D&D 5E To make all class/race combinations viable: adding +1 ability bonus from class that you take at your 1st level

[Horwath]

With this rule every class would at 1st level +1 bonus to one ability which is important to class mechanics.

This +1 bonus would not stack with racial bonus to abilities(except standard humans), but it would give each race option to get 16 in their primary or secondary statistics.

Each class would have 3 abilities that one of thenm could be raised by +1 with this option.

Reduce point buy pool by 1 or 2 points if you see it necessary.


abilities for each class would be;

Barbarian; str,dex,con,

Bard; dex,int,cha,

Cleric; str,wis,cha,

Druid; con,int,wis,

Fighter; str,dex,con,

monk; str,dex,wis,

paladin; str,wis,cha,

ranger; str,dex,wis,

rogue; dex,wis,cha,

sorcerer; con,int,cha,

warlock; dex,int,cha,

wizard; con,int,wis,

 

[Shiroiken]

Early in the playtest, you got a +1 from your Race and a +1 from your Class. This made certain standard combinations better (by stacking) without reducing viability for unusual combinations. My group was a big fan of it, and was sad to see it go away.

If you want to do this, I'd suggest you reduce the +2 Racial Bonus most races get to only +1. This would allow those standard combinations to remain strong (most would remain the same, others might actually be a bit better) while allowing unusual combinations to work better. The downside would be races that get multiple +2 bonus (hill dwarf?) and humans. For multiple +2's, you'd probably have to either lower one and forbid the Class bonus stacking, or lower both and add some other benefit. Humans are tricky, because it depends on what options you use. Variant Human is easy: remove one +1. Base Human might not need a change, unless you allow point buy, then you should probably drop two or three +1's.

 

[Kryx]

Alternatively you can alter races to give +1 to any ability score. So for example I rule that elves get +1 dex and +1 to any ability score (instead of +2 dex). Each subrace still gets +1 in their ability score (int, wis, or cha based on subrace).

So a Wood Elf could be

• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 str
• 2 dex, 1 wis
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 con
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 int
• 1 dex, 2 wis
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 cha

A High Elf could be:

• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 str
• 2 dex, 1 int
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 con
• 1 dex, 2 int
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 wis
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 cha

As you can see this has a nice benefit of allowing high elves to make great wizards as their lore states. It allows for a good amount of variation while maintaining racial stereotypes.


I do exactly that: Kryx's Races

 

[Rya.Reisender]

Assuming you just want feedback on the topic, I guess I must say that I'm not sure I consider making races "not matter much" anymore a good thing.

 

[Horwath]

Assuming you just want feedback on the topic, I guess I must say that I'm not sure I consider making races "not matter much" anymore a good thing.

well they would matter. High elf wizard and dwarf wizard would have same chance to have 16 int at start but it would be clear about other racial features. Elven wizards would be on average more dextreous and armed with bows and shortswords while dwarven would be strong and though, in armor and armed with battle axes and throwing hammers.

 

[Horwath]

Alternatively you can alter races to give +1 to any ability score. So for example I rule that elves get +1 dex and +1 to any ability score (instead of +2 dex). Each subrace still gets +1 in their ability score (int, wis, or cha based on subrace).

So a Wood Elf could be

• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 str
• 2 dex, 1 wis
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 con
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 int
• 1 dex, 2 wis
• 1 dex, 1 wis, 1 cha

A High Elf could be:

• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 str
• 2 dex, 1 int
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 con
• 1 dex, 2 int
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 wis
• 1 dex, 1 int, 1 cha

As you can see this has a nice benefit of allowing high elves to make great wizards as their lore states. It allows for a good amount of variation while maintaining racial stereotypes.


I do exactly that: Kryx's Races

10/10

I think Im going to use 95% of it.
But in your description of wood elves I would give them option of +1 to str or wis, legacy of 3.5e

 

[AaronOfBarbaria]

I don't see how all race/class combinations aren't viable without this adjustment in the rules.

 

[Flexor the Mighty!]

I don't see how all race/class combinations aren't viable without this adjustment in the rules.

Me either. So far I can't say we've run into issues with this. We've got PC's with nothing over 14 that are valuable party members.

 

[flametitan]

You're probably going to have to rebalance the races a little, from a min-max perspective. A lot of the current race/class balance comes from the stat modifiers. A mountain dwarf that could start with a 16 INT (point buy) would be one of the best races to play a wizard as (free armour proficiency? Only a single feat to get access to plate? it's a very tempting buy), but currently it's only "ok", as you have to give up some of your PC's casting ability to get it.

 

[thalmin]

I did something like this for my campaign. We use 25-point-buy, and get a first class 1 point bonus in one of their two primary stats (based on saving throw proficiency).