I'm planning to make a dhampir character and wanted to be a fairy for the flying speed but noticed something when reading through the Flight feature they get.
Flight. Because of your wings, you have a flying speed equal to your walking speed. You can’t use this flying speed if you’re wearing medium or heavy armor
This is probably similar to other features that grant flight but my question is that as a dhampir can I ignore the restriction on flying with medium or heavy armor?
Ancestral Legacy. If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it. If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
RAW is seems less like you're getting a feature that grants flight as well as any restrictions and instead just copying the speeds of the race you were before becoming a dhampir. What do you guys think? RAW I feel like it's pretty solid to be but I totally see this being vetoed by a Dm, and they'd probably be right to do so as well since It seems pretty good.
On a separate note the "If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation" in Ancestral Legacy feels dumb to me. You're telling me that even if I have it in my backstory to be a different race that was changed into a dhampir I can't keep the original races movement speeds if I didn't turn into a dhampir in game? It just feels needlessly restrictive. As a Dm what are your thoughts on this? Would you allow a player to start as a dhampir from character creation but keep the original races movement speeds if maybe their backstory has them starting as one race then turning into a dhampir? Or is it a hard no just cause RAW says you can't?
I would allow flying but with same restrictions. You have the same wings so they'll work the same.
"Would you allow a player to start as a dhampir from character creation " -- Yes.
"but keep the original races features if maybe their backstory explains it?" -- No.
"Or is it a hard no cause RAW says you can't?" It's a hard no because anything more is broken in balance. Dhamphirs are a strong race already, getting to keep things like flight let it be even stronger. So it's a hard no because anything more and you're more overpowered than any other race in game -- squared. Nah, dude, you got enough goodies, stop being greedy.
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As a DM I would include the restriction, but RAW it seems like you only keep the flying speed, not the feature that you got it from, which means no armor restriction.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
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I probably should've been more clear but when I said keeping features as a dhampir I meant things like the flying or swimming speed. I totally agree that keeping all the features of a race as well as the dhampir stuff is way too powerful. My bad for not being clearer.
Edit: actually going to change that in my original post
A flying speed is very powerful, and it generally accounts for somewhere above half of the total power of a race. It makes sense that you're restricted in your ability to add flight to an already very powerful race.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
I believe RAW a Fairy becoming a Dhampyr would not fly anymore because it doesn't keep the Flight trait that grants fly speed. Without it a Fairy only has walking speed is 30 feet.
I believe RAW a Fairy becoming a Dhampyr would not fly anymore because it doesn't keep the Flight trait that grants fly speed. Without it a Fairy only has walking speed is 30 feet.
If you replace a race with this lineage, you can keep the following elements of that race: any skill proficiencies you gained from it and any climbing, flying, or swimming speed you gained from it.
It doesn't keep the Flight trait, no, but it does keep the flying speed.
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Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny. Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
No you're right i think it should according to Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft some trait might remain with the Ancestral Legacy trait;
What Happened to Me: The lineages provided in this section represent a physical and magical transformation that alters you in fundamental ways. You can still appear as you once were, but you’ve changed in significant ways that might overwrite your once physical or magical capabilities. A dragonborn who becomes a dhampir, for instance, loses their connection to their draconic ancestry as the deathless power of vampirism surges through them. Once able to exhale destructive energy, the dragonborn now feels a powerful hunger inside, and their bite is now able to drain life. Some racial traits might remain after you gain a lineage, a possibility captured in the Ancestral Legacy trait. Keep this in mind when you explore the details of how you change after gaining a lineage subsequent to character creation.
I just have to check one thing with you all (based on the OPs question).
I'm planning to make a dhampir character and wanted to be a fairy for the flying speed
Is this how you guys play/DM it? Decide you want to be a Dhampir and then pick an underlying race depending upon what traits you want?
Wouldn't this part of the Ancestral Legacy rule kick in here?
If you don’t keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Ancestral Legacy.
If you replace a race with this lineage, do X.
If you don’t keep any of those elements ORyou choose this lineage at character creation, do Y.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
All the lineages have the same feature, so you can technically be a Faerie Dhampir Hexblood Reborn with flight & 6 free proficiencies. You just have to find a GM that will allow a very convoluted and power-gamer origin story. Did I mention they are from Theros, have made a Dark Bargain or three, was raised on Eberron where they got a Dragonmark, and attended Strixhaven before going thru a portal to Krynn to fight against the Dragon Queen alongside the Mages of High Sorcery? The fact that I rolled 6 18s for my character's attributes is actually one of the least remarkable things about them. Now about being a Chosen of every god on the Sword Coast...
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Sure you need to pick a race you where born as to decide your appearance. But you don't need to keep the traits from that race, in fact you explicitly don't get to keep most traits from the race you where born as. And this is the base of my question, if what the OP said he did, create a Dhampir from scratch, isn't what the "or you choose this lineage at character creation" rule is meant for then when is that line ever going to be triggered???
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Sure you need to pick a race you where born as to decide your appearance. But you don't need to keep the traits from that race, in fact you explicitly don't get to keep most traits from the race you where born as. And this is the base of my question, if what the OP said he did, create a Dhampir from scratch, isn't what the "or you choose this lineage at character creation" rule is meant for then when is that line ever going to be triggered???
I am not sure I understand their reasoning either. They are correct in that the two if statements are independent but my best guess at their reasoning is that they stop evaluating the if statements once one of them evaluates to true. It is easy enough to put the logic of the rules to the test by writing them out in code and seeing what happens. There are even websites where you can write and run the code in your browser: https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_booleans.asp
Regardless of their exact reasoning they are at least correct that ultimately it is up to the GM/DM to adjudicate the situation.
I just have to check one thing with you all (based on the OPs question).
I'm planning to make a dhampir character and wanted to be a fairy for the flying speed
Is this how you guys play/DM it? Decide you want to be a Dhampir and then pick an underlying race depending upon what traits you want?
Wouldn't this part of the Ancestral Legacy rule kick in here?
If you don’t keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Ancestral Legacy.
If you replace a race with this lineage, do X.
If you don’t keep any of those elements ORyou choose this lineage at character creation, do Y.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
All the lineages have the same feature, so you can technically be a Faerie Dhampir Hexblood Reborn with flight & 6 free proficiencies. You just have to find a GM that will allow a very convoluted and power-gamer origin story. Did I mention they are from Theros, have made a Dark Bargain or three, was raised on Eberron where they got a Dragonmark, and attended Strixhaven before going thru a portal to Krynn to fight against the Dragon Queen alongside the Mages of High Sorcery? The fact that I rolled 6 18s for my character's attributes is actually one of the least remarkable things about them. Now about being a Chosen of every god on the Sword Coast...
You only get one background feature from a custom background though so no, you can't have all those.
What custom background? Supernatural Gifts from Theros are free. Dark Bargains are free. Getting a Dragonmark is either from a race or a feat. Take one of the Strixhaven Student backgrounds, then move to Krynn for the extra free feats due to fighting in the War of the Lance. It's RAW, but obviously 99.44% of GMs (including me) would not allow it in a standard campaign.
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Sure you need to pick a race you where born as to decide your appearance. But you don't need to keep the traits from that race, in fact you explicitly don't get to keep most traits from the race you where born as. And this is the base of my question, if what the OP said he did, create a Dhampir from scratch, isn't what the "or you choose this lineage at character creation" rule is meant for then when is that line ever going to be triggered???
I am not sure I understand their reasoning either. They are correct in that the two if statements are independent but my best guess at their reasoning is that they stop evaluating the if statements once one of them evaluates to true. It is easy enough to put the logic of the rules to the test by writing them out in code and seeing what happens. There are even websites where you can write and run the code in your browser: https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_booleans.asp
Regardless of their exact reasoning they are at least correct that ultimately it is up to the GM/DM to adjudicate the situation.
It should probably be re-written as something like "If your previous race granted any proficiencies or movement types, keep those. Otherwise, gain 2 skill proficiencies." This removes the effect of timing when the character became a dhampir from consideration, and there is no way to get both benefits.
It should probably be re-written as something like "If your previous race granted any proficiencies or movement types, keep those. Otherwise, gain 2 skill proficiencies." This removes the effect of timing when the character became a dhampir from consideration, and there is no way to get both benefits.
And this is the part you have failed to understand, the timing of when your character becomes a Dhampir is the main decider of what skills/speeds you get. If you decide to be a Dhampir when you create your character then you get 2 skills and 35ft walking/climbing speed. If your character become a Dhampir at a later point in your adventure/campaign then you get to choose between keeping what you have or get the 2 skills and walk/climb speed.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
No that won't work. If you choose to be a Fairy at character creation then you play the game as a Fairy. If you choose to be a Dhampir then you play as that. You don't get to re-choose your race during character creation.
It should probably be re-written as something like "If your previous race granted any proficiencies or movement types, keep those. Otherwise, gain 2 skill proficiencies." This removes the effect of timing when the character became a dhampir from consideration, and there is no way to get both benefits.
And this is the part you have failed to understand, the timing of when your character becomes a Dhampir is the main decider of what skills/speeds you get. If you decide to be a Dhampir when you create your character then you get 2 skills and 35ft walking/climbing speed. If your character become a Dhampir at a later point in your adventure/campaign then you get to choose between keeping what you have or get the 2 skills and walk/climb speed.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
No that won't work. If you choose to be a Fairy at character creation then you play the game as a Fairy. If you choose to be a Dhampir then you play as that. You don't get to re-choose your race during character creation.
So a character can't be born as one race, and then become a dhampir prior to the first session? Citation needed.
I just have to check one thing with you all (based on the OPs question).
I'm planning to make a dhampir character and wanted to be a fairy for the flying speed
Is this how you guys play/DM it? Decide you want to be a Dhampir and then pick an underlying race depending upon what traits you want?
Wouldn't this part of the Ancestral Legacy rule kick in here?
If you don’t keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation, you gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
Ancestral Legacy.
If you replace a race with this lineage, do X.
If you don’t keep any of those elements ORyou choose this lineage at character creation, do Y.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
All the lineages have the same feature, so you can technically be a Faerie Dhampir Hexblood Reborn with flight & 6 free proficiencies. You just have to find a GM that will allow a very convoluted and power-gamer origin story. Did I mention they are from Theros, have made a Dark Bargain or three, was raised on Eberron where they got a Dragonmark, and attended Strixhaven before going thru a portal to Krynn to fight against the Dragon Queen alongside the Mages of High Sorcery? The fact that I rolled 6 18s for my character's attributes is actually one of the least remarkable things about them. Now about being a Chosen of every god on the Sword Coast...
You only get one background feature from a custom background though so no, you can't have all those.
What custom background? Supernatural Gifts from Theros are free. Dark Bargains are free. Getting a Dragonmark is either from a race or a feat. Take one of the Strixhaven Student backgrounds, then move to Krynn for the extra free feats due to fighting in the War of the Lance. It's RAW, but obviously 99.44% of GMs (including me) would not allow it in a standard campaign.
The Krynn starting feats are handled by backgrounds, though. Saying 'due to fighting in the War of the Lance' is akin to saying you have the Veteran background on top of any other background. You are not fighting in the War of the Lance while attending Stryxhaven. "Then move to Krynn and fight in the war" is saying "extra background, please!"
Dragonmarks are race, so that limits your race choice. And Dark Bargains are not free. The DM sets the offer and thus the terms. You are also claiming the character to be from both Theros, Eberron and still had time to attend Strxshaven and fight in the war on Krynn, as well as insisting that the dark bargain and supernatural gifts still have power even after leaving the reach of those who granted them
There is no RAW that lets you simply hop worlds conveniently like that
Spelljammer isn't RAW? Someone should let WotC know.
So a character can't be born as one race, and then become a dhampir prior to the first session? Citation needed.
Story-wise that can absolutely happen. But rules-wise no, you only get to choose to be one race. And as you are choosing to be a Dhampir at character creation then the rule that says "or you choose this lineage at character creation" is the one to follow.
I would allow flying but with same restrictions. You have the same wings so they'll work the same.
"Would you allow a player to start as a dhampir from character creation " -- Yes.
"but keep the original races features if maybe their backstory explains it?" -- No.
"Or is it a hard no cause RAW says you can't?" It's a hard no because anything more is broken in balance. Dhamphirs are a strong race already, getting to keep things like flight let it be even stronger. So it's a hard no because anything more and you're more overpowered than any other race in game -- squared. Nah, dude, you got enough goodies, stop being greedy.
How are Dhampirs strong?
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I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
The fires of Hell scorch you,
My vengeance terrible,
I, ascendant,
Above the flames of
The Inferno,
Of whom the lowest and most torturous
of circles is
Reserved for traitors.
The dead shall
Laugh at
Your eternal fate
Your sins
Shall return
To mock
And torment you.
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I'm planning to make a dhampir character and wanted to be a fairy for the flying speed but noticed something when reading through the Flight feature they get.
This is probably similar to other features that grant flight but my question is that as a dhampir can I ignore the restriction on flying with medium or heavy armor?
RAW is seems less like you're getting a feature that grants flight as well as any restrictions and instead just copying the speeds of the race you were before becoming a dhampir. What do you guys think? RAW I feel like it's pretty solid to be but I totally see this being vetoed by a Dm, and they'd probably be right to do so as well since It seems pretty good.
On a separate note the "If you don't keep any of those elements or you choose this lineage at character creation" in Ancestral Legacy feels dumb to me. You're telling me that even if I have it in my backstory to be a different race that was changed into a dhampir I can't keep the original races movement speeds if I didn't turn into a dhampir in game? It just feels needlessly restrictive. As a Dm what are your thoughts on this? Would you allow a player to start as a dhampir from character creation but keep the original races movement speeds if maybe their backstory has them starting as one race then turning into a dhampir? Or is it a hard no just cause RAW says you can't?
I would allow flying but with same restrictions. You have the same wings so they'll work the same.
"Would you allow a player to start as a dhampir from character creation " -- Yes.
"but keep the original races features if maybe their backstory explains it?" -- No.
"Or is it a hard no cause RAW says you can't?" It's a hard no because anything more is broken in balance. Dhamphirs are a strong race already, getting to keep things like flight let it be even stronger. So it's a hard no because anything more and you're more overpowered than any other race in game -- squared. Nah, dude, you got enough goodies, stop being greedy.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
As a DM I would include the restriction, but RAW it seems like you only keep the flying speed, not the feature that you got it from, which means no armor restriction.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
I probably should've been more clear but when I said keeping features as a dhampir I meant things like the flying or swimming speed. I totally agree that keeping all the features of a race as well as the dhampir stuff is way too powerful. My bad for not being clearer.
Edit: actually going to change that in my original post
A flying speed is very powerful, and it generally accounts for somewhere above half of the total power of a race. It makes sense that you're restricted in your ability to add flight to an already very powerful race.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
I believe RAW a Fairy becoming a Dhampyr would not fly anymore because it doesn't keep the Flight trait that grants fly speed. Without it a Fairy only has walking speed is 30 feet.
It doesn't keep the Flight trait, no, but it does keep the flying speed.
Look at what you've done. You spoiled it. You have nobody to blame but yourself. Go sit and think about your actions.
Don't be mean. Rudeness is a vicious cycle, and it has to stop somewhere. Exceptions for things that are funny.
Go to the current Competition of the Finest 'Brews! It's a cool place where cool people make cool things.
How I'm posting based on text formatting: Mod Hat Off - Mod Hat Also Off (I'm not a mod)
No you're right i think it should according to Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft some trait might remain with the Ancestral Legacy trait;
I just have to check one thing with you all (based on the OPs question).
Is this how you guys play/DM it? Decide you want to be a Dhampir and then pick an underlying race depending upon what traits you want?
Wouldn't this part of the Ancestral Legacy rule kick in here?
Ding ding ding! We have a winner.
You still need a underlying race either way, though I hope most players aren't as min/max about it. You need a way to set height, ear shape, feathers, scales, etc even if you are born as a dhampir.
The IF statements are not linked or mutually exclusive. During character creation, I choose faerie as my birth race, became a dhampir at some point (causing X because I replaced my birth race and Y because I chose dhampir during CC), then start Session 1 at some point after that.
All the lineages have the same feature, so you can technically be a Faerie Dhampir Hexblood Reborn with flight & 6 free proficiencies. You just have to find a GM that will allow a very convoluted and power-gamer origin story. Did I mention they are from Theros, have made a Dark Bargain or three, was raised on Eberron where they got a Dragonmark, and attended Strixhaven before going thru a portal to Krynn to fight against the Dragon Queen alongside the Mages of High Sorcery? The fact that I rolled 6 18s for my character's attributes is actually one of the least remarkable things about them. Now about being a Chosen of every god on the Sword Coast...
Sure you need to pick a race you where born as to decide your appearance. But you don't need to keep the traits from that race, in fact you explicitly don't get to keep most traits from the race you where born as.
And this is the base of my question, if what the OP said he did, create a Dhampir from scratch, isn't what the "or you choose this lineage at character creation" rule is meant for then when is that line ever going to be triggered???
I am not sure I understand their reasoning either. They are correct in that the two if statements are independent but my best guess at their reasoning is that they stop evaluating the if statements once one of them evaluates to true. It is easy enough to put the logic of the rules to the test by writing them out in code and seeing what happens. There are even websites where you can write and run the code in your browser: https://www.w3schools.com/python/python_booleans.asp
Regardless of their exact reasoning they are at least correct that ultimately it is up to the GM/DM to adjudicate the situation.
What custom background? Supernatural Gifts from Theros are free. Dark Bargains are free. Getting a Dragonmark is either from a race or a feat. Take one of the Strixhaven Student backgrounds, then move to Krynn for the extra free feats due to fighting in the War of the Lance. It's RAW, but obviously 99.44% of GMs (including me) would not allow it in a standard campaign.
It should probably be re-written as something like "If your previous race granted any proficiencies or movement types, keep those. Otherwise, gain 2 skill proficiencies." This removes the effect of timing when the character became a dhampir from consideration, and there is no way to get both benefits.
And this is the part you have failed to understand, the timing of when your character becomes a Dhampir is the main decider of what skills/speeds you get. If you decide to be a Dhampir when you create your character then you get 2 skills and 35ft walking/climbing speed. If your character become a Dhampir at a later point in your adventure/campaign then you get to choose between keeping what you have or get the 2 skills and walk/climb speed.
No that won't work. If you choose to be a Fairy at character creation then you play the game as a Fairy. If you choose to be a Dhampir then you play as that. You don't get to re-choose your race during character creation.
So a character can't be born as one race, and then become a dhampir prior to the first session? Citation needed.
Because https://www.dndbeyond.com/sources/vrgtr/character-creation#DhampirOrigins options 2, 3, 5, & 8 require you to not be a dhampir at some point.
Spelljammer isn't RAW? Someone should let WotC know.
Story-wise that can absolutely happen. But rules-wise no, you only get to choose to be one race. And as you are choosing to be a Dhampir at character creation then the rule that says "or you choose this lineage at character creation" is the one to follow.
How are Dhampirs strong?
I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
The fires of Hell scorch you,
My vengeance terrible,
I, ascendant,
Above the flames of
The Inferno,
Of whom the lowest and most torturous
of circles is
Reserved for traitors.
The dead shall
Laugh at
Your eternal fate
Your sins
Shall return
To mock
And torment you.