Personally, if a player picks a background with connections, or the Knight, or any others with NPCs involved, I work with the player on them. They give me all the broad strokes as they envisioned those NPCs, then I work up the statblocks for them and such. (It’s way easier if all I have to do is the bubblegum and tape parts.)
For me the best backgrounds are ones I make myself with the DM.
It's the "professional" aspect of the character's backstory and allows skills/tools/languages that are relevant and a feature that is unique and instantly fitting for the character and the world they're in.
Having your background be keyed to your backstory just feels right, in most cases and makes the background more personal.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond. Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ thisFAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
For me the best backgrounds are ones I make myself with the DM.
It's the "professional" aspect of the character's backstory and allows skills/tools/languages that are relevant and a feature that is unique and instantly fitting for the character and the world they're in.
Having your background be keyed to your backstory just feels right, in most cases and makes the background more personal.
Ooooo I agree with this. I made an “undertaker” background for my death cleric, and it just fits narratively and mechanically. The feature is that I can determine when and how a creature died upon close examination. It probably could be better defined and really is only useful in certain kinds of games, but I think it is pretty neat.
Criminal. It allows for a funkier, generally more interesting campaign/adventure but helps keep the NPCs and other characters on edge. Personally, my favourite is a self-made one called the Manager. It’s one that has the perk of being able to tell when someone is lying on a money related subject. Very fun to use.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
if you want to join the Democracy of Pandakind, just proclaim your love for this photo and u will be an Initiate of the Panda Kingdom.
Personally, if a player picks a background with connections, or the Knight, or any others with NPCs involved, I work with the player on them. They give me all the broad strokes as they envisioned those NPCs, then I work up the statblocks for them and such. (It’s way easier if all I have to do is the bubblegum and tape parts.)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
For me the best backgrounds are ones I make myself with the DM.
It's the "professional" aspect of the character's backstory and allows skills/tools/languages that are relevant and a feature that is unique and instantly fitting for the character and the world they're in.
Having your background be keyed to your backstory just feels right, in most cases and makes the background more personal.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
Ooooo I agree with this. I made an “undertaker” background for my death cleric, and it just fits narratively and mechanically. The feature is that I can determine when and how a creature died upon close examination. It probably could be better defined and really is only useful in certain kinds of games, but I think it is pretty neat.
DM mostly, Player occasionally | Session 0 form | He/Him/They/Them
EXTENDED SIGNATURE!
Doctor/Published Scholar/Science and Healthcare Advocate/Critter/Trekkie/Gandalf with a Glock
Try DDB free: Free Rules (2024), premade PCs, adventures, one shots, encounters, SC, homebrew, more
Answers: physical books, purchases, and subbing.
Check out my life-changing
I change my answer. The best one is noble because playing a peasant is dirty: literally and figuratively.
Criminal. It allows for a funkier, generally more interesting campaign/adventure but helps keep the NPCs and other characters on edge. Personally, my favourite is a self-made one called the Manager. It’s one that has the perk of being able to tell when someone is lying on a money related subject.
Very fun to use.
Charlatan