D&D 5E Ability Score Increases (I've changed my mind.)

[JEB]

I guess there are two choices:
1) WotC could define them all for us and make an official thing.
2) We could use floating ASIs and define them ourselves.

Or 3) all of the above!

 

[Crimson Longinus]

No we just need six sub-races for every race, with +2 to each attribute!

What I suggested at some point was to get rid of subfaces and replace them with a floating bonus and a list of perks you can choose from. So an elf would have +2 dex and +1 to one other attribute, and then could choose an extra cantrip or the wood elf hidey thing etc. And you could also limit the floating of the +1 to certain abilities if it made sense that the species was kinda bad at a thing. For example most small species might not be able to put their +1 to strength.* I think this would have been a decent middle ground option that had retained some of the flavour of ASIs whilst still allowing a lot of flexibility. And it would get rid of rather questionable concept of subraces so that would be a bonus too.

* And strength of small races really is the only such limitation that would need to exist. And as you can very effectively fight with dex, it wouldn't even be a balance issue. Granted, the barbarian could be altered a bit to better support dex builds.

 

[JEB]

I guess there are two choices:
1) WotC could define them all for us and make it an official thing.
2) We could use floating ASIs and define them ourselves.

Taking the idea more seriously, why not:

• floating ASIs by default
• providing one example ASI as a "traditional elf" (i.e. "Dexterity elf")
• providing another example ASI as an "alternate elf" (i.e. "Strength elf")
• explicitly encouraging folks to innovate beyond that

 

[Chaosmancer]

It has to be because of hard coding. It can't be the former, because with floating bonuses literally every race has the same "pre-disposition" for dex as elves would.

Every human in the world is human right? And yet people in Asia tend to be shorter than people in Africa.

So, why can't elves tend to be more dexterous even with floating ASI?

 

[Yaarel]

Even if that were true, there are a lot of other races out there. Do they need floating ASIs too?

In the case of the Elf, floating ability improvements is a must.


At that point, why not the rest of the races too?

Is it so terrible for me to say, my Halfling is +2 to Charisma, and +1 to Dexterity?



You and others want there to be "salient" differences between the races. I think there is a way to do this, by giving each race an assemblage of choices to choose from.

4e got it right when giving the eladrin elf Misty Step as innate magic. That is eye-popping wow! So different from other kinds of elf, and other kinds of races!

When we look at the Tashas custom lineage, we can see the basic format to design a race. Besides neutral stuff like size, speed 30, and a language, each race is one feat plus one trait. The trait can be darkvision, or something else instead. The feat can be an eye-popping wow! Let each race choose between feats. Each feat can focus on a specific D&D tradition, dramatically. Also, add new 5e traditions. Supply very different kinds of feats to choose from. Let the player choose which feat archetype they want.

For example, let the elf offer feats for Misty Step, Elven Accuracy, Udadrow Magic, high magic to synergize Bard, Druid, Wizard. Offer a Fey Knight for a gishy elf, that manifests "elf chain" Mage Armor spell, and maybe uses the casting stat for AC and longsword attacks. There can be animal companions like coochie and steeds like griffon, as part of a feat. So many solid D&D options can be elf race feats for a player to pick.

If a wood elf character picks Misty Step, that is fine too.

Meanwhile, I would love it if every elf can choose between darkvision or a cantrip.

If there is an "essence" of the elf, it is that the race personifies magic and comprises various magical cultures. All of the elf feats can be different ways to express this essence.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Really? You dont think such a thing can be done? How about we look at Tigers, compared to say, a Caracal. Both are cats. Why cannot the Caracal be more powerful than the Tiger?

Well, size would seem to play a role in that. Tigers are large.

But lets reverse the question. If tigers are strong, then why are lions weaker than tigers? All cats must be identical right? That's the goal of racial ASIs, so why aren't all cats as strong as Tigers.

It is almost like, within a species, things are... floating.

 

[Micah Sweet]

In the case of the Elf, floating ability improvements is a must.


At that point, why not the rest of the races too?

Is it so terrible for me to say, my Halfling is +2 to Charisma, and +1 to Dexterity?



You and others want there to be "salient" differences between the races. I think there is a way to do this, by giving each race an assemblage of choices to choose from.

4e got it right when giving the eladrin elf Misty Step as innate magic. That is eye-popping wow! So different from other kinds of elf, and other kinds of races!

When we look at the Tashas custom lineage, we can see the basic format to design a race. Besides neutral stuff like size, speed 30, and a language, each race is one feat plus one trait. The trait can be darkvision, or something else instead. The feat can be an eye-popping wow! Let each race choose between feats and traits. Each feat can focus on a specific D&D tradition, dramatically. Also, add new 5e traditions. Supply very different kinds of feats to choose from. Let the player choose which feat archetype they want.

For example, let the elf offer feats for Misty Step, Elven Accuracy, Udadrow Magic, high magic to synergize Bard, Druid, Wizard. Offer a Fey Knight for a gishy elf, that manifests "elf chain" Mage Armor spell. There can be animal companions like coochie and steeds like griffon, as part of a feat. So many solid D&D options can be elf race feats for a player to pick.

Meanwhile, I would love it if every elf can choose between darkvision or a cantrip.

If there is an "essence" of the elf, it is that the race personifies magic and comprises various magical cultures. All of the elf feats can be different ways to express this essence.

See, that does seem interesting. Make racial traits actually interesting and cool.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Well, size would seem to play a role in that. Tigers are large.

But lets reverse the question. If tigers are strong, then why are lions weaker than tigers? All cats must be identical right? That's the goal of racial ASIs, so why aren't all cats as strong as Tigers.

It is almost like, within a species, things are... floating.

It's almost like there would be several radically different species of felinidae...

 

[mrpopstar]

I'd like to see the +2 stay, and have the +1 be floating.

Then it'd be established that all elves are dextrous (something I'd like to preserve), but within them you'd get the strong elves, extra dextrous elves, constitute elves, intelligent elves, wise elves, and charismatic elves (something I'd like to be up to the player).

Edit: Reworded.​

 

[Scribe]

Well, size would seem to play a role in that. Tigers are large.

But lets reverse the question. If tigers are strong, then why are lions weaker than tigers? All cats must be identical right? That's the goal of racial ASIs, so why aren't all cats as strong as Tigers.

It is almost like, within a species, things are... floating.

I mean if we want to go down the rabbit hole, but I really dont.

In this comparison, Its Tiger (Goliath) and Halfling (Caracal) as its Cat (Fantasy Huminoids).

Besides, I find it beyond my ability to suspend disbelief that you do not understand my position, and its simply arguing in bad faith with you at this point.