D&D 5E Everyone Should Play Custom Lineage by Default

[Umbran]

What do you guys think?

I think the world already has too much of people telling each other what they should do, and folks should choose for themselves what form they want, without folks declaring what everyone should do.

 

[Micah Sweet]

One day, I hope, WotC designers would get that fiction-first approach works better in TTRPGs and we would have just aspects, instead of any specific rules on races and all the other naughty word.

D&D works pretty well for a lot of people, and is quite adaptable, as evidenced by the enthusiasm many feel for the Tasha rules. Your opinions on what "works better" in TTRPGs us just that.

 

[loverdrive]

D&D works pretty well for a lot of people, and is quite adaptable, as evidenced by the enthusiasm many feel for the Tasha rules. Your opinions on what "works better" in TTRPGs us just that.

Well, yeah. Sadly, I'm not calling shots in WotC.

But I can't really see any argument for rules-first approach over fiction-first one, honestly.

 

[reelo]

There's a great many games out there that are a lot more fiction-focussed (and much better at it, too) than D&D. Might wann check those out.

 

[TwoSix]

I like it. It essentially turns race into a freeform roleplaying descriptor, which I think is the best place for it.

I’m surprised more people in the anti-options camp aren’t on board, considering how often they lionize differentiating characters by freeform roleplay rather than using mechanical options.

 

[cbwjm]

Well done! I was wondering if someone would remark on that. It is not permitted, rules as written or intended. I don't think it particularly matters, though, to mix optional rules and house rules in an unofficial game setting.

I'm not sure that the racial feats aren't allowed for custom lineage. If you want to play an elf built with custom lineage then I don't see why you couldn't take elven accuracy. The book doesn't say anything about not being able to take them it does talk about whether or not you resemble your kin which leads me to think this is for making elves and dwarves, etc rather than just human with some elven blood in them.

 

[DND_Reborn]

I’m surprised more people in the anti-options camp aren’t on board, considering how often they lionize differentiating characters by freeform roleplay rather than using mechanical options.

I guess I'm a bit confused by this statement, @TwoSix. I consider myself pretty solidly in the anti-options camp, so why would I support something like custom-lineage which offers even more flexibility (i.e. "options")???

I completely agree most "options" can be expressed through role-playing rather than mechanics (more explicitly features really), which is why I feel such options aren't needed in the game and Tasha's is pretty much useless IMO.

 

[TwoSix]

I guess I'm a bit confused by this statement, @TwoSix. I consider myself pretty solidly in the anti-options camp, so why would I support something like custom-lineage which offers even more flexibility (i.e. "options")???

I completely agree most "options" can be expressed through role-playing rather than mechanics (more explicitly features really), which is why I feel such options aren't needed in the game and Tasha's is pretty much useless IMO.

If custom lineage is the only real racial option allowed, than I'm not sure how it would be more options. There's no difference between a human with the Sentinel feat and a dwarf with the Sentinel feat than the way you roleplay them.

 

[Flamestrike]

CUSTOM LINEAGES DON'T GET ACCESS TO RACIAL FEATS BECAUSE THEY AREN'T MECHANICALLY THAT RACE

You're not an elf. You're a custom lineage that LOOKS like an elf. You don't get access to elven accuracy any more than a changeling who morphs into an elf does.

Further, if you WANT to argue you are a member of whatever race you happen to look like, you create massive holes in the system. For example, a halfling is small and has a 25 ft movement, unless he's a custom lineage, then he's medium and has a 30 ft move. A custom lineage aarakroca can't fly. A custom lineage triton will drown because it can't breathe water. A custom lineage goliath suffers altitude sickness. A custom lineage warforged has to eat, drink, breathe and sleep. Need I go on?

Custom lineages are best for emulating a unique entity or entities that is similar in appearance to another race but is separate from them. For example, a being from the shadow realm or the scion of a demi-god. It is terrible for trying to make a customized version of an existing race.

Thats not true at all.

Your custom lineage is an Elf if you say it is. Born to elven parents and raised in an elven community. If thats what you say it is.

I love custom lineages. They're mechanically balanced and they open up options for players both mechanically (now you can be an Elf or a Dwarf and have a feat at 1st level) and also narratively.

I honestly don't get the hate in here.

 

[DND_Reborn]

If custom lineage is the only real racial option allowed, than I'm not sure how it would be more options. There's no difference between a human with the Sentinel feat and a dwarf with the Sentinel feat than the way you roleplay them.

Ah...ok, I see your point.

I suppose in my view it opens everything up even more so you have, in effect, a lot more options that with set races. And a blanket offer of darkvision or a skill is horrible, who would ever not take darkvision??? I know it isn't the be-all-end-all some people think, but it is worth more than a single skill IMO (way too many races already have darkvision as I see it, so I don't want to see it handed out to everyone).

I don't see anything wrong with having a "build your own race" variant just as you can customize your background completely (which few people seem to take advantage of), but I don't feel it should be the default as the OP suggests. shrug