D&D (2024) D&D species article

[Henadic Theologian]

I mean, at least for half-elves, if indeed you get to choose one parent's traits, it's just a reversion to the original Tolkien concept of a half-elf - you have to choose whether you're human or elf in the end. It's just that there will be no Valar coming along to force you to make the choice though - unless you as the DM want to do it that way!

This isn't Tolkien's elves, it's D&D elves and they work different.

 

[Guest 7037866]

Once again 2024 falls flat on its face...

 

[Remathilis]

I was hoping that the Aasimar were going to be like the newest version of the Tiefling in that they would also come in three different varieties. One for angels, one for archons and lastly one for Guardinals. I really don't understand WoTC's fixation on angel-descended Aasimar, especially when there have been a number of other Celestial types in the past couple of D&D editions. Switching between Celestial Revelations doesn't really interest me.

I'm kinda thankful they aren't. Going by the ardling, the different lineages of aasimar would have been cantrip/1st lvl spell/2nd lvl spell like elf and tiefling are. Celestial revelation at least provides a unique mechanic.

 

[Kobold Stew]

In the last UA, dragonborn gained dark vision. That is not mentioned here, so I assume that is no longer true.

Possibly -- we just don't know. I'd support another species not having darkvision, personally.

But the Aasimar shows us there is no reason to believe that the list in the article is complete.

 

[Remathilis]

Possibly -- we just don't know. I'd support another species not having darkvision, personally.

But the Aasimar shows us there is no reason to believe that the list in the article is complete.

I would agree, but the 2014/Fizban dragonborn did not have darkvision, while the UA version added it. Since it it not mentioned as a change from 2014, I am assuming it was not included.

As another example: the elves from MotM got two tool/weapon proficiencies (and the astral elf a skill and a tool/weapon) as part of their Trance. This was not part of the 2014 elf so it would be new to high/wood/dark elves, but it is again not discussed. So, I assume the free proficiencies swappable on a long rest are gone. (This helps make those four elves superior to the PHB elves, so I suspect they are getting the nerf bat pretty quickly).

 

[Kobold Stew]

I would agree, but the 2014/Fizban dragonborn did not have darkvision, while the UA version added it. Since it it not mentioned as a change from 2014, I am assuming it was not included.

Fair. As I say, for me that's a win.

As another example: the elves from MotM got two tool/weapon proficiencies (and the astral elf a skill and a tool/weapon) as part of their Trance. This was not part of the 2014 elf so it would be new to high/wood/dark elves, but it is again not discussed. So, I assume the free proficiencies swappable on a long rest are gone. (This helps make those four elves superior to the PHB elves, so I suspect they are getting the nerf bat pretty quickly).

Yes. This was not part of the UA playtest either; I suspect you are right.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Not much new info, other than a confirmation that they dropped the idea of Dwarves getting gods given tool proficiencies.

Did they replace it with anything? It seems a lot of these initiatives just remove stuff.

 

[Micah Sweet]

With the usual caveat of not having seen the full picture...

I'm pretty much disappointed with all of them.

Dragonborn is an upgrade from 2014, but Fizban 's versions are better.

Dwarf trades all their extra abilities for .. a few minutes of tremorsense. RIP mountain dwarf.

Halflings are just all light feet now. RIP stout.

Goliaths lost athletes. Orcs lost powerful build.

Aasimar can change their celestial choice whenever, but gnome, elf, tiefling and goliaths still have subraces (I'm sorry, lineages).

Elf is a travesty. Apparently the trance proficiencies are gone, subraces are three bonus spells and you get a choice of three proficiencies (who are we kidding, perception is the best one).

Also, RIP to all the "subraces" that weren't in the core books. You're either so much better than the core race options or no longer usable. RIP ghostwise halflings, sea elves, eladrin, shadar-kai, duergar, snirfneblin, variant tieflings and Fizban dragonborn.

Oh, and pour one out for the half elf and half orc. Told you there would be no replacement system. Hope the DMG has more info, but not counting on it.

For all the praise I have for the revisions to the classes, I have as much disdain for their handing of species. Monsters of the Multiverse was perfection; they just needed to add the PHB species in that style and they would be great. But I wager we'll get a revised MotM soon so they can beat the everliving hell out of those species too.

Obligatory comment from me on how much better Level Up is about this aspect of the game, as IMO it is in many other areas.

I kid, but here at least it is an order of magnitude better than whatever fear-induced choices from WotC led to this...thing.

 

[Micah Sweet]

They do now get Pass Without Trace for free at 5th level. Not the same, of course, but I am sure Mask of the Wild and Naturally Stealthy caused WotC a lot of headaches with how their existence implied certain things about the how the stealth rules must work for everyone else (i.e. that light obscuration or cover due to a larger creature are not sufficient conditions to try to hide unless you have those traits), which might not have been fully thought out or intended.

I hate Pass Without Trace. Way too big a bonus, so it becomes another way to ignore the exploration pillar.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I'm one of the lucky ones who has always found all the species mechanics to be so fricking lame to begin with that exchanging old lame mechanics with different lame mechanics in this new book does not matter to me in the slightest.

But to be fair, you are on record as not really caring about the rules at all.