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

[Flamestrike]

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.

Look at Squat Nimbleness that only requires 'Dwarf or a Small race'. I would have no issue allowing Goblins or similar small races, not found in the PHB (including C-Lineage small races) to take that feat.

There is just a lot of handwringing about custom lineages from a mechanical perspective that I just dont see. If those concerns are players 'gaming the rules' to create an 'OP or superior build' there is a solution for that (the DM). Presuming the rules are used in the spirit they're intended, then I honestly dont see anything mechanically ZOMG about allowing custom lineages, nor do I see anything ZOMG about allowing them access to racial feats from XGTE (presuming they have a reasonable tie to the relevant lineage).

I've always allowed PCs to re-fluff or re-skin races in any event (an Aaracrocka Monk is one example - re-skinned as a Human - because the PC wanted to do the whole Wuxia Human flying Monk thing, but didn't want to look like a bird man).

It seems the handwringing is due to one of three things (when Clineage is compared to Vuman):

1) Darkvision in exchange for a skill Proficiency in whatever you want
2) Non Humans getting access to Racial feats 3 levels earlier (and those levels go fast) in exchange for losing a ton of racial abilities and proficiencies
3) The possibility of starting with an ability score of 18 (via an appropriate half feat - most of which arent very good) instead of 2 x 16's for Vuman

If any of those things breaks your game, or is worthy of such handwringing, your game has bigger problems than custom lineage.

 

[pming]

Hiya!

So you are brining 1e expectations into a 5e game. Understood.

Yes. You got it.
Why? Because I like the "vibe" of 1e, and 5e can be played with that vibe if you are careful to ignore many of the options and add in a handful of house rules.

Only thing I'm missing is a 5e equivalent of the Dungeoneers and the Wilderness Survival Guide's. I've given up hope for that though...

^_^

Paul L. Ming

 

[Zardnaar]

Custom lineage doesn't give you the type though does it?

 

[Flamestrike]

Custom lineage doesn't give you the type though does it?

Humanoid (like Warforged, Elves, Tieflings, Humans etc). They're all humanoids too.

Subtypes dont exist anymore, and all races (I'm pretty sure) are humanoids. The centaur and minotaur were the exceptions (being hybrid humanoid and monstrosity).

 

[Zardnaar]

Humanoid (like Warforged, Elves, Tieflings, Humans etc). They're all humanoids too.

Subtypes dont exist anymore, and all races (I'm pretty sure) are humanoids. The centaur and minotaur were the exceptions (being hybrid humanoid and monstrosity).

I was talking about racial feats I suppose. Yeah you're a humanoid no you're not an elf or whatever.

 

[MoonSong]

I think of powergaming as players leveraging abstruse rules (or the new power-creepy hotness) in cheesy ways to have advantages over other players--since game challenges can easily be made harder with bigger numbers and DM fiat. Setting baseline player power close to the top of what is possible, with options to go below the baseline for thematic reasons or niche specialties is meant to undercut powergaming. See again, "if everyone is super, no one is".

Optimization, MinMax, Powergaming, these are all basically names for subtle variations of the same thing, wanting the most pluses out of the game no matter what. Once a powerline is normalized, there is less tolerance for deviation downwards.

The benefit is more diversity in characters, and PCs wont feel shoehorned into certain races or options, and those things (increased player choice, more concepts being available, greater diversity) are all goals worth pursuing.

Not really. If all you are using Custom Lineage for is subtle variations of the already existing races then nothing was won. If anything, there is less reason to go for things outside your comfort zone. Custom Lineage is for making interesting characters with unique origins, not elves with the serial numbers filed off.

Why? Because I like the "vibe" of 1e, and 5e can be played with that vibe if you are careful to ignore many of the options and add in a handful of house rules.

If 2e had sorcerers, I wouldn't need any other edition.

 

[MoonSong]

If any of those things breaks your game, or is worthy of such handwringing, your game has bigger problems than custom lineage.

So... your argument boils down to "allow unchecked powergaming or you're a bad DM"?

 

[Zardnaar]

Optimization, MinMax, Powergaming, these are all basically names for subtle variations of the same thing, wanting the most pluses out of the game no matter what. Once a powerline is normalized, there is less tolerance for deviation downwards.


Not really. If all you are using Custom Lineage for is subtle variations of the already existing races then nothing was won. If anything, there is less reason to go for things outside your comfort zone. Custom Lineage is for making interesting characters with unique origins, not elves with the serial numbers filed off.


If 2e had sorcerers, I wouldn't need any other edition.

I ended up passing a rule.

1. Don't deliberatly make a bad PC.
2. Keep powergaming in check.
3. The right of the he group to have fun outweighs your right to be an idiot.

I've seen some very suboptimal characters deliberately created (primary stat 12) for whatever reason.

Generally ends badly don't do it.

 

[Remathilis]

If 2e had sorcerers, I wouldn't need any other edition.

They were reversed engineered for Baldur's Gate 2.

Sorcerer

This page is for the sorcerer class in . Sorcerers are powerful arcane spellcasters. Unlike mages, they do not gain their power from years of fastidious study and research -- rather, they are born with magic in their blood, and gradually learn to harness their innate abilities over time...

baldursgate.fandom.com

 

[MoonSong]

They were reversed engineered for Baldur's Gate 2.

Sorcerer

This page is for the sorcerer class in . Sorcerers are powerful arcane spellcasters. Unlike mages, they do not gain their power from years of fastidious study and research -- rather, they are born with magic in their blood, and gradually learn to harness their innate abilities over time...

baldursgate.fandom.com

Yes, I love that. Sadly it isn't widespread enough to be a given.