D&D 5E A tweak for humans?

[Afrodyte]

I still wouldn't mind some feedback on my variant human suggestion in post #31 upthread.

In summary, I'm suggesting giving humans all of the following:

• +1 to four ability scores;
• Proficiency in two skills;
• One feat.

Without having tried the rules as written in play, I think that giving more flat ability score increases to humans might not be the best idea flavor-wise. I like the idea of humans distinguishing themselves not by raw ability, but by the things we learn as we adapt to different situations. But that's just a matter of personal taste.

I love the idea of giving humans a feat and at least one additional skill proficiency (As it stands now, I would prefer two additional skill proficiencies instead of just one). However, there are less visible areas where a bonus would really come in handy. Saving throws and tool proficiencies spring to mind.

 

[Salamandyr]

Because right now they're not on a par with other races. Other races get a +2 to one stat, a +1 to another, and very useful cool stuff; humans get +1 to all stats. The latter is not as fun or as flavourful and not balanced against the other races. The thing is, classes are focussed specialists so a +2 in a relevant stat gives a far greater benefit than a +1.

Assuming point buy, actually the +2 to one stat, +1 to another gives almost exactly the same benefit as +1 to all stats, assuming you want a 16 in the stat that you get a +2 in. When a race gets +2 to two stats, the human loses all advantage.

No one's ever going to start with higher than a 16 using point buy; there's no benefit to a 17. The +2 just makes getting a 16 cheaper than +1 does.

For instance, let's compare a high elf wizard to a human wizard. (best case scenario for human). His array might look like:
16 Int (9 points)
14 Dex (4 points)
14 Con (7 points)
12 Wis (4 points)
10 Cha (2 points)
9 Str (1 point)

A human could have

16 Int (9 points)
14 Con (5 points)
14 Dex (5 points)
14 Wis (5 points)
12 Cha (3 points)
8 Str

In this case the human has a mild advantage on stats; +1 to wisdom & charisma rolls relative to the elf. His opportunity cost is that he loses the weapon proficiencies, the skill proficiency in perception, a language, and a cantrip.

Are a +1 to your 4th and 5th most important stats better than all that stuff? I guess anyone can judge.

 

[Quartz]

Assuming point buy, actually the +2 to one stat, +1 to another gives almost exactly the same benefit as +1 to all stats, assuming you want a 16 in the stat that you get a +2 in.

But a non-human can buy a 14 in one stat and a 15 in the other, which will both get bumped to 16, whereas a human has to buy two 15s to end up with two 16s.

Then there's the rule of cool. Stat bumps aside, dwarves get night vision, resistance to poison, the automatic ability to wear armour, resistance to poison; dragonborn get breath weapons and damage resistance; tieflings get fire resistance and spells; half-elves get night vision and skill versatility; and so on. Humans get nothing in the Basic Rules, or 1 feat and 1 skill in the PHB, neither of which are cool.

However, the Resilience feat caught my eye. It would be just-about-cool if humans had an extra save in which they were proficient. Three instead of two. So, how about humans get the standard +2/+1 stat bumps, take Resilient in a 3rd stat (getting the +1 bump as well for +2/+1/+1 - Dex for the Dex fighter is the obvious example), and then get the Skilled feat? Mechanically, this is a little bit better than the half-elf.

 

[kenmarable]

Other races get a +2 to one stat, a +1 to another, and very useful cool stuff; humans get +1 to all stats. The latter is not as fun or as flavourful and not balanced against the other races.

Personally, the flavor issue is my biggest problem with humans. Humans are "the diverse race" but that winds up being cashed out as the blank slate race. Of course, that problem goes far beyond D&D.

Flavor-wise, I think a floating +2 (balanced out somehow) makes more sense to convey that humans are varied better than a flat +1 everywhere which conveys that humans are generally-kinda-ok-at-everything-I-guess. They are the "silver medal in a lot of sports but gold in nothing" sort of race.

That doesn't convey diversity. It's more like reliability. Sure, humans aren't the best at anything, but whatever it is, they are probably ok at it. But I'm not sure "reliable runner up" is the flavor they are trying to go for with humans.

 

[Quartz]

That doesn't convey diversity. It's more like reliability. Sure, humans aren't the best at anything, but whatever it is, they are probably ok at it. But I'm not sure "reliable runner up" is the flavor they are trying to go for with humans.

Yes, it's neither fun nor cool.

 

[Quartz]

However, the Resilience feat caught my eye. It would be just-about-cool if humans had an extra save in which they were proficient. Three instead of two. So, how about humans get the standard +2/+1 stat bumps, take Resilient in a 3rd stat (getting the +1 bump as well for +2/+1/+1 - Dex for the Dex fighter is the obvious example), and then get the Skilled feat? Mechanically, this is a little bit better than the half-elf.

On reflection, this is a little too good, but only a little. I think proficiency in two skills or tools, like the half-elf, is more appropriate than the three the feat gives.