Larian Studios Forums Divinity: Original Sin 2 Divinity - Original Sin 2 - General Racial Talents

Also Sneaking isn't contradictory to strength...

I know only bows get a skill that does a LOT of bonus damage from sneaking... but that is pretty much it.

You can have roleplay friendly bonuses and make them more or less good for all classes too, without pigeon holing them into specific roles (e.g., I think it's bad to give a bartering bonus to humans because that character is then highly incentivized to be the party trader) Here's a possible array. Overall, everyone is buffed somewhat to make the races more distinct and impactful. Right now the only race that feels like it really gains a lot are elves. Suggested stat bonuses replace existing stat bonuses.

Dwarves: +2 Con, 10% earth resist, drunkenness has no negative effect and you can add booze to any potion to combine the effects. Something more interesting than petrify. Could be changed to a mass petrify within 5m, but you are also petrified. Or something to do with gold.

Elves: +2 Wits, otherwise good

Lizards: +2 Memory, +10% fire resistance, a buffed fire breath, maybe also the "shed skin" concept where you sacrifice health, or maybe you gain a damage vulnerability for 1-2 turns, in exchange for losing all statuses (negative and positive). +Persuasion can stay, maybe.

Humans: An extra talent and maybe extra civic ability, inspire. Perhaps inspire could improve as you level up (start granting more of a bonus at level 10 and 20, or something)

Undead: Two ability ideas: the ability to essentially turn the zombie talent on for 2 turns (heal from poison, take damage from healing). And Feign Death: 1 AP, collapse and end your turn and enemies will ignore you for the next turn. Immune to Fear, maybe a 25% poison resist bonus or something.

I'll say that I don't care for the +1 bartering for humans right now, I'd like the idea of it being "adaptable" that you just get + 1 civil point on character creation. Actually I could even see dwarves having bartering since they are often blacksmiths and tradesman of metal/stoneworked goods. I don't mind having encourage as the racial.

Dwarves confuse me, I don't see the idea behind the +2 str then bonus to sneak, if anything I would think elves and their dexterous and lithe bodies would suit sneaking much better than bulky dwarves. The str bonus makes it appealing to straight front line warriors, but that makes the sneaking feel like a dead passive for them. Racial ability seems interesting.

I like elves as they are, they have a unique feel.

Lizards I'm not sure why they are so persuasive, personally they would creep me out lol. I could see them, with being focused on intelligence, being more loremaster oriented for their secondary.

Yes of course it is. How could it NOT be?! There are only two skills which gain bonus damage from Sneak attacks, and they require FIN-based weapons.




A civil point is a big deal. I want all races to get a second Civil point in character creation, not just humans, and I think going from 1 to 2 for everyone is easier to sell to Larian than asking for that AND for Humans to start with a third Civil point.

There aren't any Strength skills that specifically mention sneaking, but there's no reason a character can't sneak with a 2 handed Sword and surprise attack a target. In fact, before the nerf to Guerilla that's something I used to do.
Sneaking is a civil skill, so it's completely separate from the damage type you'll do, and moving into position undetected benefits Strength users too.

The more I think about it, the more I feel like civil points are the wrong direction.

They essentially force every character to be split between some utility role and their combat one.
You can no longer have that rogue who only knows Scoundrel skills, but has all the tools to carry your team out of combat, etc.

At this point, I feel civil skills should be completely removed, and their functionality covered by the non-scaling stats(wits does sneaking and pickpocket, memory does lore and luck, etc.).
Would be easier to do if the stats themselves were altered a bit, since right now they are quitre rigid in their interpretation, but it would still probably be better than what we have now.