In One D&D’s new playtest guidelines pack, Backgrounds play a a lot greater function in defining your character than ever earlier than.

We’re again with one other batch of the Character Origins playtest for One D&D. This time we’re taking a look at how One D&D handles backgrounds. In One D&D, Backgrounds play a a lot extra necessary function in character creation than in 5E.

WotC has been steadily foregrounding them increasingly over the previous few books. They’ve made particular campaign-focused backgrounds that grant entry to feats. Spelljammer has them. Strixhaven has them. But now Backgrounds do way more than provide you with a Feat.

One D&D Backgrounds – Playtest Edition

Let’s begin with a take a look at what Backgrounds are in One D&D:

Your character’s Background is a set of traits that signify the place and occupation that have been most formative for the character earlier than they launched into a lifetime of journey.

There are three choices for choosing a Background. You can both construct your individual (the brand new default), choose one of many “sample backgrounds”, or decide a pre-made background and customise it.

What do they provide you? In One D&D, Backgrounds are much more unified than the kind of vaguely narrative options you bought earlier than. Backgrounds like Acolyte which gave you shelter in church buildings, or Outlander which meant you by no means needed to forage for meals or shelter, have been modified. This is one thing of a bummer, nevertheless it additionally is smart. Since Backgrounds gave such obscure (and varyingly highly effective) advantages, they typically didn’t matter.

Now all Backgrounds give the identical advantages:

• Ability Score Increases – These are the usual enhance by +2/+1 or +1/+1/_1
• Skill Proficiencies – Pick two
• Tool Proficiency – Pick one
• Language – Pick one
• Feat – Gain a 1st Level Feat (so Humans acquire two, take word)
• Equipment price 50 GP

So straight away we see the primary huge change. Ability rating will increase at the moment are tied to Backgrounds as an alternative of race. There’s a pleasant little sidebar that outlines the truth that should you get a capability rating enhance from a number of sources (akin to enjoying with older books just like the PHB or Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything) you solely decide one.

Backgrounds giving a Feat is one other huge one. It’s principally simply the canonization of a development we’ve seen in current books. But now you get to choose no matter you need.

Of course, you possibly can decide from pre-made backgrounds as effectively. There are just a few acquainted ones like:

• Acolyte
• Artisan
• Charlatan
• Entertainer
• Farmer

Which provides you totally different potential rating will increase and varied feats. Farmer provides you +2 Con/+1 Wis, in addition to Animal Handling and Nature and the Tough feat. Though you might simply as simply be a Farmer with +2 Str/+1 Cha should you constructed it precisely the identical approach.

It’s attention-grabbing to see what D&D suggests. But at this level, one has to marvel, why even have potential rating will increase? If they’re already common, why not simply begin with a barely larger customary array? Or make for a extra versatile level purchase?

It is likely to be that “increasing ability scores” is a part of D&D character creation. But. Now greater than ever WotC might be monitoring their suggestions.

Check out the One D&D Playtest Rules

What do you consider the brand new Background guidelines? Let us know within the feedback

Bell of Lost Souls Staff Writer and DM, J.R. covers RPGs of all stripes and every now and then eats sandwiches. You can ask him about both at [email protected]

Read the Comments (0)