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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Scott Christian" data-source="post: 8449672" data-attributes="member: 6901101">Perhaps the focus on words is the correct approach. Skimming through the PHB, I see this language used to guide character creation:Elf: "Your elf character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of elven refinement."Dwarf: Your dwarf character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of dwarven nature." Halfling: "Your halfling character has a number of traits in common with all other halflings."Human: "It's hard to make generalizations about humans, but your human character has these traits."Dragonborn: "Your draconic heritage manifests in a variety of traits you share with other dragonborn."Gnome: "Your gnome character has certain characteristics in common with all other gnomes."Half-Orc: "Your half-orc character has certain traits deriving from your orc ancestry."Tiefling: "Tieflings share certain racial traits as a result of their infernal descent."Even the sub-races describe their traits similarly. For example, the forest gnome states their "natural knack for illusion" and their "inherent quickness and stealth." The rock gnome discusses the "natural inventiveness" and "hardiness beyond that of other gnomes."I bring this up because I find it hard to reconstruct the language that has been put forth by the game's designers. These words suggest an inheritance of traits, which leads to them being different than other races. The words also strongly imply that these characteristics are found in all of the people of a chosen race. Not as individuals.If we want to go the cultural/individual route, I am fine with it. I do think it changes the feel of the game; however, it might lead to an improvement. But, the language needs to be rectified. So I guess my question is how do you phrase it to dictate individuality of a single PC and culture, instead of broad brush strokes? I mean, we are talking painting an individual leaf vs a forest. Lastly, I apologize [USER=6915329]@Faolyn[/USER] . I just reread what I typed late last night, it it sounds kind of rude. I did not mean it to sound that way. But, the question I was asking is sincere, because I played with the math and still don't see a problem outside of just wanting an extra +1 at first level. But, I am keeping myself open to being wrong.</blockquote>

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