D&D 5E (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Half Elf most popular race choice in BG3

[TwoSix]

It would certainly lead to some different inter-elf-group kidnapping stories and feed into some changeling things in the older inspirational literature.

It would certainly add some pathos to the story of a lost child of sea elves who can't rejoin his newfound parents in their underwater city because he lost his "sea gifts" when he was raised in the woods.

Elven stories are always improved by adding a dash of pathos.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It kind of feels like being more generic has worked for D&D, at least in terms of its popularity compared to all single setting fantasy games (combined?).

I just can't respect a company that only cares about making as much money as possible, given the legacy of creativity and imagination they are sitting on.

 

[Mistwell]

For the sake of business ethics.

For the sake of the WotC corporation owning D&D as a product that remains a popculture phenomenon with international appeal.

D&D 2024 must eliminate every trace of racism − root and branch.

Especially from the player-facing core rules of the Players Handbook.

I'm on Twitter/X with some of the most vocal proponents of eliminating racism in D&D, and on Reddit with the same, and I've never once seen a single person advocate for the kinds of changes you're claiming "must" be undertaken for this issue. Not. One.

I have definitely however, in this very thread and elsewhere on this very message board, seen legitimate claims from people who identify themselves as being from two different races, that they would be offended and saddened and consider it racist if D&D eliminated the concept of half-elves and half-orcs, and who further find they identify with those races in a positive way.

Given that your view appears to be considered racist by some people of color here, and does not seem to have support of people of color (unless I have not seen it, which is possible), why have you not considered the possibility your view of this might be flawed?

 

[Cadence]

I just can't respect a company that only cares about making as much money as possible, given the legacy of creativity and imagination they are sitting on.

I could also have said, "It feels like they care about more of their players and DMs being easily able to craft their own different worlds." ?

 

[Micah Sweet]

Seems to me to be the most coherent direction the rules are going to end up taking us. Since no one can make an elven infant as a PC, the actual capabilities of elven infants are relatively immaterial outside of lore building.

And we all know no one cares about that.

 

[Scribe]

If a species feature mentions that it is "magical", then by definition antimagic can negate it.

This is no more inherently magical than a Fish.

 

[Yaarel]

I'm on Twitter/X with some of the most vocal proponents of eliminating racism in D&D, and on Reddit with the same, and I've never once seen a single person advocate for the kinds of changes you're claiming "must" be undertaken for this issue. Not. One.

I have definitely however, in this very thread and elsewhere on this very message board, seen legitimate claims from people who identify themselves as being from two different races, that they would be offended and saddened and consider it racist if D&D eliminated the concept of half-elves and half-orcs, and who further find they identify with those races in a positive way.

Given that your view appears to be considered racist by some people of color here, and does not seem to have support of people of color (unless I have not seen it, which is possible), why have you not considered the possibility your view of this might be flawed?

You are mischaracterizing me in the above post.

I support the Human/Elf multispecies (formerly understood as a "Half-Elf"). I support an extensive page space for it, comparable to a species with three examples of cultures. I support a multispecies design that lets the player choose traits from both species. The Human/Elf is a popular example for a multispecies.


Meanwhile, many have complained in these forums and elsewhere that "subraces" are an inherently racist concept. To avoid racism is already the reason why 5e lacks Human subraces.


@Scribe
Regarding the book, Mordenkainen Presents, the playtest comes after it and rethinks how to characterizes the diversity of Elf. What is separate species in Mordenkainen is now differing lineages in the playtest.

Making the lineages explicitly cultural is even a better way to eliminate racist traditions.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I could also have said, "It feels like they care about more of their players and DMs being easily able to craft their own different worlds." ?

Then why are they pushing their new versions of the old settings they own so hard lately? Why the Multiverse?

 

[Scribe]

Why the Multiverse?

The multiverse specifically allows for 'any' story to be told no?

 

[Scribe]

Regarding the book, Mordenkainen Presents, the playtest comes after it and rethinks how to characterizes the diversity of Elf. What is separate species in Mordenkainen is now differing lineages in the playtest.

Its far more likely, that after some of the feedback from Fizbans, regarding templating, they sought to save some page count.