Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="pukunui" data-source="post: 4315363" data-attributes="member: 54629">I don't think they are descended from dragons. They were created alongside dragons as their servants and the like, I think.This would make sense if you subscribe to my opinion of what half-elves should be like but it doesn't make sense according to WotC's vision (everybody loves half-elves, they all get along famously with everyone, they're everyone's friends, you can do no wrong by placing your trust in a half-elf, etc etc etc). Hmm. I think I like my latest "Group Stealth" thing a bit better. The elf write-up talks about their stealthiness, but the only mechanical thing to back it up is their bonus to Dex. I also think having a group bonus to something like Stealth makes more logical sense than a group bonus to Perception.Now if only I could think of something to give the half-elf. Would a free multiclass feat be too much? What about that Jack of All Trades feat? Would that be ok? A +2 to all untrained skills sounds nice.I've actually decided I'm not going to change the Dragonborn's stats. (Nor am I going to do the choice of stats thing, other than for humans and half-elves, but that's beside the point.) Here's why: downplaying intelligence and emphasizing charisma with this edition actually does make some sense. My theory may not be what WotC was thinking, but it seems to work: in a world where empires fall and the darkness encroaches on the light, the people who are more likely to survive are those who are physically hardy (strength and constitution) and personable (you can talk people into helping you survive). Sure, intelligence and insightfulness and quick reflexes are all useful survival skills as well. But sheer brute force and slick charm can go a long way to not only surviving but to making other people want to help you survive.You could probably argue that that's still true today. Athletes and entertainers are admired in modern society.Anyway ...Another house rule of mine is going to be:PCs are only literate if they are trained in at least one of the following skills: Arcana, Dungeoneering, History, Religion. This is to reflect the "dark ages" concept -- most people are too busy just trying to survive to bother with reading and writing. It's only those who are lucky enough to get formal schooling (represented by the above skills) who learn to read and write.</blockquote>

Verification