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

[Cadence]

Racist tropes WotC do not want to deal with can be combatted by just getting rid of half-species. All they have to do is say species can't intermix. It is fantasy. These are different species, not the same species with varying degrees of skin tones. We are discussing something that has a lifespan of 1,000 years versus something that only lives 60 years.
I, am by NO means, saying this is the best option. But, it is one of the easiest they could implement. (See my previous posts regarding how people love to play characters that are not accepted by either world they belong to.)

First, once they make it a precedent that species can't procreate, then they wait five years, and none of the new players will even think about it. If they make D&D more online friendly, then that makes it even easier to simply have an avatar.

It's not and I didn't say it was. I said, the easiest way for WotC to not have to worry about it is to the great handwave. Once they eliminate any half, then it becomes a game of tabaxi, lizardfolk, elves, dwarves, dragonborn, tieflings, and humans. They can have all the mixed humans they want, because mechanically, it won't make a difference.

This. I am just merely postulating that this is the easiest path they have.

I would say no.

If combinations are popular though, would it also work to say that "What some might erroneously describe as apparent cross-species found in published D&D books (centaurs, Dragonborn, etc...) or only imagined (dwarf-elves, human-orcs, Thri-kreen-dragon-born etc...) are separate species that arose in the ancient past - perhaps naturally, supernaturally, from other planes, or by magic (just like all the ones in the PhB). Rules for constructing balanced abilities for such people to be used as PCs are in the DMG. It also contains examples of how these peoples have unique names not based on their appearances. "

 

[Micah Sweet]

Sticking with status quo is not how you fix problems, even if there is no answer everyone will agree on, ignoring the problem is not the ideal solution.

Like you said, nothing fixes it anyway. How many people were really clamoring for WotC to deal with mixed heritages?

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

The status quo is that half of the mixed race options primarily come from an evil god with tropes and language used to dehumanize real world cultures

Except in Eberron.

 

[Scott Christian]

If combinations are popular though, would it also work to say that "What some might erroneously describe as apparent cross-species found in published D&D books (centaurs, Dragonborn, etc...) or only imagined (dwarf-elves, human-orcs, Thri-kreen-dragon-born etc...) are separate species that arose in the ancient past - perhaps naturally, supernaturally, from other planes, or by magic (just like all the ones in the PhB). Rules for constructing balanced abilities for such people to be used as PCs are in the DMG. It also contains examples of how these peoples have unique names not based on their appearances. "

Oh, I actually think that is the best way to tackle it. Just make splat book after splat book of newer forms of races after discussing it in the DMG. Technically, it is what they do now. And the books they choose to do it with happen to sell very well.

I am simply discussing what comes inside the new version of the PHB. That's why I said, it would be easiest for them to remove all intermixed species.

As a side note, I am particularly fond of them making the DMG be the optional rule textbook. I think you should have an entire chapter devoted to optional rules when playing a gritty campaign or high fantasy or dark. I think they should offer a chapter for options regarding character creation, such as building backgrounds and building races.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The status quo is that half of the mixed race options primarily come from an evil god with tropes and language used to dehumanize real world cultures

We're back to this then. Change the lore if its a problem for you.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Oh, I actually think that is the best way to tackle it. Just make splat book after splat book of newer forms of races after discussing it in the DMG. Technically, it is what they do now. And the books they choose to do it with happen to sell very well.

I am simply discussing what comes inside the new version of the PHB. That's why I said, it would be easiest for them to remove all intermixed species.

As a side note, I am particularly fond of them making the DMG be the optional rule textbook. I think you should have an entire chapter devoted to optional rules when playing a gritty campaign or high fantasy or dark. I think they should offer a chapter for options regarding character creation, such as building backgrounds and building races.

The problem is, the 5e design team didn't put any thought (or gasp playtesting!) Into the optional rules they actually published. Since the game is selling so well, they have no motivation to change that policy.

The whole thing is very sad.

 

[Scribe]

h....how is the existence of mixed race/species characters racist?

Because some people convinced themselves that the various fantastical species, are actually just 1 for 1 stand in's for very specific real world ethnic groups. Its pure nonsense of course, but there it is.

Can anyone tell me what real world culture is Astral Elves? How about Goblins? Dragonborn?

I mean lets ignore the fact that 'Human' in D&D already has all the diversity one could ask for, that can mirror reality as much or as little as one pleases.

Wait, what about Tiefling? Can we call dibs on Tiefling being Canadian?

 

[Remathilis]

Because some people convinced themselves that the various fantastical species, are actually just 1 for 1 stand in's for very specific real world ethnic groups. Its pure nonsense of course, but there it is.

Can anyone tell me what real world culture is Astral Elves? How about Goblins? Dragonborn?

I mean lets ignore the fact that 'Human' in D&D already has all the diversity one could ask for, that can mirror reality as much or as little as one pleases.

Wait, what about Tiefling? Can we call dibs on Tiefling being Canadian?

This is a fallacy. It's not a 1:1 stand-in, but it IS that the language used to describe certain species reflects how certain RW races have likewise been characterized. For example, a race of physically strong, low intelligence, aggressive, lazy, and violent savages can describe any number of D&D races (orcs, goblins, ogres, etc) but it's also been used to describe various human groups (Africans, Indians, Mongols, etc.). That isn't to say orcs are supposed to represent any specific one of these cultures, but they fill the same narrative role as them ("the natives are restless") in the stories.

 

[Remathilis]

Except in Eberron.

One setting out of how many?

 

[Scribe]

This is a fallacy. It's not a 1:1 stand-in, but it IS that the language used to describe certain species reflects how certain RW races have likewise been characterized. For example, a race of physically strong, low intelligence, aggressive, lazy, and violent savages can describe any number of D&D races (orcs, goblins, ogres, etc) but it's also been used to describe various human groups (Africans, Indians, Mongols, etc.). That isn't to say orcs are supposed to represent any specific one of these cultures, but they fill the same narrative role as them ("the natives are restless") in the stories.

Yes, and Volos has been soundly rejected for such language. Half Elf?