LogFAQs > #906120720

Quick D&D 5e question for Shadow:

When dealing with subraces in character creation, do subrace bonuses stack with basic racial bonuses, or does specific supercede general?

As an example, Elves have a listed Ability Score Increase of +2 Dex. High Elves have an Ability Score Increase of +1 Int, while Wild Elves get +1 Wis and Drow get +1 Cha.

So that means a High Elf is starting with +2 Dex and +1 Int, right? Or does the +1 Int completely supercede the general Elf bonus, and all they start with is just the +1 Int?

I've always assumed stuff stacks (though that does seem to make it suboptimal to ever play any basic Race and give up the Subrace benefits), but it occurred to me earlier today that I might be doing it wrong and slightly overpowering starting characters (for what that's worth).


Also, on a slightly related note, how do you personally handle character creation in your games? The recommended standard of roll 4d6 and drop the lowest? Point buy? The more harsh old-school roll 3d6 and suck it up, junior? The really harsh, really old-school method of 3d6, plus rolling stats in order, and being forced to choose your class after you see what your stats wind up being, possibly getting screwed over if you're too weak in whichever specific stat you'd need to be effective in whatever class you wanted to play?


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