I would miss Half Elves so definitely keeping them in my campaign regardless. That is the beauty of the game. All Wizards does is make suggestions. We can do anything we want. I do like what they did with Orcs, but mine are still going to lean Evil.
They didn't get rid of half-elves, they still exist - they just aren't mechanically separate from humans and elves anymore.
Half-elves in particular really don't lose much from the revised rules, because their features overlap so heavily with elves to begin with. (Except for the extra stat boost, but if that's what somebody misses, that's really less a love for half-elves and more a love for extra plusses.)
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Good thing mechanical differences still exist then, unless you think ASIs are the only mechanics that matter that is.
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Good thing mechanical differences still exist then, unless you think ASIs are the only mechanics that matter that is.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Good thing mechanical differences still exist then, unless you think ASIs are the only mechanics that matter that is.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
The half-elf's ASIs and other abilities basically made it "elf, but better".
Also, they're getting rid of all species ASIs, so the fact that there's no mechanical half-elf is moot.
tghat is really the point - by removing the stat bonuses from the species (and putting them into the backgrounds) the remove the mechanical need to keep the half elf and half orc eliminating them as separate playing species. Tthus making room for the goliath, orc and Assimar.
Yeah but my background is very central to who my character is and I don’t want to have to change that based on stat optimization but will basically have to if I’m not lucky enough to have been given the right 3 to choose from. :(
I would miss Half Elves so definitely keeping them in my campaign regardless. That is the beauty of the game. All Wizards does is make suggestions. We can do anything we want. I do like what they did with Orcs, but mine are still going to lean Evil.
They didn't get rid of half-elves, they still exist - they just aren't mechanically separate from humans and elves anymore.
And sure, you can do whatever you want with your orcs.
And that's okay in my opinion, because why list half-elves or half-orcs and not half-dwarves or half-gnomes? There are plenty of options.
tghat is really the point - by removing the stat bonuses from the species (and putting them into the backgrounds) the remove the mechanical need to keep the half elf and half orc eliminating them as separate playing species. Tthus making room for the goliath, orc and Assimar.
Mmm, there’s still a bit of basis for half-elf as a discreet combination of features; the immunity to magical sleep and charm resistance are distinctly elven (yes, I know other races have it, but do hobgoblins or satyrs really jump to mind when you think of the feature?), while the lack of trance sets them apart and extra wildcard skill profs are distinctly human. Their absence isn’t a deal breaker, but there’s a strong identity to their features aside from ASI you can’t fully get with the upcoming options.
Yeah but my background is very central to who my character is and I don’t want to have to change that based on stat optimization but will basically have to if I’m not lucky enough to have been given the right 3 to choose from. :(
So talk to your DM and use the custom Background option from the DMG.
Yeah but my background is very central to who my character is and I don’t want to have to change that based on stat optimization but will basically have to if I’m not lucky enough to have been given the right 3 to choose from. :(
So talk to your DM and use the custom Background option from the DMG.
Didn’t know they were going to have that for sure with the changes. Still might not feel quite the same or even fill all the roles, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Good thing mechanical differences still exist then, unless you think ASIs are the only mechanics that matter that is.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
The half-elf's ASIs and other abilities basically made it "elf, but better".
Also, they're getting rid of all species ASIs, so the fact that there's no mechanical half-elf is moot.
Just checked for sanity's sake. My memory is not failing me. Half Elves do not get Trance. Instead they get two additional proficiencies. They can forsake the proficiencies in favor of various elven Sub-race traits, but none of the options give trance with them. That is a pretty substantial non-ASI difference.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
The half-elf's ASIs and other abilities basically made it "elf, but better".
Also, they're getting rid of all species ASIs, so the fact that there's no mechanical half-elf is moot.
Just checked for sanity's sake. My memory is not failing me. Half Elves do not get Trance. Instead they get two additional proficiencies. They can forsake the proficiencies in favor of various elven Sub-race traits, but none of the options give trance with them. That is a pretty substantial non-ASI difference.
Obviously, YMMV, but I'm gonna stick with "elf, but better". Trance (2014 version) is a flavor ability in most games. The number of times it matters that you only have to "sleep" for four hours instead of eight in any given game likely approaches zero. It makes watch rotations simpler.
Compared to that, two proficiencies is way better.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
The half-elf's ASIs and other abilities basically made it "elf, but better".
Also, they're getting rid of all species ASIs, so the fact that there's no mechanical half-elf is moot.
Just checked for sanity's sake. My memory is not failing me. Half Elves do not get Trance. Instead they get two additional proficiencies. They can forsake the proficiencies in favor of various elven Sub-race traits, but none of the options give trance with them. That is a pretty substantial non-ASI difference.
Obviously, YMMV, but I'm gonna stick with "elf, but better". Trance (2014 version) is a flavor ability in most games. The number of times it matters that you only have to "sleep" for four hours instead of eight in any given game likely approaches zero. It makes watch rotations simpler.
Compared to that, two proficiencies is way better.
Assuming that does not matter to the player for RP/character concept reasons, sure. But then it is those fixated on the ASI who are insisting that is the reason any given player would choose to play a half elf rather than an elf.
But then it is those fixated on the ASI who are insisting that is the reason any given player would choose to play a half elf rather than an elf.
It was; the extra proficiencies were gravy. Not anymore.
I'll try this again. Trance is a mechanic, is it not? That not everyone looks at such things the same way is a given, but mechanics are not always about raw power.
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Oh, if only! That would be great, but probably many steps too far for the D&D fanbase.
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Oh, if only! That would be great, but probably many steps too far for the D&D fanbase.
Funnily enough, people don’t like it when you take the “fantasy role” out of “fantasy roleplay”
Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Oh, if only! That would be great, but probably many steps too far for the D&D fanbase.
Funnily enough, people don’t like it when you take the “fantasy role” out of “fantasy roleplay”
Who's doing what now?
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Canto alla vita alla sua bellezza ad ogni sua ferita ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Orcs are there because they got rid of half races. Also Half- Elves, so one of the others are basically a replacement of that one. I do like how they retooled Goliaths though. I prefer the Aasimar over what their initial planned new race was.
With the case of the old half species, I think its you can take some elements of the ones you want by getting rid of one that comes with the base species and vice versa. Clarity if I am wrong.
If this works the way I think it does, Orfs (Orc and Dwarf parents) becomes official and half orcs and half elves come back for instance.
I would wonder if some of the others would get another update book as well. There is suppose to be a way to modify what comes from the other books such as Autognomes from Spell Jammer. However going on TV tropes and seeing some of the ones that existed in 2nd and 3rd,, and even 4th edition. So it might be a chance have a new book to make a comeback. Others might we might have to wait and see how they would change based on what is kept and what is changed in the bestiary for goblins and lizard folk.
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Presumably the mechanical differences between races matter to people, or all races would have the same stats and just an instruction "Work out appearance on your own, subject to your DM's approval"
Good thing mechanical differences still exist then, unless you think ASIs are the only mechanics that matter that is.
ASI's are not the only mechanics that matter but they are still mechanics.
The half-elf's ASIs and other abilities basically made it "elf, but better".
Also, they're getting rid of all species ASIs, so the fact that there's no mechanical half-elf is moot.
tghat is really the point - by removing the stat bonuses from the species (and putting them into the backgrounds) the remove the mechanical need to keep the half elf and half orc eliminating them as separate playing species. Tthus making room for the goliath, orc and Assimar.
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
Yeah but my background is very central to who my character is and I don’t want to have to change that based on stat optimization but will basically have to if I’m not lucky enough to have been given the right 3 to choose from. :(
And that's okay in my opinion, because why list half-elves or half-orcs and not half-dwarves or half-gnomes? There are plenty of options.
Mmm, there’s still a bit of basis for half-elf as a discreet combination of features; the immunity to magical sleep and charm resistance are distinctly elven (yes, I know other races have it, but do hobgoblins or satyrs really jump to mind when you think of the feature?), while the lack of trance sets them apart and extra wildcard skill profs are distinctly human. Their absence isn’t a deal breaker, but there’s a strong identity to their features aside from ASI you can’t fully get with the upcoming options.
So talk to your DM and use the custom Background option from the DMG.
Didn’t know they were going to have that for sure with the changes. Still might not feel quite the same or even fill all the roles, but I guess we’ll just have to wait and see.
Just checked for sanity's sake. My memory is not failing me. Half Elves do not get Trance. Instead they get two additional proficiencies. They can forsake the proficiencies in favor of various elven Sub-race traits, but none of the options give trance with them. That is a pretty substantial non-ASI difference.
Obviously, YMMV, but I'm gonna stick with "elf, but better". Trance (2014 version) is a flavor ability in most games. The number of times it matters that you only have to "sleep" for four hours instead of eight in any given game likely approaches zero. It makes watch rotations simpler.
Compared to that, two proficiencies is way better.
Assuming that does not matter to the player for RP/character concept reasons, sure. But then it is those fixated on the ASI who are insisting that is the reason any given player would choose to play a half elf rather than an elf.
Weren't we talking about mechanics? The RP/concept goalpost is over there.
It was; the extra proficiencies were gravy. Not anymore.
I'll try this again. Trance is a mechanic, is it not? That not everyone looks at such things the same way is a given, but mechanics are not always about raw power.
Oh, if only! That would be great, but probably many steps too far for the D&D fanbase.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Funnily enough, people don’t like it when you take the “fantasy role” out of “fantasy roleplay”
Who's doing what now?
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
Orcs are there because they got rid of half races. Also Half- Elves, so one of the others are basically a replacement of that one.
I do like how they retooled Goliaths though. I prefer the Aasimar over what their initial planned new race was.
With the case of the old half species, I think its you can take some elements of the ones you want by getting rid of one that comes with the base species and vice versa. Clarity if I am wrong.
If this works the way I think it does, Orfs (Orc and Dwarf parents) becomes official and half orcs and half elves come back for instance.
I would wonder if some of the others would get another update book as well. There is suppose to be a way to modify what comes from the other books such as Autognomes from Spell Jammer. However going on TV tropes and seeing some of the ones that existed in 2nd and 3rd,, and even 4th edition. So it might be a chance have a new book to make a comeback. Others might we might have to wait and see how they would change based on what is kept and what is changed in the bestiary for goblins and lizard folk.