I'm making a character and the background I want doesn't fit any premade backgrounds, so I'm making a custom one. One thing I'm confused about, though, is what background features and characteristics are. Please keep in mind that I am new to D&D so what's obvious to you, I might not know.
So, under the 2014 model the background feature was typically a soft mechanic that was supposed to help tie a character into the larger setting in some way. Typically would require some working out between a player and the DM. Starting a few years ago they started making that feature a feat instead, and with 2024 they officially made that the new standard with a pool of background feats in the updated PHB.
The various characteristic tables you got in earlier 5e material were roleplay prompts- some examples of details that could be used to flesh out a character in line with their background. They didn’t really do anything concrete.
If you have the new 2024 DMG, there's a section about Creating a Background that might help you, but basically, you'll need to choose options for the next items (this is just a quick guide!):
(*) Ability Scores (e. g. Strength, Intelligence, Charisma)
Really, you need to talk to your DM. They may have house rules about character creation, or not allow homebrew, or any number of things. Don’t get too invested in your idea u til you find a group.
Really, you need to talk to your DM. They may have house rules about character creation, or not allow homebrew, or any number of things. Don’t get too invested in your idea u til you find a group.
I'm not making this for a specific campaign, I just wanted to make a character, though I may use him in the future. I can't talk to my DM because the DM for the campaign I use this character for might not be the same DM of my current one. (also, just a tip, people typically won't take you as seriously if you use "u" instead of "you".)
I have the same question but I'm not a new player. If I select custom background it gives me 3 choices:
Proficiency/Language Choices
Background Feature
Background Characteristics
The proficiency and language is straightforward, but the other two have no description or indication of what they are actually adding. I see no option to select feats or skills and the options listed don't match what is in the player handbook. If I select one, I see no indication of what it changed. I'm trying to enter one from the book because in the actual background list only 4 show even though the character is in a campaign that should have access to the full book (not the problem in question, this part shouldn't be relevant to the custom background).
If you go look at one of the 2014 backgrounds (take Outlander for example) and scroll down a bit you'll find a section called "Feature: Wanderer" (and some descriptive text) and below that another section called "Suggested Characteristics" (and some tables). That is what those parts are made for. The new 2024 backgrounds doesn't use those things any more though.
I have the same question but I'm not a new player. If I select custom background it gives me 3 choices:
Proficiency/Language Choices
Background Feature
Background Characteristics
The proficiency and language is straightforward, but the other two have no description or indication of what they are actually adding. I see no option to select feats or skills and the options listed don't match what is in the player handbook. If I select one, I see no indication of what it changed. I'm trying to enter one from the book because in the actual background list only 4 show even though the character is in a campaign that should have access to the full book (not the problem in question, this part shouldn't be relevant to the custom background).
The features you are talking about apply to 2024 Backgrounds. If you are playing with the 2014 rules, the backgrounds give you the following:
In addition, most backgrounds give a character proficiency with one or more tools (detailed in chapter 5, "Equipment").
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.
Additional Languages
Some backgrounds also allow characters to learn additional languages beyond those given by race. See “Languages” earlier in this chapter.
Equipment
Each background provides a package of starting equipment. If you use the optional rule from chapter 5 to spend coin on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment from your background.
Suggested Characteristics
A background contains suggested personal characteristics based on your background. You can pick characteristics, roll dice to determine them randomly, or use the suggestions as inspiration for characteristics of your own creation.
A Background Feature such as False Identify for a Charlatan.
The rules for customizing a 2014 background are the following:
Customizing a Background
You might want to tweak some of the features of a background so it better fits your character or the campaign setting. To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds. You can either use the equipment package from your background or spend coin on gear as described in chapter 5. (If you spend coin, you can’t also take the equipment package suggested for your class.) Finally, choose two personality traits, one ideal, one bond, and one flaw. If you can’t find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one.
I’ve also noticed that when you go through the custom background option, it doesn’t have you select an origin feat. I had to go and add it post creation.
But I came here to find the same answer, I still don’t know what selecting those drop downs changes at all. Maybe one of them determines the stat bonus options, but I don’t know, will have to play around with it to see if I can narrow it down, but really it would be nice to find an official answer.
But I came here to find the same answer, I still don’t know what selecting those drop downs changes at all. Maybe one of them determines the stat bonus options, but I don’t know, will have to play around with it to see if I can narrow it down, but really it would be nice to find an official answer.
The question posed seems to be about the "BACKGROUND-SPECIFIC TABLE", the "SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS" and possibly the "FEATURE" entries for backgrounds. As I already said above those aren't used for 2024 backgrounds but they where used for 2014 backgrounds.
As an example we can take the legacy Outlander background because it uses those features. If you go look in its description you'll find a field that says:
Origin
You’ve been to strange places and seen things that others cannot begin to fathom. Consider some of the distant lands you have visited, and how they impacted you. You can roll on the following table to determine your occupation during your time in the wild, or choose one that best fits your character.
d10
Origin
1
Forester
2
Trapper
<table snipped for length>
And another that says:
Suggested Characteristics
Often considered rude and uncouth, outlanders have little respect for the niceties of life in the cities. The ties of tribe, clan, family, and the natural world of which they are a part are the most important bonds to most outlanders.
d8
Personality Trait
1
I’m driven by a wanderlust that led me away from home.
2
I watch over my friends as if they were a litter of newborn pups.
3
I once ran twenty-five miles without stopping to warn to my clan of an approaching orc horde. I’d do it again if I had to.
4
I have a lesson for every situation, drawn from observing nature.
5
I place no stock in wealthy or well-mannered folk. Money and manners won’t save you from a hungry owlbear.
6
I’m always picking things up, absently fiddling with them, and sometimes accidentally breaking them.
7
I feel far more comfortable around animals than people.
8
I was, in fact, raised by wolves.
<the rest of the tables snipped for length>
And one that says:
Feature: Wanderer
You have an excellent memory for maps and geography, and you can always recall the general layout of terrain, settlements, and other features around you. In addition, you can find food and fresh water for yourself and up to five other people each day, provided that the land offers berries, small game, water, and so forth.
There you have the "background-specific", "suggested characteristics" and "feature" elements you are looking for. The text parts go in the text boxes (one for "name" and one for "description") and the tables go in the "ADD A X" lists below.
If you want to see how it works just open up the page for the Outlander background in one browser-tab and then open up a homebrew background based on the Outlander in another and just compare back and forth. For extra credit open a homebrew background based on any of the 2024 backgrounds and see how they are not using the same elements.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I'm making a character and the background I want doesn't fit any premade backgrounds, so I'm making a custom one. One thing I'm confused about, though, is what background features and characteristics are. Please keep in mind that I am new to D&D so what's obvious to you, I might not know.
So, under the 2014 model the background feature was typically a soft mechanic that was supposed to help tie a character into the larger setting in some way. Typically would require some working out between a player and the DM. Starting a few years ago they started making that feature a feat instead, and with 2024 they officially made that the new standard with a pool of background feats in the updated PHB.
The various characteristic tables you got in earlier 5e material were roleplay prompts- some examples of details that could be used to flesh out a character in line with their background. They didn’t really do anything concrete.
Not sure if I understand the issue, but we can help you!
Features are for character classes: Character Classes - Free Rules - Dungeons & Dragons Maybe you're referring to feats?
And maybe when you say characteristics, are you referring to the six abilities? Playing the Game - Free Rules
If you have the new 2024 DMG, there's a section about Creating a Background that might help you, but basically, you'll need to choose options for the next items (this is just a quick guide!):
(*): Increase one by 2 and another one by 1, or increase all three by 1.
Really, you need to talk to your DM. They may have house rules about character creation, or not allow homebrew, or any number of things. Don’t get too invested in your idea u til you find a group.
I'm not making this for a specific campaign, I just wanted to make a character, though I may use him in the future. I can't talk to my DM because the DM for the campaign I use this character for might not be the same DM of my current one. (also, just a tip, people typically won't take you as seriously if you use "u" instead of "you".)
I have the same question but I'm not a new player. If I select custom background it gives me 3 choices:
If you go look at one of the 2014 backgrounds (take Outlander for example) and scroll down a bit you'll find a section called "Feature: Wanderer" (and some descriptive text) and below that another section called "Suggested Characteristics" (and some tables). That is what those parts are made for. The new 2024 backgrounds doesn't use those things any more though.
The features you are talking about apply to 2024 Backgrounds. If you are playing with the 2014 rules, the backgrounds give you the following:
Proficiencies
Each background gives a character proficiency in two skills (described in chapter 7, "Using Ability Scores").
In addition, most backgrounds give a character proficiency with one or more tools (detailed in chapter 5, "Equipment").
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.
Additional Languages
Some backgrounds also allow characters to learn additional languages beyond those given by race. See “Languages” earlier in this chapter.
Equipment
Each background provides a package of starting equipment. If you use the optional rule from chapter 5 to spend coin on gear, you do not receive the starting equipment from your background.
Suggested Characteristics
A background contains suggested personal characteristics based on your background. You can pick characteristics, roll dice to determine them randomly, or use the suggestions as inspiration for characteristics of your own creation.
A Background Feature such as False Identify for a Charlatan.
The rules for customizing a 2014 background are the following:
Customizing a Background
You might want to tweak some of the features of a background so it better fits your character or the campaign setting. To customize a background, you can replace one feature with any other one, choose any two skills, and choose a total of two tool proficiencies or languages from the sample backgrounds. You can either use the equipment package from your background or spend coin on gear as described in chapter 5. (If you spend coin, you can’t also take the equipment package suggested for your class.) Finally, choose two personality traits, one ideal, one bond, and one flaw. If you can’t find a feature that matches your desired background, work with your DM to create one.
I’ve also noticed that when you go through the custom background option, it doesn’t have you select an origin feat. I had to go and add it post creation.
But I came here to find the same answer, I still don’t know what selecting those drop downs changes at all. Maybe one of them determines the stat bonus options, but I don’t know, will have to play around with it to see if I can narrow it down, but really it would be nice to find an official answer.
Firstly I'll say that questions about homebrew is much better asked in the homebrew sub-forum, they are really good at this stuff.
The question posed seems to be about the "BACKGROUND-SPECIFIC TABLE", the "SUGGESTED CHARACTERISTICS" and possibly the "FEATURE" entries for backgrounds. As I already said above those aren't used for 2024 backgrounds but they where used for 2014 backgrounds.
As an example we can take the legacy Outlander background because it uses those features. If you go look in its description you'll find a field that says:
And another that says:
And one that says:
There you have the "background-specific", "suggested characteristics" and "feature" elements you are looking for. The text parts go in the text boxes (one for "name" and one for "description") and the tables go in the "ADD A X" lists below.
If you want to see how it works just open up the page for the Outlander background in one browser-tab and then open up a homebrew background based on the Outlander in another and just compare back and forth. For extra credit open a homebrew background based on any of the 2024 backgrounds and see how they are not using the same elements.