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Balancing out Racial Abilities
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<blockquote data-quote="WhosDaDungeonMaster" data-source="post: 7540792"><p>My group has been playing 5E for a while now, and we are getting ready to discuss anything we want to house-rule. Before we do, I would like your opinions on a few things.</p><p></p><p>I'll begin with the races. Now, I realize this is totally subjective and this is only my particular take on it. The table below shows my comparisons.</p><p></p><p>[ATTACH]103834[/ATTACH]</p><p></p><p>For example, in comparing Dwarves to the Human Variant:</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Con +2 equivalent to Human Variant +1 to two abilities; i.e. both are +2 total.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dwarven Combat Training and Str/Wis bonus equivalent to Weapon Master Feat, which the Human Variant could take.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dwarven Tool Proficiency is roughly equivalent to the Extra Skill of the Human Variant.</li> </ul><p>Now, Dwarves are a bit slower in Speed, but make up for that slightly with not being penalized for wearing heavy armors. The advantage is a bit towards the Human Variant, but not overwhelmingly so IMO.</p><p></p><p>Now, the Human Variant gets <em>choice </em>in choosing where the bonuses go, what Feat and Skill to learn, etc. <em>That is a big deal</em>, but is it really worth everything the Dwarves get beyond the Human Variant? (Notice everything in the blue and red box under the Dwarf column.) I don't think so, and the advantage goes to the Dwarf for getting abilities over the Human Variant.</p><p></p><p>Elves are just as bad in gaining several advantages over the Human Variant, and Half-Elves aren't far behind being superior to the Human Variant. Gnomes, Halflings, and Half-Orcs have a slight edge on abilities over the Human Variant, but here having the choice with the Human Variant evens things out close enough. Dragonborn and Tieflings are pretty even with the Human Variant IMO.</p><p></p><p>So, my question to you all is this: What to do about the balance of abilities for Dwarves, Elves, and Half-Elves compared to the other races? Should we remove some of those races abilities, or offer improvements/additions to the races that seem a bit weaker in abilities? For instance, I was thinking about granting Halflings Stealth as a racial skill to compliment their Naturally Stealthy abilitiy.</p><p></p><p>I am also considering removing subrace abilities entirely for PCs or combining them somehow into the main race.</p><p></p><p>I realize many of you won't agree with my take on this, and like I began with, it is subjective and my point of view. I do not want debates about which power is equal to what, etc., so please don't post along those lines. I am looking for ways to balance things out as I see it. If you feel everything is fine as is, I am happy for you. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="WhosDaDungeonMaster, post: 7540792"] My group has been playing 5E for a while now, and we are getting ready to discuss anything we want to house-rule. Before we do, I would like your opinions on a few things. I'll begin with the races. Now, I realize this is totally subjective and this is only my particular take on it. The table below shows my comparisons. [ATTACH=CONFIG]103834._xfImport[/ATTACH] For example, in comparing Dwarves to the Human Variant: [LIST] [*]Con +2 equivalent to Human Variant +1 to two abilities; i.e. both are +2 total. [*]Dwarven Combat Training and Str/Wis bonus equivalent to Weapon Master Feat, which the Human Variant could take. [*]Dwarven Tool Proficiency is roughly equivalent to the Extra Skill of the Human Variant. [/LIST] Now, Dwarves are a bit slower in Speed, but make up for that slightly with not being penalized for wearing heavy armors. The advantage is a bit towards the Human Variant, but not overwhelmingly so IMO. Now, the Human Variant gets [I]choice [/I]in choosing where the bonuses go, what Feat and Skill to learn, etc. [I]That is a big deal[/I], but is it really worth everything the Dwarves get beyond the Human Variant? (Notice everything in the blue and red box under the Dwarf column.) I don't think so, and the advantage goes to the Dwarf for getting abilities over the Human Variant. Elves are just as bad in gaining several advantages over the Human Variant, and Half-Elves aren't far behind being superior to the Human Variant. Gnomes, Halflings, and Half-Orcs have a slight edge on abilities over the Human Variant, but here having the choice with the Human Variant evens things out close enough. Dragonborn and Tieflings are pretty even with the Human Variant IMO. So, my question to you all is this: What to do about the balance of abilities for Dwarves, Elves, and Half-Elves compared to the other races? Should we remove some of those races abilities, or offer improvements/additions to the races that seem a bit weaker in abilities? For instance, I was thinking about granting Halflings Stealth as a racial skill to compliment their Naturally Stealthy abilitiy. I am also considering removing subrace abilities entirely for PCs or combining them somehow into the main race. I realize many of you won't agree with my take on this, and like I began with, it is subjective and my point of view. I do not want debates about which power is equal to what, etc., so please don't post along those lines. I am looking for ways to balance things out as I see it. If you feel everything is fine as is, I am happy for you. :) [/QUOTE]
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