D&D 5E Custom Race ability - Proficiency in a skill, Expertise, or advantage?

[Dragonsbane]

In my custom game world there are a number of human subraces, each in a way modeled after a real country or culture (or combination). Yes, very original, I know

So the question! My humans do not get a +1 to 6 stats, or the variant human (feat at 1st? oh no no . . ) abilities. Rather, they will get

- +2 to one stat, determined by subrace
- +1 to two other stats
- Proficiency in a skill (w/ something, see below)

I wanted the humans to seem a little more like skill monkeys, hence the skill. Still, it seems a little weak. So, I could . . .

Choice A) Proficiency in a skill, and you gain advantage with this skill check if you gain the same proficiency from a class or background . .

Choice B) Proficiency in a skill, and you have expertise with this skill check if you gain the same proficiency from a class or background . .

Choice C) Proficiency in 2 skills?

Not 100% sure which to go with, since I have played 5e some but the math sometimes surprises me. Expertise seems like a good choice until high level, while advantage seems . . dunno, good most of the time, but might cause an issue with particular skills? Hard to say.

Any choice seem over the top? Too weak? Balanced?

Help me choose an option above, or something else?

 

[Fralex]

I'd go with B or C. Advantage isn't really meant to be an "always on" kind of thing. It's either a temporary bonus (like attacking from out of sight) or a bonus to a subset of a skill (like keen hearing giving advantage on just sound-based perception checks). There are exceptions, but this seems to be the general rule.

 

[Li Shenron]

- +2 to one stat, determined by subrace
- +1 to two other stats
- Proficiency in a skill (w/ something, see below)

I wanted the humans to seem a little more like skill monkeys, hence the skill. Still, it seems a little weak. So, I could . . .

IMHO this is not weak, this is already ok.

If you still want to add something:

Choice A) Proficiency in a skill, and you gain advantage with this skill check if you gain the same proficiency from a class or background . .

No. IMO advantage should be as often as possible situational rather than "always on".

Choice B) Proficiency in a skill, and you have expertise with this skill check if you gain the same proficiency from a class or background . .

I think this is a good idea.

There are a couple of skills for which expertise might be too good: perception and stealth. For other skills probably there are no problems. So if you are planning for each "subrace" to grant a fixed skill (that might turn into an expertise) then you can easily avoid granting perception or stealth.

Choice C) Proficiency in 2 skills?

This is also fine of course.

 

[CapnZapp]

I'd go with B or C. Advantage isn't really meant to be an "always on" kind of thing. It's either a temporary bonus (like attacking from out of sight) or a bonus to a subset of a skill (like keen hearing giving advantage on just sound-based perception checks). There are exceptions, but this seems to be the general rule.

Yes.

The class abilities and magic items granting "always on" advantage strikes me as wonky rules design.

It robs those characters of the otherwise potent and important drive and impetus to gain advantage, since they have it already, and "more advantage" doesn't stack.

If I got my wish, most of not all instances of "always on" advantage would be magically replaced by something else (most simple suggestion is +5, though I think this is actually too generous) allowing the ad/disad dynamic work on them as usual.

 

[CapnZapp]

In the PHB and DMG, I mean.

 

[CapnZapp]

This is also fine of course.

I feel it's worth going the extra mile and specify specific skills for different subraces.

I know that granting proficiency in specific skills doesn't do a whole lot in 5e since the rules are do generous about replacing duplicates (in practice you can often use this rule to get whatever skill you want).

But still, "2 skill proficiencies" feel awfully generic. And since the point of having subraces is to avoid that, I feel any such rules effort needs to specify skills for each subrace.

Even if it doesn't change much in practical play.

 

[Thyrwyn]

The Half-elf gets +2 CHA, +1 to two stats, 2 skills, Darkvision, Fey Ancestry, and 2 languages. Your Human subraces need something more, though I would steer clear of expertise.

Maybe racial/cultural weapon proficiencies?

 

[Psikerlord#]

hmm this thread is my answer to the very annoying (imo) abilities of the lightfoot halfling (hide behind ally) and wood elf (hide in rain). Instead, simply give the race proficiency in stealth. Excellenti!

 

[Dragonsbane]

OK, great answers. I will add some racial weapon proficiencies as well as the Expertise option.

Next question - which skills are SCARY with Expertise? I have heard Perception and Stealth . . . any others?

 

[77IM]

Athletics for shove/grapple can get overpowered with expertise, but only in limited situations.

I'd be wary of Deception and Insight expertise also.