diff --git a/sphinx_needs/config.py b/sphinx_needs/config.py
index aae15a286..d00b864a7 100644
--- a/sphinx_needs/config.py
+++ b/sphinx_needs/config.py
@@ -39,6 +39,10 @@ class ExtraOptionParams:
 
     description: str
     """A description of the option."""
+    dynamic_functions: bool | None
+    """If True, allow dynamic functions when defining this field."""
+    variant_functions: bool | None
+    """If True, allow variant functions when defining this field."""
     schema: (
         ExtraOptionStringSchemaType
         | ExtraOptionBooleanSchemaType
@@ -106,6 +110,8 @@ def add_extra_option(
         name: str,
         description: str,
         *,
+        dynamic_functions: bool | None = None,
+        variant_functions: bool | None = None,
         schema: ExtraOptionStringSchemaType
         | ExtraOptionBooleanSchemaType
         | ExtraOptionIntegerSchemaType
@@ -139,9 +145,19 @@ def add_extra_option(
                 )
 
                 raise NeedsApiConfigWarning(f"Option {name} already registered.")
+        if not isinstance(dynamic_functions, bool | None):
+            raise NeedsApiConfigWarning(
+                f"dynamic_functions for {name!r} must be a bool or None"
+            )
+        if not isinstance(variant_functions, bool | None):
+            raise NeedsApiConfigWarning(
+                f"variant_functions for {name!r} must be a bool or None"
+            )
         self._extra_options[name] = ExtraOptionParams(
             description=description,
             schema=schema,
+            dynamic_functions=dynamic_functions,
+            variant_functions=variant_functions,
         )
 
     @property
@@ -270,6 +286,10 @@ class LinkOptionsType(TypedDict, total=False):
     The schema is applied locally on unresolved links, i.e. on the list of string ids.
     For more granular control and graph traversal, use the `needs_schema_definitions` configuration.
     """
+    dynamic_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow dynamic functions when defining this field (default: True)."""
+    variant_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow variant functions when defining this field (default: False)."""
 
 
 class NeedType(TypedDict):
@@ -300,6 +320,19 @@ class NeedExtraOption(TypedDict):
     If given, the schema will apply to all needs that use this option.
     For more granular control, use the `needs_schema_definitions` configuration.
     """
+    dynamic_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow dynamic functions when defining this field (default: True)."""
+    variant_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow variant functions when defining this field (default: False)."""
+
+
+class NeedCoreOption(TypedDict):
+    """Defines an override for a core option for needs"""
+
+    dynamic_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow dynamic functions when defining this field (default: True)."""
+    variant_functions: NotRequired[bool]
+    """If True, allow variant functions when defining this field (default: False)."""
 
 
 class NeedStatusesOption(TypedDict):
@@ -542,10 +575,14 @@ def get_default(cls, name: str) -> Any:
         default=30, metadata={"rebuild": "html", "types": (int,)}
     )
     """Maximum length of the title in the need role output."""
+    core_options: Mapping[str, NeedCoreOption] = field(
+        default_factory=dict, metadata={"rebuild": "html", "types": (dict,)}
+    )
+    """Override certain core fields for needs."""
     _extra_options: list[str | NeedExtraOption] = field(
         default_factory=list, metadata={"rebuild": "html", "types": (list,)}
     )
-    """List of extra options for needs, that get added as directive options and need fields."""
+    """List of extra fields for needs, that get added as directive options and need fields."""
 
     @property
     def extra_options(self) -> Mapping[str, ExtraOptionParams]:
diff --git a/sphinx_needs/needs.py b/sphinx_needs/needs.py
index c6f40502e..914a381a7 100644
--- a/sphinx_needs/needs.py
+++ b/sphinx_needs/needs.py
@@ -495,6 +495,8 @@ def load_config(app: Sphinx, *_args: Any) -> None:
     for option in needs_config._extra_options:
         description = "Added by needs_extra_options config"
         schema = None
+        dynamic_functions = None
+        variant_functions = None
         if isinstance(option, str):
             name = option
         elif isinstance(option, dict):
@@ -510,6 +512,8 @@ def load_config(app: Sphinx, *_args: Any) -> None:
                 continue
             description = option.get("description", description)
             schema = option.get("schema")
+            dynamic_functions = option.get("dynamic_functions")
+            variant_functions = option.get("variant_functions")
         else:
             log_warning(
                 LOGGER,
@@ -519,7 +523,14 @@ def load_config(app: Sphinx, *_args: Any) -> None:
             )
             continue
 
-        _NEEDS_CONFIG.add_extra_option(name, description, schema=schema, override=True)
+        _NEEDS_CONFIG.add_extra_option(
+            name,
+            description,
+            schema=schema,
+            override=True,
+            dynamic_functions=dynamic_functions,
+            variant_functions=variant_functions,
+        )
 
     # ensure options for `needgantt` functionality are added to the extra options
     for option in (needs_config.duration_option, needs_config.completion_option):
@@ -718,6 +729,17 @@ def check_configuration(app: Sphinx, config: Config) -> None:
                 " Please use another name in your config (needs_extra_links)."
             )
 
+    # check for correct keys in needs_core_options
+    allowed_core_options = {
+        key
+        for key, val in NeedsCoreFields.items()
+        if val.get("add_to_field_schema", False)
+    }
+    if disallowed_keys := set(needs_config.core_options) - allowed_core_options:
+        raise NeedsConfigException(
+            f"Keys in needs_core_options are not allowed: {disallowed_keys}"
+        )
+
     # Check if option and link are using the same name
     for link in link_types:
         if link in extra_options:
@@ -731,29 +753,20 @@ def check_configuration(app: Sphinx, config: Config) -> None:
                 " This is not allowed.".format(link + "_back")
             )
 
-    external_variants = needs_config.variants
-    external_variant_options = needs_config.variant_options
-    for value in external_variants.values():
+    for value in needs_config.variants.values():
         # Check if external filter values is really a string
         if not isinstance(value, str):
             raise NeedsConfigException(
-                f"Variant filter value: {value} from needs_variants {external_variants} is not a string."
+                f"Variant filter value: {value} from needs_variants {needs_config.variants} is not a string."
             )
 
-    allowed_internal_variants = {
-        k for k, v in NeedsCoreFields.items() if v.get("allow_variants")
-    }
-    for option in external_variant_options:
-        # Check variant option is added to an allowed field
-        if option in link_types:
-            raise NeedsConfigException(
-                f"Variant option `{option}` is a link type. This is not allowed."
-            )
-        if option not in extra_options and option not in allowed_internal_variants:
-            raise NeedsConfigException(
-                f"Variant option `{option}` is not added in extra options. "
-                "This is not allowed."
-            )
+    if needs_config.variant_options:
+        log_warning(
+            LOGGER,
+            'Config option "needs_variant_options" is deprecated. Please enable "variant_functions" in "needs_core_options" or "needs_extra_options" instead.',
+            "deprecated",
+            None,
+        )
 
     validate_schemas_config(needs_config)
 
@@ -764,6 +777,7 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
     for name, data in NeedsCoreFields.items():
         if not data.get("add_to_field_schema", False):
             continue
+        overrides = needs_config.core_options.get(name, {})
         type_ = data["schema"]["type"]
         nullable = False
         if isinstance(type_, list):
@@ -771,6 +785,29 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
             type_ = type_[0]
             nullable = True
         default = data["schema"].get("default", None)
+
+        allow_variants = overrides.get("variant_functions", False)
+        if name in needs_config.variant_options:
+            allow_variants = True
+        if allow_variants and not data.get("allow_variants"):
+            log_warning(
+                LOGGER,
+                f"Core field {name!r} cannot be configured to allow variant functions, as it does not support them.",
+                "config",
+                None,
+            )
+            allow_variants = False
+
+        allow_df = overrides.get("dynamic_functions", data.get("allow_df", False))
+        if allow_df and not data.get("allow_df"):
+            log_warning(
+                LOGGER,
+                f"Core field {name!r} cannot be configured to allow dynamic functions, as it does not support them.",
+                "config",
+                None,
+            )
+            allow_df = False
+
         field = FieldSchema(
             name=name,
             description=data["description"],
@@ -780,10 +817,8 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
             default=None if default is None else FieldLiteralValue(default),
             allow_defaults=data.get("allow_default", False),
             allow_extend=data.get("allow_extend", False),
-            allow_dynamic_functions=data.get("allow_df", False),
-            allow_variant_functions=name in needs_config.variant_options
-            if data.get("allow_variants", False)
-            else False,
+            allow_dynamic_functions=allow_df,
+            allow_variant_functions=allow_variants,
             directive_option=name != "title",
         )
         try:
@@ -804,6 +839,15 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
                 type = extra.schema.get("type", "string")
                 if type == "array":
                     item_type = extra.schema.get("items", {}).get("type", "string")  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+
+            allow_variants = (
+                extra.variant_functions
+                if extra.variant_functions is not None
+                else False
+            )
+            if name in needs_config.variant_options:
+                allow_variants = True
+
             field = FieldSchema(
                 name=name,
                 description=extra.description,
@@ -816,8 +860,10 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
                 default=None if extra.schema is not None else FieldLiteralValue(""),
                 allow_defaults=True,
                 allow_extend=True,
-                allow_dynamic_functions=True,
-                allow_variant_functions=name in needs_config.variant_options,
+                allow_dynamic_functions=True
+                if extra.dynamic_functions is None
+                else extra.dynamic_functions,
+                allow_variant_functions=allow_variants,
                 directive_option=True,
             )
             schema.add_extra_field(field)
@@ -839,8 +885,8 @@ def create_schema(app: Sphinx, env: BuildEnvironment, _docnames: list[str]) -> N
                 default=LinksLiteralValue([]),
                 allow_defaults=True,
                 allow_extend=True,
-                allow_dynamic_functions=True,
-                allow_variant_functions=name in needs_config.variant_options,
+                allow_dynamic_functions=link.get("dynamic_functions", True),
+                allow_variant_functions=link.get("variant_functions", False),
                 directive_option=True,
             )
             schema.add_link_field(link_field)
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/test_variants.ambr b/tests/__snapshots__/test_variants.ambr
index cab6f9ad2..4db17a207 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/test_variants.ambr
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/test_variants.ambr
@@ -27,6 +27,121 @@
   })
 # ---
 # name: test_variant_options_html[test_app0]
+  dict({
+    'current_version': '',
+    'versions': dict({
+      '': dict({
+        'needs': dict({
+          'CV_0002': dict({
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'CV_0002',
+            'lineno': 19,
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'open',
+            'tags': list([
+              'commence',
+              'start',
+              'begin',
+            ]),
+            'title': 'Custom Variant',
+            'type': 'spec',
+            'type_name': 'Specification',
+            'value': 'start',
+          }),
+          'SPEC_003': dict({
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'SPEC_003',
+            'lineno': 26,
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'open',
+            'title': 'Variant Specification',
+            'type': 'spec',
+            'type_name': 'Specification',
+          }),
+          'SPEC_004': dict({
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'SPEC_004',
+            'lineno': 30,
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'unknown',
+            'title': 'Unknown Variant',
+            'type': 'spec',
+            'type_name': 'Specification',
+          }),
+          'SP_38823': dict({
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'SP_38823',
+            'lineno': 4,
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'progress',
+            'tags': list([
+              'school',
+              'extension',
+              'needs',
+            ]),
+            'title': 'No ID',
+            'type': 'spec',
+            'type_name': 'Specification',
+          }),
+          'ST_001': dict({
+            'author': 'Daniel Woste',
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'ST_001',
+            'lineno': 13,
+            'links_back': list([
+              'VA_003',
+            ]),
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'close',
+            'title': 'Test story',
+            'type': 'story',
+            'type_name': 'User Story',
+          }),
+          'VA_003': dict({
+            'docname': 'index',
+            'external_css': 'external_link',
+            'id': 'VA_003',
+            'lineno': 8,
+            'links': list([
+              'ST_001',
+            ]),
+            'section_name': 'Variant Handling Test',
+            'sections': list([
+              'Variant Handling Test',
+            ]),
+            'status': 'tags_implemented',
+            'title': 'Tags Example',
+            'type': 'spec',
+            'type_name': 'Specification',
+          }),
+        }),
+        'needs_amount': 6,
+        'needs_defaults_removed': True,
+      }),
+    }),
+  })
+# ---
+# name: test_variant_options_html_old[test_app0]
   dict({
     'current_version': '',
     'versions': dict({
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/parallel_doc/conf.py b/tests/doc_test/parallel_doc/conf.py
index f6f03d869..277d5e1bb 100644
--- a/tests/doc_test/parallel_doc/conf.py
+++ b/tests/doc_test/parallel_doc/conf.py
@@ -31,6 +31,13 @@
     },
 ]
 needs_variants = {"change_author": "assignee == 'Randy Duodu'"}
-needs_variant_options = ["status", "author"]
 needs_filter_data = {"assignee": "Randy Duodu"}
-needs_extra_options = ["my_extra_option", "another_option", "author", "comment"]
+needs_core_options = {
+    "status": {"variant_functions": True},
+}
+needs_extra_options = [
+    "my_extra_option",
+    "another_option",
+    {"name": "author", "variant_functions": True},
+    "comment",
+]
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/conf.py b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/conf.py
index fa8735395..507d39618 100644
--- a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/conf.py
+++ b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/conf.py
@@ -38,12 +38,22 @@
     },
 ]
 needs_variants = {"change_author": "assignee == 'Randy Duodu'"}
-needs_variant_options = ["status", "author"]
 needs_filter_data = {"assignee": "Randy Duodu"}
+needs_core_options = {
+    "status": {"variant_functions": True},
+}
+needs_extra_links = [
+    {
+        "option": "links",
+        "variant_functions": True,
+        "incoming": "is linked by",
+        "outgoing": "links to",
+    },
+]
 needs_extra_options = [
     "my_extra_option",
     "another_option",
-    "author",
+    {"name": "author", "variant_functions": True},
     "comment",
     "amount",
     "hours",
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/index.rst b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/index.rst
index 4fac3d41c..9f701be99 100644
--- a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/index.rst
+++ b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc/index.rst
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Variant Handling Test
 .. spec:: Tags Example
    :id: VA_003
    :status: <<[all(x in build_tags for x in ['tag_a', 'tag_b'])]:tags_implemented, closed>>
+   :links: <<[all(x in build_tags for x in ['tag_a', 'tag_b'])]:ST_001, unknown>>
 
 .. story:: Test story
    :id: ST_001
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/conf.py b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/conf.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e5fac29d1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/conf.py
@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+tags.add("tag_b")  # noqa: F821
+
+extensions = ["sphinx_needs", "sphinxcontrib.plantuml"]
+
+# note, the plantuml executable command is set globally in the test suite
+plantuml_output_format = "svg"
+
+needs_id_regex = "^[A-Za-z0-9_]"
+
+needs_types = [
+    {
+        "directive": "story",
+        "title": "User Story",
+        "prefix": "US_",
+        "color": "#BFD8D2",
+        "style": "node",
+    },
+    {
+        "directive": "spec",
+        "title": "Specification",
+        "prefix": "SP_",
+        "color": "#FEDCD2",
+        "style": "node",
+    },
+    {
+        "directive": "impl",
+        "title": "Implementation",
+        "prefix": "IM_",
+        "color": "#DF744A",
+        "style": "node",
+    },
+    {
+        "directive": "test",
+        "title": "Test Case",
+        "prefix": "TC_",
+        "color": "#DCB239",
+        "style": "node",
+    },
+]
+needs_variants = {"change_author": "assignee == 'Randy Duodu'"}
+needs_filter_data = {"assignee": "Randy Duodu"}
+needs_variant_options = ["author", "status"]
+needs_extra_options = [
+    "my_extra_option",
+    "another_option",
+    "author",
+    "comment",
+    "amount",
+    "hours",
+    "image",
+    "config",
+    "github",
+    "value",
+    "unit",
+]
+
+needs_build_json = True
+needs_json_remove_defaults = True
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/index.rst b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/index.rst
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4fac3d41c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/doc_test/variant_doc_old/index.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+Variant Handling Test
+=====================
+
+.. spec:: No ID
+   :status: <<['church' in tags]:open, ['extension' in tags]:progress, close>>
+   :tags: school, extension, needs
+
+.. spec:: Tags Example
+   :id: VA_003
+   :status: <<[all(x in build_tags for x in ['tag_a', 'tag_b'])]:tags_implemented, closed>>
+
+.. story:: Test story
+   :id: ST_001
+   :status: close
+   :author: <<change_author:Daniel Woste, Randy>>
+
+
+.. spec:: Custom Variant
+   :id: CV_0002
+   :status: <<[value in tags]:open, close>>
+   :value: start
+   :tags: commence, start, begin
+
+
+.. spec:: Variant Specification
+   :id: SPEC_003
+   :status: <<['tag_a' in build_tags]:open, unknown>>
+
+.. spec:: Unknown Variant
+   :id: SPEC_004
+   :status: <<['tag_c' in build_tags]:open, unknown>>
+
+.. needtable::
+   :filter: status in ("open", "close", "progress")
+
+.. toctree::
+   :maxdepth: 2
+   :caption: Contents:
diff --git a/tests/doc_test/variant_options/conf.py b/tests/doc_test/variant_options/conf.py
index 2b11a3569..37838efee 100644
--- a/tests/doc_test/variant_options/conf.py
+++ b/tests/doc_test/variant_options/conf.py
@@ -38,8 +38,10 @@
     },
 ]
 needs_variants = {"change_author": "assignee == 'Randy Duodu'"}
-needs_variant_options = ["status"]
 needs_filter_data = {"assignee": "Randy Duodu"}
+needs_core_options = {
+    "status": {"variant_functions": True},
+}
 needs_extra_options = [
     "my_extra_option",
     "another_option",
diff --git a/tests/test_variants.py b/tests/test_variants.py
index 65b031781..07bad565a 100644
--- a/tests/test_variants.py
+++ b/tests/test_variants.py
@@ -55,6 +55,26 @@ def test_match_variants(option, context, variants, expected):
     assert match_variants(option, context, variants) == expected
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize(
+    "test_app",
+    [{"buildername": "html", "srcdir": "doc_test/variant_doc_old", "tags": ["tag_a"]}],
+    indirect=True,
+)
+def test_variant_options_html_old(test_app, snapshot):
+    app = test_app
+    app.build()
+
+    warnings = strip_colors(app._warning.getvalue()).splitlines()
+    assert warnings == [
+        'WARNING: Config option "needs_variant_options" is deprecated. Please enable "variant_functions" in "needs_core_options" or "needs_extra_options" instead. [needs.deprecated]',
+    ]
+
+    needs = json.loads(Path(app.outdir, "needs.json").read_text())
+    assert needs == snapshot(
+        exclude=props("created", "project", "creator", "needs_schema")
+    )
+
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "test_app",
     [{"buildername": "html", "srcdir": "doc_test/variant_doc", "tags": ["tag_a"]}],