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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Yaarel" data-source="post: 9221475" data-attributes="member: 58172">Also an other advantage of switching abilities to backgrounds is, the narrative flavor increases both breadth and depth.By contrast, the racist stereotype ability scores improvement is too much of a narrative straight jacket.Example, if "every" Elf is high Dexterity, what is the point? How many things would an elven society do with only Dexterity anyway? Not much. And all of it contradicts the narrative flavors of Elves. Elves are skillfully and inherently magical? Wrong, that is the spellcasting ability, not Dex. Elves are magically enchanting and artistically esthetic (as well as physically beautiful)? Wrong, that is Charisma, not Dex. Elves are gymnastic and quick and leaping. Wrong, that is Strength, not Dex. Elves are known for longswords. Wrong, that Strength, not Dex. Elves are eternally youthful with hardy lifespans. Wrong, that is Constitution, not Dex. Elves are personifications of fate who foresee the future. Wrong, that is Wisdom or spellcasting ability, not Dex.To try force Dex onto Elves is almost always plainly wrong.Forcing Elves into a Dexterity stereotype gets in the way of any actual flavor.Oppositely, when I was thinking about the five salient tropes that relate to a "High culture" of the Elf species, the flexible assignment of ability scores based on cultural context inspires. For example, the Fey Page background. The High culture maintains contact with the Elves of the Feywild. High locales are often at or nearby Fey Crossings. The governments of the High communities are part of the Seelie Fey Court alliances. A town of the High culture is its own Fey Court. The members of these Courts are powerful mages ... who are trying to look good while manipulating each other. Charisma is super important. And of course, these politicians need to be smart and calculating in order to succeed, whether to actually achieve something good or to benefit oneself only. Intelligence, but Wisdom too. And, Oh yeah! In a High society, only a 100 year olds are legally considered "adults". That implies that anyone younger isnt allowed to vote in the parliamentary system. Now there is a source of dramatic tension. No wonder the High culture often seems so conservative. Do the youngsters tend to be rebelious? Is that why so many adventure off to "go find themselves"? And the Fey Page is an apprentice, a young adult working in the think of local, national, and multiplanar politics. So many adventure hooks! And this kid has got to be a talented kid. The courtier probably sends this attache on assignments, including ones where this less famous kid is farther away from public attention. The Page is now a participant of intrigue. Fey intrigue can be all kinds of crazy things. So many more adventure hooks.This is just one background. Entire worlds of storytelling are opening up in front of my eyes − all because I am allowed to show Dexterity my middle finger.To have cultural backgrounds make the ability score improvements personal and occupational, is superior for the D&D game in every way.None of this world building interferes with the players, because they can have whatever background they want, and their creativity for how their own character fits in further expands and deepens, and enriches our shared worlds.</blockquote>

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