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So, back towards the end of 4th edition, WoTC put out three sourcebooks - the Heroes of the X line - that gave PC related options tying into three of the planes; the Feywild, the Shadowfell, and the Elemental Chaos. Even despite the fact that these were written under the Essentials rules, these were still really interesting sourcebooks, and I really enjoyed them.
Which brings me to ask: if WoTC decided to release equivalent sourcebooks for 5th edition, what do you think they could include in them? I want you guys to really go nuts and suggest whatever you feel might be appropriate!
For my own thoughts? Well...
Feywild:
Eladrin Sub/Race - Whether as their own distinctive race of "Arch Elves" with subraces based on the different factions of the Court of Stars, or just the Feywild Elf subrace, this is a natural place to put them.
Feywild Gnome Subrace - This would be a more mystical, illusionist-aspected subrace for the gnome.
Hengeyokai Races - Hey, in 4e, they were given an origin story as denizens of the Feywild. If we can't get an Oriental Adventures for whatever reason, then the Feywild book is the next best thing for adding kitsunes, tanuki, bakeneko and all their friends. I will repeat my stance that they NEED to have something more than just the one trick to define them, though.
Nymph Race - We had Hamadryads in 4e's Heroes of the Feywild. Nymphs could come in a variety of subraces to represent different "fey maiden" archetypes.
Satyr Race - Again, they were in 4e's Heroes of the Feywild, so why not?
Centaur Race - Centaurs are known to prosper in the Feywild, and have a long tradition of being considered a "sylvan" race in D&D, so why not? They have been playable in AD&D and 3rd edition.
Fairy Race - The Sprite has been a PC race at least twice, and the Pixie was playable in Basic, so a singular race to represent the "small, flying elf-like fey race" seems a logical fit to me.
Fighter Subclass: Hedgeknight - A fighter who studies under faerie tutors and patrols regions where the borderlands between the feywild and the material overlap. Somewhere between an Enchantment & Transmutation-wielding Eldritch Knight and a Fighter/Sorcerer.
Cleric Subclass: Faerie Domain - Not sure what this would give, honestly, but it seems a fitting addition.
Sorcerer Subclass: Glamourweaver - A sorcerer born with fey blessings or blood, instinctively able to wield fey magic to their own uses. More or less the enchanter/transmuter of sorcerous origins.
Warlock Options: Archfey Patrons - What better sourcebook than a Feywild one for giving new Invocations or perhaps even whole new "subpacts" for Warlocks who swore an oath to one of the Archfey?
Wizard Subclass: Sidhe Scholar - This is a wizard tradition based on studying the magic of the faeries and learning under the tutelage of high-ranking members of the Court of Stars. Taking its name from a fey-themed variant Druid of 3e, this would be sort of a hybrid of wizard and druid, granting access to nature-themed magic, much like the Theurgy tradition.
List of Archfey
Shadowfell:
Revenant Race - We saw this in UA already, and this would be the perfect place to present it officially.
Dhampyr/Vryloka Race - D&D needs a playable vampire. Dhampyrs are iconic gothic/dark/horror fantasy creatures, it's really surprising we've never had them. 4e actually gave us two interpretations of the archetype; the Dhampyr proper, a feat-based "template race" representing mortals tainted by vampiric ancestry, and the Vryloka, a race of humans who turned themselves into living vampires in an effort to attain vampiric power for themselves. It'd be nice to have both, as the lore is unique, but mechanically it would be hard to distinguish them. But hey, if Plane Shift can give us full-fledged vampire PCs without convoluted rules...
Fighter Subclass: Graveknight - This is one of the ideas I'm willing to admit is weak. It's mostly a necromantic equivalent to the Eldritch Knight... man, I really fell short in this part.
Cleric Subclass: Undeath Domain - I'm personally ambivalent about this; I like that wizard necromancers finally took mastery over the field of necromancy, but still, the "priestly necromancer" does have its place in D&D lore. This would be a villainous option, or at least aimed at darker heroes; worshippers of Vecna, Orcus, the Blood of Vol or... whatever that positive undead ancestor-worship faith of Eberron's elves was.
Druid Subclass: Circle of Fungus/Spores - The "creepy fungus druid" archetype could honestly fit either here or in the Feywild book, but I think the Shadowfell is the more "intuitive" fit for most people.
Sorcerer Subclass: Graveborn - I know we have the Shadow Mage for Sorcerers already, but it's more of a Shadowcaster homage than anything. This would be the necromancer option for sorcerers, the intuitive wielder of necrotic energy.
Wizard Subclass: Nethermancer - This would be the Shadowcaster wizard tradition, although I admit it may be hard to distinguish from the Shadow Magic origin for Sorcerers.
Elemental Chaos:
Norker Race - A long stretch, I know, but these stony-skinned goblinoids were denizens of the elemental chaos in 4e, and I'm just not sure of what other elemental PC races there are.
New Genasi Subraces - Genasi have a LONG history outside of the classic quartet. Ice, Storm, Magma, Ash, Plague, Void... there's so many to choose from just looking at the Paraelemental Genasi froM Dragon #247 and the variant Genasi from 4th edition. Heck, they could even throw Chinese 5 Elements style a bone by giving us Wood and Metal Genasi.
Fighter Subclass: Primordial Warden - This would be a fighter that summons elemental energy into their body and uses it to empower themselves. A nod to 4e's Warden, this guy would be all about special stances that give unique bonuses, such as a burning aura or indestructible iron skin.
Cleric Subclass: Elemental Domains - Because we have Tempest, but we don't really have the traditional earth or fire clerics available yet.
Druid Subclass: Pillar Tender - These are planar druids who focus their attention on the Pillars of Creation; the metaphysical constructs that are the umbilical cables of the world. They attempt to keep the elements in balance, to avoid things like Athas. Elemental resistances and shapeshifting.
Sorcerer Subclass: Chaostender - This would be more of a Wild Mage/Elementalist blend; a sorcerer who specializes in doing multiple damage-type elemental attacks and changing the elements around them. At higher levels, this could let them reshape things on the battle-field, whilst at low levels, they can do things like change up elemental types for their spells.
Sorcerer Subclass: Elemental Origins - This is a catch-all for the Element Sorcerer; the Aeromancer, Aquamancer, Geomancer, and Pyromancer. We've seen foundations of this in Unearthed Arcana (Stone, Sky, Sea, Phoenix) already, so this is a natural route to take.
Warlock Subclass: Archomental Patron - I'm unsure of how this would work as a generic Patron, given the Archomentals (Primordials) of 4e were a pretty varied bunch, but it could have a tinge of chaos to it; multiple elemental attacks and the like.
Warlock Subclass: Sha'ir - I'm honestly unsure of this, because one could argue that an Archomental Warlock with a Pact of the Familiar (Gen) would translate this class well.
Wizard Subclass: Elementalist - To make this different to the Elemental Sorcerers, an Elementalist Wizard is a master of ALL elements, freely using all forms of elemental power at the same time. This avoids the pitfall of "no element but Fire is combat capable" that 2e & 3e's Elementalist fell into.
List of Archomentals
Which brings me to ask: if WoTC decided to release equivalent sourcebooks for 5th edition, what do you think they could include in them? I want you guys to really go nuts and suggest whatever you feel might be appropriate!
For my own thoughts? Well...
Feywild:
Eladrin Sub/Race - Whether as their own distinctive race of "Arch Elves" with subraces based on the different factions of the Court of Stars, or just the Feywild Elf subrace, this is a natural place to put them.
Feywild Gnome Subrace - This would be a more mystical, illusionist-aspected subrace for the gnome.
Hengeyokai Races - Hey, in 4e, they were given an origin story as denizens of the Feywild. If we can't get an Oriental Adventures for whatever reason, then the Feywild book is the next best thing for adding kitsunes, tanuki, bakeneko and all their friends. I will repeat my stance that they NEED to have something more than just the one trick to define them, though.
Nymph Race - We had Hamadryads in 4e's Heroes of the Feywild. Nymphs could come in a variety of subraces to represent different "fey maiden" archetypes.
Satyr Race - Again, they were in 4e's Heroes of the Feywild, so why not?
Centaur Race - Centaurs are known to prosper in the Feywild, and have a long tradition of being considered a "sylvan" race in D&D, so why not? They have been playable in AD&D and 3rd edition.
Fairy Race - The Sprite has been a PC race at least twice, and the Pixie was playable in Basic, so a singular race to represent the "small, flying elf-like fey race" seems a logical fit to me.
Fighter Subclass: Hedgeknight - A fighter who studies under faerie tutors and patrols regions where the borderlands between the feywild and the material overlap. Somewhere between an Enchantment & Transmutation-wielding Eldritch Knight and a Fighter/Sorcerer.
Cleric Subclass: Faerie Domain - Not sure what this would give, honestly, but it seems a fitting addition.
Sorcerer Subclass: Glamourweaver - A sorcerer born with fey blessings or blood, instinctively able to wield fey magic to their own uses. More or less the enchanter/transmuter of sorcerous origins.
Warlock Options: Archfey Patrons - What better sourcebook than a Feywild one for giving new Invocations or perhaps even whole new "subpacts" for Warlocks who swore an oath to one of the Archfey?
Wizard Subclass: Sidhe Scholar - This is a wizard tradition based on studying the magic of the faeries and learning under the tutelage of high-ranking members of the Court of Stars. Taking its name from a fey-themed variant Druid of 3e, this would be sort of a hybrid of wizard and druid, granting access to nature-themed magic, much like the Theurgy tradition.
List of Archfey
Shadowfell:
Revenant Race - We saw this in UA already, and this would be the perfect place to present it officially.
Dhampyr/Vryloka Race - D&D needs a playable vampire. Dhampyrs are iconic gothic/dark/horror fantasy creatures, it's really surprising we've never had them. 4e actually gave us two interpretations of the archetype; the Dhampyr proper, a feat-based "template race" representing mortals tainted by vampiric ancestry, and the Vryloka, a race of humans who turned themselves into living vampires in an effort to attain vampiric power for themselves. It'd be nice to have both, as the lore is unique, but mechanically it would be hard to distinguish them. But hey, if Plane Shift can give us full-fledged vampire PCs without convoluted rules...
Fighter Subclass: Graveknight - This is one of the ideas I'm willing to admit is weak. It's mostly a necromantic equivalent to the Eldritch Knight... man, I really fell short in this part.
Cleric Subclass: Undeath Domain - I'm personally ambivalent about this; I like that wizard necromancers finally took mastery over the field of necromancy, but still, the "priestly necromancer" does have its place in D&D lore. This would be a villainous option, or at least aimed at darker heroes; worshippers of Vecna, Orcus, the Blood of Vol or... whatever that positive undead ancestor-worship faith of Eberron's elves was.
Druid Subclass: Circle of Fungus/Spores - The "creepy fungus druid" archetype could honestly fit either here or in the Feywild book, but I think the Shadowfell is the more "intuitive" fit for most people.
Sorcerer Subclass: Graveborn - I know we have the Shadow Mage for Sorcerers already, but it's more of a Shadowcaster homage than anything. This would be the necromancer option for sorcerers, the intuitive wielder of necrotic energy.
Wizard Subclass: Nethermancer - This would be the Shadowcaster wizard tradition, although I admit it may be hard to distinguish from the Shadow Magic origin for Sorcerers.
Elemental Chaos:
Norker Race - A long stretch, I know, but these stony-skinned goblinoids were denizens of the elemental chaos in 4e, and I'm just not sure of what other elemental PC races there are.
New Genasi Subraces - Genasi have a LONG history outside of the classic quartet. Ice, Storm, Magma, Ash, Plague, Void... there's so many to choose from just looking at the Paraelemental Genasi froM Dragon #247 and the variant Genasi from 4th edition. Heck, they could even throw Chinese 5 Elements style a bone by giving us Wood and Metal Genasi.
Fighter Subclass: Primordial Warden - This would be a fighter that summons elemental energy into their body and uses it to empower themselves. A nod to 4e's Warden, this guy would be all about special stances that give unique bonuses, such as a burning aura or indestructible iron skin.
Cleric Subclass: Elemental Domains - Because we have Tempest, but we don't really have the traditional earth or fire clerics available yet.
Druid Subclass: Pillar Tender - These are planar druids who focus their attention on the Pillars of Creation; the metaphysical constructs that are the umbilical cables of the world. They attempt to keep the elements in balance, to avoid things like Athas. Elemental resistances and shapeshifting.
Sorcerer Subclass: Chaostender - This would be more of a Wild Mage/Elementalist blend; a sorcerer who specializes in doing multiple damage-type elemental attacks and changing the elements around them. At higher levels, this could let them reshape things on the battle-field, whilst at low levels, they can do things like change up elemental types for their spells.
Sorcerer Subclass: Elemental Origins - This is a catch-all for the Element Sorcerer; the Aeromancer, Aquamancer, Geomancer, and Pyromancer. We've seen foundations of this in Unearthed Arcana (Stone, Sky, Sea, Phoenix) already, so this is a natural route to take.
Warlock Subclass: Archomental Patron - I'm unsure of how this would work as a generic Patron, given the Archomentals (Primordials) of 4e were a pretty varied bunch, but it could have a tinge of chaos to it; multiple elemental attacks and the like.
Warlock Subclass: Sha'ir - I'm honestly unsure of this, because one could argue that an Archomental Warlock with a Pact of the Familiar (Gen) would translate this class well.
Wizard Subclass: Elementalist - To make this different to the Elemental Sorcerers, an Elementalist Wizard is a master of ALL elements, freely using all forms of elemental power at the same time. This avoids the pitfall of "no element but Fire is combat capable" that 2e & 3e's Elementalist fell into.
List of Archomentals
