D&D 5E criteria for new races to be added to the PHB

[gyor]

Okay so playable Goblins stats have appeared in 3 different books, 3 or more settings, possible with more to come. Bugbears, Hobgoblins, Goliaths, have appeared twice. Deep Gnomes stats have appeared 3 times. Playable Aasimar have published twice (although with different stats), they have gotten mentions in Wayfarer's Guide, Volo's Guide, the DMG, the SCAG.

If you keep reprinting a playing race or subrace or they keep popping up in multiple settings in a playable context, it's a sign that they should have been put into the PHB in the first place. I mean why are their races like humans, Dwarves, ect..., in the PHB? because its more effient to put them in the core player book instead of reprinting the core races and core subraces endlessly.

Imagine having reprint playable human, Dwarf, Elf, Halfling,,ect..., rules in every setting book or other book where they meant to be playable. That would be terrible.its so much more effient to put them in the PHB, a central book. And remember each race actually take up a small amount of page space compared to class or alot of other stuff.

So Goblins, Deep Gnomes, and Aasimar should be in the PHB, possible other races as well.

 

[Hriston]

Those races aren’t evocative of the classic game or any prior edition (except maybe deep gnomes, which I believe have been added to the Basic Rules), so no they don’t.

 

[delphonso]

I'd say goblins are pretty exemplary of generic fantasy, though. I believe they should be added, honestly - especially if as OP says, they're commonly included in setting books and have been printed so many times.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

I see where you're coming from but... I prefer keeping the PHB list of races fairly trim and close to the "Classic D&D Mix." For me, the fact that not all settings contain the same races is something that makes those particular settings that do special.

However, I'm also not particularly opposed to it either... As long as it doesn't increase the page count and therefore cost of the PHB. It's a big enough $$$ leap for beginners already.

 

[Doc_Klueless]

I'd say goblins are pretty exemplary of generic fantasy, though. I believe they should be added, honestly - especially if as OP says, they're commonly included in setting books and have been printed so many times.

I love playing goblin PCs. Love it. But I wouldn't want them available as a baseline PC race. However, that opinion should be taken with a grain of salt as I don't much like having half-orcs in the PHB as well.

But it's something I could live with so... heh.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Shoulda coulda woulda. Doesn't matter, it's too late. Maybe for 6E.

 

[gyor]

I see where you're coming from but... I prefer keeping the PHB list of races fairly trim and close to the "Classic D&D Mix." For me, the fact that not all settings contain the same races is something that makes those particular settings that do special.

However, I'm also not particularly opposed to it either... As long as it doesn't increase the page count and therefore cost of the PHB. It's a big enough $$$ leap for beginners already.

I point out that not all settings include PHB races and given D&D is expanding to include MtG settings, even humans aren't in very Setting! (Humans are not present in the Shadowmoor Setting). Gnomes and Half Orcs are not present in Darksun, and Dragonborn got repurposed to represent the Dray in 4e so I don't know if that counts. Demihumans aren't present usually in many Domains of Ravenloft.

 

[delphonso]

Uncommon races, as per RAW, aren't necessary to include at all. So really the only 'guarantees' are dwarf, human, elf, and halfling.

Anyway, to return to point;

I think the criteria could be pretty simple:
1. Races should be reasonably playable by a new player (heavy RP races like Drow, or weird ones like Lizardfolk shouldn't be there.)
2. Races should be appropriate for most settings and adventures (Warforged not being included is a good thing. Maybe goblins fall here.)
3. Races should bring something to the table. (Half-orc and Goliath are basically the same.)

 

[Parmandur]

In the event of 6E introducing a revised PHB, I'd lay decent odds that Goblins might end up included. Not sufficient reason for an alteration to the PHB, though. It didn't take up much space in either Ravnica or Eberron, since the setting fluff for Goblinoids needed to be provided anyway.

 

[gyor]

If you include Devas as a weird type of Aasimar as FR does, Aasimar appear in a player context in Planescape, Nentir Vale, Eberron, Urban Arcana and Faerun, possibly others, plus multisetting generic products like Races of Destiny.

Goblins have been published in 5e alone 3 times, they have a history of being published as playable race in previous editions as well, for multiple settings. And for MtG settings Goblins often are a core race.

Genasi are a race in Forgotten Realms, Planescape, Eberron in the past, Nentir Vale, and possibly others, and in generic setting neutral products.

Gith appear in Planescape, Forgotten Realms, Darksun, Spelljammer.

Shifters appear in Eberron, Nentir Vale, and the Forgotten Realms promiently.

And most of these races make sense for Greyhawk.