Homebrew Alternate Human Species Details

In the reckonings of most worlds, humans are the youngest of the common races, late to arrive on the world scene and short-lived in comparison to dwarves, elves, and dragons. Perhaps it is because of their shorter lives that they strive to achieve as much as they can in the years they are given. Or maybe they have something to prove to the elder races, and that's why they build their mighty empires on the foundation of conquest and trade. Whatever drives them, humans are the innovators, achievers, and pioneers of the world. 

A Broad Spectrum

With their penchant for migration and conquest, humans are more physically diverse than other common races. There is no typical human. An individual can stand from 5 feet to a little over six feet tall and weigh from 125 to 250 pounds. Human skin ranges from nearly black to very pale, and hair colors from black to blond (curly, kinky, or straight); males might sport facial hair that is sparse or thick. A lot of humans have a dash of nonhuman blood, revealing hints of orc, elf, or other lineages. Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and rarely live even a single century.

Variety In All Things

Humans are the most adaptable and ambitious people among the common races. They have widely varying tastes, morals, and customs in the many different lands where they have settled. When they settle, though, they stay: They can build cities to last for ages, and great kingdoms that can persist for long centuries. An individual human might have a relatively short lifespan, but a human nation or culture preserves traditions with origins far beyond the reach of any single human's memory. They live fully in the present, making them well suited to the adventuring life, but also plan for the future, striving to leave a lasting legacy. Individually and as a group, humans are adaptable opportunists, and they stay alert to changing political as well as social dynamics.

Lasting Institutions

Where a single dwarf or elf might take on the responsibility of guarding a special location or powerful secret, humans found sacred orders and institutions for that purpose. While dwarf clans and halfling elders pass on ancient traditions to the each new generation, human temples, governments, libraries and codes of law fix their traditions in the bedrock of history. Humans dream of immortality, but (except for those few who seek undeath or divine ascension to escape death's clutches) they achieve it by ensuring that they will remembered when they are gone.

Although some humans can be xenophobic, in general their societies are inclusive. Human lands welcome large numbers of non-humans compared to the proportion of humans who live in nonhuman lands. 

Human Traits

As a human, you gain the following abilities:

Ability Score Increase. One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1. 

Age. Humans reach their adulthood in their late teen and live less than a century. 

Size. Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed. You base walking speed is 30 feet.

Endurance. You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws you make to avoid gaining exhaustion, and the number of death saving throws you have to fail to die increases by 1.

Adaptability. You can use this trait to gain advantage on one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. Once you do so, you must finish a long rest before you can use this trait again. 

Quick Learner. You gain one skill proficiency of your choice and on tool proficiency of your choice. Additionally you take half as long to learn a new language or become proficient in a tool, weapon, armor, or skill.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.

Alternate Human Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about humans, but your human character has these traits.

Ability Score Increase

One ability score of your choice increases by 2, and two other ability scores of your choice increase by 1. 

Age

Humans reach adulthood in their late teens and live less than a century.

Size

Humans vary widely in height and build, from barely 5 feet to well over 6 feet tall. Regardless of your position in that range, your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Endurance

You have advantage on ability checks and saving throws you make to avoid gaining exhaustion, and the number of death saving throws you have to fail to die increases by 1.

Languages

You can speak, read, and write Common and one extra language of your choice. Humans typically learn the languages of other peoples they deal with, including obscure dialects. They are fond of sprinkling their speech with words borrowed from other tongues: Orc curses, Elvish musical expressions, Dwarvish military phrases, and so on.

Adaptibility

 You can use this trait to gain advantage on one attack roll, ability check, or saving throw. Once you do so, you must finish a long rest before you can use this trait again.

Quick Learner

You gain one skill proficiency of your choice and on tool proficiency of your choice. Additionally you take half as long to learn a new language or become proficient in a tool, weapon, armor, or skill.