Each character with the same race and class starts out with identical skills and equipment. Almost no variation.<br/><br/>In second, skills are chosen from a list and weapons are specific proficiencies. So two human fighters could instantly be radically different because one chose melee weapons and the other went for long range. Two melee specialists would be differentiated because one chose animal based skills and the other went for crafting.<br/><br/>Can’t do that very easily in 5e