Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 fargus Apr 23, 2015 12:16:49	My group recently started Princes of the Apocalypse, and I have a few back-up characters in mind, one being a former assassin/hunter. The problem I've run into is that none of the backgrounds in the Phb feel like they fit perfectly. The Criminal background works best so far, but I don't want/need half the proficiencies it gives.   As I understand, we're allowed to create our characters using all of the rules found in the Phb, except for rolling stats and being Neutral/Chaotic Evil. "Customizing a Background" is a section of the Backgrounds chapter, so I would assume it's fair game for me to tweak a background to suit my character.   If so, I'm thinking of using a modified version of a background I found online: www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Slayer_(5e_Background) And I am looking for opinions on whether or not this would be a good base for a legal background.
#2 AndrewJO Apr 23, 2015 13:23:36	From what I've read, you can customize your background however you want, but you have to take one of the background features as written. After looking at the slayer background you linked, I would suggest the folk hero background, with "I stood alone against a terrible monster" as your defining event.
#3 Kalani Apr 23, 2015 13:34:36	The above answer is mostly correct.   Choose a Background from the list of available backgrounds for your story origin ​Your chosen background determines your starting lifestyle, and starting equipment. Customize your chosen Background Choose any two skills. Choose one of the following: 2 languages; 2 tool proficiencies; or 1 language and 1 tool proficiency. Choose a background feature from the list of available backgrounds for your story origin.   Rules sources for Backgrounds (by story origin) All characters can choose backgrounds, and background features from the list available in the PHB. Tyranny of Dragons characters can also select backgrounds/features from hoard of the dragon queen (appendix A) Elemental Evil characters can also select backgrounds/features from the Mulmaster Backgrounds document available on the AL website.
#4 Byakugan01 Apr 24, 2015 0:30:45	You can pick any of the features in the allowed sources.  But they gotta be from the choices in the book. Ie, languages, skills, and tool proficiencies, plus any specific background benefit. You can't make up your own bonus feature. Not in AL anyways.
#5 Pauper Apr 24, 2015 9:31:51	The background listed in the wiki would be a good base for a customized background -- the skills and proficiencies are all straight out of the Player's Handbook.   The exception is the feature, Master of Evil, which would not be legal in Adventurers League, since it does not appear an an AL-legal rules source.   The traits, ideals, bonds, and flaws could be used, but your DM could ask you to replace any that don't appear in an AL-legal rules source with ones that do if she believes the item might cause problems at her table -- for example, the Prejudice ideal, "My marks must all be destroyed without question or hesitation." I would ask you to change that ideal, as I could see it causing problems by enabling griefing other players by interfering with their own goals, even if unintentionally. ("I'm glad I found you! The Lords' Alliance has asked me to see to your safe return to Phlan..." "Die, mark!")   Lastly, you can't actually say that you're using the Slayer background, since that background doesn't exist in an AL-legal rules source, and the name of the background is significant for AL (it's what's used to determine your starting lifestyle, for one). Starting with the Criminal background and swapping everything but the name and the feature to match the Slayer background would be reasonable, keeping in mind the caveat from the previous paragraph.   -- Pauper
#6 Kalani Apr 24, 2015 10:56:42	Pauper wrote: