Yaarel
He Mage
I interpret the concern to be the use of options for the purpose of mechanical optimization. In this way, many players gravitate toward the same most powerful options.
Otherwise, customization encourages individuation, uniqueness, and diversity. Normally, customization is the opposite of samey.
With regard to mechanics. When the designers make sure all the available options are equally powerful compared to each other, it allows mechanically minded players to pursue different options − including for the sake of an interesting narrative.
Ultimately, the way to cure homogenization is solid game balance.
A DM who has a good sense of mechanics might even "fix" a certain poor option in order to make it more appealing to a player who has some interest in it but is turned off by its poor mechanics.
Here there is a +1 Score to each, for the Species, Background, and Class. I assume these pluses cant be added to the same Score.
I would make these − Species Culture, Background, and Personal Interest − so the third pick is freeform for any situation. Obviously, the player will want a boost for the Class, but it might already come from the culture choice or background choice.
It is impossible to separate Species from Background. A Species can include many ethnicities, each of which has an array of culture, local, regional, and national. But one can emphasize the traditions of the ethnic culture where one grew up, and the background experience as what was one doing while growing up. These aspects entangle, of course.
With regard to balance, three +1s are fine. The UA allows a +2 to one stat, and a +1 to an other. There have been times when three +1s were available as an alternative. I dont think three is the case anymore, but it is balanced to do.
The assignment of pluses reminds me of the assignment of languages. The UA grants the character three choices of languages. Typically, but not necessarily, the first language is Common, one language is for the Species cultural community, and one language is for the Background endeavor. Ultimately it is the players choice and depends on the character concept. For example, perhaps the normal daily spoken language is Elvish − the first language. Then Common is the foreign language when interacting with Human cultures as part of the Background. Then the third language might be Elemental as a magical language for magical research for the class.
Maybe it is better to think of the Score improvements and the corresponding languages, as follows.
• A Personal Interest
• A Species Ethnic Culture
• A Background Utility
Re the Species and Background. I would avoid coercing a specific Ability or else it will become samey. For example, if every Soldier is either Strength or Constitution, where is the Dexterity Solider who is a sniper or artillery?
The stereotyping of Species is even more sensitive and awkward. The removal of the Dexterity oppression from the Elf Species is the greatest relief that I have experienced since the beginning of 5e, with regard to frustration with certain rules. Every culture can have prominent ways to further develope any of the six Abilities.
I would approach the Species and Background in a way that invites customization, narrative, and individuation. In other words, encourage the player to create a Background, if the player doesnt already find an official Background that suits the character concept.
For example, suppose I have something like an Elf Soldier character. I add one Score boost to actualize what kind of Elf he is, the Species ethnic cultural heritage. I add an other Score boost to actualize what kind of Soldier he is, the Background experience.
Actually, I want this character to be a Wizard or Bard, a spellcaster. But, he is a high Strength mage, with combat experience before he turned 20 at level 1. He is a native to the Feywild plane, so Elvish is his spoken language. But he isnt an Eladrin ethnically. His Astral Elf family immigrated to the Feywild. He is Eladrin culturally. His family also speaks Celestial. In fact, he is a Wizard − because he inherits a family tradition that studies wizardry directly from the Ancestor, Corellon themself. Corellon is loyal but requires personal freedom, and encourages the same. This Wizard training typically happens via encounters during Trance. But the family saga includes a number of events engaging Corellon in person, both in the Aster and in the Fey. The character considers Corellon a loved family member, and a close friend. I also want the character to speak Common, and to explain how he got combat experience before turning 20, which is highly unusual for Elves. So. The combat was between Fey Elves and Humans. There is a Fey Crossing that sacred to Elves. The nearby Human government expanded its territory, and when recently discovering the Crossing is trying to claim and control it and to enforce its sovereignty over it. He and his family were there when the Humans attacked. The Elf is Intelligent and learned Common quickly, but still has an accent. He is proficient in the Athletics fighting style that his community of Elves is known for, with its gymnastic jumps and parkour stunts. I might go Bladesinger Wizard at level 3, but I want to doublecheck how Strength and Bladesinger synergize mechanically. In any case, I plan to use the extreme Strength mobility for "kiting" as a ranged spellcaster, while remaining competent in melee when advantageous. Martial combat is typically unknown to Eladrin, however many of the communities around Fey Crossings have close relations with the High Elves who have developed strong Martial traditions from adapting alongside Human Martial traditions. The soldiery of the characters Eladrin community from the High culture influence. Especially because Corellon is the Wizard mentor, I feel their Chaotic impusle that prioritizes freedom and individualism will influence him. Re genderfluidity, Corellon is sometimes androgynous, sometimes highly masculine, sometimes highly feminine, and sometimes none-of-the-above, and chooses appropriate forms. He always recognizes Corellon regardless the shapeshift. The player character himself feels mainly masculine. Charisma is highly important for beauty, esthetics, persuasion, and the traditional values of his Elven heritage, especially his Eladrin culture. The Charisma aspect will be for the Species emphasis, whence he himself experiences a culture of luxurous art and political persuasion. Studying Wizardry from Corellon is the personal interest between the two, thus Intelligence − education, analysis, and intuition − is a theme of the Trances.
This character concept could go Bard or Celestial Warlock, but I want the character to do magic in an analytic protoscientific way, and his family member Corellon who is one of the most powerful Wizards in existence, is a way to make this concept work.
Not only do I have the mechanical choices in place, there is Background narrative to inform them. Now I will go thru the various options to pick a Background Feat that enhances the narrative. I will look at the Wizard skills to coordinate them with the remaining Background skill and toolset.
The rest of the details, with room for some later tweaking, can come as I start to play the character and hopefully to persue some of the Background adventure hooks. I will find out more about the Human culture at that location while see what the DM has in store.
• Species, Elf, Cha Score +1, language Elvish: ethnicity Astral, culture Eladrin
• Background, Soldier, Str Score +1, language Common: Athletics, gymanstic fighting style
• Personal, Wizard, Int Score +1, language Celestial: studies wizardry from Corellon during Trance
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