Hello
Isn’t human a little weak compared to other races? Human only get +1 to all stats, and that is only half of a modifier, and they don’t get any cool stuff that other races get. Am I missing something? I get it that human need to be ultra versatile class to pass for everything, but in previous edition it was all this and it was strong nevertheless. Now I don’t see it…
And what is up with “Variant Human Trait rule”. Can human start like that or is it something only to take on higher levels? Does human get everything from it on said level, or only one? And if only one, what not just say – Human can take extra skill instead of ability score increase… I’m confused a little :D
Humans shine because of the mentioned trait rule:
Instead of +1 to all stats you got +1 to two stats.
Plus a skill you can choose.
Plus a feat (which may also grant you another +1 to one attribute).
Humans are a bit weak yes. Though they are good for multiclassing. Like if you want a rogue/monk/bard, you could get 16 Dex, 14 Cha, 14 Wis, 14 Con, 12 Int, 8 Str.
Human variant is a bit strong, paticularly at low levels. Though they loose some of that steam later.
I always like humans, but seems like his edition favors other races.. by giving them a lot of flavor, awesome traits and even a subrace to choose.
Still I guess human will be a good option for any class, just not as good as in previous edition 
Just to directly answer your varient question in case it is not clear.
The varient rule you use level 1 in place of taking +1 to all of your stats. That is the only time it applies, you gain your +2 boosts as normal
Level 1 human varients can outshine other races if they pick one of the specialization feats, but starting on level 4 that starts to drop
TrueManiek wrote:
Variant Humans are spectacular because feats are better than most racial traits. Darkvision may be an exception since it isn’t available from a feat. Similarly the best racial trait of each race might be better than a feat and not available by feat.
Yeah, the D&D Next feats are all pretty amazing, so a bonus feat is nothing to blink at.
That said, Humans are supposed to be super common and many of the races more rare. Yet because they're less flavorful or mechanically contain a lot of "zazz" I'm guessing they'll be fairly rare.
I'm going to pronounce a prophecy.
"All who claim that +1 humans are underpowered will change their tune in the months to come."
Watch this space.
Personally I think a feat is more powerful then the sets of racial ablities I know of from the basic rules. Yes, darkvision is a boon, and a good one at that, but unless the entire party has darkvision, then it loses some to all of its lust depending on how your group plays together. A feat is fantastic ( unless you pick bad ones for your character ) and IMO getting one at level 1 instead of having to wait like the other classes is too strong. The skill is just gravy on top of it.
Thank_Dog wrote:
I feel the +1 to all stats put Humans into the category of being above average at everything rather then the other races who tend to be excellent at one or two classes but below average at the others EG: wood elf make great rangers/rogues but poor wizards
this being the case Humans are still my favourite race on D&D (3.5, 4 &5)
Lucas_Blackstone wrote:
So I did understand it right at first – human get feat at starting level (+one more skill which for me is a also a big deal ^^)
I don’t really know how powerful are feats.
But if they are something like special racial abilities of other races, than it might be pretty sweet. Sure, you only get one, instead of couple racial futures… but you get to pick it, from (I assume) wide array of choices… and that for me is power of human.
TrueManiek wrote:
+1 to all stats is much better if you roll for your attributes. It is entirely possible to end up with 4-6 odd attributes in which case the +1s will go a lot farther than a point buy character with three 8s.
Kind of lame that us point buy guys are sort of left out in the cold, but I imagine most will use the variant human anyway, which is fine.
Eric888 wrote:
I'm so happy they included the variant human. Looks like the dozen or so essays I wrote in the playtest reports on that subject as well as all my message board posts here and tweets to Mike Mearls paid off. :D
I'm confused by how +1 to 6 stats can possibly be weaker than +2 to 1, +1 to 1.
+6 > +2/+1 in amost all scenarios from an overall perspecitive. That +1 in those other 4 stats you don't care about is most likley going to turn into a better bonus for a save or ability check.
My impression was that humans were too powerful combared to... getting darkvision.
If using point buy, humans are great, you can choose all odd numbers. How about 15, 13, and all 11's, for a 26 point buy, so end with 16, 14, rest 12 for a little bit of everything? Or 15, 13, 13, 11 11, 9, and then end with 16, 14, 14, 12, 12, and 10? No race can catch you as a generalist.
When rolling, variant is better, since you will reroll any character that has sub par stats. For the feat, I just rolled a rogue and took observant at first level, passive perception and investigation of 18 is easy and kind of broken.
Guanyu wrote:
They are only worthless if you are in a campaign that is all min max and combat and trying to rules lawyer something. If you run with any type of competent DM he will focus on your stats you do not care about.
It's story vs war game, they are different games.
Just remember that the Variant human is an *option*, which means it is well within a DMs rights to not allow you to use it. In fact, Feats are *options* as well, which a DM can also disallow.
I've had people complain to me that the variant human is so OP as to be broken, but I think that having that ability puts them on par with the other races, who get resistances, darkvision, skills, weapons proficiencies, etc.
Stats you don't care about will ultimately bite you in the ass (or provide interesting roleplaying opportunities). Unlike 4th Edition D&D5 is reaching back into its roleplaying roots with lots of story wrk and hooks woven into the character creation. This feels right away the kind of game that lends to the style of thing that created the Tales of the Lance and so forth. You play a human because the character you want to play is human from the human cultures in the game your playing. Heck, they could have gone real old school and gone with Humans get nothing except Dual Classing benefits.