dyskami
Villager
There's been plenty of discussion about how the revised D&D rules will handle "half" Species like Half-Elves, Half-Orcs, etc. Now that digital copies of Anime 5E's latest expansion products have been sent Kickstarter backers (print copies still to come), posting how Hybrid Species (as we call them) are handled in the Folstavia: The Infinite Crossroads setting (page 44) might be relevant. Encouraging players to create their own Hybrid Species during D&D gameplay – whether traditional Half-Elf or Half-Orcs, or something completely new – fosters endless creativity.
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SPECIES HYBRIDS
While some unions between Folk are more common than others, thanks to Anime 5E’s Point-based expansion for Fifth Edition, it is possible for players and DMs to create the products of unions between any two (or more) partners. Folstavia’s many forms of magic permit the same limitless combinations in the setting. Dynamic Spellbinding, Psionics, certain types of Bending, alchemy, and Making techniques all facilitate lovers of any Species to have children regardless of physical barriers. It’s fantasy, after all!
Challenges sometimes arise after the child is born or made. Most societies on Folstavia are accustomed to mixed romances between its dozens of native Folk, but some unions are more common than others. None face overt bigotry outside regions controlled by imperialist forces or Nox Hordes. Children of divergent Folk can face physical and cultural barriers in the most well-meaning communities, however, depending on which capabilities they inherit from their parents.
From a more practical standpoint, the creation of Hybrids should not be an exercise in min/maxing. The existing pool of Discretionary Points provides inherent limits on Hybrid design. To bring a Hybrid Species cost into an “affordable” range, the recommended maximum value for any given Hybrid is 15-20 Points. This can include the reasonable application of Defects to reduce the character’s Point total as appropriate.
DMs are encouraged to allow player creativity so long as it does not disrupt the campaign’s balance. Players who wish to develop Hybrid characters should provide suggestions on how their parents came together. Siblings are another source of possible role-playing opportunities. Alternatively, a DM might allow a player to create a Hybrid character with a mysterious background and then fill in the details later to suit the campaign storyline best.
Example 1: Trin is an Exemplar that hails from Quessia. Their Dawn Elf mother and Loralai father ensured Trin’s idyllic childhood on Lake Sapphire’s edge. Trin’s player and DM work together to create a Hybrid Species with the following Attributes and Ability Bonuses:
Example 2: Velkiry is the daughter of a retired adventuring triad. Her parents – a Demonaga, Effigy, and Nekojin – settled on the slopes of Monte Obsidiana to continue their service. They chose to bear a child with traits from all three of them soon after. Velkiry’s player decided this kept the character’s Hybrid Species features moderate:
Example 3: In spite of some sceptical looks around the table, a player convinces the group that a Hybrid of a Fairy and Archfiend doesn’t have to be a joke. After a tale of a Dynamic Spellbinder Fairy rescuing her Archfiend Broker lover from the Lucian Empire, the DM agrees to have the pair settle outside the infamous city of Medaran. There, they used Fairy magic and the Broker’s alchemy to grow a child who would be comfortable in a world built for Medium-size characters. Their resultant son Koredan has the following Hybrid Species features:
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SPECIES HYBRIDS
While some unions between Folk are more common than others, thanks to Anime 5E’s Point-based expansion for Fifth Edition, it is possible for players and DMs to create the products of unions between any two (or more) partners. Folstavia’s many forms of magic permit the same limitless combinations in the setting. Dynamic Spellbinding, Psionics, certain types of Bending, alchemy, and Making techniques all facilitate lovers of any Species to have children regardless of physical barriers. It’s fantasy, after all!
Challenges sometimes arise after the child is born or made. Most societies on Folstavia are accustomed to mixed romances between its dozens of native Folk, but some unions are more common than others. None face overt bigotry outside regions controlled by imperialist forces or Nox Hordes. Children of divergent Folk can face physical and cultural barriers in the most well-meaning communities, however, depending on which capabilities they inherit from their parents.
From a more practical standpoint, the creation of Hybrids should not be an exercise in min/maxing. The existing pool of Discretionary Points provides inherent limits on Hybrid design. To bring a Hybrid Species cost into an “affordable” range, the recommended maximum value for any given Hybrid is 15-20 Points. This can include the reasonable application of Defects to reduce the character’s Point total as appropriate.
DMs are encouraged to allow player creativity so long as it does not disrupt the campaign’s balance. Players who wish to develop Hybrid characters should provide suggestions on how their parents came together. Siblings are another source of possible role-playing opportunities. Alternatively, a DM might allow a player to create a Hybrid character with a mysterious background and then fill in the details later to suit the campaign storyline best.
Example 1: Trin is an Exemplar that hails from Quessia. Their Dawn Elf mother and Loralai father ensured Trin’s idyllic childhood on Lake Sapphire’s edge. Trin’s player and DM work together to create a Hybrid Species with the following Attributes and Ability Bonuses:
- Dexterity +1
- Intelligence +1
- Wisdom +2
- Features 3 (Darkvision 60’, Nictitating Membrane, Ultrasonic Communication)
- Heightened Senses 2 (Hearing, Sight)
- Languages 1 (Common, Elvish)
- Resilient 2 (Ageing, Underwater)
- Spell-Like Ability 1 (Prestidigitation)
- Water Speed 2
Example 2: Velkiry is the daughter of a retired adventuring triad. Her parents – a Demonaga, Effigy, and Nekojin – settled on the slopes of Monte Obsidiana to continue their service. They chose to bear a child with traits from all three of them soon after. Velkiry’s player decided this kept the character’s Hybrid Species features moderate:
- Edge 2 (Saving Throws vs. magic)
- Heightened Senses 1 (Hearing)
- Resilient 2 (Lack of Air, Lack of Sustenance)
- Special Movement 1 (Cat-Like)
Example 3: In spite of some sceptical looks around the table, a player convinces the group that a Hybrid of a Fairy and Archfiend doesn’t have to be a joke. After a tale of a Dynamic Spellbinder Fairy rescuing her Archfiend Broker lover from the Lucian Empire, the DM agrees to have the pair settle outside the infamous city of Medaran. There, they used Fairy magic and the Broker’s alchemy to grow a child who would be comfortable in a world built for Medium-size characters. Their resultant son Koredan has the following Hybrid Species features:
- Charisma +1
- Features 2 (Darkvision 60’, Direction Sense)
- Control Environment 1 (Lights)
- Flight 2
- Languages 3 (Common, Elvish, Mokrath, Sylvan)
- Tunnelling 1
