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

[Yaarel]

I think we should remove drow as a race. After all, its just a different skin-coloured elf. I think to avoid problematic issues it should just be rolled into "elf".

Actually defining a different species based on ear-shape also seems a bit problematic. Time to get rid of that too...

The playtest already removed the "drow race". Drow was never a race anyway, except in 4e.

The playtest more clearly lists the "Elf species" (formerly the Elf race). The elven "lineages" refer to magical affinity that arises from bonding with an environment. The "Drow lineage" happens when bonding with an Underdark locale.

It isnt yet clear how the Aeven culture (under glacial ice) and Loren culture (under rainforest canopy) relate to the Uda culture (in the Underdark).

 

[Scribe]

The playtest more clearly lists the "Elf species" (formerly the Elf race). The elven "lineages" refer to magical affinity that arises from bonding with an environment. The "Drow lineage" happens when bonding with an Underdark locale.

This is how I justify the different Elf subtypes anyway. Elves are magical, Elves attune essentially to their environment, and over time reflect that environment in their attributes.

Simple enough.

 

[Yaarel]

This is how I justify the different Elf subtypes anyway. Elves are magical, Elves attune essentially to their environment, and over time reflect that environment in their attributes.

Simple enough.

I think we moreorless agree here.

The main disagreement is, I feel an individual Elf can "unbond" with an environment and "bond" with a different environment instead. This is how new elven lineages happen. Some elf relocated, and pioneered a new elven community in a new environment. The kids grow up in this new environment and can pass on the lineage to future generations. But each Elf can bond elsewhere instead. In this way, the lineage is strictly a culture, albeit a magical one.

 

[Scribe]

The main disagreement is, I feel an individual Elf can "unbond" with an environment and "bond" with a different environment instead

Yeah that's one we disagree on.

 

[Yaarel]

Even now as we enter into 2024, we have too many elven lineages.

Mordenkainen Presents
• Eladrin
• Sea
• Shadar-kai

Playtest
• Drow
• High
• Wood

Spelljammer
• Astral Elf

Meanwhile, Avariel, Grugach, Loren-drow, Aeven-drow, Seldarine-drow etcetera etcetera are ripe for becoming a new elven lineage.

I dont want a hundred plus entries for each elven snowflake.

Let one Elf species entry rule them all!

Pick two cantrips, a slot-1 spell, and a slot-2 spell, swappable with a comparable trait like waterbreathing or darkvision.

Let the PLAYER pick which spells they want to be innate. (Let the DM pick which for each Elf community in the setting.)

And call it a day.

There only needs to be one kind of Elf − and let the player pick its spells.

Done.

 

[Scribe]

Even now as we enter into 2024, we have too many elven lineages.

Mordenkainen Presents
• Eladrin
• Sea
• Shadar-kai

Playtest
• Drow
• High
• Wood

Meanwhile, Avariel, Grugach, Loren-drow, Aeven-drow, Seldarine-drow etcetera etcetera are ripe for becoming a new elven lineage.

I dont want a hundred plus entries for each elven snowflake.

Let one Elf species entry rule them all!

Pick two cantrips, a slot-1 spell, and a slot-2 spell, swappable with a comparable trait like waterbreathing or darkvision.

Let the PLAYER pick which spells they want to be innate. (Let the DM pick which for each Elf community in the setting.)

And call it a day.

There only needs to be one kind of Elf − and let the player pick its spells.

Done.

The 'not all drow' are literally cultural. They are not species options.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The playtest already removed the "drow race". Drow was never a race anyway, except in 4e.

The playtest more clearly lists the "Elf species" (formerly the Elf race). The elven "lineages" refer to magical affinity that arises from bonding with an environment. The "Drow lineage" happens when bonding with an Underdark locale.

It isnt yet clear how the Aeven culture (under glacial ice) and Loren culture (under rainforest canopy) relate to the Uda culture (in the Underdark).

They have their own entry in the "races" chapter of the current Player's Handbook, so I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this one.

 

[Yaarel]

The 'not all drow' are literally cultural. They are not species options.

For example, the Lorendrow who live under a rainforest canopy instead of in the Underdark. In this quite different environment, they might have different spells ... thus defacto be a separate "lineage" with its own entry separate from the Udadrow entry.

Too many elven entries!

 

[Yaarel]

They have their own entry in the "races" chapter of the current Player's Handbook, so I'm going to have to call shenanigans on this one.

Not sure what you are talking about. The 2014 Players Handbook lists the "Elf race" and the "Drow subrace". The Drow has never been a separate race in 5e.

There is only an "Elf species". That is it. One.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Not sure what you are talking about. The 2014 Players Handbook lists the "Elf race" and the "Drow subrace". The Drow has never been a separate race in 5e.

There is only an "Elf species". That is it. One.

Okay.