D&D (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Half Elf most popular race choice in BG3

[Yaarel]

This is because Wizards is getting out of Culture, because its too specific for their overly bland, generic, 'multiverse' approach to character creation and settings.

I see it as the responsibility of each setting, to define and exemplify the prominent backgrounds of each culture.

Core rules need to work in multiple settings, thus tend to be broad and suggestive. But specific settings can be highly specific, and local.

 

[Scribe]

I see it as the responsibility of each setting, to define and exemplify the prominent backgrounds of each culture.

Core rules need to work in multiple settings, thus tend to be broad and suggestive. But specific settings can be highly specific, and local.

Consider Spelljammer (which again, I like and enjoy!) and tell me Wizards is in the business of defining playable setting cultures beyond the most generic high level approach. (Then again, why do Giffs like guns? "A God did it." !!)

Yes, the core rules must work in multiple settings, but I'll not hold my breath for Wizards to provide any depth or culture, to their products going forward.

Regardless, this is about them erasing Half-Elves, for dubious reasons while they step in it again, because they dont really understand what they are doing or why.

 

[Yaarel]

Regardless, this is about them erasing Half-Elves, for dubious reasons while they step in it again, because they dont really understand what they are doing or why.

To some degree fair.


For example, even the playtest Origins perpetuates the distinctions between different "lineages" of Elf (High, Wood, Drow), even tho these are obviously cultural distinctions that have nothing to do with "species". Moreover, the distinctions are pointless because they all have the same mechanics. Pick two cantrips at level 0 (or the equivalent of a cantrip), pick a slot-1 spell at level 3, and a slot-2 spell at level 5.

After years of over a hundred different kinds of "Elf", bite the bullet and design one Elf that is flexible and adaptable. Let there only be one kind of Elf description that allows the player to choose.

It can be, in Udodrow culture, most Elves choose Improved-Darkvision, Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire, and Darkness. Meanwhile other elven cultures tend to encourage different choices. But let individual Elves choose whatever spells they want. Meanwhile, the DM or an official setting can decide which spells the Elves of the area tend to like.

 

[Scribe]

For example, even the playtest Origins perpetuates the distinctions between different "lineages" of Elf (High, Wood, Drow), even tho these are obviously cultural distinctions that have nothing to do with "species".

Says who? Not 5e.

 

[Yaarel]

Says who? Not 5e.

The only difference between them is, one group chooses the Darkness spell and the other group chooses the Misty Step spell, and similar. This is culture.

 

[Scribe]

The only difference between them is, one group chooses the Darkness spell and the other group chooses the Misty Step spell, and similar. This is culture.

It doesn't say these are learned. It is inate.

 

[Yaarel]

It doesn't say these are learned. It is inate.

The ability to cast spells innately is innate.

But which spells get cast is a response to the environment.

The Elf communities can continue to adapt and evolve by choosing new spells for new contexts.

In other words. Culture.

 

[Scribe]

The ability to cast spells innately is innate.

But which spells get cast is a response to the environment.

The Elf communities can continue to adapt and evolve by choosing new spells for new contexts.

In other words. Culture.

No dude. It is not culture. "I'm a Wood Elf, raised by Dwarves, in a port city, what Cantrip do I know?"

"Oh thats easy, Druidcraft, you also move faster!"

It is not cultural.

 

[RareBreed]

I'll admit I've never really thought about this aspect. And even when applied to irl hybrids I've not thought about the answer.

Is a narluga a narwhal or a beluga? Or is it both? Or is it neither?

Or is it all of those things?

The great dilemma of mixed ethnic folks

I'm not really White. I'm not really Asian. But I am both White and Asian, both internally from my own point of view, and externally to others point of view.

What a lot of people fail to understand is that this evolving of identity takes many years. As an adult, I came to appreciate what I was, but even through my 20s, it was very difficult trying to find out where I "belonged".

 

[Yaarel]

No dude. It is not culture. "I'm a Wood Elf, raised by Dwarves, in a port city, what Cantrip do I know?"

"Oh thats easy, Druidcraft, you also move faster!"

It is not cultural.

An Elf whose parents are from a Wood culture grows up in a Drow culture and learns to cast Dancing Lights, Faerie Fire, and Darkness.

The original Eladrin Elves who materialize into the Material Plane and master nature spells that are useful there in the new environment− thus pioneering the new Wood culture.

And the original Eladrin Elves who entered the Astral Plane deciding on new spells there.

And the Shadow Plane.

And the Fey Crossings.

And the deep sea.

And the arctic.

And the mountains.

And so on.

These spells are choices, even if habits.