I've been toying with the idea of making my players pick 2 of the standard background stories and combining them into the one background with all of the proficiency from both (except for languages we use a home brew system based on other versions (Common + intelligence modifier Languages known) . This would make the players more versatile out of the gate and allow them to go into more realistic challenges sooner. So for example someone could be both a Hermit and a Sage... then they would have to create a unique back story describing there character but also connecting the two background together ....
Has anyone tried something like This? what are your thoughts ?
its really to cut down on out of game issues like my players taking forever to decide what background they want to be ... and its also an attempt for to get some of them to add more depth to there character ... for example ... a Noble/Sailor ... forces them to explain the story more ... its not even about the in game skills its giving me more background to try to incorporate into our world and story .
I'd hesitate doubling up the skill proficiencies. If everyone is that effective alone, you may lose some group cohesiveness in that the players will be less reliant on each other. I don't think it's a breaking issue, though.
But the other features probably would be fine. The DMG also has guidance about creating new backgrounds, which you can use (or let your players use) to create a merged background, taking some elements from two or more backgrounds (though, that probably won't speed up the character creation process...)
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I've been toying with the idea of making my players pick 2 of the standard background stories and combining them into the one background with all of the proficiency from both (except for languages we use a home brew system based on other versions (Common + intelligence modifier Languages known) . This would make the players more versatile out of the gate and allow them to go into more realistic challenges sooner. So for example someone could be both a Hermit and a Sage... then they would have to create a unique back story describing there character but also connecting the two background together ....
Has anyone tried something like This? what are your thoughts ?
Why do you feel players need additional skills to take on "more realistic challenges sooner"?
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its really to cut down on out of game issues like my players taking forever to decide what background they want to be ... and its also an attempt for to get some of them to add more depth to there character ... for example ... a Noble/Sailor ... forces them to explain the story more ... its not even about the in game skills its giving me more background to try to incorporate into our world and story .
I'd hesitate doubling up the skill proficiencies. If everyone is that effective alone, you may lose some group cohesiveness in that the players will be less reliant on each other. I don't think it's a breaking issue, though.
But the other features probably would be fine. The DMG also has guidance about creating new backgrounds, which you can use (or let your players use) to create a merged background, taking some elements from two or more backgrounds (though, that probably won't speed up the character creation process...)