D&D 5E Non-exclusive backgrounds

[doctorhook]

With the "noble" background, a character can move through high society with relative impunity compared to non-noble characters. That said, in feudal societies noble children were often strategically pushed into certain vocations such as soldiery or priesthood (or even scientific pursuits in Victorian times). Even today, Princes William and Harry served in the military.

In a typical D&D setting, it's reasonable that highborn children might end up in a vocation that also has a background, and yet would still be fully privileged and socialized to participate in noble society. If young Lord Bartholomew of House Simpson (heir to the Evergreen Terraces) is a trained soldier in the royal army, he's probably at home among nobility and among rank and file troops. Should he have the noble background or the soldier background? Why?

The same question works with the commoner background--and probably others--as well. Some of the backgrounds are not the least bit exclusionary to others. In cases like these, what approach would you take to for selecting a background?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

[Agamon]

Make one up. Backgrounds look like the easiest thing to create on your own.

 

[the Jester]

In cases like these, what approach would you take to for selecting a background?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

It would depend on how I saw the character. I might also use the as-yet-unseen downtime mechanics to work on getting the other background's trait/features, as well.

 

[Wolfskin]

The same question works with the commoner background--and probably others--as well. Some of the backgrounds are not the least bit exclusionary to others. In cases like these, what approach would you take to for selecting a background?

I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Two approaches spring to mind:
1) Create a sort of hybrid background between the two, which is more broad but also less powerful. Say, if Background A gives proficiency in 2 skills and Background B in other 2, choose one from a background and one from the other. Also, come up with a new trait with a brand new feature, such as "I can rub elbows with the brass because most of them are also nobles, but the rank-and-file envy me and give me the could shoulder"

2) Choose one Background over the other. Perhaps a military career is considered a second-rate pursuit where the character comes from, so he has ingratiated himself with the soldiers but most nobles turned their backs on him, or perhaps he retains his noble privileges in the eyes of his peers but the rest of the soldiers look at him as a posh usurper, given rank on merit of his name alone.

I wouldn't give a character both Backgrounds, though!

 

[evileeyore]

I'm with the "reworking" it crowd.

I've already decided if my group plays I'm either making a Barbarian or a Rogue... and the Rogue's background will be the reworked "Spy", from Contact to "Knows a Guy". Instead of it being some Contact he I can reach from almost anywhere, it's whenever he's in a society he can easily make friends and one of these new "drinking buddies" might know something, or at least they might Know a Guy...

 

[Umbran]

If young Lord Bartholomew of House Simpson (heir to the Evergreen Terraces) is a trained soldier in the royal army, he's probably at home among nobility and among rank and file troops. Should he have the noble background or the soldier background? Why?

He gets the one that the player wants to have mechanically relevant in play, the one that is more important to his concept. The other is fine flavor, and can inform choices if the player wants, but there's a limit to how much in-game mechanical benefit the player can claim.

Reworking to a noble-soldier background is fine. But it shouldn't be as good at noble-ing as a full noble, or soldiering as a soldier.

 

[Kobold Stew]

He gets the one that the player wants to have mechanically relevant in play, the one that is more important to his concept.

Absolutely right -- the player picks the one that works for his or her character best, by whatever standards (mechanics, narrative, some combination of those two) they choose.

 

[doctorhook]

I think I'm also more in the "just pick one" camp than hybridizing or customizing a background. That way lies character optimizing, which is fine but cheapens the whole purpose of having a background at all.