D&D 5E SCAG Half-Elf Variant

[BoldItalic]

All of this has already been discussed:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?472295-Half-Elf-variant-abilities-in-SCAG

Yes, thank you. We seem to have discussed it some more.

 

[Sword of Spirit]

It occurs to me that perhaps different DMs will see different trends, depending on their own unconscious bias for certain adventuring styles. Players will tend to take Perception if they know the DM likes to play "Ambushes and Accidents" whereas if the DM rarely calls for a Perception check, his regular players will sensibly take some other skill.

Good point!

 

[Blue]

Sunlight sensitivity is disadvantage when you OR the target is in direct sunlight (PHB pg 24). The hat will help you, but if your target is still in the sun, you should still get the penalty. Up to a DM of course, but that's how I'd run it at an AL table trying to keep close to the rules.

 

[Horwath]

I think that the hat or hood is mandatory for surface drow not to be killed on sight rather it being solution for bright light.

But you could lessen the penalty so it affects only in mid day. How long is mid day? depends on season and latitude. It might be from 8h to 16h or just from 11h to 13h. Or just say the half of the day duration, centered on high noon.

 

[Unwise]

When my PCs ask how often Sunlight Sensitivity is likely to screw them over, my answer is "about as often as Darkvision is going to aid you significantly over and above Nightvision". It hasn't come up yet as nobody is playing a Drow, but if as a DM I think a disadvantage is included as a balancing factor, it is not going to be foiled by something as simple and meaningless as "I put on a hat!". That being said, I'm yet to bother to form an opinion on whether it is a balancing factor, or just flavor.

 

[CapnZapp]

I am far from convinced 5E Drow are so superior that sunlight sensitivity is an appropriate drawback.

Not only is disadvantage a crippling penalty that is probably much too harsh; I'm not convinced Drow are better than other races at all.

I'm half leaning towards treating Sunlight Sensitivity as a colorful background item, that it is quite okay to easily negate, much in exactly the manner you abhor...

 

[devincutler]

All of this has already been discussed:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?472295-Half-Elf-variant-abilities-in-SCAG

I like the post where it said it slipped through editing.

Editing?

That's the best joke of the new year.

There is no way something like that should "slip through editing."

WOTC's editing of 3e became, at the end when they were rushing through product to prop up their sales, a bad joke.

So far in 5e, while the core books seem acceptable, the adventures particularly have major problems.

How hard can it be for WOTC to have a core of a dozen volunteers with NDAs proofreading their product for them FOR FREE!?!

 

[Valetudo]

Not to mention a very slow release cycle which should give them a lot of time to edit.