead choose any other skill proficiency such as insight, perception, ect.
Okay, I didn't know this is how it was intended. However, that gets me to another question. How does that make sense exactly within the realms of a character's backstory. For example, a soldier gives you Athletics and Intimidation, if I'm a race with the menacing trait (that gives me proficiency in Intimidation), then I pick the soldier background, I'm suddenly able to be proficient in arcana, history, religion, performance, or whatever I want? How does that make sense, or in what way can I explain that to my players as well?
I think it is simply up to the player to define their proficiency. Maybe they're intimidating because of their race, then with with soldier background they'd get Athletics and Intimidation again, triggering the free choice. Maybe they spent some of their time studying History (civilizations, wars, ancient strategies, etc.). Or perhaps they studied Religion like some study mythology today, just out of curiosity. Maybe they worked as a mounted soldier and are proficient in Animal Handling. There are many ways the player could fit a new proficiency into their backstory. I agree that some may be a little far-fetched, but an argument still could be made on proficiency in Arcana or Performance depending on the player's creativity.
I think it is simply up to the player to define their proficiency. Maybe they're intimidating because of their race, then with with soldier background they'd get Athletics and Intimidation again, triggering the free choice. Maybe they spent some of their time studying History (civilizations, wars, ancient strategies, etc.). Or perhaps they studied Religion like some study mythology today, just out of curiosity. Maybe they worked as a mounted soldier and are proficient in Animal Handling. There are many ways the player could fit a new proficiency into their backstory. I agree that some may be a little far-fetched, but an argument still could be made on proficiency in Arcana or Performance depending on the player's creativity.
This makes sense. As DM I would probably make the case that you could pick a replacement to your skill proficiency as long as you could have it make sense with your background/backstory. Thanks for clearing that up guys!
So I have, what I believe, to be a bug with the skill proficiencies given through homebrew backgrounds. If your homebrew background gives you History and Intimidation, but your class options have intimidation in it and you choose it, then you suddenly get to pick from ANY other skill. To get around this I had my player choose their backgrounds first and then go back to the first page. It was a little inconvenience.
Is there a way in the homebrew feature to avoid this? I also don't know off the top of my head if this bug applies to official backgrounds as well, I just know it works this way with homebrew.
Published Subclasses
I'm pretty sure this is working as intended. This is what the backgrounds section in the Basic Rules says.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/compendium/rules/basic-rules/personality-and-background#Backgrounds
So if my wizard chooses proficiency in arcana from his class and then picks the sage background which also gives arcana as a proficiency, I can instead choose any other skill proficiency such as insight, perception, ect.
Published Subclasses
I think it is simply up to the player to define their proficiency. Maybe they're intimidating because of their race, then with with soldier background they'd get Athletics and Intimidation again, triggering the free choice. Maybe they spent some of their time studying History (civilizations, wars, ancient strategies, etc.). Or perhaps they studied Religion like some study mythology today, just out of curiosity. Maybe they worked as a mounted soldier and are proficient in Animal Handling. There are many ways the player could fit a new proficiency into their backstory. I agree that some may be a little far-fetched, but an argument still could be made on proficiency in Arcana or Performance depending on the player's creativity.
Published Subclasses