Hey all, I made a rogue and chose the criminal background. When I chose the tool proficiency for criminal it allows me to choose from a wide assortment but in the PHB it says that I only get proficiency Thieves tools and one type of gaming set. Are those other tool proficiencies from another source than the PHB or is it something that D&D Beyond does? Cause I would really love to start with proficiency with an herbalism kit. 

Usually if you get the same Tool or Skill Proficiency you get to select any you like for the second instance. In this case Rogue gives proficiency with Thieves' Tools first, then the Background so it gives you the option to get a different Tool Proficiency. You should always try to make your Tool Proficiencies make sense with your character, how about selecting Disguise Kit, Forgery Kit, or Poisoner's Kit?

 The reason for that is this rule:

If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill or tool) instead.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/personality-and-background#Backgrounds

Thank you. 

Quote from DxJxC >>

 The reason for that is this rule:

If a character would gain the same proficiency from two different sources, he or she can choose a different proficiency of the same kind (skill or tool) instead.

https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/basic-rules/personality-and-background#Backgrounds

Adding on to this thread because it's relevant - does this apply even at later levels - not just 1st?

I have a Rogue character who has Nature and Survival proficiency from her background (homebrew Feral Child) and if she takes the Scout subclass at level 3 it gives Nature and Survival expertise.
DNDBeyond automatically removes those skills from the background at that point. So is it within the rules to choose 2 different proficiencies from the background then? It doesn't make a lot of sense to be able to change your background proficiencies basically mid-game to me and feels a bit cheaty?

If you gain a Skill or Tool twice, the second instance you get to select any Skill or Tool (based on what it is) instead. This does not apply to Weapon, Armor, or Save Proficiencies, you only get what you get there.

Though I'm not 100%, as far as I know this still applies at higher levels. However in the case of Scout, the text of the feature is different from other similar instances. The Survivalist Feature states: "you gain proficiency in the Nature and Survival skills if you don't already have it." In other words you only get the Expertise in this case because the specific rule takes precedence over the general rule.

So dndbeyond shouldn't be letting me change my background proficiencies then?

I guess I'll just leave them blank when it happens. Thank you.

The background proficiency overlap doesn't specify level.

In general, I think it is better to just let players have as many proficiencies as their features allow and not punish them for poor advanced planning.