TEXT: NARRATIVE-DRIVEN 
  NARRATIVE-DRIVEN 
  CHARACTER CREATION
  CHARACTER CREATION
  Variant rules for Ability Score Improvements based on Class and 
  Variant rules for Ability Score Improvements based on Class and 
  Background, and alternate Racial Trait Proficiency
  Background, and alternate Racial Trait Proficiency
  by Taron “Indestructoboy” Pounds
  by Taron “Indestructoboy” Pounds
  
  NARRATIVE-DRIVEN 
  CHARACTER CREATION
  
  Credits
  Design, Layout, & Writing: Taron “Indestructoboy” Pounds
  YouTube
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  Cover Illustrator: Dean Spencer
  Interior Illustrators: Daniel Comerci, Dean Spencer
  Interior illustrators are credited in the side margins on the pages 
  where their artwork appears.
  A special thank you to my YouTube subscribers and Patrons over on 
  Patreon, who continue to fuel my passion for content creation. It’s 
  because of your support that I can keep products like this at Pay What 
  You Want. Let’s keep making cool stuff happen!
  DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, D&D, Wizards of the Coast, Forgotten Realms, the dragon ampersand, Player’s Handbook, Monster Manual, 
  Dungeon Master’s Guide, D&D Adventurers League, all other Wizards of the Coast product names, and their respective logos are trademarks 
  of Wizards of the Coast in the USA and other countries. All characters and their distinctive likenesses are property of Wizards of the Coast. This 
  material is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. Any reproduction or unauthorized use of the material or artwork 
  contained herein is prohibited without the express written permission of Wizards of the Coast. © 2020 Wizards of the Coast LLC, PO Box 707, 
  Renton, WA 98057-0707, USA. Manufactured by Hasbro SA, Rue Emile-Boéchat 31, 2800 Delémont, CH. Represented by Hasbro Europe, 4 The 
  Square, Stockley Park, Uxbridge, Middlesex, UB11 1ET, UK.
  The Indestructoboy Designs logo was illustrated by Jeremy Luther. Thie Indestructoboy Designs logo and Indestructoboy are trademarks of Taron 
  Pounds.
  Artwork © 2015 Dean Spencer, used with permission. All rights reserved.
  All other original material in this work is © 2020 by Taron Pounds and published under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon 
  Masters Guild
  Indestructoboy Designs
  Contents
  Introduction ......................................................................3
  Addressing Lineage & Origins ..................................3
  Chapter One: Race ..........................................................4
  Race Trait Changes ...........................................................4
  Ability Score Improvements ......................................4
  Alignment ......................................................................4
  Languages .....................................................................4
  Proficiencies ..................................................................4
  Armor .........................................................................4
  Skills ...........................................................................5
  Tools ............................................................................5
  Weapons ....................................................................5
  Variant Race Traits ...........................................................5
  Half-Elf Traits ................................................................5
  Human Traits ................................................................5
  Mountain Dwarf Traits ................................................5
  Chapter Two: Background ............................................6
  Chapter Three: Class ......................................................8
  JEREMY LUTHER
  
  3
  Introduction
  I
  n Dungeons & Dragons fifth edition, 
  characters have traditionally gained an ability 
  score increase trait through their race. Critiques 
  have been raised questioning the narrative this 
  mechanic evokes, and I ultimately agreed that, even 
  with politics aside, race doesn’t feel like a pleasing 
  place to put ability score increases. It causes certain race 
  and class pairings to perform notably weaker than others, 
  which may dissuade players from playing a race and class 
  combination they had envisioned.
  Addressing Lineage & Origins
  Though a new Lineage system is being created for Tasha’s 
  Cauldron of Everything that proposes a solution, I’m of 
  the opinion that the system previews we have seen as of 
  writing this material wind up causing a massive shift in 
  the overall balance behind character creation in several 
  races, and min-maxing players will ultimately just see the 
  system as a means to create “optimal” characters instead of 
  compelling ones.
  Human & Half-Elf
  Human & Half-Elf
  These races lost a large amount of mechanical appeal and 
  comparative power as race options by losing the exclusivity 
  on flexible ability score increases. The changes in the Race 
  Changes chapter seek to give these options a little love to 
  compensate for this loss.
  Kobold
  Kobold
  The new lineage system fixes the horrific -2 to Strength for 
  kobold, but still leaves them under par compared to most 
  other race options. This system gives them some love.
  Mountain Dwarf 
  Mountain Dwarf 
  Going off of the previews of the Lineage system, mountain 
  dwarf would now get a +2 to two different ability scores 
  of your choice, on top of the possibility to get 5 tool 
  proficiencies. This seems to be a case of rules as written 
  over rules as intended, as this winds up dramatically 
  increasing the overall versatility and power of mountain 
  dwarf. While I’m of the opinion that any race should be 
  able to pair with any class, this is a case of one race now 
  becoming performatively better than others.
  Yuan-ti Pureblood
  Yuan-ti Pureblood
  Already dominating with the strongest racial traits of any of 
  the official races, yuan-ti pureblood was at least somewhat 
  offset by an Ability Score Increase in Intelligence and 
  Charisma. These two ability scores lack synergy for class 
  features, but the flexible +2 and +1 to ability scores of your 
  choice causes them to rise up to even more prominence as 
  the most optimal race for any class.
  DEAN SPENCER
  
  4
  Chapter One: Race
  A 
  charater’s race defines several genetic 
  traits shared between all people of that biological 
  descent. These reflect the abilities that a 
  character has inherited through the course of 
  evolution, or that were bestowed upon them 
  during their creation. 
  Additionally, the changes to race-based weapon and tool 
  proficiencies were made to avoid prevent redundant race 
  traits and class features, but I don’t believe the proposed 
  changes pleaasingly hit the mark. Swapping a tool 
  proficiency for a weapon isn’t a major issue, but swapping 
  a weapon for a tool suddenly causes major proficiency 
  bloat. Variant Race Traits have been introduced in the Race 
  chapter for all races that gain a weapon proficiency.
  Race Trait Changes
  The following variant rules change the mechanics for 
  Ability Score Increases, clean up alignment, and makes 
  languages and proficiencies gained through your race 
  choice more flexible. 
  Ability Score Improvements
  Using this system, any changes to a character’s ability 
  scores made through a racial trait are ignored. Increases to 
  a character’s ability scores are instead given through your 
  character’s Background and Class.
  Alignment
  Your character’s alignment is not determined by your race.
  Languages
  You may replace each language in your Languages trait with 
  any other language that is appropriate for your campaign.
  Proficiencies
  Armor, skill, tool, and weapon proficiencies tend to 
  represent a character’s cultural and military traditions. 
  With this in mind, you can replace a given proficiency with 
  other options.
  Armor
  If a race trait gives you proficiency with armor, you may 
  replace the entire trait with either a skill proficiency from 
  the list of proficiencies in your Class Features or a tool 
  proficiency. Your proficiency bonus is doubled for any ability 
  check you make that uses the chosen proficiency.
  Armor Proficiency Clarification
  Replacing the “entire trait” means replacing all armor 
  proficiencies given through the trait in order to take a 
  different option.
  DEAN SPENCER
  
  5
  Skills
  If a race trait gives you a skill proficiency you may replace 
  it with skill proficiency from the list of proficiencies in your 
  Class Features. The only exception to this is for racial traits 
  that specifically give proficiency with Perception checks, 
  which tend to be due to a hereditary trait as opposed to a 
  cultural tradition.
  Tools
  If a race trait gives you a tool proficiency you may replace it 
  with a different tool proficiency, a language that you know, 
  or proficiency with a simple weapon.
  Weapons
  If a race trait gives you a weapon proficiency, you may 
  replace it with a different proficiency depending on whether 
  it is a simple or martial weapon:
  Simple Weapons. You may replace proficiency with 
  one simple weapon for proficiency with a different simple 
  weapon or a tool. Alternatively, you may replace two simple 
  weapon proficiencies for proficiency with a skill.
  Martial Weapons. You may replace proficiency with 
  one martial weapon for two simple weapon proficiencies 
  or proficiency with one skill from the list of proficiencies 
  in your Class Features or a tool of your choice. You may 
  replace an additional martial weapon proficiency to add 
  double your proficiency bonus to any ability check you make 
  that uses the chosen skill or tool proficiency.
  Variant Race Traits
  The following races gain additional traits to compensate for 
  losing some power with this system.
  Half-Elf Traits
  Half-Elf characters gain the Diplomatic racial trait.
  Diplomatic. When you make a Charisma (Deception), 
  Charisma (Intimidation), or Charisma (Persuasion) check 
  made to influence the decisions and behavior of others,  you 
  may treat a roll of 8 or lower as a 9.
  Human Traits
  Human characters gain the Aptitude racial trait.
  Aptitude. The gold and time you must spend to gain 
  proficiency with a skill or tool is halved. If you spend 
  4 hours practicing, studying, or training with a skill or 
  tool that you are proficient with, your proficiency bonus 
  is doubled for any ability check you make that uses 
  that proficiency until you finish a long rest or use this 
  feature again. 
  Mountain Dwarf Traits
  Mountain dwarf characters gain the Sturdy racial trait.
  Sturdy. You have advantage on saving throws against 
  being knocked prone.
  DANIEL COMERCI, DEAN SPENCER
  
  6
  Chapter Two: Background
  Y
  our background is something of a summary 
  of your life leading up to adventuring. In this 
  system, your background gives you increases to 
  ability scores based off of the skill proficiencies 
  given in the background. Due to the lack of 
  Strength and Constitution-based skills, some 
  skills allow you to choose multiple abilities. 
  What ability scores correspond to certain skills are 
  listed in the Skill Ability Score Increases table. The 
  following page contains a table for the Backgrounds that 
  have appeared in official books and details what Ability 
  Score Increases are given through that background’s skill 
  proficiencies. If a background allows you to choose to put 
  an increase into your choice of ability scores, you may 
  choose the same ability for both improvements.
  Skill Ability Score Increases
  Skill
  Ability Score(s)
  Acrobatics
  Dexterity or Constitution
  Animal Handling
  Wisdom
  Arcana
  Intelligence
  Athletics
  Strength or Constitution
  Deception
  Charisma
  History
  Intelligence
  Insight
  Wisdom
  Intimidation
  Strength or Charisma
  Investigation
  Intelligence
  Medicine
  Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  Nature
  Intelligence or Wisdom
  Perception
  Wisdom
  Performance
  Dexterity or Charisma
  Persuasion
  Charisma
  Religion
  Intelligence or Wisdom
  Sleight of Hand
  Dexterity
  Stealth
  Dexterity
  Survival
  Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom
  DEAN SPENCER, DANIEL COMERCI
  
  7
  Background Ability Score Increases
  Background
  Ability Score Increase
  Acolyte
  +1 to Wisdom, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Wisdom or Intelligence
  Anthropologist
  +1 to Wisdom, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Wisdom or Intelligence
  Archaeologist
  +1 to Intelligence, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom
  Athlete
  +1 to Constitution, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution
  Charlatan
  +1 to Dexterity and Charisma
  City Watch
  +1 to two abilitiy scores of your choice from either Strength, Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  Cloistered Scholar
  +1 to Intelligence and Wisdom
  Courtier
  +1 to Wisdom and Charisma
  Criminal
  +1 to Dexterity and Charisma
  Entertainer
  +1 to Dexterity and Charisma
  Faction Agent
  +1 to Wisdom, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma
  Far Traveler
  +2 to Wisdom
  Fisher
  +1 to Constitution and Intelliegence
  Folk Hero
  +1 to Constitution and Wisdom
  Gambler
  +1 to Wisdom and Charisma
  Gladiator
  +1 to Charisma, and +1 to one ability score of your choice from either Dexterity or Constitution
  Guild Artisan
  +1 to Wisdom and Intelligence
  Guild Merchant
  +1 to Wisdom and Charisma
  Haunted One
  +1 to two abilities of your choice of either Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  Hermit
  +1 to two abilities of your choice of either Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  Inheritor
  +1 to Intelligence and one ability of your choice from either Constitution or Wisdom
  Investigator
  +1 to two ability scores of your choice from either Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom
  Knight
  +1 to two abilities of your choice from either Strength, Intelligence, or Charisma
  Marine
  +1 to Strength and Constitution
  Mercenary Veteran
  +1 to Strength and Constitution
  Noble
  +1 to Intelligence and Charisma
  Outlander
  +1 to Strength and your choice of either Constitution or Wisdom
  Pirate
  +1 to Strength and Wisdom
  Sage
  +2 to Intelligence
  Sailor
  +1 to Strength and Wisdom
  Shipwright
  +1 to Intelligence and Wisdom
  Smuggler
  +1 to Strength and Charisma
  Soldier
  +1 to Strength and Charisma
  Spy
  +1 to Dexterity and Charisma
  Urban Bounty Hunter
  +1 to two abilities of your choice from either Dexterity, Wisdom, or Charisma
  Urchin
  +2 to Dexterity
  DEAN SPENCER
  
  8
  Chapter Three: Class
  A 
  character’s class speaks more about a 
  specific ideal in how to tackle the various 
  challenges of adventuring. Because of this, one 
  of your ability score improvements is given to 
  you from the class you choose for your first level 
  upon character creation. The ability scores used 
  for this improvement are the abilities used for the class’s 
  saving throw proficiencies and the abilities that the class 
  features get the most use out of. The ability score you 
  choose from your class increases by 1. 
  For example, Monk gains proficiency with Strength 
  and Dexterity saving throws and its features rely on 
  Dexterity and Wisdom, so a 1st-level character can choose 
  to increase one ability score by 1 from etiher Strength, 
  Dexterity, or Wisdom.
  Class Ability Score Increase Choices
  Class
  Ability Scores
  Artificer
  Dexterity, Constitution, or Intelligence
  Barbarian
  Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution
  Bard
  Dexterity, Constitution, or Charisma
  Cleric
  Strength, Constitution, or Wisdom
  Druid
  Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  Fighter
  Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution
  Monk
  Strength, Dexterity, or Wisdom
  Paladin
  Strength, Wisdom, or Charisma
  Ranger
  Strength, Dexterity, or Wisdom
  Rogue
  Dexterity, Intelligence, or Charisma
  Sorcerer
  Dexterity, Constitution, or Charisma
  Warlock
  Constitution, Wisdom, or Charisma
  Wizard
  Constitution, Intelligence, or Wisdom
  DEAN SPENCER, DANIEL COMERCI
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/Narrative Driven Character Creation.pdf