D&D (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Why don't they just make a list?

[JEB]

No, it's the same setup: you choose whether your character is a Dwarf or an Elf, but choose how they resemble their side purely aestheticly. Identical to this proposed PHB rule.

In Wildemount, yes. In Tal'dorei Reborn, no; you get to mix and match traits from both parent races. That's what I meant by "Interesting that the CR folks dropped that in their own book, in favor of something more customizable".

 

[beancounter]

I disagree with an idea existing full stop.

Yes, how dare the races mix, right?

 

[Sir Brennen]

Yes, how dare the races mix, right?

That’s a bit harsh and presumptuous, though yeah, clarification of what “idea” shouldn’t exist is probably warranted

 

[Mind of tempest]

Yes, how dare the races mix, right?

no I hate the idea of the charts as at what point do get the mix of every players handbook race?
besides I do not what races I want species.

 

[Minigiant]

Here's what I got so far

1) Choose two Humaniods
2) Choose Size and Speed between two races
3) Average their ages
4) Mix and match visual changes
5) Gain Hybrid trait of both races

• Humans
  • 2 skills proficiencies
• Ardling
  • Celestial Legacy
• Dragonborn
  • Draconic Ancestry
  • DRAGON PUNCH: Unarmed Strike deals 1d6 + your level damage of your Draconic Ancestry
• Dwarf
  • Dwarven Resilience
  • Dwarven Toughness.
• Elf
  • Darkvison
  • Fey Ancestry
  • Elven Magic: Cantrip from Arcane or Primal spell list
• Gnome
  • Gnome Cunning
  • Gnome Magic:: Cantrip from Arcane or Primal spell list
• Halfling
  • Luck
  • Naturally Stealthy
• Orc
  • Darkvision
  • Big Shoulders: Reroll and add weapon dice proficiency modifier per long rest.
  • Relentless Endurance
• Tiefling
  • Fiemdish Resistece: Resistence to cold, fire, necrotic, or poison
  • Otherworldly Presence

 

[Parmandur]

Here's what I got so far

1) Choose two Humaniods
2) Choose Size and Speed between two races
3) Average their ages
4) Mix and match visual changes
5) Gain Hybrid trait of both races

• Humans
  • 2 skills proficiencies
• Ardling
  • Celestial Legacy
• Dragonborn
  • Draconic Ancestry
  • DRAGON PUNCH: Unarmed Strike deals 1d6 + your level damage of your Draconic Ancestry
• Dwarf
  • Dwarven Resilience
  • Dwarven Toughness.
• Elf
  • Darkvison
  • Fey Ancestry
  • Elven Magic: Cantrip from Arcane or Primal spell list
• Gnome
  • Gnome Cunning
  • Gnome Magic:: Cantrip from Arcane or Primal spell list
• Halfling
  • Luck
  • Naturally Stealthy
• Orc
  • Darkvision
  • Big Shoulders: Reroll and add weapon dice proficiency modifier per long rest.
  • Relentless Endurance
• Tiefling
  • Fiemdish Resistece: Resistence to cold, fire, necrotic, or poison
  • Otherworldly Presence

Simpler to make a cultural heritage Feat for each Race, and use the packet rules as written for hybrids alongside a Background Feat (or bonus Human Feat, explaining why half-Humabs are more common).

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Yes, how dare the races mix, right?

Mod Note:

That’s an injection of RW issues this thread doesn’t really need, thanks.

 

[Marandahir]

I think it starts to veer into questions of what makes a Gnome?

Rock Gnomes seem to be Half-Dwarf, Half-Halfling, while Forest Gnomes seem to be Half-Elf, Half-Halfling.

These are racial questions WotC doesn't really want to touch on.

I still think some guidance beyond "you have the powers of one parent and look like the other or both combined" is needed. This essentially boils down to some stereotype like "Orcs breed true." Which might be true in one campaign, but isn't quite what we want in others…

 

[Horwath]

I'll link my thread for custom lineage here as I think it would solve most problems of "half-races"

D&D (2024) - Custom lineage for 5.5E. Build your own race:

Inspired by custom lineage from Tasha's, but let's take it a bit further. PF1 style. Pick your racial traits; you have 6 trait points: skill proficiency, max 2 times combination of 3 tools, languages and/or weapons, max 2 times expertise in one racial tool or skill darkvision 60ft darkvision...

www.enworld.org

If any race have some "special" trait that does not fall into above list you can remove it, like it lost in gene mixing or set a value on it and reduce the pool of 6 traits available.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I think it starts to veer into questions of what makes a Gnome?

Canonically, all the species in D&D were created as such by creator gods, except for a few called out exceptions.

So no, gnomes aren't "half" anything. They're gnomes and were made to be such from the beginning.