When Do the 5E “Ride or Die” Folks Become Grogs Like The Rest of Us in “D&D Older Editions” And When Do We Get D&D 5E Flair for Posts?

[PHATsakk43]

So, apart from ability score bonuses being moved from race to background, races/species function the same.

That was the biggest trait that a species used to provide, making it a generic background trait really makes the choice significantly less impactful compared to previous versions then.

 

[Parmandur]

That was the biggest trait that a species used to provide, making it a generic background trait really makes the choice significantly less impactful compared to previous versions then.

Well, no, it wasn't, the other traits are more impactful overall.

However, it must be noted that while the Species all "loat" ASI...they were are all boosted to compensate, a 2024 Apecies is built on the same math as a 2014 Rave by my reckoning, but now they have more budget for non-ASI effects.

As to the main topic, while I am sure many will not upgrade or, even more likely, mix and match...this is that sort of "Edition" change, and no "war" seems to be in the offering.

 

[Hatmatter]

That was the biggest trait that a species used to provide, making it a generic background trait really makes the choice significantly less impactful compared to previous versions then.

Hi Phat,

Again, it is as if we are communicating using different languages. Let's take the Drow as an example. As a Drow, a character receives:

• 120' Darkvision
• Advantage on STs to end the Charmed condition.
• Proficiency in Insight, Perception, and Survival.
• The freedom from having to sleep and the ability to finish a Long Rest in 4 hours.
• Ability to cast Dancing Lights 1/Long Rest at 1st level, Faerie Fire 1/Long Rest at 3rd level, and Darkness 1/Long Rest at 5th level.

Not to mention, of course, the background and personality assumptions that may accrue as the result of the selection of one species over another.

You are saying that out of all that, a +3 distributed either as +1/+2 or +1 to three ability scores is "the biggest trait that a species used to provide."

Again, I simply do not understand.

 

[PHATsakk43]

+3 stat is for the life of a character.

Most of that other stuff isn’t particularly useful past 3-5th level. Proficiency bonuses are also likely stacked from the class, or it’s not particularly important for the build.

Again, this is actually starting to sound like the Gygaxian argument for why demihumans were “nerfed” with level caps. The reality is, at least in the 30 or so years I’ve played, most of the racial benefits except the stat boosts have never really been consequential beyond the first adventure. In any edition.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Howdy Phatt,

I sure hope you are able to get whatever books that you want soon...and I hope that you find a group to game with!

Whoever told you that about races did not give you correct information. So, apart from ability score bonuses being moved from race to background, races/species function the same. As we saw in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, there has been a move away from what might be called cultural race features like skills or proficiencies to straight-up species features. The text is also stripped of a lot of flavor and sample names. My hope is that flavor will return -- hopefully even amplified -- in future setting books, as I love that stuff. Naming charts are in the DMG but are not organized by species.

Rather than a table for age ranges for each race, longevity is ballparked for most of the species if it is close to human longevity. If it is significantly different -- like for gnomes, dwarves, elves, etc. -- that is mentioned in the text. All species except goliaths now have a speed of 30 ft. Goliaths have a speed of 35. More size range is given for various species. For example, humans or tieflings can now be Medium or Small.

Good luck! I am going to be taking a short trip to Canada in two weeks.

You started this post with the position that the person you responded to had the wrong idea about species being less important and distinctive mechanically, then proceeded to provide many examples of species being less important and distinctive mechanically.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

You started this post with the position that the person you responded to had the wrong idea about species being less important and distinctive mechanically, then proceeded to provide many examples of species being less important and distinctive mechanically.

I do not agree with you, unless you only measure their mechanical heft through the lens of combat.

 

[Corinnguard]

You're welcome. I suggest that you start with the Magus class.

I have been told by a fellow player in my RPG group that it looks like LL crossed the Eldritch Knight Fighter with the Bladesinger Wizard to make it.

 

[Parmandur]

+3 stat is for the life of a character.

Most of that other stuff isn’t particularly useful past 3-5th level. Proficiency bonuses are also likely stacked from the class, or it’s not particularly important for the build.

Again, this is actually starting to sound like the Gygaxian argument for why demihumans were “nerfed” with level caps. The reality is, at least in the 30 or so years I’ve played, most of the racial benefits except the stat boosts have never really been consequential beyond the first adventure. In any edition.

Quite simply not true, to my experience.

 

[Mannahnin]

+3 stat is for the life of a character.

Sure, but gets proportionally less and less important over the life of the character, at least in the WotC editions where regular ASIs are a thing and stat-boosting items tend to be more common and easy to come by.

Most of that other stuff isn’t particularly useful past 3-5th level. Proficiency bonuses are also likely stacked from the class, or it’s not particularly important for the build.

Again, this is actually starting to sound like the Gygaxian argument for why demihumans were “nerfed” with level caps. The reality is, at least in the 30 or so years I’ve played, most of the racial benefits except the stat boosts have never really been consequential beyond the first adventure. In any edition.

Not my experience at all.

 

[Older Beholder]

+3 stat is for the life of a character.

Most of that other stuff isn’t particularly useful past 3-5th level. Proficiency bonuses are also likely stacked from the class, or it’s not particularly important for the build.

Again, this is actually starting to sound like the Gygaxian argument for why demihumans were “nerfed” with level caps. The reality is, at least in the 30 or so years I’ve played, most of the racial benefits except the stat boosts have never really been consequential beyond the first adventure. In any edition.

Aasimar can sprout wings for a minute at level 3, I’m pretty sure people will be making builds around that feature alone that will be useful at high levels.