Options for Everyone: Racial Ability Bonuses
Player’s Handbook 3 introduced a new option to player character races. Instead of receiving a +2 bonus to two ability scores, each race was given one constant ability bonus and a choice between two alternatives for the second bonus. That approach has been standard in all books published since then. Most of the races from previous books were updated in Heroes of the Fallen Lands and Heroes of the Forgotten Kingdoms, leaving just a handful untouched—until now. This article extends the option to the remaining six player character races. Now all characters can adopt those racial archetypes that are thematically fitting but which previously were less attractive choices.
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Discuss this article here.
A few races seem to be missing, most notably the Gnoll, which I believe is covered by player material; but also all the MM races, and the Changeling isn't IS mentioned, but it already has flex stats. I do wonder if it will be updated to be more flexible eventually, because the original intent, I gather, was that its flex stat represents its racial mutability.
Main thought though: any explanation for why this article wasn't published last week?
But in any case, om nom nom.
Also, we didn't see any write-up for Gnomes ;_;
We made it to Flex-Stat Land! The weather is great. The food is great. The scenery is great. Everything is great!
Wish you could be here,
Heroic Races
From Dragon Content:
- Gnolls
From Monster Manuals:
- Bladeling
- Bugbear
- Bullywug
- Duergar
- Githyanki
- Gnoll
- Goblin
- Hobgoblin
- Kenku
- Kobold
- Orc
Now I doubt any of the second list will get support, but that they didn't do Gnolls confuses me, and its not like it takes more then just giving the second ability so people who do want to play these have some flexibility and less punishment feel to them. There can be the, "They aren't meant for PCs, so we shouldn'" but then if that's the case, why even putting them as PCs? People may want to just play a kobold or a goblin, and I don't see why they can't at least get teh cusory support.
As I heard it, mudbunny enquired into it, and the response was "everybody is okay;" which doesn't actually answer whether the office was open or not.
Also, we didn't see any write-up for Gnomes ;_;
We didn't see a write-up for Revenants either, though obviously we'll get one in Heroes of Shadow.
Deva
Caster Cleric
Chaladin
Gnome
Cunning Sneak Rogue
Wand Mage
Goliath
Shamans
Druids
Moradin and Kord Divine characters
Genasi
Con Swordmages
Elemental Summoners
Warforged
Self Forged Artificers
Shadar-Kai
Monks and Predator Druids?
What Out of the box character types are you excited to be more viable?
- I was thinking an Infernal Hexblade Deva could be a pretty rich new character
- A former Genasi merchant from the city of Brass on the run from an Efreet his tricked would make a great Genasi Artificer
- Reverse fluffed Vestige Pact Warforged the character is a circle of Wizards of Bael Turath who attempted to escape Asmodeus' Dominion by binding their souls into Warforged, only to mistakenly all be bound to a single Warforged. Buried in the rubble of the city for years the Warforged has suddenly come alive and switching Vestiges switches between the different members of the circle
While I didn't expect Shadar-kai to get Wisdom, now more then ever, I see Shadar-kai and Drow as equivalent to the two different kinds of Dark Elf (Dunmer) in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. House Dunmer are Drow: highly religious, but also adept at certain arcane arts and have an old connection to the land in some cases. The Ashlanders, on the otherhand, are Shadar-kai – more wild, old-magic and hunting techniques masters of the inhospitable wilderness, and extremely boastful of their victories.
There can be the, "They aren't meant for PCs, so we shouldn'" but then if that's the case, why even putting them as PCs?
They weren't. The stats were EXPLICITELY meant for NPCs. But since then everyone at wizards realized that was a dumb and entirely unnecessary thing to actually do. I doubt they will ever get any support and probably shouldn't. Other races deserve support that have had absolutely nothing in ages, like the Changeling.
Shadar-kai Characteristics: Ambitious, bloodthirsty,
detached, excessive, grim, intrepid, rash,
ruthless, sinister, thrill-seeking, unconventional, violent,
zealous
not very wise if you ask me...
The tattoos, scars, and piercings a shadar-kai
wears have more than one purpose. They exist as a
testament to the wearer’s ability to withstand pain as
well as a means of personal expression and decoration
from dragon 391: legacy in shadow, shadar-kai in forgotten realms
The greatest tool in their arsenal is stimulation.
Shadar-kai test themselves in all they do: pushing
against their limits to master the complex and
arcane arts, to become peerless warriors wielding
cumbersome weaponry, or to devour the world’s
lore and exceed all others in understanding.
the above paragraph seems to suggest that shadarkai make better arcanists than scoundrels (int primary?) and that a warrior might favor the fighting style of the slayer.
seems like for a race or thrill-seekers it should have been constitution. a shadar-kai warrior strikes me as the type who would make foolish boasts just to unearve his opponent and keep battling to the very end even if the eventual outcome killed him. a shadarkai caster strikes me as the type who would be willing to sacrifice a little of her life essence to give a dark spell a potent boost. so why then are they wise instead when our sources tell us they are tough and hearty?
Actually, I'm surprised that Shadar Kai didn't get Wisdom before. A race patronized strongly by the Raven Queen, now they can finally be better Avengers and Invokers (not to mention Clerics). Forget the Primal stuff, this allows them to be Divinists.
I agree with this. Shadar Kai would make excellent zealots for the Raven Queen. Wasn't this the case from the E1 to E3 modules? Wasn't the RQ surrounded by Shadar Kai fanatics?
I also wonder if this stat choice has something to do with the upcoming Shadowfell box set. I bet we'll see a new class build set up for the Shadar Kai where wisdom is a secondary stat.
And that's why I now agree with thespaceinvader. If the Revenants weren't included in "the remaining six races" in the intro of the article, but are reprinted and updated in Heroes of Shadow, and Gnomes weren't included in "the remaining six races" in the intro of the article, I'd expect Gnomes to be reprinted and updated in Heroes of the Feywild.
While I didn't expect Shadar-kai to get Wisdom, now more then ever, I see Shadar-kai and Drow as equivalent to the two different kinds of Dark Elf (Dunmer) in The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind. House Dunmer are Drow: highly religious, but also adept at certain arcane arts and have an old connection to the land in some cases. The Ashlanders, on the otherhand, are Shadar-kai – more wild, old-magic and hunting techniques masters of the inhospitable wilderness, and extremely boastful of their victories.
I think it is like this:
Humans
Small humans: haflings
Dark humans: shadar-kai
Smart/mystical humans: Kalashtar
Elves
Small elves: gnomes
Dark elves: drow
Smart/mystical elves: Eladrin
Dwarves
Small dwarves: ?? (big dwarves: goliath!)
Dark dwarves: duergar
Smart/mystical dwarves: ??
Planar good guys: Deva
Planar bad guys: Tiefling
Planar Switzerland: Genasi
Monsters:
Lizardman: Dragonborn (small lizard man: kobolds)
Bugman: Thri-kreen
Plantman: Wilden
Wolfman: Shifter
Catman: Shifter
Jackalman(?!): Gnoll
"Robots:"
Warforged
Hybrids:
Half-elf
Half-orc
Mul
Undead:
Revenant/Shade/Vyrloka (crowded niche)
Shapeshifter:
Changeling
The cheese stands alone:
Shardmind
There is still design space for smaller and smarter dwarves! Also, what fantasy trope space was the shardmind meant to fill? I have no idea!
I expect it's set in stone, since they're probably already expecting these stats in the next set of books to be published.
My only two disappointments are
1. I was hoping Gnomes would be CHA primary with choice between Dex and Int. Not for any particular meta reason, I just think they lean more towards charismatic types than int. Especially considering the early 4e gnome videos. "I'm a monster. Raaarr." has an int bonus? really?
2. Deva, I was kind of hoping they would get either strength or con, just to give them a more physical aspect as servants of the gods. Maybe WIS INT/CON Int being high minded and holy with CON being deva that seem to be slipping to their rhakshasa side. (Deva warlock would be interesting.)
It seems they tried to tie them more to classes than personality types.
One more thing, please add Gnoll and give him DEX CON/STR. DEX-STR gnolls would do a lot to making them a more playable and played race.
Of course, if they come up with the CON-based sorc build I've been secretly pining for, I will retract all previous gripes.
Also wait, Reveant bards? don't tell me that...
Actually, I'm surprised that Shadar Kai didn't get Wisdom before. A race patronized strongly by the Raven Queen, now they can finally be better Avengers and Invokers (not to mention Clerics). Forget the Primal stuff, this allows them to be Divinists.
All (or most) races have some form of worship. Halflings are strongly linked to Avandra, Eladrin are strongly linked to Corellon, but neither has a wis bonus. The same logic was used to justify goliaths getting wis, but it seems silly to me. Yes, they worship something, but there's no reason to think they are any more spiritual than anybody else.
Gnolls just aren't that flexible - sure it might be an official PC race, but it's still a monster based PC race. If they added a flex stat I'd be fine with it, they didn't, I'm fine with that too. And why would anyone expect them to do the MM races? Those are not official PC races at all.
For those complaining they based these too much on class concepts and not race concept - it's what we asked for (or at least many people did). These combos fill some niches that were ignored before (int/con x2). One of the nice things about 4e is any race can really fit any class - you'll just start with an 18 instead of a 20 in that primary stat (and maybe 16 instead of 18 in a secondary). You're not the best in that class, but you are certainly functional, and dare I say, a little more unique? Now you can focus a little better with these new flex stats, but of course they aren't going to satisfy everyone.
Not so in defense of WotC:
The article did seem pretty light. As one poster mentioned - more errata than new content. And why it was delayed seems odd too. Maybe an R&D followup on what stat was on the fence that caused this 2 page article to go out 3 days late.
Afterthought:
New feat that might make everyone happy (except for those that would complain this was a feat tax in some way):
"One of a kind", Prereq: must be taken at level 1, race must have choice of second stat,
Effect: You may choose any stat as your second stat.
The article did seem pretty light. As one poster mentioned - more errata than new content. And why it was delayed seems odd too. Maybe an R&D followup on what stat was on the fence that caused this 2 page article to go out 3 days late.
Well, it wasn't actually a DDI article - this wasn't feature content just for subscribers, it was free errata for everyone. As such, I don't think it merits criticism as far as lacking in content - though the lack of content in the magazine in general is certainly a reasonable complaint.
As for the delay, I suspect that was less to do with intense debate over Errata, and more about delays caused by WotC Staff all being busy with D&DXP. And was it really three days late? I recall it being expected on Friday and posted on Monday - given no one is working the weekend anyway, that's only one day actual delay, technically. So I imagine it had some minor issue preventing it from being posted on Friday, and no one could be found to fix it that day, and thus it got resolved when everyone was back in on Monday. Just my theory, of course, but can't imagine any other major issues holding it up.
New feat that might make everyone happy (except for those that would complain this was a feat tax in some way):
"One of a kind", Prereq: must be taken at level 1, race must have choice of second stat,
Effect: You may choose any stat as your second stat.
Hey, I like that.
The article did seem pretty light. As one poster mentioned - more errata than new content. And why it was delayed seems odd too. Maybe an R&D followup on what stat was on the fence that caused this 2 page article to go out 3 days late.
Well, it wasn't actually a DDI article - this wasn't feature content just for subscribers, it was free errata for everyone. As such, I don't think it merits criticism as far as lacking in content - though the lack of content in the magazine in general is certainly a reasonable complaint.
As for the delay, I suspect that was less to do with intense debate over Errata, and more about delays caused by WotC Staff all being busy with D&DXP. And was it really three days late? I recall it being expected on Friday and posted on Monday - given no one is working the weekend anyway, that's only one day actual delay, technically. So I imagine it had some minor issue preventing it from being posted on Friday, and no one could be found to fix it that day, and thus it got resolved when everyone was back in on Monday. Just my theory, of course, but can't imagine any other major issues holding it up.
Right, I didn't say DDI article - but it was a Dragon article. As such, my comment is referring to the size of that article within Dragon "magazine". This didn't have to be an article, it could have just been errata. But since it was an article, I was hoping for something with a little more meat.
As for 3 days late - I play games on the weekends, it felt like 3 days late to me. If it was ready to post Monday morning, then why wasn't it ready to post Friday night is my real question. Someone was doing something over the weekend. If it was just a matter of not being able to get to formatting two pages of content before the five o'clock whistle blew, then that's fine. But if there was some deeper issue here, I'm curious as to what it was.
In general, it's just frustrating at times trying to field player questions with no real information. I'm the DM, I'm the one deciding D&D 4e is what we should be playing. I'm the one that keeps the players in the loop on upcoming changes and additions. And I'm the one that has to defend WotC when they fail to meet their deadlines (repeatedly). I'm just curious as to what's really going on 2.5 months into this new publishing format and more and more missed deadlines and less content overall. I'm still defending WotC though - I love the game, I just hope this little speed bump passes soon.
Are they that short on content for Dragon they they are passing off what is essentially errata as an article?
How do you mean? It's free, so they're not including it as "subscriber content." On the other hand, they did layout on it, to make it look like an article. I don't think that's "look at the 'article' we made!" but the fact that post-Essentials, they can't provide anything of this nature (crunch, that is) without laborious exposition.
One page, with the racial bonus table, would have been perfectly sufficient. Heck, it could have been an HTML page.
In defense of WotC:
Gnolls just aren't that flexible - sure it might be an official PC race, but it's still a monster based PC race. If they added a flex stat I'd be fine with it, they didn't, I'm fine with that too. And why would anyone expect them to do the MM races? Those are not official PC races at all.
Drow - monster based PC race. Minotaur - monster based PC race.
In defense of WotC:
Gnolls just aren't that flexible - sure it might be an official PC race, but it's still a monster based PC race. If they added a flex stat I'd be fine with it, they didn't, I'm fine with that too. And why would anyone expect them to do the MM races? Those are not official PC races at all.
Drow - monster based PC race. Minotaur - monster based PC race.
Both with full PHB write ups. And I'll argue the Drow is NOT a monster (just an elf with a bad attitude) even if they originally only appeared in a "monster" manual. Minotaur, sure, monster based. But minotaurs are flexible and have a choice, doesn't mean every race in existence should. But again, I'm fine with it one way or the other. I'm just not going to get upset because they gave one race the choice and not another. I'll just see some races as more flexible than others.
I scrutinized the racial flavor implication of the new abilities - even the surprises are solid.
Perfect
The Deva is a Wise intuitive perceptive guardian angel, escaping the veil of illusion - angelic Glory / divine Intellect, telekinetic force.
The Goliath is a Strong Warden - Tough Barbarian / Wise Druid and Shaman.
Interesting
The Kalashtar is the force of will, Charismatic heart-wrenching vibration-kinetic Bard - Intelligent mind-bending Telepath, Enchanter Mage / Enlightened Ardent, luminous monastic Cleric.
The Genasi is an Elemental Intelligence, spirit of alchemy, flashing Arcane warrior, Swordmage - Tough Evocation Mage, Artificer imbuing elemental power into items, Gish Wizard.
The Shadar-Kai is the Necromonger of Pitch Black, Dexterous Shadowy sharpshooting Rogue, ghosting thru gloom - Monk contemplating the abyss, relentless Avenger and Evoker of deathly spirit.
Afterthought:
New feat that might make everyone happy (except for those that would complain this was a feat tax in some way):
"One of a kind", Prereq: must be taken at level 1, race must have choice of second stat,
Effect: You may choose any stat as your second stat.
This is kind of the problem, there seems to be this desire for cake and eating it too. We want the stat bumps for differentiation and for min/maxing but its difficult to have both.
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Here is what I was thinking, each class has a "heroic ability" bonus, +2 to any stat, and each race other than Human would have a single +2,
Eladrin arcanists would have +2 Int, making them good at being any kind of wizard or Original Warlock, and better wand bards then melee bards.
Non arcane Dwarves however would have +2 Constitution making them better at Casting From Tomes and warding with staves, Making Duergar like Hell pacts or Ancestor cult pacts, and have an option for being Bards on the front lines.
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I like the idea but realize it would just lead to a chorus clamoring for "Fey Pact Dwarves, it's not FAIR!!!!"
Do guess players just want the +2's to be unassociated with race. Is it too restrictive? Should race be an encounter power and some features like Wild Step or Dwarven Resiliance?
Afterthought:
New feat that might make everyone happy (except for those that would complain this was a feat tax in some way):
"One of a kind", Prereq: must be taken at level 1, race must have choice of second stat,
Effect: You may choose any stat as your second stat.
This is kind of the problem, there seems to be this desire for cake and eating it too. We want the stat bumps for differentiation and for min/maxing but its difficult to have both.
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Here is what I was thinking, each class has a "heroic ability" bonus, +2 to any stat, and each race other than Human would have a single +2,
Eladrin arcanists would have +2 Int, making them good at being any kind of wizard or Original Warlock, and better wand bards then melee bards.
Non arcane Dwarves however would have +2 Constitution making them better at Casting From Tomes and warding with staves, Making Duergar like Hell pacts or Ancestor cult pacts, and have an option for being Bards on the front lines.
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I like the idea but realize it would just lead to a chorus clamoring for "Fey Pact Dwarves, it's not FAIR!!!!"
Do guess players just want the +2's to be unassociated with race. Is it too restrictive? Should race be an encounter power and some features like Wild Step or Dwarven Resiliance?
So you want to give every race free choice over the second stat. While that would satisfy the min/maxers, it does reduce the flavor of the race.
The stat bonuses are probably what's looked at first when choosing races (outside of human). I think making them too flexible could cause a major watering down effect. At least with making you have to spend a feat to get that added flexibility, you're really adding to the flavor of _your_ character. You're stronger than other Elves, you're quicker than other Dwarfs, etc. It gives you individuality with out watering down the entire race.
Also as a feat it balances the mechanics fairly well. You're loosing a +1 in certain skills to gain that back in other skills. You then gain a +1 in attack/damage that you would otherwise not have with this particular race. This is balanced by the fact that you could have had them if you picked a class that fit the race better. It's a single feat that says, "Play whatever combo you like, it'll be viable." You'll still be slightly behind the curve at level 1 since you'd have to pass up an "expertise" feat for at least a level - but by level 2, you're playing with the big boys. You go Halfling Barbarian. Cast away Mr. Dwarven Wizard!
There is just the ever present balance issue of flexibility vs. clear definitions, a sister problem of fluff vs. crunch.
Someone already mentioned that Sorcerers should have been Con based, I agree. I assume that they made a str based sorcerer for a single reason, so Dragonborn would kick butt as them. Now we have Cosmic Sorcerers who might be as good, or even better at bashing down a dungeon door than some Paladins.
If feels weird, if we had already had the Dragonborn flex stats I bet we would have Cha/Con Dragon Sorcerer's.
It's things like these that make those bonus stats so finagley in determining how classes are built.