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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dnd.wizards.com

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."

 

[squibbles]

way to see the silver lining

 

[Hurin70]

I think we can move on and continue the discussion. I've just read up about the number and I see that some racist groups actually do use it as a symbol of their ideologies, so I can actually see now why someone might get a bit uncomfortable seeing it in my username. The point has been taken, and I've promised not to speak further on the issue. So I'm good if everyone else is.

The discussion has at times been heated, but overall pretty respectful, and I've actually learned quite a bit (I won't use 88 so casually in the future!). I hope we can continue.

 

[Scribe]

Does it have green skin with bolts coming out of its head?

Nameless One, from the Planescape game just keeps jumping into my head.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Nameless One, from the Planescape game just keeps jumping into my head.

Huh. I did not know about that NPC. Planescape has some terrifying stuff in it.

 

[JiffyPopTart]

I was today years old when I learned that numbers were bigotry.

If you had asked me yesterday why someone had an 88 in their username my guesses would have been twofold.

1. They were born in 1988
2. They liked Kill Bill alot

 

[FireLance]

If you had asked me yesterday why someone had an 88 in their username my guesses would have been twofold.

1. They were born in 1988
2. They liked Kill Bill alot

3. They are of Chinese descent. 8 is considered a lucky number in Chinese culture.

For added amusement, the Chinese New Year is around the corner, and such symbols of good luck and prosperity are popping up in advertising in my corner of the world.

Oh dear. I've brought the conversation back to real world races and cultures again, haven't I?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Hurin was literally the Bestest of men, the ur-example of Men above all other men. An, if you will, ubermensch.

I won’t, actually. Trying to tie him to Nazi ideology is a leap. If his handle was Numenor88 I’d see it, but no.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I was today years old when I learned that numbers were bigotry.

If you live in the US, that is...saddening. Neo-Nazis have been using 14, 88, and 1488, as signals of Nazi affiliation for several decades, now. Very commonly.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Are you?

You’re being a cad, and for literally no reason.

 

[Stefano Rinaldelli]

Where did somebody say that?

everywhere c'mon

Once again, could you explain what logic you think is being sacrificed?

Why explain again? I think It's clear. On one hand there are the "mental attributes" INT, WIS and CHA. Those are controversial in being genetic so ok for me to remove from ASI, cause it could be considered some sort of "nazi" way of looking at things. But at least for "physical attributes" is completely nonsense to consider that cultural. In the world of D&D the physical complexion of a race originates physical performance in the same way as it happens in the real world. Starting from that it's obvious that some races are stronger or more agile then others and ASI reflect those difference. Remove it and the connection between physiology and game mechanics disappear. For me this is not a logical way of building rules / worlds. I care for flexibility in charachter building as I care for inclusivity but not to the expenses of a logical game mechanics. WOTC seems to push this beyond ending in defining CULTURAL something like STR or DEX: if I go outside the context of the game and think of it in a more general view i found that it stinks like an orwellian change in meaning of words due to ideological views and that offense my int and scares me.