Full Moon StorytellingTurning 5e Background Features into 5.5e Feats
Much of the flavor of the 2014 version of 5e Dungeons & Dragons backgrounds was within their features. These mild mechanics usually made some element of either the social or exploration pillars of the game.
They’re gone, replacing both story and the two minor pillars with a Feat in 2024 D&D. It’s a shame.
Many of my own custom backgrounds sit dormant, because the story was a key part of why they existed. And adding power through a Feat that offers more combat utility is silly.
There’s a solution. The example comes from the Realms books. The Feats there ooze flavor in ways the Player’s Handbook does not.
How can I do that at scale for the 20+ backgrounds I’ve created?
Borrow from themes
Find the origin feats (or talents) that are most similar to the desire and calibrate from there. Skilled, Musician and Crafter are the ones in the 5.5 Player’s Handbook I’ll lean towards. Black Flag expands the calibration in similar ways to the Realms books. Psychanist, Ritualist, Athletic, Polyglot, Scrutinous, and Trade Skills will be referenced as well. Having a bank of ten feats and talents to calibrate against should help.
Walkthrough
Let’s start with the clothier/weaver, which by design leans into tropes around various fictional cults that use threads to see futures.
The original feature with mild mechanics.
Feature: As the Wheel Wills
You have a certain comfort and understanding that you aren’t always in control. You have advantage on saves against fear, charm and other enchantments after the first round in these conditions.
Additionally, you are able to find and protect secrets. When using Insight or Sleight of Hand to keep or discover secrets you do so with double proficiency.
Making it modern
From mild mechanics to direct mechanics is a first step. The second is to calibrate versus similar feats and talents. As the Wheel Wills feels like more of a social feat with hints at magic, but not spell craft. Ritualist, Musician and Athletic have some of the heft I’ll use.
As the Wheel Wills for 5.5e
Due to your understanding of the wheel you have advantage on saving throws against fear and charm after being under the condition for one round. (This is somewhat similar to Athletic)
Also, your experiences understanding that weaving is a physical representation of the connections between peoples you have expertise with one of Insight or Sleight of Hand. (Removing the more situational impact from the previous version).
Another example – Cabbie/Ferien
The Cabbie is an attempt to capture some Shadow & Bone, Narnia, Bridgerton, Gilded Age vibes.
Feature: Talk too much
You are a skilled conversationalist that frequently goes on and on. These long talks are often consuming and distracting. Some cabbies and feriens may have allies who use that speech as a distraction to pick pockets or similar events.
Additionally, you pick up the streets, rivers or flyways of a new city quickly almost never getting lost in natural urban areas.
Let’s convert that
Origin Feat: Talk Too Much
When talking to creature with which you share a language (or culture) you are able to distract a non-hostile creature. An ally attempting use Sleight of Hand, Stealth, or Deception against that creature has advantage in the current minute.
Additionally after spending an hour in a bar, market, restaurant or other third place in a new non-magical urban area you are unable to get lost.
Moving forward
For some reason, unlocking this process within my mind is fuel to move forward with the backgrounds that are necessary to move forward with Uprising & Rebellion into the 5.5 era.
Converting 20 was overwhelming until these thoughts. Plus, with the idea that an Origin Feat can be a General Feat with the addition of an attribute bonus that helps advance the three pillars I’m most interested in — Social, Exploration, Scheming. Because a few of these backgrounds and their newly associated Feats will unlock crafting, business management or militia actions.
#backgrounds #DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #feat #Feature #homebrew #PlayingDD
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