PHB Soldier Background

Marleycat · July 18, 2014, 01:18:13 PM

Quote from: Bren;770342Oh. Guess I'm behind on my reading. I like the words though. I think there is something there I can steal.

Good. Make sure to follow the updates to the PDF they plan to expand it with DMG/MM stuff when the PHB drops next month and probably update it through the end of the year. And it's free.

@Jadrax, I wouldn't be surprised in the least if Ravenloft or Dragonlance isn't on deck fairly quick for a setting book.

estar · July 18, 2014, 01:22:26 PM

Quote from: Armchair Gamer;770345I tend to agree. My concern is twofold:

1. I'm hoping there won't be any traps or breaking points like so much of the community found in 3E;

I haven't seen any kewl powerz in the revealed backgrounds. So far they consist of Skill Proficencies, Tool Proficencies, Equipmant, and one or more Feature which appear to all in-game roleplaying benefit as opposed to mechanical benefits.

The question to ask is how badly D&D 5e breaks if a character is proficient in all skills and all items.

That will be the absolute worse the background system could get. Realistically all it does mechanically is add proficiencie.

Marleycat · July 18, 2014, 01:27:52 PM

Quote from: estar;770351I haven't seen any kewl powerz in the revealed backgrounds. So far they consist of Skill Proficencies, Tool Proficencies, Equipmant, and one or more Feature which appear to all in-game roleplaying benefit as opposed to mechanical benefits.

The question to ask is how badly D&D 5e breaks if a character is proficient in all skills and all items.

That will be the absolute worse the background system could get. Realistically all it does mechanically is add proficiencie.

They seem to be very clear as to what they add or do not add and very clear on modification...

QuoteCustomizing 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 should never see anybody but a bard/rogue have more than 4 skills. It's not like they're so needed like 3e anyway.

Warboss Squee · July 18, 2014, 01:30:26 PM

Quote from: Marleycat;770352They seem to be very clear as to what they add or do not add and very clear on modification...

And blam, suddenly I have backgrounds for Eberron.

Omega · July 18, 2014, 03:12:48 PM

Quote from: Bren;770335I was wondering if I was the only person who was more interested in reading the words on the page than critiquing the artwork.

I critique the artwork because thats my job.

Aside from the face not being quite "Asian" enough and the head possibly a fraction on the small side in scale with the other proportions. Looks ok really.

Omega · July 18, 2014, 03:14:18 PM

Quote from: Bren;770335I was wondering if I was the only person who was more interested in reading the words on the page than critiquing the artwork.

I critique the artwork because thats my job.

Aside from the face not being quite "Asian" enough and the head possibly a fraction on the small side in scale with the other proportions - or more aptly, the armour looks oversized on her. Otherwise looks good really.

Armchair Gamer · July 18, 2014, 03:54:38 PM

Quote from: jadrax;770348There is a rumour going around that 5e actually came about because they decided that doing Ravenloft was next to impossible under 4e. If that's true, you have to assume Ravenloft is a decent contender to be coming in the first couple of settings.

Yes, well, I started that rumor based on a couple things I heard over the past couple of years.

But the Forbes article from a month or two back did promise new Ravenloft stuff very soon.

Armchair Gamer · July 18, 2014, 03:58:07 PM

Quote from: estar;770351That will be the absolute worse the background system could get. Realistically all it does mechanically is add proficiencie.

I'm sorry, I was unclear; I was referring to the mechanics of the system as a whole, not just the Background section. Backgrounds and Ideals, Traits and Flaws look just fine.

I can see potential for abuse if someone gets the 'bright idea' to start adding save proficiencies to 'special' backgrounds, but that's the kind of thing that you get in any system that isn't rigorously effects-based, and I think WotC is smart enough to avoid it.

Quote from: Sacrosanct;770347Luckily for you, you can drop $0 on the rules for the basic set (when it's complete), and decide if it's a game you would like to keep playing before dropping a dime.

For which I am most grateful.

Exploderwizard · July 18, 2014, 04:03:38 PM

Quote from: Omega;770381I critique the artwork because thats my job.

Aside from the face not being quite "Asian" enough and the head possibly a fraction on the small side in scale with the other proportions - or more aptly, the armour looks oversized on her. Otherwise looks good really.

Something seemed off to me anf thats it. She looks like she looted her armor from a larger person.

dragoner · July 18, 2014, 04:05:52 PM

Or maybe she ran into a mermaid on a desert isle.

Will · July 18, 2014, 04:14:15 PM

Although for some of us it's going to take more information than Basic to know if we're really going to like the system, but it's at least a ballpark thing.

ZWEIHÄNDER · July 18, 2014, 04:39:16 PM

Quote from: Exploderwizard;770391Something seemed off to me anf thats it. She looks like she looted her armor from a larger person.

Say what you will about anachronism, but Japanese field armor was traditionally oversized.

http://i.imgur.com/TsHlzFo.jpg

At the end of the day, D&D includes everything in the kitchen sink when it comes to real-world influence. Nothing wrong with that.

LibraryLass · July 18, 2014, 05:03:07 PM

Yoroi's pretty bulky stuff. It doesn't look unduly so to me. I think people are just used to it fitting closer because of video games and such.

Hermit background preview's up now too, it also has nifty art.

dragoner · July 18, 2014, 05:13:56 PM

Women look proportionally different in armor than men. /shrug

Usually when you see them, the only way you can tell the difference is that often they are shorter.

danbuter · July 18, 2014, 05:19:28 PM

I have to say, I like all of the 5e art I've seen so far. Best art they've had since 2e.