D&D 5E Typical Race Abilities: +1, +1, −1

[Nagol]

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The problem arises in that a pc with a mix of odd and even stats will almost surely place the +1s into odd stats (gaining an additional +2 to his total stat bonus) and his -1 into an even stat (losing nothing). THAT is the difference that I object to. I prefer the traditional +1, -1 scheme from 1e, but it simply doesn't work well with the current chart for ability bonuses, where every even stat is a significant increase but every odd stat is a meaningless decrease (or increase). To me, I find the breaking of that particular balance element highly distasteful.

I suspect that the thinking behind the +1 by race in 5e is that the +1 by class will do half the lifting. I'm of a mixed mind, but trying to remain open to the end results. We'll have to wait and see.

A -1 in an even stat costs a modifier. To gain the most, the player must put both +1 and -1 in all odd stats. The odd + 1 gains a modifier point, the odd -1 does not lose a modifier point.

 

[pemerton]

It seems to me that you kind of disagree with yourself here.

If the stat scores are meant to represent the average variance then by all means ignoring the stat changes seems way way way more appropriate, because you aren't playing an amalgamation of the average of your race

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For the record I prefer traits to differentiate races and classes. Like, in 2E Dwarves, Gnomes and Halflings got some extra bonuses to save because of their innate hardiness. That's something all of them have, every single Dwarf is different from every single human in that way

Overall I enjoyed your post, but don't you contradict yourself here in just the same way that you diagnosed in your own post?

A dwarf with (say) a poison save of 15 from class and +3 from stat is no different from a human who has a poison save of 12 from class. Which is to say, is not different from every single human in any distinctive way.