Discussion of Backgrounds

[Asinjin]

There are maybe ten listed in the players' handbook.  I believe I am going to allow, but since the backgrounds are heavy into story line, there are many combinations that won't make sense for a particular race or class.

If you have an idea for a background feel free to post the idea and we can flush it out.

[Malchia]

How about a "Treasure Hunter" background?

[Asinjin]

You can detail it out and probably use that.  I will be lenient for the playtest with creating new ones; just follow the format from the PHB.

[Malchia]

It wasn't for the play test; I'm going to use the printed material for that.  I just thought it might be a useful background.  I'll work on fleshing something out and post it when complete.  Then again, it's not that important to have new backgrounds.  Like anything in D&D, you can always improvise and create your own back story based on what's already in the book.   

[Asinjin]

I am still developing a theory on backgrounds for 5th edition and my campaigns.  I haven't settled on one yet.  What I mean by that is where the limitations are on them, how many there will be, how generic or specific are they going to be, etc.

I am concentrating now on the adventure more than the classes / backgrounds / races, since the ones we are going to use are settled for the playtest.

[Malchia]

Let me know what you think.  This is what I came up with for the Treasure Hunter based on the PHB rules.


Treasure Hunter

Skill Proficiencies: History, Stealth
Tool Proficiencies: Disguise Kit, Thieves’ Tools
Languages: One of your choice
Equipment: Either a Disguise Kit or a set of Thieves’ Tools, a small excavation kit that includes a shovel, gardener’s pick, bucket, and 50 ft. of hempen rope, a belt pouch containing 10 gp, and any one item on the trinket list that acts as the first treasure you discovered

Feature: Finder’s Keeper’s
As a Treasure Hunter, your livelihood and reputation depends on the quality of items found while scouring the land for lost artifacts and valuables.  You’ve developed a keen eye for the approximate worth of objects.  You gain advantage on Intelligence (Appraisal) rolls. 

Suggested Characteristics
Treasure Hunters are found among all cultures, races, and religions.  They range from archeologists, historians, and teachers all the way to criminal organizations and petty thugs.  There isn’t any one thing that defines you, but there is one thing that binds you: the accumulation of loot.       

Personality Trait – Player’s choice
Ideal – Player’s choice
Bond – Payer’s choice
Flaw – Player’s choice

[Asinjin]

Looking at the Features of all of the other backgrounds, I don't think this feature mechanically fits the mold.  None of the other features grant advantage or any other numerical bonus.  They are all DM discretion role playing or not well defined mechanically abilities.

[Malchia]

Looking at the Features of all of the other backgrounds, I don't think this feature mechanically fits the mold.  None of the other features grant advantage or any other numerical bonus.  They are all DM discretion role playing or not well defined mechanically abilities.

I was looking at other feature's from the different backgrounds and was trying to come up with something original while not deviating too far from the mechanics.  For instance, the Urchin background allows you to travel at double speed in cities, the Outlander can always recall the landscape and find food/water for up to 6 people a day, the Entertainer receives free room and board as well as food no matter where he may be.  I thought advantage on appraisals was a little different, but not far fetched compared to never running out of food or always being able to secure lodging or traveling at double speed.  That's close to a numerical increase albeit only localized to cities.

In any case, it was just a suggestion and my initial stab at creating something new for 5th edition.  I'm open to suggestions if anyone has any.  I'm also okay with eliminating the Treasure Hunter background altogether.  Like I said before, it's nothing any of us can't create on our own within the printed guidelines.   

[Asinjin]

I should have also said that the rest of it looks good, so as not to sound over critical.

[Malchia]

Revised feature:

Feature: Expert Appraisal
As a Treasure Hunter, your livelihood and reputation depends on the quality of items found while scouring the land for lost artifacts and valuables.  You’ve developed a keen eye for the approximate worth of objects.  When attempting to make an Intelligence (Appraisal) check to buy, sell, trade, or determine the worth of an item, the Treasure Hunter's knowledge and expertise shines through and becomes apparent to anyone the Treasure hunter comes in contact with.  This enables the Treasure Hunter to earn a little more in trade, get slightly more than fair market value, and hold his own in a debate with another seasoned merchant.  The DM has final say in determining the limits of what the Treasure Hunter is able to negotiate for.       

[whitesword]

Without the rules in front of me, if its as specific as Urchin and Entertainer, we will need a few dozen at least.

[Asinjin]

There are only ten in the PHB, so yes, we would need a large number of them.  However, I am not going to undertake a project of that size until we commit.  So you have the option of the ones from the PHB or making one up that fits.

[Asinjin]

Revised feature:

Feature: Expert Appraisal
As a Treasure Hunter, your livelihood and reputation depends on the quality of items found while scouring the land for lost artifacts and valuables.  You’ve developed a keen eye for the approximate worth of objects.  When attempting to make an Intelligence (Appraisal) check to buy, sell, trade, or determine the worth of an item, the Treasure Hunter's knowledge and expertise shines through and becomes apparent to anyone the Treasure hunter comes in contact with.  This enables the Treasure Hunter to earn a little more in trade, get slightly more than fair market value, and hold his own in a debate with another seasoned merchant.  The DM has final say in determining the limits of what the Treasure Hunter is able to negotiate for.     

I think that is more in line.

[Hero]

Observation:

Was looking through the backgrounds in the PHB recently and noticed that they all give exactly 4 proficiencies: 2 are defined skills and the other 2 are some combination of tool/language proficiency (2 tools, 2 languages, or 1 of each).

So if we follow the same pattern for homebrew backgrounds, the Treasure Hunter has one too many.

[Malchia]

Observation:

Was looking through the backgrounds in the PHB recently and noticed that they all give exactly 4 proficiencies: 2 are defined skills and the other 2 are some combination of tool/language proficiency (2 tools, 2 languages, or 1 of each).

So if we follow the same pattern for homebrew backgrounds, the Treasure Hunter has one too many.

A keen observation.  I missed that when going through the book.  In that case, I'll remove the Disguise Kit from the tool proficiencies.