D&D (2024) Should 2014 Half Elves and Half Orcs be added to the 2025 SRD?

[Maxperson]

add 1st level feats:

Elf blooded
Orc blooded
Dwarf blooded
Human blooded

I shouldn't need to waste my 1st level feat on something that should be free as a part of the race I choose.

 

[Horwath]

I shouldn't need to waste my 1st level feat on something that should be free as a part of the race I choose.

it's not a waste you get those abilities on top of your race

 

[Maxperson]

it's not a waste you get those abilities on top of your race

My race is half-elf. Not elf. Not human. I should not be forced to take a feat to be a half-elf. If I can't take half-elf with half-elf specific abilities AND a 1st level feat, no other race should be able to, either. You want to be a Tortle with Tortle racial abilities? Take Tortle Blooded!

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I mean, I don't think the Feat thing would work because you can't actually choose the L1 Feat in 2024, despite them saying you could previously, can you? You have to take whatever the Background gives you, right?

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Honestly I think that the best place to bring them back is the next Eberron book. Both Khoravar and Jhor'guntaal are treated as their own species and peoples in Eberron, with the setting embracing their existence.

Which is the opposite of Forgotten Realms, where every existing named half elf/orc is being retconned away.

Then again WotC might decide that Eberron is 'problematic' and give it the Dark Sun treatment in the future. (Also gives them an excuse to kill off Artificer for good which I'm sure they'd love).

 

[Maxperson]

I mean, I don't think the Feat thing would work because you can't actually choose the L1 Feat in 2024, despite them saying you could previously, can you? You have to take whatever the Background gives you, right?

I would imagine that there will be some sort of custom built background option somewhere that will allow you to pick and choose.

 

[Remathilis]

I'd say keep them. If its the name that's troublesome, give them a new one just like Goliath (Half-Giant), Dragonborn (Half-Dragon) and Tiefling (Half-Devil).

But I also think Drow should keep their sunlight sensitivity, so there's that.

The difference is that these races are ancient descendants of dragons, fiends, and giants. Half-races are far more direct. The better example would be to replace half-elf with a race that is long descended from the fey.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I would imagine that there will be some sort of custom built background option somewhere that will allow you to pick and choose.

Hiding in the DMG, I'd imagine.

 

[Remathilis]

Hiding in the DMG, I'd imagine.

I'm pretty sure it's going to be there so they DMs can veto backgrounds that don't fit with their world.

 

[TiQuinn]

Could you expand upon this, I don't really understand but it's likely just an issue on my part here that's completely misinterpreting what you're attempting to say here. How does the simple existence of mixed heritage equate to requiring a racism angle? Because from my view, I don't think the answer to people incorrectly attributing problems of racism to the mere existence of mixed heritage is to wholesale remove it.

Because invariably in fiction, as well as at the table, the explanation for these characters and their heritage involve sexual assault (orcs invaded our homeland) or the characters are outsiders because, of course, mixed heritage is something to be looked down on.

This is present in plenty of fiction both old and new. Tanis Half-Elven of Dragonlance fame was originally a product of rape until that was retconned much later. Then of course, he was an outsider living amongst humans because naturally a half-elf has to be treated as such in fantasy literature. Ditto Vax and Vex of Vox Machina/Critical Role whose characters are treated as inferior because of their mixed heritage by their father and the other elves.

It’s a tiresome, self-perpetuating trope. Whether it’s players at the table or authors writing a book, if there is a mixed heritage fantasy character, chances are they will feel the need to explain that mixed parentage and many times it’s going to lean into either sexual assault or experiencing racism.