17/12/2016 UltimateAdaptability:VariantHumansfor5thedition|Tribality

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Ultimate Adaptability: Variant Humans for 5th

edition
POSTED BY RICH HOWARD (HTTP://WWW.TRIBALITY.COM/AUTHOR/RICHHOWARD/) ON MAY 19, 2015 (HTTP://WWW.TRIBALITY.COM/2015/05/19/ULTIMATE-ADAPTABILITY-VARIANT-
HUMANS-FOR-5TH-EDITION/) POSTED IN D&D 5E (HTTP://WWW.TRIBALITY.COM/CATEGORY/GAME-SYSTEMS/DUNGEONS-DRAGONS-5TH-EDITION/), NEWS
(HTTP://WWW.TRIBALITY.COM/CATEGORY/NEWS/), PL AYER RESOURCES (HTTP://WWW.TRIBALITY.COM/CATEGORY/PL AYER-RESOURCES/), RACES
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IntheearlyeditionsofD&D,humanswerethefoundationonwhichotherraceswerecompared.Inotherwords,theywerebland.Humanshadno
advantagesorpenalties(withtheexceptionofbeingabletorisetoanylevelinanyclass).Startingwith3rdedition,humanswereinsteaddescribedas
themostflexibleandadaptableofraces,grantingthemachoiceofabilityscoresincreases,bonusfeats,andtraininginachoiceofskills.Humans
wentfromtheleastplayedracetooneofmyfavorites.

Humansinthe5theditionPlayersHandbookcontinuewhat3rdeditionstarted,providingtwooptionsforyourhumancharacters.

1.Gain+1toallabilityscores(asopposedtothestandard+2tooneand+1toasecond).
2.or,Gaina+1totwoabilityscores,proficiencyinaskillofyourchoice,andafreefeatat1stlevel.

Usingthesecondoptiongivesyouquiteafewchoiceswhencreatingcharactersfromspecificcultures.Forexample,ifyouwantyourhumantohave
comefromaracebornontheopenplainsthatcommonlyusesmountsfortransportandwar,youcouldputyourskillbonusesinStrength,Constitution,
orWisdom,selectproficiencyinAnimalHandlingorSurvival,andtaketheMountedCombatantfeat.Ahumanfromacountryborderingondemonic
invasion,suchastheWorldwoundfromPathfindersGolarion,mayputtheirbonusesinConstitution,Intelligence,orWisdom,selectproficiencyin
ArcanaorReligion,andtaketheMageSlayer,MagicInitiate,orRitualCasterfeats.However,theseoptionsarentlimitlessduetothesmallnumberof
featsavailablein5thedition.

Belowyouwillfindarangeofhumanvariantsthathailfromspecificenvironmentsorcountrieswithparticularculturalorpoliticalleanings.These
subracesarebuiltusingthehalfelfasaguide,andthefollowingracialtraitsreplacethoseofastandardhuman.

Human Variantsby Environment

Arctic:+1Strength,+2Constitution,+1Wisdomyougainadvantageonsavesagainstcold,andareconsiderednaturallyadaptedtocold
environmentsyoualsogainproficiencywithAthleticsandSurvivalchecks.
Desert:+2Constitution,+1Intelligence,+1Wisdomyougainadvantageonsavesagainstfire,andareconsiderednaturallyadaptedtohot
environmentsyoualsogainproficiencywithNatureandSurvivalchecks.
Coastal:+1Constitution,+2Dexterity,+1Wisdomyougainproficiencywithspears,tridents,nets,vehicles(water),andonetoolfromthefollowing
list:Carpenter,Cartographer,Navigator,Weaver,Woodcutter.YoualsogainproficiencywitheitherAcrobaticsorAthleticschecks.Swimmingdoes
notcostyouextramovement.
Forest:+1Constitution,+2Dexterity,+1Wisdommovingthroughnonmagicaldifficultterraincostsyounoextramovementandyoumaymove
throughnonmagicalplantswithoutbeingslowedbythemandwithouttakingdamagefromthorns,spines,orsimilarhazards.Inaddition,climbing

http://www.tribality.com/2015/05/19/ultimateadaptabilityvarianthumansfor5thedition/ 1/8
17/12/2016 UltimateAdaptability:VariantHumansfor5thedition|Tribality
doesnotcostyouextramovement.YoualsogainproficiencywitheitherAthleticsorSurvivalchecks.
Grassland:+1Constitution,+2Dexterity,+1Wisdomyoubasewalkingspeedis35ft.andyougainadvantageonConstitutionsavesinvolving
forcedmarches.YoualsogainproficiencywithNatureandStealthchecks.
Jungle:+2Strength,+1Dexterity,+1WisdomYougainadvantageonsavesagainstpoisonsanddiseases.Youalsogainproficiencywitheither
herbalismkitsorpoisonerkits,andeitherNatureorSurvivalchecks.
Mountain:+2Strength,+1Constitution,+1WisdomClimbingcostsyounoextramovement.Yougainadvantageonsavesagainstenvironmental
effectsinvolvingaltitude(lowpressure,decreasedoxygen,altitudesickness).YoualsogainproficiencywithAthleticsandSurvivalchecks.
Swamp:+1Strength,+2Constitution,+1WisdomYougainadvantageonsavesagainstpoisonanddisease.YoualsogainproficiencywithNature
andSurvivalchecks.
Underdark:+1Intelligence,+2Wisdom,+1CharismaYougaindarkvisiontoarangeof60ft.YoualsogainproficiencywithPerceptionandStealth
checks.

Human Variantsby Culture

Magocracy:+2Intelligence,+1Wisdom,+1CharismaYouknowonecantripofyourchoicefromtheWizardspelllistIntelligenceisyour
spellcastingabilityforthatcantrip.Youcanspeak,read,andwriteoneadditionallanguage.YoualsogainproficiencywithArcaneandInvestigation
checks.
MartialState:+2Strength,+1Constitution,+1IntelligenceYougainproficiencywithanytwoweapons,andeitherlightarmororshields.Youalso
gainproficiencywithAthleticsorHistorychecks.Ifyourclassgrantsyouproficiencywithallweapons,lightarmor,andshields,youinsteadgaina
+1bonustoeitheryourDexterityorWisdomscores(yourchoice)inplaceoftheweaponandarmorproficienciesgrantedbythisracialfeature.
PoliticalState:+1Dexterity,+1Intelligence,+2CharismaYougaina+5bonustopassiveInsightandpassiveInvestigationscores.Youalsogain
proficiencywithanyonetoolkitofyourchoice,aswellaswithInsightandPersuasionchecks.
Theocracy:+2Wisdom,+1Intelligence,+1CharismaYouknoweitheronecantripfromtheClericspelllist,orone1stlevelspellfromtheCleric
spelllist.Ifyouchooseone1stlevelspell,youmaycastthisspellonceperlongrestasifyouuseda1stlevelspellslot.Wisdomisyour
spellcastingabilityscoreforthesespells.YoualsogainproficiencywithReligionchecks,andeitherIntimidateorPersuasionchecks.

Thisarticleisanupdatedversionoftheoriginalarticlepostedto www.gameschangelives.com
(http://richplayingitforward.blogspot.com/2014/10/5theditiondhumansubraces.html) ,andincludesadditionaloptionsand
alterationsbasedonfurtherplaytesting.Enjoy!

EDIT5/19:Correctedcut/pastetypoinMartialStateaswellasgeneraltypos/grammarissues.

ArtworkborrowedfromKeithBaker'sfantasticnewgame, Phoenix:DawnCommand(http://tribality.com/2015/04/28/keithbakerinterview/) .Makesuretoc

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