D&D (2024) D&D species article

[Kobold Stew]

I think @DEFCON 1 has the right of it here. Species have always been underwhelming in 5e, so these revised versions also being underwhelming is… I mean, it’s not great, but it’s also no significant loss. Species is primarily an aesthetic choice with the equivalent benefits of a few extra spells per day. And that’s fine. Boring, but fine.

For ten years, this design team has not really been interested in races/species -- it has always felt like an afterthought, and it has never been well implemented.

At the same time, they tried to do something new and cool in the playtest (Aardlings) and the fanbase rejected it. So they have been disincentivized from putting in the thought to innovation.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think @DEFCON 1 has the right of it here. Species have always been underwhelming in 5e, so these revised versions also being underwhelming is… I mean, it’s not great, but it’s also no significant loss. Species is primarily an aesthetic choice with the equivalent benefits of a few extra spells per day. And that’s fine. Boring, but fine.

That's my general opinion of WotC 5e: boring, but fine. Not enough for me anymore to really enjoy, but ok in a pinch.

 

[Scribe]

For ten years, this design team has not really been interested in races/species -- it has always felt like an afterthought, and it has never been well implemented.

At the same time, they tried to do something new and cool in the playtest (Aardlings) and the fanbase rejected it. So they have been disincentivized from putting in the thought to innovation.

Fizban Dragonborn, Astral Elf, MotM Eladrin. Its not like Wizards doesnt know how to do work, they just...cannot be consistent.

Aardlings had a number of reasons to be rejected.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I think @DEFCON 1 has the right of it here. Species have always been underwhelming in 5e, so these revised versions also being underwhelming is… I mean, it’s not great, but it’s also no significant loss. Species is primarily an aesthetic choice with the equivalent benefits of a few extra spells per day. And that’s fine. Boring, but fine.

Before, you played a “typical” version of a dwarf or elf and modern players hated that. So to fix it you remove most things that made a “race” unique. Boring, but no longer typical. I guess.

Modern D&D is much much MUCH more about class now anyways. Which comes off as flavorless with all its flavor.

“When everyone is special blah blah blah”

 

[Scribe]

Before, you played a “typical” version of a dwarf or elf and modern players hated that.

Did they? Or did a small segment make a disproportionate amount of noise on social media?

 

[ezo]

Eh in my opinion not really. The changes are not that big.

Which is the reason why it falls flat on it's face IMO.

But are they demonstrably better? If not, "fall on their face" is still a viable opinion.

Pretty much this.

 

[Charlaquin]

Did they? Or did a small segment make a disproportionate amount of noise on social media?

I do think a significant portion of newer players disliked ability score increases tied to race. I think for most of them, that was just because they didn’t like that it made certain race/class combinations less optimal than others, and the concerns about racist implications were from a relatively small portion of those players. I think most just want to be able to play their orc wizard or halfling barbarian or whatever without feeling like they’re hobbling their own character’s combat potential.

 

[DarkCrisis]

Did they? Or did a small segment make a disproportionate amount of noise on social media?

Does it matter? It worked.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Does it matter? It worked.

It doesn't matter as far as results go, but I would argue that intentions make a difference.

 

[Scribe]

Does it matter? It worked.

Clearly not in regards to the end result, but yeah it matters to me that the direction of the game was warped into something more bland.