D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Travelers of the Multiverse

New free content from WotC - the latest 4-page Unearthed Arcana introduces six new races: astral elf, autognome, giff, hadozee, plasmoid, and thri-kreen.

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dnd.wizards.com

Looks like Spelljammer and/or Planescape is back on the menu!

 

[jmartkdr2]

Rule 34: Write that down: WRITE THAT DOWN!!
DM: ya chief that's in 3.0/3.5 Edition.

YOU ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM! /s

 

[dave2008]

That implies that they're mutually exclusive. They're not. I've always found it more fun to find weird and interesting ways to work within the limitations imposed on my characters rather than ignore the limitations and just do whatever. That kind of creative problem solving, figuring out ways around limitations rather than simply ignoring them, is one of the main reasons I play. To me, and most of my players, that is the fun part.

That is not mutually exclusive with allowing fun things that make sense, even if not strictly per the RAW.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Basically all races are now human size, human weight, and human lifespan. Races like the thri keen which were hundreds of pounds, and lives only a tiny amount of time were defined by aspects like that. It's removing what makes the differnt playable species unique.

Note that all of these are "unless otherwise specified", such as the elves and autognomes in this very UA.

I am annoyed that they didn't give a height/weight for the Giff, since I always thought they were supposed to be bigger, on average, than humans.

 

[dave2008]

I looked into the Elves of the Imperial Navy, they recruit from all Elven subraces except Drow and Sea Elves (which used to require water) and don't have one of their own subrace, certainly not one ties to the Astral Plane, so if it's for Spelljammer, that's a sign they majorly changed Spelljammer.

You have an odd definition of "majorly changed," IMO. You may well be correct when it is all said and done, but making another subrace of elf a type of Imperial elf (particularly without seeing the fluff) hardly seems major to me.

 

[Kurotowa]

Hmm… Alright, I’m sold. The ability to don or doff any armor or clothing as an action would be a much more thematic solution than natural armor.

A further though in favor of an Armor Arificer Plasmoid. One of the features of Arcane Armor is, "The armor replaces any missing limbs, functionally identically to a limb it replaces." And with Shape Shift, a Plasmoid can control how many if any limbs it manifests.

So it seems to me you can totally do a Krang where you're a blob with a head piloting a magic robot body. How's that for cool?

 

[jmartkdr2]

Nice. I like that a lot.

Yeah, you’re probably right. I still think fast don/doff and a natural weapon would be good additions.

The sword is also slime. It's gooey.

Or! Slime whip!

 

[overgeeked]

As a reminder, these are not full racial write ups. This is a 4 page PDF of six (6) races. The elf entry in the PHB is 4 pages. There is a lot more that will / could / should be added in the final draft. Use the upcoming survey about these to let them know what you want included.

Look at the races presented in Witchlight. This is the new format. They might expand on races in the revised PHB, but they might simply stick with what seems to be their new format.

 

[Mort]

Note that all of these are "unless otherwise specified", such as the elves and autognomes in this very UA.

I am annoyed that they didn't give a height/weight for the Giff, since I always thought they were supposed to be bigger, on average, than humans.

Yeah, they implied big but gave no context.

I suspect if they make it "official" size and weight ranges will be supplied (Just like they are for the standard races in the PHB).

One thing though. Thri-Kreen can be small OR medium, players choice. That's a departure from the "standard races" and format right there - a big one. Shows they're willing to go outside the prior box.

Edit: Harengons (official in wild beyond the witchlight) have the same can be small or medium, PC choice. Guess this will be more of a thing going forward.

 

[Charlaquin]

Basically all races are now human size, human weight, and human lifespan. Races like the thri keen which were hundreds of pounds, and lives only a tiny amount of time were defined by aspects like that. It's removing what makes the differnt playable species unique.

Hundreds of pounds is within “the range of heights and weights humans fall within.” Just sayin’. As for lifespan, A. I’ve never seen this actually matter in a game, except to trip up games who forget that thousands of years is actually only a couple generations for elves.

Moreover, exceptions based design is a thing. Just as they can make a construct race that can be healed with cure wounds, they can make a race that lives longer or shorter than humans, or that’s taller, shorter, lighter, or heavier on average than humans if they want to. We already see an example of how this will likely be done in the anniversary edition in the description for astral elves, which specifically says they live 750 years.

 

[dave2008]

It doesn't exclude it, but it doesn't tell the player it directly either.

They will have to go back and search through wiki's and prior edition books to find it. And over the years and decades, that information will get more and more buried and harder to find.

What would previously be an instant and easy thing to for the DM to see at a tiny glance when first seeing a new playable species, becomes going down internet rabbitholes and prior edition online PDF's to find out more about the species.

For example, a new player picking up thri kreen now, who has never heard of them before, has absolutely no clue that they're almost 400lbs and live only ~25 years.

You mean stuff like this correct:

"Because nothing ages in the Astral Plane, astral elves from that plane are thousands of years old, and their longevity gives them an unusual perspective on time. Some are prone to melancholy, while others display an absence of feeling. Many look for creative ways to occupy themselves. Whether they choose to live in quiet contemplation or strike out to explore the reaches of the multiverse, they tend to see things through the lens of time as having little or no meaning to them.

Astral elves who don’t dwell on the Astral Plane can live to be over 750 years old."