5e gives each race (now species) a set of attribute bonuses. In 2024, all attribute bonuses are determined by your backgound. For our campaing, we will be doing a commbination of the two.

You will receive:

• +1 to each attribute granted a bonus in the 5e rules (see details for table)
• A +2 or two +1's to an attribute based on your background listed in the 2024 PHB

The shift towards having all attribute bonuses based on background was so that players did not feel penalized for their specie picks or pigeon-holed into a certain specie purely for stat gains. However, I think this breaks immersion to some extent. Generally speaking, I expect an orc to beat a halfling in an arm wrestling contest.

But I also love backgrounds giving you a boost as it grants more importance to thinking through your characters history.

Although not perfect, this adjusted system attempts to make both choices more meaningful and should result in each player getting an extra +1. Because who doesn't like extra stats?

If you come up with a reason that your background should give you a different bonus than listed in the PHB, write a justification for how your babckground contributed to said bonus, and we'll allow it.

* = +1 to one of these

Species	STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
Aasimar					+1	+1
Dragonborn	+1					+1
Dwarf			+1		+1
Elf		+1		*	*	*
Gnome		*	*	+1
Goliath	+1		+1
Halfling		+1	*			*
Human (pick 3)	*	*	*	*	*	*
Orc	+1		+1
Tiefling				+1		+1