Human vs Variant Human

[Horwath]

I would avoid Variant human in games.

Feats are rare resource and bonus at 1st level kind of breaks it.

I would rather give bonus feats to everyone if they feed that characters are too bland and none unique at 1st level.

As for human I would do:

+1 to every score,
bonus 2 skills proficiency,
bonus 1 save proficiency,
common plus 2 languages,

that gives human just general bonuses, and no special traits or advantages.

 

[Gardens & Goblins]

I read once that v.human is useful if you a specific build/character idea that hinges on a certain feat, one that you'd prefer to play from the beginning. Else normal human, and operating under the assumption that the table covers all pillars, provides more resilience/reliability through their overall ability score increase.

Personally, I find v.human taken far more often than human, as players seem to enjoy spikey-stat characters (one or more high stats, one dump stat). Though I must say, the more 'middle-of-the-road' standard human characters seem to fair just as well. At total guess would be, at a more combat-focused table, v.human would shine. At a more generic table, or one where optional encumbrance is played, the standard human begins to look better.

Obviously, if the table plays with no feats, the choice becomes easier. Recently I've been considered dumping feats all together, simply to force our more mechanically minded players to consider less obvious 'design solutions'. Heavy handed/draconian maybe, but I'm curious to see how they rise to the challenge.

 

[MechaPilot]

If you're interested in different humans, perhaps you'd like to see the variant human from my Tenesia campaign setting.

 

[FormerlyHemlock]

I read once that v.human is useful if you a specific build/character idea that hinges on a certain feat, one that you'd prefer to play from the beginning. Else normal human, and operating under the assumption that the table covers all pillars, provides more resilience/reliability through their overall ability score increase.

This is bad advice for all but the most MAD of concepts. +1 to your tertiary stats just isn't that valuable. You're almost certainly better off as a variant human with a feat that helps in all three pillars, e.g. Lucky, or as a non-human race.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

The imbalance is mostly due to the standard array having inly two odd stats. So with the variant human you can optimize very well. If you point buy or roll it is already a bit different. I though believe an extra skill of choice would make both options more balanced.

 

[cbwjm]

I generally use standard human and create characters with well round attributes.

 

[Prism]

What I do is only provide a limited range of the feats available to be taken at first level. Basically anything that states or implies that it makes a character a master or expert in something is out (crossbow expert, heavy armour master etc). This leaves the underused feats like the armour proficiency and skill based feats. It has a side effect of weakening the alternative fighter in combat terms which makes the standard fighter somewhat more attractive

 

[spartanah]

would changing S human to +2 to 2 stats will balance things up?

 

[MoonSong]

In my games, homebrew or otherwise, I ban the variant human and just whip up some alternate options, usually with different stat focuses. I personally consider the variant human to be imbalanced, and even if I could be convinced otherwise, my anecdotal experience is that players go for it anyway in search of more customization through feats. I found it to be game-warping, and in my group at least it better serves racial diversity if it's not present.

My problem with standard human is, it doesn't feel human. It is boring too, but moreover it feels inhuman to me. Because of course each one of us on Earth is above average on everything right?

Besides I end up using the feat on skilled or weapon master anyway.

 

[jayoungr]

I think the problem is not so much about good vs bad*, but more that standard human is too much of a generalist. So if you are doing even a snag amount of optimising standard human becomes unattractive.

I think that's only true if you're using the standard array. If you roll stats randomly, the standard human becomes much more attractive.

My problem with standard human is, it doesn't feel human. It is boring too, but moreover it feels inhuman to me. Because of course each one of us on Earth is above average on everything right?

Same goes for this comment. With randomly rolled stats, you won't necessarily be above average on everything.