[Character Creation] Helpful Symmetry

[Deep Blue 9000]

I know what you mean. Humans have always been the baseline race, and all other races were modded from humans. But I can't imagine that they get nothing (they would be done 4 stats! What ability could they give humans in compensation for that!) and the idea of allowing humans to place stats anywhere doesn't make sense.

After all, the fact that stats are rolled or bought makes more the difference in individual potential. That one human has int 18 and another strength 18 shows the difference between someone born naturally smart and then worked to learn more and one who was born naturally strong and worked hard to become more so.

The only logical way to think of "floating" racial modifiers is if you believe each human is more unique from another human than one elf is from another elf. Which I don't like. Let the stat-generation show the difference between the individuals and let racial modifiers be the same.

I think its funny you say this because it seems unambiguously true in any given fantasy world you may consider.

 

[Ahglock]

I think its funny you say this because it seems unambiguously true in any given fantasy world you may consider.

I was thinking the same thing, and it is true in D&D fantasy as well. Each race has a niche that they are good at and theoretically there stat mods should help them there, and coincidentally there culture usually reinforces that many of there race become the classes there good at. Humans well they are diverse they can do anything and be good at it. Humans have always been described as being more unique and non-humans as some sort of walking stereotype.

 

[Novem5er]

Regarding humans, remember that in 3e, every race's stats were balanced: +2 X and -2 Y. Or in the case of Str: +2 str, -2 X -2Y.

Humans were balanced with the other races because, while they had no bonus, they also had no negative.

In 4e, all races so far have a net bonus of stats. Humans should have a bonus too, as it's hard to balance a racial ability with the constant bonus that stats provide.

Has anyone considered that not every race might get a +2, +2? Perhaps Dwarves will get a +4 Con. That would give room for Humans to get a +2 Con, while the Dwarves are still "tougher".

If I had to wager, I'd say that Humans will get a +2 Con and a floating +2 that they can put anywhere. Justification: Humans are resilient, yet adaptable. Con is useful for ANY class, and the floating +2 will give Human players their choice of class.

But... is Str still more "valuable" than the other stats? If so, then do Dragonborn get +2 Str and nothing else? Could a human choose Str with their floating bonus?

 

[Voss]

I suspect strength won't be more valuable, anymore.
Take the paladin's smites. I suspect that all the per encounter abilities will be based off the major attributes of each class- wizard will be making most of their attacks with Int, warlocks with cha and so on. And depending on how light and ranged weapons weapons are handled, it may not even matter to the ranger and rogue. Even clerics could potentially minimize it, even if they don't treat it as a straight dump stat.

But I think its significant that with at will powers, its possible to never make a strength based attack roll.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

I think that the excellent everyman archetype of humans is just one aspect of their fantasy heritage, the other is the vigorous young race/barbarians.

Also, I'd argue that giving humans two free ability picks is way too sweet of an advantage.

So I'm guessing humans get either one free bonus and a ton of sweet abilities or general modifiers.

Or, in line with the vigorous young race thing, get Con as a pick and then one Mental stat of the player's choice.

 

[ZombieRoboNinja]

I think that the excellent everyman archetype of humans is just one aspect of their fantasy heritage, the other is the vigorous young race/barbarians.

On a related note, if I ever write a space sci-fi book, humans will be widely regarded as a surprisingly slow-developing and unambitious race by galactic standards.