clearstream
(He, Him)
Just to test a concept, what do folk think of this?
Gone - racial ability modifiers (e.g. no more +2 Dex for elves or +1 Int for high-elves)
Added - after choosing background and class, players distribute 3 points as they like across their abilities, putting no more than 2 points into any single ability
Races are then rewritten for balance according to the following principles
Multifaceted - the rules capture playing with and against type (e.g. players choose between Dwarven Combat Training and Dwarven Courtisanship, where the former is framed as a typical choice while the latter is framed as atypical, but highly-valued by many Dwarven clans)
Incommensurable - quantifiably better/worse choices are avoided (e.g. Darkvision versus Lucky is in, Darkvision versus Improved Darkvision is out)
Some races, such as humans, would need more rework than others. Framing narratives guide players as to likely norms - e.g. many orcs are physically powerful - but the mechanics do not box players into those norms. In play, that works out just as if I assigned my lowest score to my orc's strength, and chose to play against type as a highly charismatic warlock. The rules can't capture every option we experience in real life. They can widen the door for diversity, encouraging groups to think more broadly and avoid stereotyping the peoples found in their game world.
Gone - racial ability modifiers (e.g. no more +2 Dex for elves or +1 Int for high-elves)
Added - after choosing background and class, players distribute 3 points as they like across their abilities, putting no more than 2 points into any single ability
Races are then rewritten for balance according to the following principles
Multifaceted - the rules capture playing with and against type (e.g. players choose between Dwarven Combat Training and Dwarven Courtisanship, where the former is framed as a typical choice while the latter is framed as atypical, but highly-valued by many Dwarven clans)
Incommensurable - quantifiably better/worse choices are avoided (e.g. Darkvision versus Lucky is in, Darkvision versus Improved Darkvision is out)
Some races, such as humans, would need more rework than others. Framing narratives guide players as to likely norms - e.g. many orcs are physically powerful - but the mechanics do not box players into those norms. In play, that works out just as if I assigned my lowest score to my orc's strength, and chose to play against type as a highly charismatic warlock. The rules can't capture every option we experience in real life. They can widen the door for diversity, encouraging groups to think more broadly and avoid stereotyping the peoples found in their game world.
