New Posts For Thread: Backgrounds, Themes and Specialtieshttp://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_SpecialtiesTo say I'm disappointed by the current iteration of Backgrounds and Specialties is an understatement. To understand why I want to explain a bit:Originally there was quite a bit of speculation about the extent to which Backgrounds and Themes would dePretty much. It's what they said they would do, and it's what they're doing. (At least so far.) If someone is familiar with the ways in which and the extent to which skills and feats influenced characters in 3.5 and 4e, the scope and style of backgrohttp://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_Specialties?post_id=523634561#523634561Pretty much. It's what they said they would do, and it's what they're doing. (At least so far.) If someone is familiar with the ways in which and the extent to which skills and feats influenced characters in 3.5 and 4e, the scope and style of backgroFri, 31 Aug 2012 05:41:42 -0500I mean, of course specialties will never be as good as the actual class features but they scale which I think is important.For instance, right now Magic-User gets two cantrips at level 1 and a familiar at level 3 but I see no reason that by level 6 ihttp://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_Specialties?post_id=523633949#523633949I mean, of course specialties will never be as good as the actual class features but they scale which I think is important.For instance, right now Magic-User gets two cantrips at level 1 and a familiar at level 3 but I see no reason that by level 6 iFri, 31 Aug 2012 05:00:58 -0500Specialties are optional.Specialties can be custom made. Its something old schoolers do all the time. (Ex. Battle Rager crafted right at the table.)Specialties and Backgrounds in 5E SHOULD be a bid deal. Why sell us a partially inflated balloon?http://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_Specialties?post_id=523632085#523632085Specialties are optional.Specialties can be custom made. Its something old schoolers do all the time. (Ex. Battle Rager crafted right at the table.)Specialties and Backgrounds in 5E SHOULD be a bid deal. Why sell us a partially inflated balloon?Fri, 31 Aug 2012 02:12:11 -0500I believe Specialties should allow you to emulate some of the cool features of other classes but the Specialty mechanics should never outshine the original class feature. So yes, you can get an Animal companion but it is not going to be a rampaging Rhttp://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_Specialties?post_id=523631939#523631939I believe Specialties should allow you to emulate some of the cool features of other classes but the Specialty mechanics should never outshine the original class feature. So yes, you can get an Animal companion but it is not going to be a rampaging RFri, 31 Aug 2012 01:57:44 -0500Actually - in my feedback I said it was too good.It nearly doubles a parties healing - that is too much for a specialty and it makes it nearly mandatory for every party. I think that makes it a bad specialty design.The healer touch ability needs tohttp://community.wizards.com/go/thread/view/75882/29351849/Backgrounds,_Themes_and_Specialties?post_id=523631727#523631727Actually - in my feedback I said it was too good.It nearly doubles a parties healing - that is too much for a specialty and it makes it nearly mandatory for every party. I think that makes it a bad specialty design.The healer touch ability needs toFri, 31 Aug 2012 01:36:01 -0500