D&D (2024) How did I miss this about the Half races/ancestries

[CleverNickName]

Woops. Wrong thread.

 

[Minigiant]

If a fey planetouched (I refuse to say feytouched) became a thing, I'd definitely want a shadowfell planetouched to be a thing too. The two realms are the opposites of each other.

Changeling would have been the bast name but it's already used.

Feyling?

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Why not then rename all half elves as Khoravar and let them remain a core option?

Yep as half elves already have a proper name in Eberron, making that standard would work. Half-Orcs would need their own species name though.

 

[MoonSong]

Except it isn't. They are saying mixed species characters can exist and you can mix ANY two species, not just the two pre-approved choices. You just don't get any mechanical advantage for mixing them. Pick one set of traits rather than go to the buffet and pick whatever two traits you like most and tell them "...now kiss"

Unless you think all mixed race people are represented by human/elf and human/orc.

I mentioned how I felt in a previous post that got lost among the pointless discussion for ability score caps by gender. In short, of course they don't represent all mixed people, but they are a focal point for representation of mixed heritage people. Yes, technically they are still going to be there, but only as part of a sidebar that basically screams "you are actually only really one of your ancestries". An option that requires table buy in everytime, and thus turns these standard options into one offs because these are infinitely less accessible. If you don't believe me, think, do you think GMs typically allow sorcerers in OSR games where they are not an option? Do you allow warlords in 5e? Even if the answer is yes, do you think this is typical? And that is just the player facing side, what about NPCs in campaigns and modules?

 

[DarkCrisis]

The way people are talking/wishing would mean WotC would have to kick their main D&D setting, The Forgotten Realms, forward another 100 years or something. You can't just suddenly say all Half-Elves had an alt name the whole time and their own kingdoms and lands etc "just like Eberron".

And no they aren't going to set Faerun aside for a main new setting or put Eberron back in the forefront, they just spent millions on a movie and soon a tv show. It's Faerun for good or ill.

Honestly they could kick the timeline forward again. Damage was already done when they did it for 4E. I don't know how Salvatore would like it though considering them aging out a few of his characters yet again.

 

[Umbran]

... then the elf-human is not a game element which actually exists.

I think there's a open question as to whether today we should ensconce this representation as a game-mechanics element, or include it as a setting element. For other diversity issues, removing or avoiding game mechanical differences has meant that folks are not forced into supporting stereotypes, opening up broader representation.

And the major differences between myself, and my Puerto Rican friends are not race-based biological ones. Our different ancestries make themselves evident through issues of history, opportunity, socio-economics, stereotypes and other social-constructs - all setting elements.

What message are you worried about?

The message that, between sentient peoples, what really matters is the biology, is a problematic one. And any time the mixed-parentage character appears coded as a real-world people it may lead to questions of stereotyping (see, the long-standing issues of the half-orc as an example).

It is an erasure. These will stop being entries in the books. No more lore about them, no more them breeding true and having their own societies or being singled out as rare by the setting.

Today, in the 5e PHB: "Half-elves have no lands of their own..." nor are half-orcs presented as having their own societies. Those societies may be elements in various settings, but don't seem to be in the current PHB to erase.

And, "breeding true" in a biological sense becomes a very thorny thing, even if we set aside how real-world human race is far more a social construct than a biological reality. For what "breeding true" we have in humans, whether the mixing is a matter of long history, or of immediate parentage, will make a difference. If you ensconce either one as the default game mechanics, you are leaving important people out.

but personally "species should stick to their own kind" isn't that offensive.

Until one of those "species" is a bit too similar to a real-world people, in which case you are applying the language used by bigots in the real world, which is a problem.

 

[Remathilis]

Why not then rename all half elves as Khoravar and let them remain a core option?

The name comes from Khorvaire, the main continent of Eberron and the place the elves of Areneal and humans of Sarlona met. So unless you are making Eberron the default setting, the name has no meaning.

 

[Umbran]

Not really. And if it is, then get rid of race mechanics.

I'd be fine with that. However, I don't know if the overall market would be ready for that step yet.

 

[Remathilis]

Look if you want to try breeding with dolphins or gorillas that's up to you, but personally "species should stick to their own kind" isn't that offensive.

Replace "species" with "heritage", "lineage" or "ancestry" and tell me that sentence is still not offensive.

 

[Incenjucar]

why?

being small is mostly a negative trait,
being slower is always a negative trait,
so is sunlight sensitivity.
or possible vulnerability to some damage type.
It's just to increase your positive trait budget if you want it.

Invites even more min-maxing and everyone ending up with the same set of negative traits the moment someone finds a way around them.