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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AtomicPope" data-source="post: 6777031" data-attributes="member: 64790">The Dragon Marks are a defining characteristic of Eberron but they really didn't reach their intended function until 4e.  Dragon Marks primarily serve an economic role, creating a monopoly on professions like a hereditary guild system.  They allowed certain people to perform certain jobs free of material costs.  For example, in 4e pretty much all long range teleportation required a ritual with expensive material components.  Since House Orien doesn't need material components or ritual spell books their service costs go down considerably.  In fact, they could perform service free of charge just to undercut the competition.  That didn't really work in 3e considering Dragon Marks simply granted you the ability to cast a spell that anyone else could cast.Dragon Marks in 5e probably won't work for the same reasons.  If you look at Tieflings and Drow you'll see they pretty much have a 3e version of Dragon Marks built into their starting race package.  If you look at feats the Magic Initiate feat looks a lot like Dragon Marks too.  The problem comes when trying to justify an economic advantage for casting a spell that anyone else can cast.  That's where the kewl magic ability doesn't match the setting's fluff.</blockquote>