D&D 5E Human racial bonus in 5E

[JoeCrow]

Only other thing I can think of is +1 to five stats of your choice with the new array, but that's kinda goofy. Maybe there's stat boosts attached to the classes?

 

[FitzTheRuke]

I would like to see a +1 to any two ability scores, free skill or tool proficiency, an extra language, and an extra save proficiency.

It puts them on par with most other races and makes them versatile, doesn't involve feats or other alternate rules.

I really like that too.

Maybe there's stat boosts attached to the classes?

There was in early playtest packs, and I liked it. I really hope it's back. It reflects the basic training that a character goes to while learning the basics of the class, regardless of race.

 

[the Jester]

There was in early playtest packs, and I liked it. I really hope it's back. It reflects the basic training that a character goes to while learning the basics of the class, regardless of race.

I agree! I think this would be awesome.

I am hopeful that the +1 to everything has gone away, but wouldn't bet on it.

 

[RevTurkey]

I really don't like the blanket bonus to all stats for humans.

Conceptually, I think this is very poor.

I also think Fighters not getting a slight "to hit" advantage is weak too.

That said, I think overall the new edition looks good and I am excited about it.

 

[Ainamacar]

Only other thing I can think of is +1 to five stats of your choice with the new array, but that's kinda goofy. Maybe there's stat boosts attached to the classes?

Perhaps it is +1 to the 5 lowest scores? If the standard array is 16, 14, 13, 12, 10, 8 (as per the last playtest) then it would be somewhat surprising if the strength-based fighter from the starter set could have raised that 16 to a 17 but didn't. (For that character I would have started with Str 17 and Con 15 if possible so as to get Str 18 and Con 16 at level 4. If the rules they are using would permit this, however, I can still see going the less optimal route so fewer numbers need to be updated at level 4. Starter set, after all.)

Raising the 5 lowest scores addresses one of the major complaints of +1 to everything since it maintains racial niche protection for non-human characters that exemplify their racial bonuses. So while a human might get +1 Con, they can't get +1 Con in a way that makes them as sturdy as the sturdiest dwarf. The only exception would be a human that rolled multiple 18s, since only one of those 18s would not get raised to a 19.

More generally, a human and non-human character that share the same highest score (whether from point buy, a standard array, or rolling) before racial modifiers exhibit the same basic behavior. Unless the human has a tie for highest ability score it can never equal the non-human character that chooses to apply its racial bonus to its highest score.

I think I could live with +1 to the 5 lowest scores if that's what they're using. The corner case with a tie for highest ability score is tolerable to me. In fact, even in a 2-way tie it violates niche protection less than something like "+1 to any two scores." In a 3-way tie they are equal, assuming a character built using +1 to any two puts them into the highest scores. Only in a 4-or-more-way tie for highest score does +1 to lowest five scores violate niche protection more.

 

[PinkRose]

I'm nearly positive that it's +1 to all stats.
That's the simplest way and that's what the Starter Set & Basic is supposed to be.

I also think that in the PH there will be an option for an alternative way of making your human.
If I were to do it, I would give them +1 to two stats, 1 skill, 1 feat. That should equal the other races.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Everyone trying to reverse-engineer should keep in mind that in the past, nearly every pregenerated character that WotC has made has had errors and omissions.

The original 4e pregens had a Half-Elf Paladin (IIRC) that was missing the half-elf racial power because "there was not enough room to fit in on the character sheet" (actual excuse, AFAIK)

My point being, and no insult meant to the makers of the pregens (they just seem to not be quite as fussy as most of us are) but there's no guarantee it's not full of mistakes. Even as far as the maker of the pregen not realizing that they're no longer using the +1 to all stats human.

I wouldn't put it past them. We just don't know.

 

[Ainamacar]

Everyone trying to reverse-engineer should keep in mind that in the past, nearly every pregenerated character that WotC has made has had errors and omissions.

<snip>

I wouldn't put it past them. We just don't know.

All true. But trying to reverse-engineer is way more fun than not.

Edit: Also, the newly-released hill dwarf character has ability scores consistent with the standard array and racial bonuses from the last playtest.

 

[Cybit]

Everyone trying to reverse-engineer should keep in mind that in the past, nearly every pregenerated character that WotC has made has had errors and omissions.

The original 4e pregens had a Half-Elf Paladin (IIRC) that was missing the half-elf racial power because "there was not enough room to fit in on the character sheet" (actual excuse, AFAIK)

My point being, and no insult meant to the makers of the pregens (they just seem to not be quite as fussy as most of us are) but there's no guarantee it's not full of mistakes. Even as far as the maker of the pregen not realizing that they're no longer using the +1 to all stats human.

I wouldn't put it past them. We just don't know.

I'd laugh but this is true. That said, this time they should have gotten them right.

 

[Mirtek]

From looking at the dwarf cleric sheet:

Just looking at the stats and comparing them to the humans. Human: 16/15/14/13/11/9 Dwarf: 16/15/14/12/10/8, initial worries that the human was keeping +1 to all shows that this is not the case.

I can only say: Yeah, who would ever want humans to be competitve to the ubermensch races +1 to three (probably even forced to be the lowest three) totally makes up for darkvision and an extra hp every level. Three cheers for the humans .... or not