Giving a choice of stats to older races

[thecasualoblivion]

In PHB 3, all races have one fixed +2 to stats, and a choice of two others for the second. This is similar to the Changeling race from Eberron Players Guide. Thinking that this is a nifty new idea, here's my take on applying it to older races:

Dragonborn +2Str, +2 to Con or Cha--many Dragonborn features already work off of Con, so this is an obvious choice. I thought about making Str or Cha be the fixed stat, but settled on Str as Dragonborn tend to be the beefy warrior types overall.

Dwarf +2Con, +2 to Str or Wis--This almost makes Dwarves too good at Str based classes, but if you're going to give Dwarves this choice this is it. Constitution should be the fixed stat 100%

Eladrin +2Int, +2 to Dex or Cha--Cha makes Eladrin perfect for Bards and Warlocks, and Eladrin fit the mold of a high Cha race

Elf +2Dex, +2 to Str or Wis--Previous editions wild elves often had a Str bonus, and frankly I don't see Elves having a bonus to anything else.

Half Elf +2 Cha, +2 to Con or Dex--Half Elves are half elf, and elves are all about Dex

Halfling +2 Dex, +2 Con or Cha--Literature paints Halflings as tough little buggers

Human--I don't know how much Humans get hosed by this change. I guess it offsets the fact that the bonus feat and At-Will get better and better with the passage of time.

Tiefling +2Cha, +2 Con or Int--Charisma has to be the fixed, the whole race works off of it. Con is obvious, enabling the Hellfire Warlock among other things

PHB 2

Deva +2 Wis, +2 Int or Cha--A bit of Aasimar for the Cha, and it seems appropriate

Gnome +2Cha, +2 Dex or Int--Gnome Rogue and Sorcerer FTW

Goliath +2Str, +2 Con or Wis--Wisdom is obvious here, Goliath are a primal race if ever there was one

Half Orc +2Str, +2 Con or Dex--Half Orcs really aren't right with a bonus to mental stats

Shifters--Shifters already kind of have this, with the two types. I'd leave these unchanged

Other

Drow +2 Cha, +2 Dex or Wis--This is a tough call between Int and Wis, but I go with Wis based on Drow Priests.

Genasi +2Int, +2 Str or Con--Con better enables caster type Genasi

Kalashtar +2 Wis, +2 Int or Cha--Psions...

Warforged +2Con, +2 Str or Dex--Anybody remember Scout Warforged?

Shadar Kai +2 Int, +2 Dex or Con--Con seems obvious as number 3

Gnoll +2 Dex, +2 Str or Con--I"m not big on Gnolls as PCs, but here it is

Revenant +2Con, +2 Dex or Int--Revenant need a caster stat, and Int fits the bill best.

 

[Rachel]

I like your reasoning on almost all of these. The only one I wouldn't agree with you on would be the Tiefling. I don't like the double Cha, there; feels overbalanced (no other race is doubled up anywhere). Otherwise, looks good. Doing this would bring uniformity to all the racial stats across all 3 PHB books, and obviously provides some fun flexibility for players and DMs rolling new chars.

If you enjoyed doing this, you could also do a similar list reverting the racial bonus stat mods back to the +2/+2/-2 format that was discarded in 4E when the designers opted to go more pro-bonus and less pro-penalty (ie., including weapon profs. granting a +2 power bonus instead of penalizing -2 for untrained with a weapon).

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I like your reasoning on almost all of these. The only one I wouldn't agree with you on would be the Tiefling. I don't like the double Cha, there; feels overbalanced (no other race is doubled up anywhere). Otherwise, looks good. Doing this would bring uniformity to all the racial stats across all 3 PHB books, and obviously provides some fun flexibility for players and DMs rolling new chars.

Tiefling was a typo. It should have been a choice of Con or Int for the second stat. It has been fixed.

If you enjoyed doing this, you could also do a similar list reverting the racial bonus stat mods back to the +2/+2/-2 format that was discarded in 4E when the designers opted to go more pro-bonus and less pro-penalty (ie., including weapon profs. granting a +2 power bonus instead of penalizing -2 for untrained with a weapon).

The -2 penalty to stats with races was something I'm glad 4E rid D&D of. The issue is that the penalty basically makes classes based off that stat almost crippled when used with a race with a penalty. You have to pay the high cost of an 18 with point buy just to get a 16 attack stat. Might be an interesting thought exercise, but never for actual play.

 

[eriktheguy]

These are good ideas. Giving the races more versatility is always nice.

A lot of DM's have gone with letting all races choose their ability bonuses. For those interested, there are only a few changes that need to be made to prevent abuse:
-Gain +2 to two ability scores regardless of race (yes, even humans)
-For non-humans, lose your racial ability bonus to defenses.
-For non-humans, if you choose to boost 2 ability scores linked to the same defense, gain a +1 racial bonus to another defense of your choice

If you are REALLY finicky about math:
-if humans increase ability scores related to two defenses, they lose the +1 racial bonus to one of those defenses of their choice

 

[SabreCat]

I hope the Arcane Controllers of the Coast actually do this, maybe in the Essentials books.

I like your ideas, but I'd try to get more Con/Int options in besides Genasi & Shadar-kai. Maybe make Tieflings' fixed plus Int instead of Cha, give Warforged the option of Int, something like that.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

I hope the Arcane Controllers of the Coast actually do this, maybe in the Essentials books.

I like your ideas, but I'd try to get more Con/Int options in besides Genasi & Shadar-kai. Maybe make Tieflings' fixed plus Int instead of Cha, give Warforged the option of Int, something like that.

There's three actually. Genasi, Shadar-Kai and Revenant. I did give Con/Int Warforged a bit of consideration, but then remember Scout Warforged from 3E and went with Dex.

 

[Kzach]

With all these new races with multiple choices still having powerful extra abilities as well, I really don't think it's that much of a stretch to simply replace all racial stat boosts with two fluid +2 bonuses.

 

[thecasualoblivion]

With all these new races with multiple choices still having powerful extra abilities as well, I really don't think it's that much of a stretch to simply replace all racial stat boosts with two fluid +2 bonuses.

I don't like 2 fluid bonuses. It removes a lot of the flavor for races. Giving a choice of two stats for the second +2 is a nice compromise between customizability and flavor.

 

[Benlo]

I would actually be more in favor of +2 Int to Dwarves over Str. They're already assisted plenty with feats to get around Strength issues, and Intelligence is very befitting of craftsmen, filling a gap of an unused stat combo with the exception of Githyanki. It would also give them a bonus to being Artificiers, which would be pretty appropriate.

 

[BobTheNob]

I don't like 2 fluid bonuses. It removes a lot of the flavor for races. Giving a choice of two stats for the second +2 is a nice compromise between customizability and flavor.

I agree with this point. It does diminish racial flavor somewhat to not have racially linked stats, and I definately strongly agree with the OP.

The new races get a bit of an edge here, and ar far more versatile. I dont mind it, but I definately believe that this is how it should have been for original implementation.

Humans would need some token pat on the back though, the ability to choose a Stat was a real feather in their cap, which they wore by NOT having a bonus to two stats. To do such a change would leave the human a sad panda.