Mordenkainen's Musings: Nature Vs. Nurture in the Universe
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1/10/2019 The Homebrewery - NaturalCrit Mordenkainen's Musings: Nature vs. Nurture in the Universe Credits Cover Art Publisher: Eastman Dunn Press One of Mordenkainen's pupils mulls the meaning of life while Designers: Benjamin L. Eastman and Matt Dunn surveying the cityscape. Proofreaders: Timothy Baker and Evan Perlman Logo: Sean Maroney Interior Design: With the help of Scott Tolksdorf's Disclaimer Homebrewery website. DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Artwork: Cover art by David Revoy of Arcana Games is made Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, and all other available under Creative Commons License 3.0. Picture on Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective page 8 is made available by PixaBay user norca98 under logos are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and Creative Commons 0 License. other countries. This work contains material that is copyright Wizards of the Coast and/or other authors. Such material is used with permission under the Community Content Inspiration Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. This supplement has been inspired by the 13th Age All other original material in this work is © Eastman roleplaying game. The authors strongly recommend that you Dunn Press and published under the Community Content check out this great d20 game for new ways to enhance your Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. Not for resale. 5E Dungeons & Dragons play experience. Permission granted to print or photocopy this document for personal use only. Sample file https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/print/rkJYVNDBm?dialog=true 2/14 1/10/2019 The Homebrewery - NaturalCrit Nature and Nurture in the Multiverse rom the earliest editions of D&D, fantasy races You may not increase the same ability score with both your often provided a bonus to one ability score which race and your class. If your race imposes an ability score was offset by a penalty to another ability score. decrease, however, you may use your class' ability score Elves were graceful (+2 Dexterity) but feeble (-2 increase to help offset this penalty. Constitution), while dwarves were tough (+2 Constitution) but gruff (-2 Charisma). Humans, Fbeing well rounded, had no bonuses or penalties. Musing About Other Settings Starting with 4E, fantasy races granted ability score We have included all races in this supplement that bonuses but no longer imposed penalties. This trend are available through the Dungeon Master's Guild. continues in 5E where most races generally increase one These include all races from the Player's Handbook ability score by 2 and another by 1. and all supplements released as of August 2018. We have noticed a troubling tendency during 5E character This also includes the racial options from creation. Players generally will not play race and class Forgotten Realms and Eberron. combinations unless they can start play with a 16 in the You may wish to use this supplement with other primary ability score. Because the Point Buy system caps settings not available through the Guild. This may include Magic the Gathering's® Plane Shift ability scores at 15 before factoring in ability score increases settings of Dominaria, Innistrad, Ixalan, Kaladesh (ASIs), players refuse to play race and class combinations and Zendikar. You might also be playing in a setting without the desirable increases. that was released by another publisher (such as the We like to see greater player choice in character creation, stellar Midgard Campaign Setting by Kobold Press). and we don't hesitate to hack the rules in pursuit of greater You might also be using another Dungeon Master's fun. If you are concerned that your players aren't playing the Guild product or even homebrew races of your characters they really want to, then this supplement might be own concoting . We want to provide you with the for you. keys to this rule so you can adapt it for other settings. The 13th Age Approach Keep in mind the five principles when adapting Pelgrane Press' fantasy roleplaying game 13th Age takes a other races or classes for this supplement. two-pronged approach to ASIs during character creation. 1. The larger ASI is your ASI by Class. Most races increase Much like other roleplaying games, your race determines one ability score by 2. The larger ASI is ignored for your ability scores. Each race is renowned for two ability purposes of your race, as you will derive a similar ASI scores, and you can choose to increase one score by 2 during by Class. As explained in the next principle, you may character creation. This reflects the natural advantages still be able to increase this ability score. If a race inherent from your race. would increase Dexterity by 2 and Wisdom by 1, you One of the many unique things about 13th Age is that your would ignore the Dexterity ASI. class provides an ability score bonus. Each class uses two 2. The smaller ASI is your ASI by Race. Most races or ability scores, and your bonus reflects how your experience subraces increase one or more ability scores by 1. nurtured your profession. You choose to increase one of This ASI still comes from your race, but you choose these ability scores by 2, but it can't be the same ability that between all available ability scores that the race or you increased because of your race. subrace normally increase. If a race would increase By granting a bonus based upon class, 13th Age ensures Strength by 2 and Wisdom by 1, your ASI by Race that every character has a bonus that correlates to the class' would increase either Strength or Wisdom by 1. abilities. This eliminates so-called "trap options" where 3. Err on the side of greater choice. If a race normally players regret choosing a suboptimal race for their class. The would grant an ASI to one or more ability scores of following rule adapts the 13th Age approach to 5E D&D. your choice, you should choose the ability score for your race-based ASI. If a race normally would increase Variant: Ability Score Increases by your Charisma by 1 and another ability score of your Race and Class choice by 2, you would increase an ability score of When creating your 1st level character, you increase your your choice with your racial ASI. ability scores based upon your race and class. 4. Ability score decreases are unaffected by this rule. If When choosing your race, consult pages 4-10 of this your race has an ability score decreased, you must supplement. This will instruct you on how to apply your apply this decrease in character creation. ability score increases by race. 5. Don't forget to have fun. Game balance is an inexact When choosing your class at 1st level, consult pages 11-12 science. Err on the side of having more fun, but let of this supplement. Each class has two key ability scores that your players know that you may need to make you may choose to increase. You may choose to increase one changes if something seems broken or overpowered. abilitySample score by 2, or both ability scores by 1. You may not If you have any questions, file please contact the choose to substitute this increase for a feat. authors at [email protected]. Mordenkainen's Musings 3 https://homebrewery.naturalcrit.com/print/rkJYVNDBm?dialog=true 3/14 1/10/2019 The Homebrewery - NaturalCrit Rock Gnome ASIs by Race: PHB Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution or Intelligence The Player's Handbook (PHB) details 9 different races for score increases by 1. players to use when playing Dungeons and Dragons. Additional race and subrace options found in other Half-Elf supplements can be found on pages 5-10. The half-elf description is found on pages 38-39 of the PHB. The following modifications are made to these races when When using this supplement, the following half-elf trait using this supplement. Please remember that you cannot changes: increase the same ability from your race and your class. Ability Score Increase. Two different ability scores of your choice increase by 1. Dragonborn The dragonborn description is found on pages 32-34 of the Half-Orc PHB. When using this supplement, the following dragonborn The half-orc description is found on pages 40-41 of the PHB. trait changes: When using this supplement, the following half-orc trait Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Charisma score changes: increases by 1. Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Constitution score increases by 1. Dwarf The dwarf description is found on pages 18-20 of the PHB. Halfling When using this supplement, the dwarven ability score The halfling description is found on pages 26-28 of the PHB. increase to Constitution is ignored. The traits for dwarven When using this supplement, the halfling's ability score subraces are further changed as described below. increase to Dexterity is ignored. The traits for the halfling subraces are further changed as described below. Hill Dwarf Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution or Wisdom score increases by 1. Lightfoot Halfling Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Charisma score increases by 1. Mountain Dwarf Ability Score Increase. Your Strength or Constitution score increases by 2. Stout Halfling Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity or Constitution score increases by 1. Elf The elf description is found on pages 21-24 of the PHB. Human When using this supplement, the elven ability score increase The human description is found on pages 38-39 of the PHB. to Dexterity is ignored. The traits for the elven subraces are The following traits for humans are changed as described further changed as described below.