They all specify particular feats from the books that are associated with the backgrounds.
looking through the UA character origins and so far the pilgrams "healer" feat and the sailors "tavern brawler" feat interest me the most - atleast for what i had in mind
The UA background rules are customize your own background; those are just examples.
also wished they included a kobold or bugbear to see how they might change as a species (or if they lineages)
The problem with Sunlight Sensitivity was that it was devastating if you were playing a class that relied heavily on attack rolls, like fighters and rogues, but had effectively no effect if you were a spellcaster who could easily be built to never have to make attack rolls.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
They all specify particular feats from the books that are associated with the backgrounds.
looking through the UA character origins and so far the pilgrams "healer" feat and the sailors "tavern brawler" feat interest me the most - atleast for what i had in mind
The UA background rules are customize your own background; those are just examples.
also wished they included a kobold or bugbear to see how they might change as a species (or if they lineages)
They're in Monsters of the multiverse
am using the UA backgrounds there as examples currently it seems like im able to: (with the background feat - could be completely wrong but anywho) interact with a creature or kit, gain a spell, heal, increase unarmed to a d4 or increase general capabilities outside battle - which seems to give me alot to work with (atleast in my mind) the feats that give an ability score increase seem to be possible (since backgrounds give an ability score increase) but trying to avoid those feats incase to overpowered (atleast for now)
got access to both monsters of the multiverse and volo's guide to monsters (legacy) which have differences between them - currently using both as references but also trying to keep to the feel of one d&d and its changes to species and backgrounds along with lineages (still wrapping my head around it all)
One change between current 5e and the proposed new rules presented in the first Unearthed Arcana is that the ability score improvements have been moved from the species to the background. Overall, you still get to add either 2 to one ability and 1 to another or 1 to three different abilities. I don’t know if it’s been said explicitly but the intent seems clear that can’t pick a species from MotM and then make a background from UA1 and benefit from both sets of ability score improvement. Similarly, none of the feats available via backgrounds in UA (or any of the current books which offer level 1 feats) provide an ability score improvement: those are all locked away until level 4. Also,, the Human in the UA , which is closer to the current “Variant Human”, can only use “level 1” feats.
(There are a couple of species from MotM which seem to have moved into the proposed new Players Handbook: the Orc and the Goliath. The Goliath appears in one of the later UAs, after they abandoned the Ardling. Those might give you ideas of how the format changes. It seems that other species in MotM will remain available after the 2024 PHB arrives: they’ll just need minor tweaks, like not taking the ASIs twice.)
Age is now standardized to approximately 100 years same as humans.
Alignment is no longer a racial trait at all.
Languages have been standardized to Common + 1.
Ability Score increases have been standardized to either (+2/+1), or (+1/+1/+1) player’s choices.
Speed and Size remain the same
All other racial traits have been standardized to 4 total.
For Backgrounds
2 Skill Proficiencies
2 total proficiencies in any combination of languag(es) and/or tool(s)
1 feat
The feat in the background seems iffy. Backgrounds usually don’t give a feat except two settings, that I recall: Strixhaven and Dragonlance. One D&D (and the upcoming 2024 PHB) has a feat as part of the background but it is a curated list of 1st level specific feats.
But I could be mistaken.
Also the Bigby's and Planescape backgrounds. Basically as of Strixhaven they've used a feat instead of a soft feature for new published backgrounds.
I never got into any of those books, Strixhaven, Dragonlance, Bigby’s or Planescape so am curious if they have defined feats for the backgrounds (I recall from videos that Strixhaven had its own feat you could choose with the background) or are they open to all published feats? The popularity of vHuman and Custom Lineage were to pick up feats like GWM, SS, XBow Expert, etc. if all these new backgrounds do the same then vHuman and Custom Lineage are that much stronger.
They all specify particular feats from the books that are associated with the backgrounds.
Yes. But they each include a feat. That’s all I wrote. I didn’t get into specifics is all.
I get that. I only questioned it because it’s a new player trying to create a custom race and just wanted to clarify that the “backgrounds have feats” is limited by design currently and in UA. Just for clarity.
Age is now standardized to approximately 100 years same as humans.
Alignment is no longer a racial trait at all.
Languages have been standardized to Common + 1.
Ability Score increases have been standardized to either (+2/+1), or (+1/+1/+1) player’s choices.
Speed and Size remain the same
All other racial traits have been standardized to 4 total.
For Backgrounds
2 Skill Proficiencies
2 total proficiencies in any combination of languag(es) and/or tool(s)
1 feat
The feat in the background seems iffy. Backgrounds usually don’t give a feat except two settings, that I recall: Strixhaven and Dragonlance. One D&D (and the upcoming 2024 PHB) has a feat as part of the background but it is a curated list of 1st level specific feats.
But I could be mistaken.
Also the Bigby's and Planescape backgrounds. Basically as of Strixhaven they've used a feat instead of a soft feature for new published backgrounds.
I never got into any of those books, Strixhaven, Dragonlance, Bigby’s or Planescape so am curious if they have defined feats for the backgrounds (I recall from videos that Strixhaven had its own feat you could choose with the background) or are they open to all published feats? The popularity of vHuman and Custom Lineage were to pick up feats like GWM, SS, XBow Expert, etc. if all these new backgrounds do the same then vHuman and Custom Lineage are that much stronger.
They all specify particular feats from the books that are associated with the backgrounds.
Yes. But they each include a feat. That’s all I wrote. I didn’t get into specifics is all.
I get that. I only questioned it because it’s a new player trying to create a custom race and just wanted to clarify that the “backgrounds have feats” is limited by design currently and in UA. Just for clarity.
Typically for new players I recommend using something off the shelf instead of homebrewing right off the bat. Homebrewing can get tricky, especially if you don’t have the experience to know what you’re doing. Don’t try to mix & match the current stuff with the UA stuff when planning what you’re working on. Choose either one set of rules or the other, either the current stuff or the UA stuff, not both. The UA stuff is all up in the air and is being written with a new set of standards in mind. One example is that the current edition has the ASIs attached to races/species, but the UA stuff has them all moving to backgrounds instead. It’ll still be the same (+2/+1) or (+1/+1/+1), but races will not grant any ASIs at all anymore. Another example is that the UA backgrounds will only allow access to a limited set of feats, none of which will grant an ASI at all, while the current standard of backgrounds each cherry picks a specific feat that they grant. That’s because the UA feats that include an ASI will all be level gated at 4th level or higher, whereas the current feats are all level agnostic. I could go on about the differences, but I don’t feel like it. So again, I’ll reiterate that you should either go by the current standard, or the UA standard, but don’t try to blend them. And I strongly recommend that you actually play some D&D before homebrewing anything, just to get a feel for the game.
One change between current 5e and the proposed new rules presented in the first Unearthed Arcana is that the ability score improvements have been moved from the species to the background. Overall, you still get to add either 2 to one ability and 1 to another or 1 to three different abilities. I don’t know if it’s been said explicitly but the intent seems clear that can’t pick a species from MotM and then make a background from UA1 and benefit from both sets of ability score improvement. Similarly, none of the feats available via backgrounds in UA (or any of the current books which offer level 1 feats) provide an ability score improvement: those are all locked away until level 4. Also,, the Human in the UA , which is closer to the current “Variant Human”, can only use “level 1” feats.
(There are a couple of species from MotM which seem to have moved into the proposed new Players Handbook: the Orc and the Goliath. The Goliath appears in one of the later UAs, after they abandoned the Ardling. Those might give you ideas of how the format changes. It seems that other species in MotM will remain available after the 2024 PHB arrives: they’ll just need minor tweaks, like not taking the ASIs twice.)
have went for a +2 from species and a +1 from background as a kinda middle ground (atleast in my mind - kinda like using sub-species as the background itself)
personally didnt mind the 1st ardling in the UA, seemed to fit nicely for a beast-person and a starting point for all manner of critters not covered - unsure about the changed one
Typically for new players I recommend using something off the shelf instead of homebrewing right off the bat. Homebrewing can get tricky, especially if you don’t have the experience to know what you’re doing. Don’t try to mix & match the current stuff with the UA stuff when planning what you’re working on. Choose either one set of rules or the other, either the current stuff or the UA stuff, not both. The UA stuff is all up in the air and is being written with a new set of standards in mind. One example is that the current edition has the ASIs attached to races/species, but the UA stuff has them all moving to backgrounds instead. It’ll still be the same (+2/+1) or (+1/+1/+1), but races will not grant any ASIs at all anymore. Another example is that the UA backgrounds will only allow access to a limited set of feats, none of which will grant an ASI at all, while the current standard of backgrounds each cherry picks a specific feat that they grant. That’s because the UA feats that include an ASI will all be level gated at 4th level or higher, whereas the current feats are all level agnostic. I could go on about the differences, but I don’t feel like it. So again, I’ll reiterate that you should either go by the current standard, or the UA standard, but don’t try to blend them. And I strongly recommend that you actually play some D&D before homebrewing anything, just to get a feel for the game.
which standard would you suggest to familiarize myself with??
for now im really enjoying reading the materials available and the potential world building creativity - however have almost given up on trying to figure out how the realms and deities work together but thats a story for another time :)
i do wish to one day play a game or sit in on one to see how everything works (me not much of a talker or expressive and unsure if that impacts things)
If it were me I would use the current standard. So, that would mean the MotM versions of things. I would just use that Goblin and find a class & subclass that’s as close to my idea as I could and pick a background that complements those choices, then make a character and join a game with it.
If you’ve already got access to the current PHB, then probably best to work with that standard at the moment. You’re more likely to find games using that than the UA rules, I suspect, and at least some of the rules and options presented in the UA documents will be changed or abandoned in the published version of the new PHB.
There’s no harm and plenty of fun in exploring and playing with the options in the UA documents, as long you’re clear which rules are being used in whatever campaign you join. That’s actually good general advice: different DMs may choose to include or exclude different sourcebooks or options in their campaigns, so make sure that any character you propose playing in a campaign is compatible with the DM’s restrictions.
It seems likely that there will be different rates and degrees of adoption of the 2024 PHB when it arrives. Some tables will be itching to transition to it as soon as it’s launched; some may continue with the 2014 PHB for their current campaigns and consider switching later; some might be quite comfortable including both 2014-style and 2024-style characters in the same party; some may decide that they will never move to the 2024 version.
If it were me I would use the current standard. So, that would mean the MotM versions of things. I would just use that Goblin and find a class & subclass that’s as close to my idea as I could and pick a background that complements those choices, then make a character and join a game with it.
will start reading through MotM and see what jumps out at me :) thank you for the direction
If you’ve already got access to the current PHB, then probably best to work with that standard at the moment. You’re more likely to find games using that than the UA rules, I suspect, and at least some of the rules and options presented in the UA documents will be changed or abandoned in the published version of the new PHB.
There’s no harm and plenty of fun in exploring and playing with the options in the UA documents, as long you’re clear which rules are being used in whatever campaign you join. That’s actually good general advice: different DMs may choose to include or exclude different sourcebooks or options in their campaigns, so make sure that any character you propose playing in a campaign is compatible with the DM’s restrictions.
It seems likely that there will be different rates and degrees of adoption of the 2024 PHB when it arrives. Some tables will be itching to transition to it as soon as it’s launched; some may continue with the 2014 PHB for their current campaigns and consider switching later; some might be quite comfortable including both 2014-style and 2024-style characters in the same party; some may decide that they will never move to the 2024 version.
thank you for the good advice - was unaware that rules could change depending on campaign/DM, will definitely have to keep that in mind moving forward will continue to explore as i do find it fun, thanks again
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The UA background rules are customize your own background; those are just examples.
They're in Monsters of the multiverse
Most of the species with dark vision don't need to make that kind of tradeoff.
And you're still allowed to homebrew something, or just play that you hate the sun and bright light even if you don't get mechanical penalties.
My understanding is it's pretty annoying.
The problem with Sunlight Sensitivity was that it was devastating if you were playing a class that relied heavily on attack rolls, like fighters and rogues, but had effectively no effect if you were a spellcaster who could easily be built to never have to make attack rolls.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
am using the UA backgrounds there as examples
currently it seems like im able to: (with the background feat - could be completely wrong but anywho)
interact with a creature or kit, gain a spell, heal, increase unarmed to a d4 or increase general capabilities outside battle - which seems to give me alot to work with (atleast in my mind)
the feats that give an ability score increase seem to be possible (since backgrounds give an ability score increase)
but trying to avoid those feats incase to overpowered (atleast for now)
got access to both monsters of the multiverse and volo's guide to monsters (legacy)
which have differences between them - currently using both as references but also trying to keep to the feel of one d&d
and its changes to species and backgrounds along with lineages (still wrapping my head around it all)
One change between current 5e and the proposed new rules presented in the first Unearthed Arcana is that the ability score improvements have been moved from the species to the background. Overall, you still get to add either 2 to one ability and 1 to another or 1 to three different abilities. I don’t know if it’s been said explicitly but the intent seems clear that can’t pick a species from MotM and then make a background from UA1 and benefit from both sets of ability score improvement. Similarly, none of the feats available via backgrounds in UA (or any of the current books which offer level 1 feats) provide an ability score improvement: those are all locked away until level 4. Also,, the Human in the UA , which is closer to the current “Variant Human”, can only use “level 1” feats.
(There are a couple of species from MotM which seem to have moved into the proposed new Players Handbook: the Orc and the Goliath. The Goliath appears in one of the later UAs, after they abandoned the Ardling. Those might give you ideas of how the format changes. It seems that other species in MotM will remain available after the 2024 PHB arrives: they’ll just need minor tweaks, like not taking the ASIs twice.)
I get that. I only questioned it because it’s a new player trying to create a custom race and just wanted to clarify that the “backgrounds have feats” is limited by design currently and in UA. Just for clarity.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Ahh ha ha. That makes sense.
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AuroraMoon,
Typically for new players I recommend using something off the shelf instead of homebrewing right off the bat. Homebrewing can get tricky, especially if you don’t have the experience to know what you’re doing. Don’t try to mix & match the current stuff with the UA stuff when planning what you’re working on. Choose either one set of rules or the other, either the current stuff or the UA stuff, not both. The UA stuff is all up in the air and is being written with a new set of standards in mind. One example is that the current edition has the ASIs attached to races/species, but the UA stuff has them all moving to backgrounds instead. It’ll still be the same (+2/+1) or (+1/+1/+1), but races will not grant any ASIs at all anymore. Another example is that the UA backgrounds will only allow access to a limited set of feats, none of which will grant an ASI at all, while the current standard of backgrounds each cherry picks a specific feat that they grant. That’s because the UA feats that include an ASI will all be level gated at 4th level or higher, whereas the current feats are all level agnostic. I could go on about the differences, but I don’t feel like it. So again, I’ll reiterate that you should either go by the current standard, or the UA standard, but don’t try to blend them. And I strongly recommend that you actually play some D&D before homebrewing anything, just to get a feel for the game.
I hope that helps.
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have went for a +2 from species and a +1 from background as a kinda middle ground (atleast in my mind - kinda like using sub-species as the background itself)
personally didnt mind the 1st ardling in the UA, seemed to fit nicely for a beast-person and a starting point for all manner of critters not covered - unsure about the changed one
which standard would you suggest to familiarize myself with??
for now im really enjoying reading the materials available and the potential world building creativity - however have almost given up on trying to figure out how the realms and deities work together but thats a story for another time :)
i do wish to one day play a game or sit in on one to see how everything works (me not much of a talker or expressive and unsure if that impacts things)
If it were me I would use the current standard. So, that would mean the MotM versions of things. I would just use that Goblin and find a class & subclass that’s as close to my idea as I could and pick a background that complements those choices, then make a character and join a game with it.
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If you’ve already got access to the current PHB, then probably best to work with that standard at the moment. You’re more likely to find games using that than the UA rules, I suspect, and at least some of the rules and options presented in the UA documents will be changed or abandoned in the published version of the new PHB.
There’s no harm and plenty of fun in exploring and playing with the options in the UA documents, as long you’re clear which rules are being used in whatever campaign you join. That’s actually good general advice: different DMs may choose to include or exclude different sourcebooks or options in their campaigns, so make sure that any character you propose playing in a campaign is compatible with the DM’s restrictions.
It seems likely that there will be different rates and degrees of adoption of the 2024 PHB when it arrives. Some tables will be itching to transition to it as soon as it’s launched; some may continue with the 2014 PHB for their current campaigns and consider switching later; some might be quite comfortable including both 2014-style and 2024-style characters in the same party; some may decide that they will never move to the 2024 version.
will start reading through MotM and see what jumps out at me :)
thank you for the direction
thank you for the good advice - was unaware that rules could change depending on campaign/DM, will definitely have to keep that in mind moving forward
will continue to explore as i do find it fun, thanks again