Since there's no default way to create a real custom background for 2024, I figured I'd homebrew one.
I made a 2024 style background that lets you choose any origin feat, 2 proficiencies, a tool, gives you 50gp, and lets you put your stat bonuses wherever you want (the stat bonus choice is done on the abilities tab).
Yeah, that's going to be an issue for me because I am using the Mythos Survivor background from Cthulhu Mythos 5E, so I have no way to put it there. Also, it must be a bug with the Origin feat since the rules do say you can pick one if the legacy Background doesn't have one.
Thank you so much. The 2024 character creation is pure poop. It just has the same issues as 2014. There are gonna be a lot of Farmer Pladins and Fighters in 2024 D&D.
After reading the BG section in the DMG, the implication seems to be that the DM will create each custom background individually (meaning a Homebrew here on DDB for each one) rather than leaving it up to the players with a generic Custom background. This is very clunky and requires plenty of extra work since very few of the test characters I've made with the 5.2 rules have been able to use the official backgrounds as written. A character who wants every aspect of a background (feat, skills, tool, ability bonus) without customization is going to be the exception rather than the norm. DMs have enough on their plate, so I don't doubt that most will just tell their players to write their own backgrounds and then will approve/disapprove whatever they write.
After reading the BG section in the DMG, the implication seems to be that the DM will create each custom background individually (meaning a Homebrew here on DDB for each one) rather than leaving it up to the players with a generic Custom background. This is very clunky and requires plenty of extra work since very few of the test characters I've made with the 5.2 rules have been able to use the official backgrounds as written. A character who wants every aspect of a background (feat, skills, tool, ability bonus) without customization is going to be the exception rather than the norm. DMs have enough on their plate, so I don't doubt that most will just tell their players to write their own backgrounds and then will approve/disapprove whatever they write.
They dropped the ball on this one, IMO.
Yeah when this was created, it was supposed to be a hold over until 2024 DMG was released. Unfortunately, it dropped the ball and made it that the DM had to make custom backgrounds. Yeah, more work for the DM and less work for the Players. A very 2014 mindset to the game. It is a shame that they did not add a general custom background when 2024 DMG was released.
Easy solution for D&D Beyond users: Don’t assign increases from your background in the background section; instead, add the bonuses directly in the character stats section.
Unless I'm missing something, no - this has not been fixed. The Custom Background you see is still the 2014 version as the picklist only contains 'Background Features' which don't exist anymore.
I'm assuming they haven't completely updated the 'Homebrew Background' to accommodate all the 2024 rules, but it's close enough for now. Yes, the owner of the character must create a homebrew background.
I can't find a way to limit the ability score bonus choices, but the character still gets them. The character just picks +2/+1 or +1/+1/+1 from all six attributes.
You need to add the initial Feat in the 'Granted Feats' section.
I was so excited when they put it out in play test that every player was going to be able to create their own background from the ground up and had it set up fairly simply and easy it felt to me, ya they need to put a few tweaks and limitations to it but what it has now become is so damn disappointing and then to drop it totally back in the lap of the already busy DM…. WHY! I mean which one of these developers really had the brain storm to say hey guys I have this idea about custom background… let’s not make it easy and let’s also drop it on the DM’s plate because they are not busy enough. And then I’d like to know who all support that block head to push this to the final point it now has come to be…. They all need to be switched. Lol.
My god, I was losing my mind trying to make a Custom Background using the 2024 rules, but I could not for the life of me figure out where and how I was supposed to do the Origin Feats.
Man, I really need to search the Forums mor often. THANK YOU!
This is great. I did have a question though. How did you get the option for Origin feats? I am trying to make a 2024 compatible species that uses the Human versatile trait. I used the Human as the base for the species and in the settings it says select an origin feat like the human does, but when I actually go to use the species I get the full feats list not just the origin feats. Is there a way to limit it, or do I need to just forget about trying to get it to work?
Since there's no default way to create a real custom background for 2024, I figured I'd homebrew one.
I made a 2024 style background that lets you choose any origin feat, 2 proficiencies, a tool, gives you 50gp, and lets you put your stat bonuses wherever you want (the stat bonus choice is done on the abilities tab).
Go forth and make your own background.
https://www.dndbeyond.com/backgrounds/407050-custom-2024-background
Hmm, I have access to Custom Background on the character creator and I'm creating a 2024 character. Must be from the 2014 version.
Yeah the "custom background" that comes up is the 2014 version, and does not let you choose an origin feat.
Yeah, that's going to be an issue for me because I am using the Mythos Survivor background from Cthulhu Mythos 5E, so I have no way to put it there. Also, it must be a bug with the Origin feat since the rules do say you can pick one if the legacy Background doesn't have one.
You can also just take a 2014 background and just give yourself whatever origin feat you want after character creation.
Thank you so much. The 2024 character creation is pure poop. It just has the same issues as 2014. There are gonna be a lot of Farmer Pladins and Fighters in 2024 D&D.
I was looking for exactly this, thank you. There should be an official custom version in the DMG, but that's weeks away.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Early DMG releases today where the custom background exists, but still not available on character sheets.
thank you for this
After reading the BG section in the DMG, the implication seems to be that the DM will create each custom background individually (meaning a Homebrew here on DDB for each one) rather than leaving it up to the players with a generic Custom background. This is very clunky and requires plenty of extra work since very few of the test characters I've made with the 5.2 rules have been able to use the official backgrounds as written. A character who wants every aspect of a background (feat, skills, tool, ability bonus) without customization is going to be the exception rather than the norm. DMs have enough on their plate, so I don't doubt that most will just tell their players to write their own backgrounds and then will approve/disapprove whatever they write.
They dropped the ball on this one, IMO.
Fair Winds and Following Seas
Yeah when this was created, it was supposed to be a hold over until 2024 DMG was released. Unfortunately, it dropped the ball and made it that the DM had to make custom backgrounds. Yeah, more work for the DM and less work for the Players. A very 2014 mindset to the game. It is a shame that they did not add a general custom background when 2024 DMG was released.
Easy solution for D&D Beyond users: Don’t assign increases from your background in the background section; instead, add the bonuses directly in the character stats section.
This has been 'fixed' now and you can create 2024 Custom Backgrounds. Except for ability scores which seem to have been missed.
Unless I'm missing something, no - this has not been fixed. The Custom Background you see is still the 2014 version as the picklist only contains 'Background Features' which don't exist anymore.
Chipping in to say I also only see the the Customer Background option that has no Origin Feat, nor abilities scores to select.
A few comments:
I was so excited when they put it out in play test that every player was going to be able to create their own background from the ground up and had it set up fairly simply and easy it felt to me, ya they need to put a few tweaks and limitations to it but what it has now become is so damn disappointing and then to drop it totally back in the lap of the already busy DM…. WHY! I mean which one of these developers really had the brain storm to say hey guys I have this idea about custom background… let’s not make it easy and let’s also drop it on the DM’s plate because they are not busy enough. And then I’d like to know who all support that block head to push this to the final point it now has come to be…. They all need to be switched. Lol.
That's why I could never get it to work!
My god, I was losing my mind trying to make a Custom Background using the 2024 rules, but I could not for the life of me figure out where and how I was supposed to do the Origin Feats.
Man, I really need to search the Forums mor often. THANK YOU!
This is great. I did have a question though. How did you get the option for Origin feats? I am trying to make a 2024 compatible species that uses the Human versatile trait. I used the Human as the base for the species and in the settings it says select an origin feat like the human does, but when I actually go to use the species I get the full feats list not just the origin feats. Is there a way to limit it, or do I need to just forget about trying to get it to work?