The OP was discussing "cross breeding" between races; particularly what combinations could occur. He wasn't asking about the origin of species.
A latter discussion developed about which stat block to use, based on parentage. For example, if a human could breed with a dwarf, what do we know about making the stat blocks for playable races. One comment in that discussion said, Pick a Parent and use that. I responded that in the case of some combinations we have a canonically established stat block; shouldn't we use that. I have also shared the observation that it seems canonically we are moving away from genetics playing a factor in stat blocks and instead using social experience as the basis for fleshing out the initial stat block.
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
MY 2 CENTS (hope it helps) Its always been my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, that canonically not all but most of the Half-Breed lineages are because of humans and that an undiscussed trait of humans is their ability to reproduce with other species. AKA humans are reproductively universal donors sorta speak.
For those it may help, some rules I personally use on interspecies relations: --The Lineage of the birthing parent determines the lineage of any children resulting --PCs have the option to replace one lineage feature for one from the other parents lineage (at GM discretion always) --Example: A Female Hafling and a Male Elf have a baby ; the baby is halfling because the birthing parent is halfling ; the pc trades one halfling trait for an elf trait (usually that I as GM determine are equal in benefit)
Curve ball for reptilian or avian based lineages such as aarakocra, dragonborn, kobolds, yuan-ti, gith (not reptilian or avian but still lay eggs), etc. they lay eggs so yeah. though really nothing changes here unless you deem it so.
old school half-dragons are to my knowledge a result of a polymorphed dragon having relations. which is to say they have nothing to do with dragonborn. really I can never find a good reason why an apex creature like a dragon would ever be interested in this as it would likely view the offspring the same way it views most everything else (i.e. food, inferior, etc.) I blame Bard PCs for this.
Tieflings are not half-devils, they where a result of magic (a whole group of people made a deal with devils and the whole group got an infusions of devilness resulting in a unique race)
Aasimars are blessed babies essentially (i.e. save my child "bless", this one is chosen "bless", etc.). it might be a headache to think about aasimars cosmetically from non human parents but if you realize their nature, i.e. being celestially infused, it makes sense that they would look like celestials and not the birthing lineage. by this logic you can make the mechanics make sense while still being free to create a diverse lineage plot/backstory. in the end they look like and are celestial.
stay away from aquatic (piscine) races. just don't go there, trust me. no interspecies reproduction here, nope
I'm not sure how genetics or it's parallel would work in d&d.
Mainly in connection with Forgotten Realms:
The elves arose from the blood of Corellon.
gnomes were created DR from gems
Kobolds were Dragonspawn.
The origins of humans, halflings, dwarves, goblins and orcs are, according to sources viewed, unknown.
As humans in d&d have always been able to breed with elves perhaps there is a ~genetic/parallel origins connection.
Those seem to be the realities of d&d, but in a world where magic can subvert reality.
The OP was discussing "cross breeding" between races; particularly what combinations could occur. He wasn't asking about the origin of species.
A latter discussion developed about which stat block to use, based on parentage. For example, if a human could breed with a dwarf, what do we know about making the stat blocks for playable races. One comment in that discussion said, Pick a Parent and use that. I responded that in the case of some combinations we have a canonically established stat block; shouldn't we use that. I have also shared the observation that it seems canonically we are moving away from genetics playing a factor in stat blocks and instead using social experience as the basis for fleshing out the initial stat block.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
MY 2 CENTS (hope it helps)
Its always been my understanding, and correct me if I'm wrong, that canonically not all but most of the Half-Breed lineages are because of humans and that an undiscussed trait of humans is their ability to reproduce with other species. AKA humans are reproductively universal donors sorta speak.
For those it may help, some rules I personally use on interspecies relations:
--The Lineage of the birthing parent determines the lineage of any children resulting
--PCs have the option to replace one lineage feature for one from the other parents lineage (at GM discretion always)
--Example: A Female Hafling and a Male Elf have a baby ; the baby is halfling because the birthing parent is halfling ; the pc trades one halfling trait for an elf trait (usually that I as GM determine are equal in benefit)
Curve ball for reptilian or avian based lineages such as aarakocra, dragonborn, kobolds, yuan-ti, gith (not reptilian or avian but still lay eggs), etc. they lay eggs so yeah. though really nothing changes here unless you deem it so.
old school half-dragons are to my knowledge a result of a polymorphed dragon having relations. which is to say they have nothing to do with dragonborn. really I can never find a good reason why an apex creature like a dragon would ever be interested in this as it would likely view the offspring the same way it views most everything else (i.e. food, inferior, etc.) I blame Bard PCs for this.
Tieflings are not half-devils, they where a result of magic (a whole group of people made a deal with devils and the whole group got an infusions of devilness resulting in a unique race)
Aasimars are blessed babies essentially (i.e. save my child "bless", this one is chosen "bless", etc.). it might be a headache to think about aasimars cosmetically from non human parents but if you realize their nature, i.e. being celestially infused, it makes sense that they would look like celestials and not the birthing lineage. by this logic you can make the mechanics make sense while still being free to create a diverse lineage plot/backstory. in the end they look like and are celestial.
stay away from aquatic (piscine) races. just don't go there, trust me. no interspecies reproduction here, nope
Old thread is old but the new PHB this year will let any two humanoids shack up. Huzzah!