D&D General 5E species with further choices and differences

[TodG]

The 2024 (and 2014) species don't have a ton of differentiation. There are 2 or 3 things at first level and maybe 1 at 3rd. I like how Pathfinder 2E has species feats that can be taken for the first 15 levels or so to really mix the differences up. And don't take away the choice slot from other feats for class or roleplaying improvements. Is there a 5E product ( or DMsguild) that has more choices for species early and later on in the character's progression? (And please don't tell me to play PF2E. I am looking for some more flavor to add to my new world building.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Welcome to the boards!

There is not. The best resource for species right now is Monsters of the Multiverse, which came out pre-2024, but is easily adapted and mostly balanced.

Since 2014, the designers haven't really explored the species design space. It's just not where their interests lay, and as a result when new options are presented, they are under-playtested and rather basic. Even MotM isn't really balanced: there is a substantial range of abilities, with (in my view) 8 of the options significantly overpowered in comparison with PHB species, and 11 of the options at the distinctly weak end (close to orc or tiefling, the two weakest choices in my view in 2024). Last year I did a rough-and-ready tool for assessing species balance, here, and while individual choices can be questioned, I feel the overall picture holds.

Nevertheless, it is trivial for a DM to adapt any of the MotM species for 2024. Good luck!

 

[Horwath]

There is little racial feats in 5(.5)E, maybe one or two per race.
If you want to have that aspect more impact, consider giving bonus feat slot at 1st and/or 5th level for racial feats only.
they are mostly very weak and wont increase character power a lot.

 

[Maxperson]

The 2024 (and 2014) species don't have a ton of differentiation. There are 2 or 3 things at first level and maybe 1 at 3rd. I like how Pathfinder 2E has species feats that can be taken for the first 15 levels or so to really mix the differences up. And don't take away the choice slot from other feats for class or roleplaying improvements. Is there a 5E product ( or DMsguild) that has more choices for species early and later on in the character's progression? (And please don't tell me to play PF2E. I am looking for some more flavor to add to my new world building.

Level Up from this site has improved on the races. They not only have abilities at 1st level, but gain others as they rise in level. It's really neat.

 

[Burnside]

Xanathar's Guide to Everything has a selection of 20 "Racial Feats".

 

[GrimCo]

Not one that i know, but if you are interested in homebrewing, 3.5 Dawnforge has racial talents and racial transformations, which add more unique abilities and talents with each level up to level 10, so you can mine it for ideas and convert it to 5e.

 

[DammitVictor]

Level Up Advanced 5e includes more flexible racial options at 1st level and a choice of a "paragon" racial feature at 10th. Even if you don't want to jump to A5E, it's as good an investment in nonhuman PC rules as XGtE or TCoE.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Xanathar's Guide to Everything has a selection of 20 "Racial Feats".

...of which, things like Elven Accuracy are so overpowered that they become must-buys for any character that might possibly use them.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

Like Horwath wrote up thread, Xanathat's guide has some racial feats. They're not powerful, but it sounds like you are more interested in increased customization rather than increased power.

 

[Remathilis]

The problem is that if you start gating important elements of a species behind feats (or something similar) then people will declare it a feat tax. Especially if it's something important like flight or large size or similar.