Removing Set Ability Score Bonuses from Races

[Nifft]

I'd allow a player to change the usual +2/+2 (fixed) into a single +2 (any one ability).

Cheers, -- N

 

[Mengu]

It's a related point. Many races are given superior feats to compensate for their inferior stat bonus distributions. E.G. Eladrin soldier training because eladrin make sub-par fighters. Dwarven weapon training because dwarves lack str bonuses, etc.

If dwarves could have STR bonuses, then their weapon training feat would be unbalanced unless any race had access to it as well.

I don't think this argument holds up too well once you look beyond PHB. Strength is not the only primary stat for using a melee weapon. Swordmages and Artificers use Intelligence, Rogues and Assassins use Dexterity, all of whom can benefit from Eladrin Soldier. Eladrin Soldier can even help an Eladrin Wizard with the proper implement proficiency. Similarly, Dwarf Avengers get to use their high wisdom, and get the bonus from DWT.

And with Githzerai, we see the superior version of ES/DWT, which is probably what the Eladrin and Dwarves should have gotten all along. Really, at this point, can anyone explain why Githzerai get the +2/3/4 feat with arguably the best weapon group in the game? It seems pretty arbitrary, which makes it hard to argue that giving dwarven weapon training to a Dragonborn would be a major break.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating this as good practice, too much loss of flavor for my taste, but I'm not sure I'd cry broken if someone did this.

 

[DracoSuave]

Yes, people take humans for the additional feat, at-will power, and skill, and great feat selections...

...because they can use their bonuses with -every- class in the game. So human is -always- a good choice no matter what class you play.

But if you give that advantage to -every- race, then the human advantages become less interesting. Instead of being all upside, they lose a -2 to an attribute to gain their advantages.

That's not balanced.

 

[cattoy]

I don't think this argument holds up too well once you look beyond PHB. Strength is not the only primary stat for using a melee weapon. Swordmages and Artificers use Intelligence, Rogues and Assassins use Dexterity, all of whom can benefit from Eladrin Soldier. Eladrin Soldier can even help an Eladrin Wizard with the proper implement proficiency. Similarly, Dwarf Avengers get to use their high wisdom, and get the bonus from DWT.

And with Githzerai, we see the superior version of ES/DWT, which is probably what the Eladrin and Dwarves should have gotten all along. Really, at this point, can anyone explain why Githzerai get the +2/3/4 feat with arguably the best weapon group in the game? It seems pretty arbitrary, which makes it hard to argue that giving dwarven weapon training to a Dragonborn would be a major break.

Just to be clear, I'm not advocating this as good practice, too much loss of flavor for my taste, but I'm not sure I'd cry broken if someone did this.

It's one thing to poke at the examples given, but its yet another to ignore the point.

I figured it was common knowledge at this point that 4e is all about synergies and to speak of racial stat mods independently of racial abilities and racial feats is sheer folly.