D&D 5E The Race Docket: What Races do you want to see first for 5e?

[Li Shenron]

I assumed the phb races are set in stone and was asking what do you want to see next in supplements or online. There is 0% chance we won't see the playtest races SOMEWHERE in the core (though where is dependant on the specific race; orcs in the MM, warforged in the DMG, elves in the PHB.)

Yes, they are of course set in stone. We don't know exactly which of the playtest races are in PHB, which in DMG, which in MM, and which have been cut. Maybe none has been cut, we can't be 100% sure.

However, those in the MM aren't automatically playable races. Which is why I mentioned that if we get (some) MM monsters with a small "as race" paragraph, then it would be great.

Orcs and hobgoblins are those which I would like most to have a playable version in core, because a lot of casual gamers (coming for example from WoW) ask to play an orc, but eventually IMHO the closest thing to a WoW orc in D&D is probably a hobgoblin.

 

[Remathilis]

So here is my list.

The "PHB" Seven. I don't see the new edition NOT having them.

I suspect along with warforged, dragonborn, tieflings, kender, and drow all make it in the DMG. I also think some "monster, but you can use them as PCs" stats for orcs, goblins, hobgoblins, and such are going to be in the DMG or MM.

Beyond that?

* Goliaths. D&D lacks a legit "big" race and there is a nice area from a giant/brute race not automatically tainted with evil assumptions.
* Changelings. A shapeshifter race? Yes please.
* Genasi: There is a lot of milage that can be drawn from an elemental race. I actually like 4e's "storm" style ones as well.
* Aasimar: People will complain without a tiefling counterpart. Though I could see something akin to Deva's coming back too.

I wouldn't mind seeing more specific races for worlds (such as shifters and kalashtar for Eberron) fairly early soon, just to help with conversion. Additionally, I'd like to see a good aquatic race (something like sea elves or aventi) and avian race (like raptorans or avariels) be a playable option.

 

[Dausuul]

Humans. All other races can take a long plane shift off a short Prime Material as far as I'm concerned.

 

[Remathilis]

Humans. All other races can take a long plane shift off a short Prime Material as far as I'm concerned.

Great idea. Lets get rid of the other classes too and we can have an edition of JUST human fighters! Wouldn't that be fun for everyone!

 

[Kaodi]

Are tieflings going to have the same unified appearance in Next? If so, it might be cool to see aasimar with feathers across much of their upper bodies and arms. Because they do not have wings, the side affect of the mixing bloodlines was that the feathers of angels wings went somewhere else.

 

[Dausuul]

Great idea. Lets get rid of the other classes too and we can have an edition of JUST human fighters! Wouldn't that be fun for everyone!

The question was what races we personally want to see first for 5E. My answer to that is "Humans, full stop." I know other people have different tastes, and I don't expect 5E to cater to me exclusively, but if it were catering to me, it would be humans-only.

That said, I suppose my answer was more abrasive than it needed to be. Let me put it another way: I want to see 5E designed so that you can run it with only human PCs and still have lots of diversity between characters. Since the guy in charge of 5E is the creator of Iron Heroes--which basically is an edition of just human fighters--I'm hopeful that will be the case.

 

[Ichneumon]

So I think that, unless they can give Aasimar a better raison d'etre than "Well Tieflings exist so...", they should probably be pretty low-priority. Give 'em some distinctive features that aren't "Like a human/elf but prettier and glow-ier and probably smells better". Maybe they should have six eyes like Biblical Seraphim, or other scary/bizarre/whoa traits drawn from the angels and angel equivalents of world culture (the Bible has tons of scary/weird angels - the phrase "wheels within wheels" is a physical description of an angel, for goodness sake!*). So yeah, they need help. A lot of help

I think Eladrin could step into the shoes of upper-planar Tiefling counterparts. Just take them back to their 2e Planescape roots and create a race with bizarre, disturbing features, some of which could be reminiscent of angels. For starters, their name would be infinitely more appealing.

 

[Remathilis]

The question was what races we personally want to see first for 5E. My answer to that is "Humans, full stop." I know other people have different tastes, and I don't expect 5E to cater to me exclusively, but if it were catering to me, it would be humans-only.

That said, I suppose my answer was more abrasive than it needed to be. Let me put it another way: I want to see 5E designed so that you can run it with only human PCs and still have lots of diversity between characters. Since the guy in charge of 5E is the creator of Iron Heroes--which basically is an edition of just human fighters--I'm hopeful that will be the case.

Yeah, it did come off a bit badwrongfun. I like the menagerie since I get tired of the Tolkiens and like to design worlds where you have shadar-kai, aventi, catfolk, genasi, and goliaths as the primary races. Viva options. That said, I've done all-human games too when it fits.

 

[shadow]

Definitely gnomes! I was a little disappointed that gnomes didn't make the cut in the first 4e PHB.

I don't really care for dragonborn or tieflings. I'm fine if they make it into the PHB, but not at the expense of gnomes.

 

[Raith5]

Aside from the classic fantasy races (including Drow) I hope to see the Tiefling (the 4th ed version of a race that are mortal descendants of pact with devils) I would also like to see the Deva or Aasimar (but I would like to see them as more mortal/mundane). Basically I like the idea of plane touched races in core rather than 'full on' planar races (which could be an option expanded on.

I can take or leave the dragonborn, I like the lore in 4th ed, I like the idea of a tall/big race but I never really loved the look of the race.

I hope they give the half orc and half elf proper names. Even if it is elf/orc blooded or the like.