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

[Scribe]

If that is the reason the playtest omits the Duergar when describing the Dwarf species,

then

the Sea Elf is a Non-Elf species. Mordenkainen also lists the Sea Elf as a separate species.

In other words, there is no such thing as an Elf that breathes water (except when casting a spell to do so).


That said. I am comfortable with the Duergar being a Non-Dwarf species. I am also comfortable with updating the Duergar to be the same thing as the playtest Dwarf and making the spells come from a Duergar culture background feat.

The game doesnt support your view.

These are all variations on a species. There is no single Dwarf, or Elf. There are various species that are related and modified by either magic, or other external influence, to gain distinct biological traits and attributes.

That is not to say that cultural impacts could not also contribute to the definition of these game defined containers which are called a Species (capital S) Character (capital C) option.

This is also not to say that you cannot house rule, or develop your own system to replace that which you dont like. I built a framework of 14 Species last night, based on the Origins UA Template. Its painfully easy, and very quick, because Wizards has already removed so much that actually made a Species (capital S Game Construct) unique.

Monsters of the Multiverse is fully compatible with the next update of the game, per Wizards.

 

[Yaarel]

The game doesnt support your view.

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These are all variations on a species. There is no single Dwarf, or Elf. There are various species that are related and modified by either magic, or other external influence, to gain distinct biological traits and attributes.

That is not to say that cultural impacts could not also contribute to the definition of these game defined containers which are called a Species (capital S) Character (capital C) option.

This is also not to say that you cannot house rule, or develop your own system to replace that which you dont like. I built a framework of 14 Species last night, based on the Origins UA Template. Its painfully easy, and very quick, because Wizards has already removed so much that actually made a Species (capital S Game Construct) unique.

Monsters of the Multiverse is fully compatible with the next update of the game, per Wizards.

You are correct where Mordenkainen says "Creature Type. ... You are considered an Elf".

However, to the degree that is effectively identical to a "subrace", it comes across as racist.

Relatedly, as members of the same Elf species, what are the species traits of a child whose parents are Sea Elf and Drow Elf?

 

[Scribe]

Relatedly, as members of the same Elf species, what are the species traits of a child whose parents are Sea Elf and Drow Elf?

Undefined as that is a spiral of discussion (the evidence of which is dozens of pages in this thread) that just need not be scrutinized.

There is nothing racist about a species being related to a common ancestral or mythological root, in a game where Gods are real and 'made' the various Species.

 

[Remathilis]

Undefined as that is a spiral of discussion (the evidence of which is dozens of pages in this thread) that just need not be scrutinized.

There is nothing racist about a species being related to a common ancestral or mythological root, in a game where Gods are real and 'made' the various Species.

Easy. Pick the species traits of whichever one you want and describe the character however you want.

It's like it's easy and people keep demanding it be hard.

 

[Scribe]

Easy. Pick the species traits of whichever one you want and describe the character however you want.

It's like it's easy and people keep demanding it be hard.

Thats a solution sure.

 

[Yaarel]

Undefined as that is a spiral of discussion (the evidence of which is dozens of pages in this thread) that just need not be scrutinized.

There is nothing racist about a species being related to a common ancestral or mythological root, in a game where Gods are real and 'made' the various Species.

There is everything racist about mythologies that say the Divine "made" other ethnicities less human or cursed or separate.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

It is insufficient to change the name if it still means "subrace". If it is somehow both the same species but not the same species, it comes across as racist.

Presumably it is normal for socalled Wood, High, Drow, Eladrin, Astral, Shadar-kai, Sea, Wild, Avariel, etcetera to intermingle with each other and produce offspring if they are all members of the same species. These offspring need to have the same species traits as their parents do.

Thanks for your clarifying your point. I disagree. Words matter. I am confident there is design room to have variants and the naming convention will be acceptable.

 

[Scribe]

There is everything racist about mythologies that say the Divine "made" other ethnicities less human or cursed or separate.

Which, is not a thing at all in the current game, nor the Origins UA.

So, like @Mirrorrorrim noted, good, great. Next?

 

[Yaarel]

Criticisms about racism in D&D are likely to intensify in the coming years.

The concept of elven subraces is mainly a historical artifact deriving from racist assumptions within the literature of Tolkien in the last century. The D&D elven traditions are overtly racist and sometimes extremist. Elven subraces must discontinue in D&D.

2024 needs to fix the issues now during the playtest.

Updating to clarify a concept of species, instead of a concept of fantasy racism, is part of the solution.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Criticisms about racism in D&D are likely to intensify in the coming years.

The concept of elven subraces is mainly a historical artifact deriving from racist assumptions within the literature of Tolkien in the last century. The D&D elven traditions are overtly racist and sometimes extremist. Elven subraces must discontinue in D&D.

2024 needs to fix the issues now during the playtest.

Updating to clarify a concept of species, instead of a concept of fantasy racism, is part of the solution.

I look forward to seeing your Fantasy Heartbreaker where all your issues have been fixed, or failing that, a copy of the sternly worded letter to WotC you're no doubt in the process of drafting explaining all the things they "need" to do to meet your personal standards.