59
votes
Accepted
Can a Tiefling be born from two human parents?
Yes, a tiefling can have two human parents
Borrowing from my question What's the difference between a Tiefling and a Cambion?
From Xanathar's Guide to Everything, we have this table on page 62:
...
- 80.8k
38
votes
Accepted
What happens to a Bladesinger reincarnated as a Human?
They're still a Bladesinger
If you take a real persnickety reading of the rules, the SCAG says specifically that:
Only elves and half-elves can choose the bladesinger arcane tradition. In the ...
- 66.5k
30
votes
Accepted
Can a human variant take proficiency in initiative?
You cannot do this. Initiative is not a skill; Jack of All Trades just applies to all ability checks.
The section on "Skills" lists out all the skills:
Strength
Athletics
Dexterity
...
- 76.8k
30
votes
How can a human be viable in an Underdark-focused game?
Learn the Light cantrip (or hang around with someone who has). It lasts an hour and takes 1 action to cast, the only small drawback is in needs a material component. It is available to Bards, Clerics, ...
- 216k
28
votes
Accepted
Were the gith originally human before the illithids enslaved them?
Githyanki/Githzerai were described as originally human when first introduced
The githyanki and githzerai were first officially introduced to AD&D by the 1st edition Fiend Folio sourcebook (...
- 66.5k
25
votes
Accepted
Can a Human Variant start with stacked proficiencies?
No, you cannot stack proficiencies.
You're either proficient with a skill/item/weapon and get to apply your proficiency bonus, or you're not; you can't be doubly or triply proficient in something. ...
- 66.5k
24
votes
Accepted
Can a human assist on darkness perception checks?
The Working Together rule suggests that the human won't be much help
A character can only provide help if the task is one that he or she
could attempt alone. (PHB p. 175)
... if the perception ...
- 144k
23
votes
Does any way to negate humans' need for sleep exist?
Yes
Pact of the Tome warlocks can take the Aspect of the Moon invocation, which explicitly negates the need for sleep.
You no longer need sleep and can't be forced to sleep by any means[...]
For ...
- 663
22
votes
Accepted
Do I have to decide to use the Variant Human traits before rolling stats?
Before
PHB p.11:
… follow these steps in order …
Choosing your race is No 1, determining your ability scores in No 3.
That said, your DM may not care: I don’t.
- 216k
20
votes
Accepted
What human ethnicities exist in other settings besides the Forgotten Realms?
Those ethnicities are specific to Faerûn; other settings have their own ethnicities.
As you correctly surmise, the Player's Handbook clearly defines the nine major ethnic groups as specific to Faerûn,...
- 84.5k
18
votes
Do I have to decide to use the Variant Human traits before rolling stats?
I have never had a game where character creation was that prescriptive around the order things are done. The rules might say one thing, as Dale M points out, but just ask your DM and they are unlikely ...
- 30.3k
17
votes
Does any way to negate humans' need for sleep exist?
A previous revision of this answer suggested that long rests did not require sleep and there were no rules for sleep deprivation. These assertions were respectively rendered incorrect by the ...
- 66.5k
17
votes
How can a human be viable in an Underdark-focused game?
We are facing this situation at the moment in an Out of the Abyss game.
It is a big issue, because there are many creatures in the Underdark that are attracted by light. Using torches or lanterns or ...
- 23.4k
17
votes
Do the new lineages in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft work with Variant Human?
Nothing carries over from your former race, except those things explicitly named in your new racial features.
The rules for lineages state:
If you choose a lineage, you might have once been a member ...
- 154k
17
votes
Do humans start off with 1/3rd the languages of Other Races?
While humans won't be able to get an additional language from race, as you describe, they could still have a second language by virtue of home planet. Everyone has a home planet: the planet they grew ...
- 2,813
16
votes
Is it possible for me to play as a half-dragon and if so what would my stats be?
There is a couple of options to be dragon-ish
A "half-dragon" in 5e might be:
1. The Draconic Bloodline sorcerer's origin
Most often, sorcerers with this origin trace their descent back to ...
- 70.8k
15
votes
Accepted
How do I apply the Mark of Making dragonmark to a variant human in Eberron?
It's a variant of the basic human race that replaces your Ability Score Increase trait.
The "Creating a Dragonmarked Character" section says (Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, p. 90; Eberron: ...
- 50.3k
15
votes
Do we know what skin tones humans can have in D&D lore?
Most of the same skin tones of real life modern humans appear in major D&D settings.
D&D 5e Player's Handbook p.29 says:
Human skin shades range from nearly black to very pale ...
Pages ...
- 84.5k
15
votes
What skill proficiencies can a Variant Human choose from at character creation?
With the Variant Human Traits option, you get to choose one skill of your choice, period.
The D&D 5e PHB on p. 31 states:
Skills. You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice.
That is the ...
- 7,685
14
votes
How can a human be viable in an Underdark-focused game?
Get yourself some magical help.
I won't list every spell that can help you in your situation, but you should be looking at spells that can either produce light (Light, Daylight, Continual Flame, etc) ...
- 28.7k
14
votes
When are prerequisites checked for the Variant Human's feat?
You check prerequisites when the character is completed.
Although the PHB separates character creation into 6 steps, rarely are the steps done in isolation. Similar to concept of Simultaneous Turns, ...
- 9,590
14
votes
Accepted
What real-world cultures inspired the various human name examples?
I don't think there is any kind of 1-to-1 match
There is no evidence that every Faerûnian language is inspired by a particular real-world language of a particular era.
We can assume some names/words ...
- 70.8k
13
votes
What happens to a Bladesinger reincarnated as a Human?
You're still a bladesinger.
The restriction is phrased as follows:
Only elves and half-elves can choose the bladesinger arcane tradition. In the world of Faerûn, elves closely guard the secrets of ...
- 26.3k
13
votes
As a human, can you get the Fighting Initate feat at 1st level?
Not RAW, but usually yes
I agree that by a strict reading of the rules you pick your variant human feat before your class and would therefore not meet the prerequisites for the feat. However, I've ...
- 4,158
12
votes
How can a human be viable in an Underdark-focused game?
First of all, there are a lot of options for dealing with darkness. There are spells (particularly the Light cantrip) or potions. If you are a Warlock, you could take Devil's Sight for superior ...
- 38.4k
12
votes
Mixed race from half-elf and half-dwarf
The simplest solution is to use a Custom Lineage
If your table uses, or has access to, Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, you can apply the Custom Lineage option (p. 8) to any mix that the books do not ...
- 144k
12
votes
Accepted
When replacing the Variant Human race with a lineage, do you keep the skill proficiency gained through the Prodigy feat?
No.
You quote:
... you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.
Further, The rules for ...
- 6,599
11
votes
Accepted
How do Human Traits Work?
Marks are a variant for the Eberron setting
The Marks and Houses are from the Eberron setting availible for 5e in Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron. They are canon, but only relevant if you are playing in ...
- 48.9k
11
votes
Can a human variant take proficiency in initiative?
No. Initiative is an ability check, but not a skill.
The Bard's Jack of all Trades feature states:
Starting at 2nd level, you can add half your proficiency bonus, rounded down, to any ability check ...
- 1,791
10
votes
Do we know what skin tones humans can have in D&D lore?
The base rule of Dungeons & Dragons—any edition, except maybe 4th?—is that unless otherwise specified, things work like they do in real life. This is backed up explicitly, in this case, by the 5th-...
- 361k
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