6-5 Rule of Three

[Kobold Avenger]

If skills are downplayed, and powers aren't something that classes necessarily all have, and feats could be not included, then what could Humans get as a bonus? I also think the +1 to everything and another +1 is just too much for Humans. But it looks like something is needed there after the differences in the system.

While I would say they should probably get some sort of reroll ability, there's the fact that Halflings already have one.

 

[Dirge]

Giving Humans a +1 to everything and an additional +1 to one ability is way too much (if the other races are just getting a +1 to one ability score). If you want to represent Humans as generally good at anything/everything, then you can give them the +1 to all abilities but not the additional +1 to one ability (and this only works if you give non-humans a +2 or higher bonus to whatever ability is that race's specialty)...

The strongest Half-Orc should be stronger than the strongest Human, the most dextrous Elf should be more agile than the most dextrous Human, etc.

Humans are the baseline by which all other races are compared...That Half-Orc is strong compared to a Human, but weak compared to a full on Orc...If you set the baseline to where Humans are equally good or better than every other race at that race's own defining ability, then you are just setting up Humans as a master race who are not only generally better all around than other more specialized races, but also specifically better at those specialized races' specialties...

To paraphrase an old wartime Donald Duck cartoon:

Ven der Führer says:
"Ve ist der Master race,"
Ve Heil!...Heil!...Right in der Führer's face!

Iss ve not der Supermen?
Aryan-pure Supermen?
Ja! Ve iss der Supermen!
Super-duper Supermen!

Iss this not wunderbar?

 

[Remathilis]

To paraphrase an old wartime Donald Duck cartoon:

Ven der Führer says:
"Ve ist der Master race,"
Ve Heil!...Heil!...Right in der Führer's face!

Iss ve not der Supermen?
Aryan-pure Supermen?
Ja! Ve iss der Supermen!
Super-duper Supermen!

Iss this not wunderbar?

Did you just Godwin the thread?

 

[Dirge]

Did you just Godwin the thread?

Yup...When I typed master race, I couldn't help but break into song...

 

[Dragonblade]

Humans SHOULD be slightly better than every race, except for very specific niches that those other races excel in.

Its always bothered me that in most campaign settings humans are described as being the dominant race, yet there was no mechanical reason why that would be so. It makes it seem like empty meaningless text.

When your PCs all choose non-human races and look like a motley crew of Mos Eisley cantina rejects because human is just not appealing enough mechanics-wise, that is a problem.

 

[Steely_Dan]

I think some are remembering the 1st Ed UA Human Ability Score generation table (that was ludicrous, IMO).

 

[Gold Roger]

I have no problem with PC humans representing particularly exeptional individuals, but such individuals aren't plain better at everything. What happened to +1 to saves? Powerful, competitive, heroic, but not plain better.

Now, I'm generaly very happy with the direction DDN is taking, things I dislike really come up to minor kinks I can easily ignore.

But what I see of the race design is hoenestly, plain and simply horrible to me. Subraces have always been a terrible idea in my book, hardcoded culture can be a nightmare for homebrewers and worldbuilders (and players who want to play outliers) and some things are just designed in a style that I have yet to see in other parts of DDN.

As an example of that last part, increased damage dice for "cultural weapons" for example pidgeonhole us into every dwarf warrior wields an axe, because it's a plain better choice. This drastic improvement of using a single option is something I don't find elsewhere and would only want to see in theme that concentrates on that particular option (increased axe damage for axe fighter theme).

With so much modularity, why such rigid races?

Give us a basic design of elf, dwarf, etc. that is the very essence of the many possible views and is free of any unfortunate implications (subraces exist, dwarfes like axes, halflings are thieves).

Then give a bunch of options for each race, with a little marker this option could represent a high elf subrace, so GMs and players can realize their view of dwarf, elf, etc.


Yes, I know I'm crying wolf at a very early point, race design isn't even tested right now. But it is a matter important to me and my warning flags are going up.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I've got no problem with +1's to all ability scores.

Really, much of the time, it's not even useful. First, it only bumps up an odd-numbered score. Second, It you're a wizard, that +1 bonus to STR (or whatever) is going to be mostly wasted.

Had a rogue in one of my games swap halfling for human, and it didn't seem to make him overpowered at all (quite the opposite, since he couldn't hide behind party members...)

 

[Steely_Dan]

What happened to +1 to saves?

I'm hoping something like that is for the Paladin class (regardless of race).

 

[variant]

I hope the paladin gets something like the 3e Marshal's auras, but magical effects.

Give us a basic design of elf, dwarf, etc. that is the very essence of the many possible views and is free of any unfortunate implications (subraces exist, dwarfes like axes, halflings are thieves).

Then give a bunch of options for each race, with a little marker this option could represent a high elf subrace, so GMs and players can realize their view of dwarf, elf, etc.

Yes, I know I'm crying wolf at a very early point, race design isn't even tested right now. But it is a matter important to me and my warning flags are going up.

Modularity doesn't mean you can pick and choose so you can power game.