How to homebrew the background for the 2024 PHB

Backgrounds are in the spotlight in the 2024 update Dungeons and Dragons Player's Handbook, because ability scores are now tied to your character's life experiences instead of their species. The Player's Handbook offers many options, but what if none of them are suitable for your character?

Fortunately, homebrewing a background is much easier and more forgiving than homebrewing a class or species, and your DM is more likely to allow it. With a little effort and forethought, you can have a unique background that won't break the game.

What are the backgrounds?

represents the background Where your character comes from and what they did before becoming an adventurer. In the 2024 rules update, Wizards of the Coast put more emphasis on backgrounds, to emphasize that your character's species isn't the most creative thing about them.

Not all dwarves grow up in the mines and learn to use a warhammer, and Not all orcs are muscle bound brutes. An orc taken to a monastery at a young age can be as intelligent as an elf trained in magic, and a halfling trained as a blacksmith can have as fine an eye for detail as the most discerning dwarven craftsman.

Background excerpts

Background includes five features: three Ability scoreone Origin achievementTwo Skill Proficienciesa Equipment Proficiencyand equipment.

Each background lists three ability scores. You can choose from this list One will increase the ability score by two points and the other by oneOr you can increase all three by one point each.

The background also includes an origin achievement, representing There is something unique about your character that sets them apart from othersBut which is a common feature among all who share the same background.

Skills represent proficiency A skill or field of study that will be familiar to your character From that background. They may not be experts at it, but they are at least passable.

All backgrounds gain tool proficiency. This can be anything from being able to make simple potions with an herbalist's kit to being good at card games.

Finally, all the backgrounds come up A set of starting tools On top of what comes from your class. The price of this starting equipment varies, but is always valued at around 50 GP.

Creating your background

The first rule of homebrewing is Measure in official options. You might be tempted to say that your knight background comes with full plate armor, a warhorse, multi-weapon proficiency, and a free spell, but it can make you feel like you're playing second fiddle to everyone using the standard background. Instead, focus on staying on one leg and Creating a delicious backdrop.

The first thing you should do is Write a short description of your background. About a paragraph describing how your character was raised and what kind of experiences they had before starting the adventure. This will help feed all the mechanical parts of the background.

In game development, it is called
Top-down design
. You start with flavor or consequence (“My character is on the run.”), then fill in the mechanics (“What ability scores would fit someone running from his past?”).

next, Choose three ability scores That someone of your background will likely develop. Characters who spend a lot of time interacting with others are likely to develop high Charisma, while those who work hard will likely develop high Strength and Constitution.

Ability score is locked, it's time Choose your origin achievement. This feat represents a special talent or trait you've developed through background. A gambling background may be a lucky achievement, for example, when someone raised in a tribe of barbarians may become a savage raider.

After choosing the achievement, it's time Choose two skill proficiency. This can be difficult, because there may be many skills that make sense for your background, but you want to stay on the playing field with an official background.

next, Choose your device proficiencyWhich represents your ability to use a particular type of tool or tool, whether it's a blacksmith's hammer or a deck of cards. This proficiency is also going to feed into the next step, your equipment.

finally, Choose your device. The equipment you select for proficiency should be on this list, as well as items that support the kit and clothing set. Start with 50 GP and subtract the cost of the equipment kitThen stay within that budget. Simple weapons can be included, but armor and magical items must not be.

Updating backgrounds

If the backgrounds provided in the Player's Handbook don't work for you, Consider the backgrounds provided in older fifth edition books. These backgrounds are very simple to update.

Since old backgrounds don't include ability scores and sometimes don't include feats, that's what you need to do Choose an ability score to add two and one to add one, or three to add one score, then choose an origin feat.. Skills and equipment proficiency may remain the same, and many languages ​​may be omitted.

Sample backgrounds

We've included two sample backgrounds, one original and one from The Wild Beyond the Witchlight to match the rules for updating the failed background.

Dungeon Delver

Feylost (adapted from Wild Beyond The Witchlight)