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Message: <blockquote data-quote="EzekielRaiden" data-source="post: 8114338" data-attributes="member: 6790260">As an example of the flexibility 4e added later on (it wasn't present initially):Dragonborn have +2 Charisma, choice of +2 Strength or +2 ConstitutionElves have +2 Dexterity, choice of +2 Wisdom or +2 IntelligenceAlso, though I agree with Don Durito that ability scores were more important in 4e, IMO they're still important in 5e, and even with that aside, having a boost to either your primary or secondary stat in 4e was still Good Enough for most things. With the flexible stats, so every race has access to at least 3 stat bonus options, it's not exactly easy to find classes that won't benefit from any of your possible options. Frex, one might think Rogue is a bad choice for a Dragonborn, but Artful Dodger wants high Charisma and Brutal Scoundrel wants high Strength, so it is entirely possible to buy a 16-18 in your main stat. This does, of course, mean that certain builds that play against type may be harder to pull off, e.g. an Elf may not be keen on the Warlock builds that value high Con, since it has neither a Con bonus nor a Cha bonus, while Dragonborn probably want to avoid Archer Ranger, which mostly wants Wisdom and Dexterity.For my part, I think it just makes sense to admit that there's a key stat every member of <class> cares about, like Wizards wanting Intelligence and Warlocks wanting Charisma etc. By doing that, the "+2 from class, +2 from race" model (even if no other part is "good") can meet the minimum demand from the "open things up to everyone" side, that is, class can give +2 <core stat> unless the player chooses otherwise. It can then also meet the "but different things are different" minimum demand from the "make archetypes matter" side, by still having all <foos> be either <stat 1> or <stat 2>. I'm not married to the specific powers or all the other stuff. Just the idea that being a Wizard means you're smart (unless you, as the player, specifically elected NOT to be), but being a Half-Orc still means you're either strong or dexterous. That seems to be the way to meet in the middle: archetypes still exist, physiology still counts for something, but playing against type isn't punished.Edit:As for conceptual drift...yeah that's pretty much just going to happen. Dragonborn never had tails, but because people just like the idea of tailed dragonborn, they're quite common in practical play now--and it's likely that that will drift with time. It is what it is. These ideas can't be held totally unchanging, even ignoring the whole "different editions are different games" thing, because public perception of what "an elf" or "a tiefling" means changes with time.Keep in mind that the Githzerai were basically completely retconned because of one successful portrayal of them: Dak'kon. Thematic, presentational, and mechanical drift just happens, and there's really nothing that can be done except observe it and, if it suits you, house-ruling to "restore" it to where you think it "should" be.</blockquote>

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