D&D General 5E species with further choices and differences

[Yaarel]

In 5E a 3rd level elf fighter looks very similar to a 3rd level human fighter.

The deemphasis of species seems intentional. The player characters are less about biological differences between species and more about the organizational differences between cultures.

In the context of 5e it is more helpful to think in terms of "origins": the background (ability improvements, proficiencies, and feat) in addition to the species. That said, the species is a hefty amount of design space, to elaborate on many posible concepts.

 

[DammitVictor]

The deemphasis of species seems intentional.

To the terrible detriment to the game, going on for almost as long as it's existed-- the game does just enough with the mechanic to get in the way, but nowhere near enough to justify its inclusion.

It's not just a WotC thing, either. It started with AD&D making race and class separate decision points-- and then adding subrace in Unearthed Arcana-- and then standardizing Fighter, Cleric, and Thief access in 2e years before Wizards removed all of the race/class restrictions in its editions. Tasha's and 2024 Core are just the final nails in the coffin.

PF1 and A5E are really the only steps i the right direction  forward as opposed to games hearkening back to the much more limiting-- but  impactful-- Classic race-as-class system.

 

[Yaarel]

To the terrible detriment to the game, going on for almost as long as it's existed-- the game does just enough with the mechanic to get in the way, but nowhere near enough to justify its inclusion.

It's not just a WotC thing, either. It started with AD&D making race and class separate decision points-- and then adding subrace in Unearthed Arcana-- and then standardizing Fighter, Cleric, and Thief access in 2e years before Wizards removed all of the race/class restrictions in its editions. Tasha's and 2024 Core are just the final nails in the coffin.

PF1 and A5E are really the only steps i the right direction  forward as opposed to games hearkening back to the much more limiting-- but  impactful-- Classic race-as-class system.

I view the recent species design an improvement.

The earlier ability score improvements were vague whence flavorless. The confusion with culture, like proficiencies with certain weapons, was awkward and cumbersome.

Now, the feat-like design space allows a species to exhibit substantial, distinctive, biological and magical traits.