D&D (2024) D&D species article

[Horwath]

Basically none, other than the fact that small size can limit the size of creatures you can shove or grapple, and if you become grappled, one more size of creatures can move you without spending extra movement if you’re small.

Again, basically none, except that you can potentially squeeze through slightly smaller openings.

This is clearly very intentional though, they want small vs medium size to be mainly an aesthetic choice with as little mechanical impact as possible.

/yawn

yeah, boring

they could atleast make some simple mechanics:

-5ft speed
cannot use Heavy weapons
+1 AC

it's not anything much, but is does describes somewhat size difference.

-4(or even -6) STR would be better, but we are far away from that mechanics.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

can we get some features that are not coded as spells?

Nope. This is the new paradigm; if it is supernatural, it is magic, and if it is magic, it is spells. A sufficient plurality agrees with this decision to prevent changing until it is far too late.

 

[Kobold Stew]

The article is not mentioning every ability with a class, and where it's silent I presume that what we saw in the playtest UAs is going to stand. My reason for thinking so is the Aasimar (see below).

TL/DR: This is all pretty much what we knew form the Unearth Arcana. Changes underlined below.

Human, Halfling, Goliath are all as we last saw them in the UA.
Aasimar were not in the UA, and are based on MotM. Celestial Revelation now ets you choose the form each time and always do damage. No mention of Celestial Resistance, Darkvision (60'), healing, or the Light cantrip. I cannot believe all of these have been taken away, and so I presume that the article linked in the OP is incomplete/faulty. Assuming that's so, the change to Aasimar is the biggest change in the ten species from the last version we've seen; everything else is pretty much a wash.
Dragonborn is as we last saw them in the UA, with no mention of damage resistance (which I presume will stay)
Tiefling is as we last saw them in the UA, with no mention of Darkvision (60') or the Thaumaturgy cantrip.
Elf is as we last saw them in the UA, but Keen Senses now gives a choice of three skills. This is a choice since (according to the video) race choice comes after background, and background may have given you skills already. (No mention of Fey Ancestry and Trance, which I presume will stay).
Orc is as we last saw them in the UA (and MotM), but it loses Powerful Build and gains 120' Darkvision.
Gnome appears to be as last seen in the UA, but many things are not mentioned: Darkvision (60'), Gnomish Cunning, and Minor Illusion for Forest Gnome. All three of those are pretty important to the gnome, and I hope they're still there.
Dwarf is as we last saw them in the UA, but Darkvision is now 120'. No mention of Dwarven Resilience (resistance/adv vs poison) and Forge Wise (two free tool profs).

Also, according to the video, there's a sidebar in the PHB on using previously published species (yay), but different background guidelines are only in the DMG. If I am right that all of the above features not mentioned in fact do stay, I think MotM should be able to be used as written for all the speces that have not been updated, which is what I'd like.

 

[Kobold Stew]

What is downside playing a small species now?
What is the upside?

Here's a list I made when MotM came out (crossing out one thing we know won't be in the PHB 2024):

Size Difference for PCs. Small Can ride a medium mount (and so effective as a beastmaster ranger or battlesmith artificer). Using heavy weapons gives disadvantage. Can grapple/push Medium creatures (or smaller) Can squeeze in tiny spaces. You are eligible to take the Squat Nimbleness feat (+5 move, +1 Dex or Str, proficiency in acrobatics or athletics, advantage to escape grapples). With Reduce spell, becomes Tiny (on the Sorcerer and Wizard lists, level 2) Can’t take Medium creatures through a Dimension Door (on the Bard, Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard lists, level 4). Probably easier to find defensive cover and hide – that’ s a DM’s call. Medium No disadvantage with heavy weapons (all of which are martial; these include polearms, longbow, heavy crossbow, and most weapons that have an average damage of 5.5 or higher [lance is the exception]). Associated with that is access to Polearm Master and Great Weapon Master feats, and the Great Weapon Fighting fighting style. Can grapple/push Large creatures (or smaller) With Enlarge spell, becomes Huge (on the Sorcerer and Wizard lists, level 2)

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I hate spectral wings so much - just give them wings and be done.

I dont like Goliaths being yoyo large for 10 minutes either

And if you don't like sunlight sensitivity don't play a drow

grumpy rant off now

Absolutely everything is 'spectral' or 'spirit' with the new material. It's really getting on my nerves.

One change I'm not liking is aasimar changing their ability absolutely any time they want. I feel it should be at least on long rest, if not level up.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

This is clearly very intentional though, they want small vs medium size to be mainly an aesthetic choice with as little mechanical impact as possible.

I suspect that at some point they're going to merge small and medium into one category. I'm honestly surprised it didn't happen in 1dnd.

 

[Tales and Chronicles]

That's really unappealing to me. Like, enough to contemplate voiding my pre-order....

I mean, the more I see about 5.24, the more I go back to the Next Playtest I find it way better than even 5e was some time (no bonus action, built-in maneuvers for monk/fighter/rogues, shield spell giving 1/2 cover, Pass Without trace doing what it says on the tin, no 100s of archetypes, extra attack being more damage rolls instead of more attack rolls).

Love much of the class changes, but the species are a big nope.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I'm one of the lucky ones who has always found all the species mechanics to be so fricking lame to begin with that exchanging old lame mechanics with different lame mechanics in this new book does not matter to me in the slightest.

 

[Corinnguard]

After reading the D&D Beyond article, I am feeling a little disappointed about the Aasimar and the Dragonborn.

I was hoping that the Aasimar were going to be like the newest version of the Tiefling in that they would also come in three different varieties. One for angels, one for archons and lastly one for Guardinals. I really don't understand WoTC's fixation on angel-descended Aasimar, especially when there have been a number of other Celestial types in the past couple of D&D editions. Switching between Celestial Revelations doesn't really interest me.

My quibble regarding the Dragonborn is their spectral wings. Wings made of the same damage type as their breath weapons. Umm....why? Why not give them something like the Dragon Wings feature of the Draconic sorcerer? If you had to have wings made out of fire, lightning, etc., at least allow them to do a wing slap with those wings against opponents within 5 feet of your character. I like the Dragon Wings feature because it reminds me of what the dragon-like race in the Dragon Flyz cartoon could do. Sprout and retract wings when needed.

 

[Remathilis]

Dragonborn is as we last saw them in the UA, with no mention of damage resistance (which I presume will stay)
Tiefling is as we last saw them in the UA, with no mention of Darkvision (60') or the Thaumaturgy cantrip.

In the last UA, dragonborn gained dark vision. That is not mentioned here, so I assume that is no longer true.

They do mention tieflings keeping the thaumaturgy cantrip. I don't know if they get an additional one based on lineage anymore (produce flame, poison spray, chill touch). Incorrect, they keep their unique cantrip.