It's always been clear that some racial choices are extremely good (variant human) & others like mountain dwarf are good but piled high with meaningless boons anyone with the associated stats probably gets from their class or benefits from at the cost of a lower prime stat & weird build. In letting PCs swap the racial attribute bonuses they put a spotlight on just how lacking many races are. I decided to rebalance the races in an attempt to be closer to being on par with each other using variant human, mountain dwarf & the Aven from plane shift amonkhet as the target baseline. Because they are easier I'm going to start with the volos races
This is kinda long so I'm going to stop there rather than continuing with tortle grung & ggtr races. Although I've not spent significant time ensurig everything is balanced, hopefully this will be a useful enough starting point for people to bring to their GM for discussion until either wotc issues an errata for the loser races ormore likely many of us avoid the problem by hopping over to A5e
Healing hands: replace this with paladin lay on hands feature 1/4 your character level. If you gain levels in paladin this adds to the lay on hands pool.
Radiant consumption: works like arrificer artillerist turrets. Once per long rest then requires expending a first level or higher spell slot to reuse before the next long rest.
Necrotic shroud: works like arrificer artillerist turrets. Once per long rest then requires expending a first level or higher spell slot to reuse before the next long rest.
Hidden step: works like arrificer artillerist turrets. Once per long or short rest then requires expending a first level or higher spell slot to reuse before the next long or short rest.
Stone's endurance: You can use this once per long or short rest at no cost. Each additional use expends one unspent hit die.
mimiced words: You know the vicious mockery cantrip & can consider the dissonant whispers spell to be known or prepared without counting against spells known or prepared for your class. Both require one or more levels in a class capable of casting spells & use the relevant attribute for that class in order to cast
Hungry Jaws: You can use hungry jaws with the monk martial arts die rather than the 1d6bite damage+str damage by spending a ki point or unspent hit die each use after the first.
Natural armor: If you gain unarmored defense from a source such as monk or barbarian, your unarmored defense AC is increased by 3, otherwie this functions normally as described.
Natural armor: If you gain unarmored defense from a source such as monk or barbarian, your unarmored defense AC is increased by 3, otherwie this functions normally as described.
These are a +2/+1 race & the action free dash is not limited by rests so I'm not sure they need much if any improvement.
Control air & water: The fog cloud & wall of water spells are considered known or prepared spells without counting against your total & can be cast normally if you gain first & third level spell slots from a class capable of casting splls. The relevant attribute shifts to match that of your casting class if that class uses an attribute other than charisma to cast spells.
Sneaky: this is revised to function as sneak attack as per a third level rogue & It can be used any time you would otherwise be eligible for sneak attack rather than jut when you surprise a foe. Unlike sneak attack this can be used with all weapons rather tan just finesse & ranged weapons. You can add this to your rogue level & continue using the relaxed weapon options for purposes of determining your sneak attack if you gain rogue levels
Saving Face: you can use this any number of times but must roll 11 or higher on a d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw before you can use it again after each use
Fury of the small: No longer limited by rests. When making spell attacks or weapon attacks with a light weapon against larger sized creatures no more than 15 feet away you can add1/4your level to each damage roll.
Rather than +2 dex -2 str you gain +2 dex +1 to a different ability score of your choice
Grovel cower & beg: You no longer need to take a long or short rest between each use
Grovel cower & beg: You no longer need to take a long or short rest between each use
Inate spellcasting: If you gain levels in a class capable of casting spells, you treat poison spray, animal friendship, & suggestio as always known or prepared spell without counting against your spells known or spells prepared. These spells then use the relevant casting stat for your class if that attribute is something other than charisma.
Ability score increase: +2 strength +1 con
Passionate: You may choose between taking the aggressive trait or selecting a half feat of your choice. A half feat is a feat that adds +1 to an ability score in addition to granting something else such as actor athlete & heavy armor master.
Passionate: You may choose between taking the aggressive trait or selecting a half feat of your choice. A half feat is a feat that adds +1 to an ability score in addition to granting something else such as actor athlete & heavy armor master.
The spells related to your mark are always considered to be prepared or known without counting against your limit. You can cast these spells using spell slots as normal if you have unused spell slots of level needed for each dragonmark spell.
You start with the heavy armor master feat & are able to make use of it regardless of what type of armor you are wearing even if you are not wearing armor.
You begin with a half feat of your choice, this can include racially restricted half feats. A half feat is a feat that adds +1 to an ability score in addition to granting something else such as actor athlete & heavy armor master.
Your breath weapon recharges on a d6 with a 5-6 just like a dragon'. The breath weapon is no longer limited by rests. See Limited usage on page 11 of the monster manual for full explaination.
If you take levels in a spellcasting class you can add your intelligence modifier (min1) to the number of spells you can know or prepare from your class list if you take levels in a spellcasting class.In the case of wizard & artificer where you already do this it counts twice
In addition to the normal function you can expend an unspent hit die to make a 19 on a d20 into a critical hit. Similar to the champion's improved critical. If you gain the improved critical feature from champion this can be used on a 17 18 or 19.
Infernal legacy: These spells are always considered to be known or prepared but don't count againt your spells known or prepared limit if you take levels in a spellcasting class even if they are nott normally available to your class
This is kinda long so I'm going to stop there rather than continuing with tortle grung & ggtr races. Although I've not spent significant time ensurig everything is balanced, hopefully this will be a useful enough starting point for people to bring to their GM for discussion until either wotc issues an errata for the loser races ormore likely many of us avoid the problem by hopping over to A5e
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