D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Gothic Lineages & New Race/Culture Distinction

The latest Unearthed Arcana contains the Dhampir, Reborn, and Hexblood races. The Dhampir is a half-vampire; the Hexblood is a character which has made a pact with a hag; and the Reborn is somebody brought back to life.

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Perhaps the bigger news is this declaration on how race is to be handled in future D&D books as it joins other games by stating that:

"...the race options in this article and in future D&D books lack the Ability Score Increase trait, the Language trait, the Alignment trait, and any other trait that is purely cultural. Racial traits henceforth reflect only the physical or magical realities of being a player character who’s a member of a particular lineage. Such traits include things like darkvision, a breath weapon (as in the dragonborn), or innate magical ability (as in the forest gnome). Such traits don’t include cultural characteristics, like language or training with a weapon or a tool, and the traits also don’t include an alignment suggestion, since alignment is a choice for each individual, not a characteristic shared by a lineage."

 

[Umbran]

I think it's an easy trap for companies to fall into throwing out what came before because of some perceived need to capture the audience of right now.

Yes. And it is also an easy trap for older fans to get wrapped up in every change they don't happen to like, and treat it like it is some essential game element. It is a very human trap - overall, we don't react to change very well.

I believe D&D also has the unenviable task of trying to both stay relevant to a newer audience and maintain an established identity.

Thing is, I don't expect +2 Str is really an important part of the game's identity.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I'd assume black bile, yellow bile, phlegm, and blood.

So, you could say a dhampir with that craving makes a bilious attack?

 

[Laurefindel]

Thing is, I don't expect +2 Str is really an important part of the game's identity.

Neither do I.

There can so many more interesting ways on saying "very strong" than +2 STR. Advantage, rerolls, exceptions, and various other mechanics benefits can be a lot more evocative than a +1 bonus on a roll if, for example, a lineage needs to be exemplified as the quintessential strong race.

 

[TwoSix]

I don't think denying the option of a strong elf is enough to make the fantasy archetypal references obsolete, but I don't think breaking all references for the sake of breaking them doesn't serve the game in the end.

I think a major difference of opinion in these discussions is whether you think that not having these references embedded within the rules will cause the references to break down over time. Basically, why would people form an image of an agile, slender elf if the rules don't reinforce it?

My gut feeling is that the tropes are embedded enough within other media to be resistant to change, but I can see why there's some legitimate disagreement there.

 

[Umbran]

If there is anything I've seen here in the last few weeks alone, it is that anyone and everyone can run their game however they like.

At least leave the option and an official 'if you wish instead you may select this Lineage with a more limited ASI of +1 Con/+1Str/+1Wis instead of 2/1 you may'. That's all I am asking for. Dont take away the other option.

I can't find myself overly concerned that they don't specifically document old stat bonuses in future materials. Design changes over time. I mean, they don't say, "If you want, you can play a Fighting Man instead of a Fighter..." Or, "If you want, you can make all damage 1d6..."

 

[Micah Sweet]

I must say: I love these. I wish they would give us a small PDF for the legacy races changed to lineage. I think the devs put to much emphasis and weight on the ASI and not enough on the rest of the features.

As for the proficiencies that are not considered biological but more societal, just put more weight on the backgrounds! As of now, most backgrounds are occupational, but there's nothing preventing the devs to make them a little more robust and have them cover the origin of a character in terms of society.

Ex:
Background
Elven Blade Dancer
Proficiency: Performance, Acrobatics
Proficiency: Short sword, long sword
Proficiency: Elvish or Sylvan
Feature: fancy stuff yadayada

THIS is an idea I could get behind. Expanding background would give back the cultural aspects of character creation I was looking for. Still leaves classic races looking rather anemic, but it seems that's what people want.

 

[Laurefindel]

So, you could say a dhampir with that craving makes a bilious attack?

Only if its an aggressive dhampir (or a melancholic one if we're talking black bile here)

 

[Micah Sweet]

My character concept is an Elf that is stronger than the strongest Minotaur.

Why should I be denied that option, for no valid mechanical or game reason other than for some silly assumption of 'no Minotaurs are always stronger'

Well, to be fair that concept would be compromised the instant the guy next to you playing the minotaur PC decides to peg his strength at 20. Everyone has the same maximum, after all.

 

[Flamestrike]

Because there should be a balance between what the archetypes that define the game dictates and how players can embrace or break these archetypes.

There is. Literally every single other Elf in the game world is weaker than every other Minotaur.

The PC is the exception to the general rule.

That is a balance.

Elves are gracious, minotaurs are strong, etc.

That is still the accepted logic, perception and maybe even the objective reality of the game world.

The PC being an exception to that accepted norm doesn't render the accepted norm invalid. They're just special by virtue of being the protagonists of the story.

 

[Flamestrike]

Well, to be fair that concept would be compromised the instant the guy next to you playing the minotaur PC decides to peg his strength at 20. Everyone has the same maximum, after all.

'As strong as the strongest minotaur' then.