D&D 5E Houserule: +1 ASI for everyone.

[clutchbone]

Goal: to mechanically encourage a broader variety race/class combos.

Houserule A: Racial +2 ASIs are reduced to +1.
Houserule B: Player can choose one additional +1 ASI [edit], up to a maximum of total bonus +2 in any one ability score.

Example: Hill dwarf wizards start with +1 Con & +1 Wis, and can choose +1 Int.

Notes: Subracial ASIs are unchanged (Mountain dwarves still get +2 Str). Baseline human stats are unchanged (slight power bump with extra +1 from class). Variant human stats lose +1 floating ASI (power level remains functionally unchanged). Tritons now pick two +1s from Str, Con, or Cha.


What do you think? I wanted a fairly intuitive and non-intrusive codified rule to encourage seeing more dwarf wizards/half-orc druids/etc at the table. I'm not trying to "fix" the game, but I definitely don't want to break it either. It takes a little thunder away from humans and half-elves, but I'm okay with that as they're still great choices to go with under this system.

I initially was thinking about "Houserule B: Player can choose one additional +1 ASI from one of a class's proficient saves", but realized that a simple +1 ASI was a more efficient way to reach the same end result.

 

[Charlaquin]

During the 5e playtest, races gave +1 to two different ability scores (usually +1 from the core race and +1 to something else from the subraces) and classes gave +1 to their primary score. So all Fighters got +1 Strength, all Wizards got +1 Intelligence, etc. This worked excellently throughout the playtest process and I have no idea why they changed it in the published version. This also seems very similar to your suggested rule. I see no reason your rule wouldn’t work just as well.

 

[Blue]

Should work just fine.

I like how 13th Age (a d20 game) solved this - race gives you +2 to choice of two ability scores. Class gives +2 to choice of two ability scores. They can't be the same.

So you end up that you can always be good with your primary ability - you can have that half-orc sorcerer without worrying about it. But your race also flavors it, either giving +2 to a secondary ability score or to your primary and let your class give it's bonus to a secondary.

It's both clean and effective. That's elegant to me.

 

[BookBarbarian]

Should work just fine.

I like how 13th Age (a d20 game) solved this - race gives you +2 to choice of two ability scores. Class gives +2 to choice of two ability scores. They can't be the same.

So you end up that you can always be good with your primary ability - you can have that half-orc sorcerer without worrying about it. But your race also flavors it, either giving +2 to a secondary ability score or to your primary and let your class give it's bonus to a secondary.

It's both clean and effective. That's elegant to me.

I would love a Class ASI at level one. I think I would see more Wood Elf Barbarians and Half Orc Wizards that way.

 

[Satyrn]

I think it has a decent chance of helping in your goal, without being a problem in any way . . .

But can I use the extra +1 on top of my race's +1? I'd hope so. But it's at this point, I'd be a little concerned about getting to add that +1 on top of the dwarf's +2 Str.

 

[clutchbone]

I think it has a decent chance of helping in your goal, without being a problem in any way . . .

But can I use the extra +1 on top of my race's +1? I'd hope so. But it's at this point, I'd be a little concerned about getting to add that +1 on top of the dwarf's +2 Str.

Oh yeah, +2s were expected, and also unavoidable with baseline human. Good catch on mountain dwarf. How's this?

Houserule B: Player can choose one additional +1 ASI, up to a maximum of total bonus +2 in any one ability score.

 

[Charlaquin]

I think it has a decent chance of helping in your goal, without being a problem in any way . . .

But can I use the extra +1 on top of my race's +1? I'd hope so. But it's at this point, I'd be a little concerned about getting to add that +1 on top of the dwarf's +2 Str.

This was a problem in the playtest with the Half-Orc, which was the only race that gave a +2 at the time (Mountain Dwarves only gave +1 strength at the time.) It made it possible to start with an 18 Strength using Point Buy - the only way to start with an 18 anything with Point Buy in the playtest, making Half-Orcs the clear best choice for Barbarians and Strength-based Fighters.

Personally, I’d just drop Mountain Dwarves down to +1 Strength. Maybe +1 Strength and +1 Wisdom if you don’t want their total ASI values to decrease under this system.

 

[Zardnaar]

I would allow it (and have done so) but make it from a predefined list similar to the ENworld Zeitgeist AP or you get a free racial feat.

 

[Satyrn]

Oh yeah, +2s were expected, and also unavoidable with baseline human. Good catch on mountain dwarf. How's this?

Houserule B: Player can choose one additional +1 ASI, up to a maximum of total bonus +2 in any one ability score.

That closes that little gap. And I'd say you're good to go with this.

 

[ad_hoc]

During the 5e playtest, races gave +1 to two different ability scores (usually +1 from the core race and +1 to something else from the subraces) and classes gave +1 to their primary score. So all Fighters got +1 Strength, all Wizards got +1 Intelligence, etc. This worked excellently throughout the playtest process and I have no idea why they changed it in the published version. This also seems very similar to your suggested rule. I see no reason your rule wouldn’t work just as well.

Dex fighters come to mind.