It looks like we can ADD custom languages or instruments/tool proficiencies, etc. But we can't remove the old ones, so doing so adds free proficiencies or clutters up the character sheet with extraneous tidbits. It would be so much easier to just make the names customizable, so we could change the name of the language to match our respective campaign worlds.
For instance, I run all my campaigns set in Eberron. In Eberron, orc is a rare language and most orcs speak the goblin tongue... which is called Dhakaani. But I can't change orc or goblin on my character sheet to read "dhakaani" ... I can certainly ADD dhakaani as a custom language, but that just makes it looks like I speak two languages instead of the one. Other lingual differences are that in Eberron, common is called khorvairian, draconic is called drakathan, dwarf is mrorian, elvish is valenarian, undercommon is khybrish, celestial is siberine, druidic is vvaar, infernal is ashtagari, etc. ... the list goes on. (I didn't make this up... these alternate names are canon, according to Keith Baker, author and creator of Eberron.)
And as for musical instruments... the list of instruments is ridiculous. What the heck is a zulkoon? Or a glaur? The game lists these instruments as canon, but offers no description of them ANYWHERE in the rules. Apparently, my bard is supposed to just accept being proficient with the yarting and the tantan without having any idea what they are. Well, how about fixing this? A google search tells us that a tantan is a tambourine, a glaur is a trumpet, and a yarting is a guitar. Gee, wish the game I was playing would actually TELL me that they decided to call guitars "yartings" instead, but hey... since we're here, you could make it so we could customize the name and change the name "Yarting" under tool proficiencies to "Guitar" instead.
Even better, how about putting "customizable choice" in the Character Creator? So when we make our bard, instead of picking lute and two other instrument we don't recognize, we can instead pick "customized choice" and then change the name to guitar, or harpsichord, or dulcimer, or ocarina? It would make for a cleaner, less cluttered DND Beyond experience.
Also, in Eberron, we don't play dragonchess (that's a Faerunian invention)... we play Conqueror, or Chess. We also play other strategy games, like Go or Stones... sure would be nice if there were a customizable tool proficiency selection that a character could select to insert the name of the game that fits their description, without adding a game that doesn't exist or isn't relevant to the campaign.
1) You can. Bottom left of the character sheet the little gear by "proficiencies and training." You can add a custom proficiency and name it anything you want (presumably clearing this with your DM.
Aurlan01has hit the nail on the head with their advice, that was what I would have suggested myself. One note from my experience, I have rarely noticed players use setting specific names for languages. In my setting the goblin tongue is called “gobbledygook,” but players just call it “goblin” most of the time.
In addition, just as an FYI, the zulkoon is a person portable pump organ played kinda like bagpipes, and a glaur is like a trumpet, but shaped like a large bugle. they’re both made up.
It looks like we can ADD custom languages or instruments/tool proficiencies, etc. But we can't remove the old ones, so doing so adds free proficiencies or clutters up the character sheet with extraneous tidbits. It would be so much easier to just make the names customizable, so we could change the name of the language to match our respective campaign worlds.
For instance, I run all my campaigns set in Eberron. In Eberron, orc is a rare language and most orcs speak the goblin tongue... which is called Dhakaani. But I can't change orc or goblin on my character sheet to read "dhakaani" ... I can certainly ADD dhakaani as a custom language, but that just makes it looks like I speak two languages instead of the one. Other lingual differences are that in Eberron, common is called khorvairian, draconic is called drakathan, dwarf is mrorian, elvish is valenarian, undercommon is khybrish, celestial is siberine, druidic is vvaar, infernal is ashtagari, etc. ... the list goes on. (I didn't make this up... these alternate names are canon, according to Keith Baker, author and creator of Eberron.)
And as for musical instruments... the list of instruments is ridiculous. What the heck is a zulkoon? Or a glaur? The game lists these instruments as canon, but offers no description of them ANYWHERE in the rules. Apparently, my bard is supposed to just accept being proficient with the yarting and the tantan without having any idea what they are. Well, how about fixing this? A google search tells us that a tantan is a tambourine, a glaur is a trumpet, and a yarting is a guitar. Gee, wish the game I was playing would actually TELL me that they decided to call guitars "yartings" instead, but hey... since we're here, you could make it so we could customize the name and change the name "Yarting" under tool proficiencies to "Guitar" instead.
Even better, how about putting "customizable choice" in the Character Creator? So when we make our bard, instead of picking lute and two other instrument we don't recognize, we can instead pick "customized choice" and then change the name to guitar, or harpsichord, or dulcimer, or ocarina? It would make for a cleaner, less cluttered DND Beyond experience.
Also, in Eberron, we don't play dragonchess (that's a Faerunian invention)... we play Conqueror, or Chess. We also play other strategy games, like Go or Stones... sure would be nice if there were a customizable tool proficiency selection that a character could select to insert the name of the game that fits their description, without adding a game that doesn't exist or isn't relevant to the campaign.
Just a suggestion...
1) You can. Bottom left of the character sheet the little gear by "proficiencies and training." You can add a custom proficiency and name it anything you want (presumably clearing this with your DM.
2) As for what various instruments are that you do not recognize, a quick google search found this: https://scrollforinitiative.com/2023/04/18/the-complete-guide-to-dds-musical-instruments/
I just tested the following workaround:
Replacing languages/Old rules
1. You need to enable customize your origin
2. In the character creator under species click Origin Languages in the Origin manager
3. Here is the trick you dont actually select any languages for your origin languages -> therefore no languages will be displayed under proficiencies
4. Add your custom language proficiencies
Replacing languages/New rules
1. Select nothing when asked to choose languages
2. Add custom language proficiencies
Replacing Tools
1. When you have the option to select tools from your background, class etc. again select nothing
2. Add your custom tool proficiencies
Note that this doesn't work for proficiencies your don't select like the druid proficiency in druidic.
Hope this helps!
Aurlan01 has hit the nail on the head with their advice, that was what I would have suggested myself. One note from my experience, I have rarely noticed players use setting specific names for languages. In my setting the goblin tongue is called “gobbledygook,” but players just call it “goblin” most of the time.
In addition, just as an FYI, the zulkoon is a person portable pump organ played kinda like bagpipes, and a glaur is like a trumpet, but shaped like a large bugle. they’re both made up.
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