D&D 5E Your Character's Race

[Paraxis]

I was surprised at the prevalence of half-elves. Is it just for RP purposes or do they have more of a mechanical advantage than I realized?

+2 charisma
+1 any
+1 any

are very good stat mods, for bards, paladins, sorcerers, and warlocks.

Darkvision is nice, and the two extra skills is just nice for everyone.

IMO bard and warlock are two of the most powerful classes in the game and half-elf is the best race for either of them, because they don't rely on feats to be good.

So yes for me it was purely mechanical when I choose to play a half elf bard.

 

[The_Gneech]

I was surprised at the prevalence of half-elves. Is it just for RP purposes or do they have more of a mechanical advantage than I realized?

In my case, it's RP purposes. My character is intended to be a perpetually-youthful gawky teenager wielding a comically-enormous sword. Humans are too big and brawny, while elves too "mystical." Half-elves, for this character, are "just right."

-The Gneech

 

[Paraxis]

I am surprised the number of dragonborn and halflings.

Halfling is in my mind one of the top 3 races in the game, Human (variant) and Half-elf being the other two. Lucky, +2 dex modifier, stealth in the same space as an ally or poison resistance all great abilities. Lucky is so good, almost like a +1 to everything you do, and if you have one of the "Fumble" house rule DM's it is just that much better.

Dragonborn on the other hand, probably one of the worst races in the game. Dragonbreath being an action to use and only recovering on a short rest makes it only a good option at very low levels and then only maybe twice a day.

And yeah I know some people choose race for roleplaying reasons, but still dragonborn just seem weak.

 

[Redthistle]

... and I voted other because I'll be keeping an eye out for Dhampirs, even if they're just in a monster manual in the future.

Dhampir4lyfe!

In case you haven't seen it, Remathilis worked up a conversion for the Vryloka race at:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?361168-D-amp-D-Conversion-Races

 

[TerraDave]

I was surprised at the prevalence of half-elves. Is it just for RP purposes or do they have more of a mechanical advantage than I realized?

Mechanically, its the best version yet.

My feeling is that lots of people were half-elf curious, but deterred by the stigma coming from the mechanics.

 

[BigVanVader]

In case you haven't seen it, Remathilis worked up a conversion for the Vryloka race at:

http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?361168-D-amp-D-Conversion-Races

Saw it and loved it, but I also like to see official races, as that's easier to bring to a table than a homebrew, even if the official thing is kind of iffy and the homebrew is incredible.

 

[TerraDave]

With the 100 votes on 199 characters, we can now do some rudimentary analysis:

By subrace, rankings are:

Human: Variant 32
Half-Elf 24
Human: Standard 20
Elf: High 15
Dwarf: Mountain 13
Dragonborn 12
Elf: Wood 11
Gnome: Forest 10
Halfling: Lightfoot 10
Elf: Drow 9
Tiefling 9
Other/Custom 8
Dwarf: Hill 7
Half-Orc 6
Gnome: Rock 4
Warforged (maybe in the DMG) 4
Halfling: Stout 3
Kender (maybe in the DMG) 1
None 1

Things looks a little different by race:

Human 52
Elf 35
(Classic Elf 24)
Half-Elf 24
Dwarf 20
Gnome 14
Halfling 14 (with 1 Kender)
Dragonborn 12
Tiefling 9
(Drow 9)
Other/Custom 8
Half-Orc 6
Warforged 4
None 1

Note that % of characters is actually the votes ~/2

Humans have clearly been returned to their place of prominence, with the variant human an unsurprising most popular and standard human (which I think is a great option) also doing well. Half-elves, as noted, are the surprise (though not really giving how strong the race is and the interest I have seen in it over the years). Elves do well, as always, and all "elf-bloods" together would be in the top spot. Dwarves, halflings, and gnomes all are kind a so-so, and each seems to have a weak subrace. Dragonborn are also a bit of surprise.

What really stuck out to me is the half-orc. They might be squeezed a little by the mountain dwarf and dragonborn, but they are a great combat race. I wonder if RP concerns are hurting them? They could easily be reskinned as "giant blooded" (I used to use "dreadblood").

 

[Paraxis]

What really stuck out to me is the half-orc. They might be squeezed a little by the mountain dwarf and dragonborn, but they are a great combat race. I wonder if RP concerns are hurting them? They could easily be reskinned as "giant blooded" (I used to use "dreadblood").

Yeah, the only class option they excel at is champion fighter, and I think that is the least interesting type of fighter to most people. Sure they can be good at any melee class, but the variant human with it's feat and the mountain dwarf with it's +2/+2 is probably too tempting not to take.

The RP issues might be a reason as you noted, in my games half-orcs are mostly treated the same way as elves, dwarves, gnomes, or halflings. But I have seen some DM's have people treat them horribly and have villagers want to spit on them or run them out of town.

 

[TerraDave]

Yeah, the only class option they excel at is champion fighter, and I think that is the least interesting type of fighter to most people. Sure they can be good at any melee class, but the variant human with it's feat and the mountain dwarf with it's +2/+2 is probably too tempting not to take.

The RP issues might be a reason as you noted, in my games half-orcs are mostly treated the same way as elves, dwarves, gnomes, or halflings. But I have seen some DM's have people treat them horribly and have villagers want to spit on them or run them out of town.

But they make great champions...and very good frenzied berserkers.

But yes, the half elf is good at bard, sorcerer, or warlock, pretty good paladin, rogue or as an enchanter wizard and you can do a viable warlordy battle master with one. Actually, with the free +1 and the bonus skills, they work at just about anything.

 

[The Grand User]

I am surprised the number of dragonborn and halflings.

Halfling is in my mind one of the top 3 races in the game, Human (variant) and Half-elf being the other two. Lucky, +2 dex modifier, stealth in the same space as an ally or poison resistance all great abilities. Lucky is so good, almost like a +1 to everything you do, and if you have one of the "Fumble" house rule DM's it is just that much better.

Dragonborn on the other hand, probably one of the worst races in the game. Dragonbreath being an action to use and only recovering on a short rest makes it only a good option at very low levels and then only maybe twice a day.

And yeah I know some people choose race for roleplaying reasons, but still dragonborn just seem weak.

I voted for Dragonborn, though I do agree with you that they're mechanically very week. At least in games I run, I'll be changing their breath weapon to match that of dragons, being recharge 5,6. I also want to throw in a couple minor but flavorful benefits, like the elves, dwarves, and halflings get, once I have some time to think of some suitable.

Unfortunately, that's for games I run, I'm unlikely to get to play one like that