D&D 5E Player Races in Upcoming Volo's Guide to Monsters

[gyor]

As already pointed out, the page numbers we've already seen rule thus out (and don't forget there will be a whole yuan-ti section after the orc section, so even more of the available pages will be used up with that). I imagine that we'll have 130 stat blocks for 96 monster entries, with several entries getting several variants.

I assumed that variants counted towards tge say 96 monsters, not groups of same type monsters counting as 1 monster towards the 96 count, but you could be right, especially after seeing tge Kobold Dragonshields. Oh well it was a nice theory while it lasted. Its still 1 of three chapters so there is likely to be alot of races in it, beyond the 8 we already know for sure are in it.

 

[Sorcerers Apprentice]

Can be justified =\= makes sense.

A generally chaotic race can easily be monks. A chaotic character can be a monk. An order of monks can be chaotic. Monks don't have to have a physical monastery to be monks. Being "laid back" as a race doesn't conflict in the least with having monks.

"Chill" has no impact on ability to commune with animal/land spirits and engage in totemic shamanism. "Most firbolgs barbarians are totem warriors. Berserkers, on the other hand, are almost unheard of."
Simple.

What they set up here, is defaults you have to argue against in order to play a perfectly reasonable bear warrior or chilled out, zen monk Firbolg.

Are you mixing up fluff with rules?

 

[Parmandur]

I assumed that variants counted towards tge say 96 monsters, not groups of same type monsters counting as 1 monster towards the 96 count, but you could be right, especially after seeing tge Kobold Dragonshields. Oh well it was a nice theory while it lasted. Its still 1 of three chapters so there is likely to be alot of races in it, beyond the 8 we already know for sure are in it.

Well, a big messload will probably be in the table; doubt we have too many surprises from the detailed race section, though I think Thri-Kreen are likely.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Are you mixing up fluff with rules?

Lol yeah, that isn't a thing I'm likely to do.

No, what I'm pointing out is that many, many DMs/groups read stuff like that and then expect a player to come up with justification for deviating from it. "What backstory justifies your Firbolg monk? Were you not raised by Firbolg or something?" Etc.
i think it's a nonsense position, but wotc knows damn well it's a common thing.

Many people, here and elsewhere, argue that the fluff is rules, also. Wotc should be careful about fluff that can be interpreted to limit player choice.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

Lol yeah, that isn't a thing I'm likely to do.

No, what I'm pointing out is that many, many DMs/groups read stuff like that and then expect a player to come up with justification for deviating from it. "What backstory justifies your Firbolg monk? Were you not raised by Firbolg or something?" Etc.
i think it's a nonsense position, but wotc knows damn well it's a common thing.


Many people, here and elsewhere, argue that the fluff is rules, also. Wotc should be careful about fluff that can be interpreted to limit player choice.

I admit I was surprised to see that bit in the preview. That showed up in 4e (although sort of in reverse, "members of X race are really good at being Y and Z classes"), but it hasn't really been a 5e thing. Volo is an unreliable narrator (and explicitly so), so maybe he just hasn't run into any Firbolg monks yet, or he did and just didn't like them.

I like the 13th Age idea of the one unique thing (and tend to inflict a modified "one unusual thing" version on my players), so I am more tolerant of "that is unusual" then most.

 

[Parmandur]

Lol yeah, that isn't a thing I'm likely to do.

No, what I'm pointing out is that many, many DMs/groups read stuff like that and then expect a player to come up with justification for deviating from it. "What backstory justifies your Firbolg monk? Were you not raised by Firbolg or something?" Etc.
i think it's a nonsense position, but wotc knows damn well it's a common thing.

Many people, here and elsewhere, argue that the fluff is rules, also. Wotc should be careful about fluff that can be interpreted to limit player choice.

I feel that limitations and boundaries create flavor. I doubt it will be an issue at most tables, anymore than a Dwarf Wizard (which is still counter the fluff).

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I feel that limitations and boundaries create flavor. I doubt it will be an issue at most tables, anymore than a Dwarf Wizard (which is still counter the fluff).

At your table and mine, sure, but plenty of tables care a lot more about established fluff, and will ask the player that wants to play a dwarf wizard how a dwarf came to be a wizard, and will expect more than, "same as anyone else becomes a wizard" as an answer.

 

[Parmandur]

At your table and mine, sure, but plenty of tables care a lot more about established fluff, and will ask the player that wants to play a dwarf wizard how a dwarf came to be a wizard, and will expect more than, "same as anyone else becomes a wizard" as an answer.

See, I appreciate your viewpoint in terms of potential for silly arguments; but those kinds of questions are part of the fun for me. How *did* Glorm Bluglove come to be a wizard, anyway? I like having open questions that beg for a short story; those sorts of setting and fluff based stereotypes open up room for player driven narrative to develop. "Same as anybody else" is booooring. Even my Dwarf Fighter needs something more than that!

 

[Istbor]

I would really like there to be a Lizardman playable race. Though, I guess I can make it myself as well.

 

[Parmandur]

Todays podcast, Perkins discusses Gnolls. Discusses Lord Dunsany, Gygax development as cross between Gnomes and Trolls in the White Box. Hyena people as of AD&D, developments thru editions. Demonic nature, usually used as bags of HP, latter editions developed the Demon angle: how Gnolls are worse than Hobgoblins or Orcs, supernaturally vicious. Lack of traditional lairs, wandering packs. Fangs of Yanaku (sp?), special Gnoll religous who make new Gnolls from hyeanas. Hyeana follow packs and support them. Hyenas as symbolism.

Different kinds of Gnolls and demons in Volos Guide:

Shusiva, giant hyena demons.

Flind are in the book, can lead a pack of Gnolls, very dangerous: much better fighters. Have threeheaded flails dedicated to Yanoku.

Good wandering wildnerness threat, players don't feel sad about killing them. Potential alliances with Demon cultists. Bringing back Gnoll madness from OotA. Redemption of Gnoll is remote, they are not playing with that space.

Playing a Gnoll: "People can do that, but I won't blame their party for turning on them.". Joke a bit about angering people who really want to play Gnolls.