D&D 5E Everyone Should Play Custom Lineage by Default

[reelo]

I'm not a RAW fanatic, mind. I have shattered the RAW times and again to accomodate fun, interesting character concepts. But I won't bend the rules (or allow the usage of optional variant rules) just to allow somebody to make a "stronger build".

I find myself at a point where I loathe anything that encourages or facilitates "builds" or the "CharOp game".

 

[embee]

Not all of us play in the Underdark. I can count the number of encounters I've had where lighting played an issue over the past year on one hand.

Want to set up camp? Spend an hour gathering wood for the fire to last the night and clearing a radius to be able to see. Also, you can only see in one quadrant at a time. To see any distance, you need your back to the fire. If the fire is in front of you, it will negate any area of dim light.

Also, all creatures nearby now know you are there because they can see the fire. It will scare away some baddies but attract others.

 

[embee]

I find myself at a point where I loathe anything that encourages or facilitates "builds" or the "CharOp game".

It's why I still can't get too into PF. The minmaxing folk seem to either be too prevalent or too vocal. Also, does a game really need 1,000+ different feats in it?

 

[TwoSix]

YMMV, of course, but in 95%+ of every session light is a tactical factor due to either being underground or an encounter at night; take your pick.

Like you said, mileage varies. Our last campaign was in Ravnica, our current campaign is in Sharn. Underground and night were rarely factors.

 

[TwoSix]

I find myself at a point where I loathe anything that encourages or facilitates "builds" or the "CharOp game".

I don't loathe it, but I do wish power progression in the game was random and acquisition-based rather than player-facing and guaranteed.

 

[Olrox17]

I find myself at a point where I loathe anything that encourages or facilitates "builds" or the "CharOp game".

I think indulging in CharOp can be a lot of fun as a thought experiment. To see what is theoretically possible within the boundaries of the system. My opinion changes considerably when somebody tries to bring charopped stuff at the actual table.

Step one: take Eldritch Invocations feat
Step two: take Devil Sight
Step three: see in complete darkness, magical or not, within 120' as if it was bright day.

Tasha is quite power-creepy, agreed. However, custom lineages still win the game of brokenness: VHumans must spend their extra feat to get that excellent powered up darkvision, while custom lineages can get darkvision AND a better, stronger feat.

 

[TwoSix]

I think indulging in CharOp can be a lot of fun as a thought experiment. To see what is theoretically possible within the boundaries of the system. My opinion changes considerably when somebody tries to bring charopped stuff at the actual table.

Tasha is quite power-creepy, agreed. However, custom lineages still win the game of brokenness: VHumans must spend their extra feat to get that excellent powered up darkvision, while custom lineages can get darkvision AND a better, stronger feat.

The delta between a mediocre race and the strongest race is still less than a feat's worth of power. "Brokenness" doesn't really enter the equation for race choice, not in a game where paladin and monk are both class options and the default stat generation rule is rolling.

 

[Olrox17]

The delta between a mediocre race and the strongest race is still less than a feat's worth of power. "Brokenness" doesn't really enter the equation for race choice, not in a game where paladin and monk are both class options and the default stat generation rule is rolling.

A fair point, the power delta between classes far outweighs the delta between races when you get to level 4 or so. Still, that doesn't excuse the (IMO) poor, lazy job they did with Tasha's options.

I wouldn't bring stat generation into this though. Perfectly fair and balanced methods for generating stats are provided by the rules, if somebody picks rolling they know exactly what to expect.

 

[TwoSix]

A fair point, the power delta between classes far outweighs the delta between races when you get to level 4 or so. Still, that doesn't excuse the (IMO) poor, lazy job they did with Tasha's options.

I wouldn't bring stat generation into this though. Perfectly fair and balanced methods for generating stats are provided by the rules, if somebody picks rolling they know exactly what to expect.

I'm not saying the Tasha's rules are great (they're definitely lazy), just that their balance isn't a major problem since 5e is only loosely balanced at best, and the game is pretty upfront that remediating balance concerns is the DM's job.

 

[cbwjm]

I disagree. I have no problem with a custom lineage Elf being an Elf for all game purposes (Feats, magic item attinement, being a V1.0 Bladesinger etc).

I mean, they're an Elf in the game world. The game world reality is that they're an Elf. There is no need for any demarcation (and i honestly think XGTE racial feats are about to get erratad anyway).

Also, it breaks nothing. Most of the push back is from the same people that decried the new race rules as PC rubbish (or likely hold some pretty outdated views on human races in refusing to accept they're social constructs - which this new custom lineage variant clearly accepts as its premise) in any event

Its interesting. I currently play a male half Elf (Drow). My mother is a Drow and my father is a Tehyrian human with a Sun elf grandparent.

Making me Drow, Sun Elf and Human. He rejects being called a 'half' elf (or 'half' drow) seeing those terms as racist.

I created him as (mechanically) a Half Elf (Drow), but I'd probably redo him as a Custom lineage if I had the chance.

I wouldn't be surprised if there is some sage advice or errata on it. The only reason the feats from Xanathar's say "race from phb" is because the book is old and wasn't future proofed for this situation. Pretty much just need to remove the mention of phb so that the people who are needlessly strict on this matter can't point to it.