D&D (2024) 2024 PHB Race discussion

[Ruin Explorer]

Having seen Abyssal Tieflings and Killer Space Clowns, does anyone else want to play an Abyssal Tiefling descended from Killer Space Clowns, think a mix between Joker and Harliquin, from Clownspace? Fluff it's Poison spray cantrip as poison squirting flower gag.

Over many years of DMing/Storyteller'ing etc. I have found "My character is based on the Joker" to be one of the most ultra-reliable "Red Flags" for PCs/players who are going to cause A Problem. I'm just saying...

 

[Corinnguard]

I've always explained that by saying that Dragonborn women carry two eggs...

The best explanation for why the 4e Dragonborn female had boobs is that they are monotremes. Egg-laying mammals like the Echidna and the Platypus.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Btw the Ardlings fluff basically confirms the return of celestial Guardianals & Archons in either Planescape or One D&D.

 

[Henadic Theologian]

Btw the Ardlings fluff basically confirms the return of celestial Guardianals & Archons in either Planescape or One D&D.

I've heard it suggested that the Ardling is actually intended for Planescape, snuck in to the One D&D UA, just like Owlings were snuck into the Witchlight UA, even though they were for Strixhaven.

I don't know if it's true, but given the Ardling is designed to mirror Tieflings so much, I'm skeptical.

Still given Glitchlings are "not" Rogue Modrons and Ardlings are "not" Aasimar, I can't preclude it either.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Unfortunately, it seems the ODD designers want to delete psionics from the edition.

Even where it is helpful: such as mind-affecting spells listed under the Psionic power source spell list.

Based on one preview?

Though realistically, psionics haven't been part of the core game (meaning, PHB and DMG) for a very, very long time (and even when they were in 1E, it was a completely optional system that Gygax didn't even really want in there.)

There have already been multiple attempts to add psionics to 5E. No reason they won't try again. But they probably need their own UA playtest (again) after the 2024 rules have been released. I'd still like to see them introduced with a 5E Dark Sun setting, but usable independently.

So, thinking psionics should be in the 2024 PHB is not a reasonable expectation to me.

 

[Sir Brennen]

I was thinking of tagging racial features as major and minor. Choose major features from one parent and minor features from another. That's just off the top of my head - if it seems unbalanced then it might end up '2 from this list, 1 from that list' kinda thing.
If somebody really wants something 'out of the box' it can be discussed and I'll work with the player to come up with something balanced that still helps them realize their character concept.

I was thinking of something similar, but more limited.

My thought: When picking a half-race, choose your expression (RAW, e.g., a half-elf chooses the human or elven racial traits.)

Then, you may optionally choose one special trait to swap with another special trait of your other parental race. They should be of roughly equivalent utility/power (DM's call). For example, a half-elf using human traits could gain elven Darkvision in exchange for giving up the human Versatile trait.

I might even specify which traits are swappable. For instance, it doesn't quite seem right to have lineages/legacies swappable.

 

[Yaarel]

Based on one preview?

Though realistically, psionics haven't been part of the core game (meaning, PHB and DMG) for a very, very long time (and even when they were in 1E, it was a completely optional system that Gygax didn't even really want in there.)

There have already been multiple attempts to add psionics to 5E. No reason they won't try again. But they probably need their own UA playtest (again) after the 2024 rules have been released. I'd still like to see them introduced with a 5E Dark Sun setting, but usable independently.

So, thinking psionics should be in the 2024 PHB is not a reasonable expectation to me.

The thing is, if psionics isnt built into the core system itself, it will be redundant as well as unable to do things it should do, and never happen well.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I feel like the "dwarves are good at smithing because god(s) made them that way" is more actually problematic than "all dwarves come from a smithing culture."

In real life, when certain skills or traits have be ascribed to groups of people because "god(s) made them that way" it usually has not turned out well.

 

[Scribe]

D&D used to be about worldbuilding.

They want D&D to be about The One Brand, now.

 

[TerraDave]

I've heard it suggested that the Ardling is actually intended for Planescape, snuck in to the One D&D UA, just like Owlings were snuck into the Witchlight UA, even though they were for Strixhaven.

I don't know if it's true, but given the Ardling is designed to mirror Tieflings so much, I'm skeptical.

Still given Glitchlings are "not" Rogue Modrons and Ardlings are "not" Aasimar, I can't preclude it either.

It will almost certainly be in planescape, but maybe also phb.