D&D 5E D&D Peoples/Species change ideas

[Xeviat]

So, there's a lot of talk about changing the race system in D&D. Pathfinder 2 has adjusted racial features to be more optional, so not all dwarves are miners and not all elves are archers, and, presumably, not all orcs are bloodthirsty killers. There's a whole conversation about biological essentialism and how fantasy races can lean into racist themes, but I'm not here to discuss whether the issue is real or not (there's other threads for that).

I'm here to discuss it from a gameplay standpoint. So, it makes sense that different species would have different biological traits. It makes sense that some are stronger, tougher, more agile, even smarter (though how you define that is where you can get yourself into dangerous territory). But, translating these differences into ability scores may be bad for the game.

What? They've been there forever. How are they bad for the game?

Well friends, you see, if some races have Str bonuses, then they're optimal for Strength classes. Same for the other, non-con ability scores. Removing ability score bonuses as a function of race would diversify the game, make for other class/race combos to be viable.

So where do the ability score bonuses go? They go to class. Your class gives you +2 to your primary stat, or a choice between a few (fighter can choose Str or Dex). Your subclass then gives you +1 to a secondary stat. Move subclass choices to first level. These aren't given out via multiclassing.

Then, wrap back around and give features to do what you imagined the race/species as, without the ability score bonuses. Increases to carrying capacity and bonuses to athletics for a strong race, maybe a 1/short rest damage boost. Increased speed and Dex saves for agile races. And so on.

It would require a lot of work, but then, say, a tiefling fighter or an orc sorcerer could be viable characters.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Just make the choice separate from any other choice. You just decide what two stats get boosted at level 1. The end.

Then we don’t have to change the rest of the game, and we don’t get stuck with strength on a Dex Paladin.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Just make the choice separate from any other choice. You just decide what two stats get boosted at level 1. The end.

Then we don’t have to change the rest of the game, and we don’t get stuck with strength on a Dex Paladin.

If you can put them wherever, then it is more elegant to do a point buy with more points and a higher cap.

But ultimately I feel that the issue here is that the main ability score of each class is too important. And it is kinda sad that everyone basically just has to have the same score there to be considered effective.

 

[Micah Sweet]

If you can put them wherever, then it is more elegant to do a point buy with more points and a higher cap.

But ultimately I feel that the issue here is that the main ability score of each class is too important. And it is kinda sad that everyone basically just has to have the same score there to be considered effective.

Point buy is never going to be universally accepted, just a popular option. Getting rid of rolled stats entirely, which I think you'd have to in order to make that work, is possibly too big an ask.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

But ultimately I feel that the issue here is that the main ability score of each class is too important. And it is kinda sad that everyone basically just has to have the same score there to be considered effective.

That’s an illusion. You can start with a 14 and end with a 16 and be effective, in 5e. It’s fine.

People just are more satisfied with higher numbers in a game where higher numbers generate better results, even if the scale is actually very small and the difference isn’t actually particularly significant.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Point buy is never going to be universally accepted, just a popular option. Getting rid of rolled stats entirely, which I think you'd have to in order to make that work, is possibly too big an ask.

I didn't even remember that rolled stats are a thing. It literally didn't occur to me that they're something that anyone would actually use.

 

[Xeviat]

If you can put them wherever, then it is more elegant to do a point buy with more points and a higher cap.

But ultimately I feel that the issue here is that the main ability score of each class is too important. And it is kinda sad that everyone basically just has to have the same score there to be considered effective.

This is actually a separate idea of mine: set attack/save DCs to level, not ability scores. Prof bonus is given out every 4 levels, so you could add a bonus at 2, 6, 10. Then, a 5th level rogue attacks as a 5th level rogue, regardless of if they're an agile thief, a cunning trickster, or a charming spy. Most characters start with a 16 and raise it to 20 eventually anyway.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

That’s an illusion. You can start with a 14 and end with a 16 and be effective, in 5e. It’s fine.

People just are more satisfied with higher numbers in a game where higher numbers generate better results, even if the scale is actually very small and the difference isn’t actually particularly significant.

Illusion or not, if that's how people feel then that's how it will be. If they feel that they got to have 16 in their main stat to be effective then they always put it there while the rules allow it.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Point buy is never going to be universally accepted, just a popular option. Getting rid of rolled stats entirely, which I think you'd have to in order to make that work, is possibly too big an ask.

Since rolled stats are already statistically better than what you can get with point buy or standard array (not by much but by a little), I think the bigger issue is getting people on board with the idea that you're plenty good with just rolled stats.

But if you want to tweak 5e and not start a whole new edition - just give everyone a floating +2 and a +1 to use at character creation. This gives all of the benefits that OP wants with no downsides (beyond objections to OP's goals).

 

[DND_Reborn]

So where do the ability score bonuses go?

Or just remove them entirely?

If you want a high STR for your fighter, put it there. You don't need racial or class bonuses to help define your character IMO.

It would require a lot of work, but then, say, a tiefling fighter or an orc sorcerer could be viable characters.

Aren't they already...? Those races might not get bonuses, but they certainly aren't penalized. There are plenty of Fighters that aren't "STR- or DEX-boosted" races, at least IME.