D&D 5E (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Half Elf most popular race choice in BG3

[Scribe]

Breaking out a cultural segment is at least a defensible position.

 

[Yaarel]

my point was more, 'make their flavour more than the sum of their parts' saying 'two cantrips, daily spells a skill and a tool' is incredibly bland, making them come in different combinations and from specific sources/choices builds more of a skeleton of what X species is meant to excell at else why not just chuck it all in and just have species pointbuy for everything

and yes some of those things are culturally learned and i wish there was separation between biological abilities and learned ones but i don't expect wizards to add a 4th character creation stage for which society you grew up in so it's getting lumped in with species like it always has been in 5e.

Yes of course.

Im referring to what the mechanics for the Elf entry would look like.

How a unique elven community functions in the setting, would double down on the flavor. For example, in a High culture, tree-top towns organize local militias, where every citizen serves. These militias organize into mages, warriors, and gishes. So most Elves from this culture grow up learning proficiencies that are relevant. Likewise their innate spells would cohere with their cultural needs.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Yes of course.

I simply referring to what the mechanics for the Elf entry would look like.

How a unique elven community functions in the setting, would double down on the flavor. For example, in a High culture, tree-top towns organize local militias, where every citizen serves. These militias organize into mages, warriors, and gishes. So most the Elves from this culture grow up learning proficiencies that are relevant. Likewise their innate spells would cohere with their cultural needs.

nope, sorry, you've completely lost me with what point you're trying to make?

 

[Yaarel]

nope, sorry, you've completely lost me with what point you're trying to make?

my point was more, 'make their flavour more than the sum of their parts' saying 'two cantrips, daily spells a skill and a tool' is incredibly bland, making them come in different combinations and from specific sources/choices builds more of a skeleton of what X species is meant to excell at else why not just chuck it all in and just have species pointbuy for everything

and yes some of those things are culturally learned and i wish there was separation between biological abilities and learned ones but i don't expect wizards to add a 4th character creation stage for which society you grew up in so it's getting lumped in with species like it always has been in 5e.

It is the culture that is more than the sum of the mechanical parts.

Every Elf character gets "two innate cantrips" and "slot-1 spell and slot-2 spell". Game mechanics.

But which spells the Elf chooses typically depends on the particular culture. Those Elves who live in a tree community will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment, and those Elves who live in the Underdark will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment.

I take it for granted that the 2024 Players Handbook would list a single Elf entry (mechanics), but then go into enough detail about how each prominent elven culture functions (flavor): High culture, Udadrow culture, and Wood culture.

Similarly, the section that explains how to build a multispecies character (mechanics), should detail some cultures that a Human-Elf often grows up in.

 

[Mistwell]

It is the culture that is more than the sum of the mechanical parts.

Every Elf character gets "two innate cantrips" and "slot-1 spell and slot-2 spell". Game mechanics.

But which spells the Elf chooses typically depends on the particular culture. Those Elves who live in a tree community will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment, and those Elves who live in the Underdark will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment.

I take it for granted that the 2024 Players Handbook would list a single Elf entry (mechanics), but then go into enough detail about how each prominent elven culture functions (flavor): High culture, Udadrow culture, and Wood culture.

Similarly, the section that explains how to build a multispecies character (mechanics), should detail some cultures that a Human-Elf often grows up in.

And the entire purpose of this new subsystem is so we don't use the term "sub-species"?

 

[Yaarel]

And the entire purpose of this new subsystem is so we don't use the term "sub-species"?

Kinda yeah.

It is a deep effort to rid D&D of racism, which especially plagues the D&D Elf traditions.

Thinking about "cultures" also comes with other benefits to the game.

 

[CreamCloud0]

It is the culture that is more than the sum of the mechanical parts.

Every Elf character gets "two innate cantrips" and "slot-1 spell and slot-2 spell". Game mechanics.

But which spells the Elf chooses typically depends on the particular culture. Those Elves who live in a tree community will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment, and those Elves who live in the Underdark will tend to have spells that are useful in that environment.

I take it for granted that the 2024 Players Handbook would list a single Elf entry (mechanics), but then go into enough detail about how each prominent elven culture functions (flavor): High culture, Udadrow culture, and Wood culture.

Similarly, the section that explains how to build a multispecies character (mechanics), should detail some cultures that a Human-Elf often grows up in.

so the same 'pick two cantrips' approach that we said we didn't like but more of it

 

[Micah Sweet]

so the same 'pick two cantrips' approach that we said we didn't like but more of it

Like I said, @Yaarel wants to change the rules, or more specifically, he wants WotC to change the rules for everyone to suit himself.

 

[Mistwell]

Kinda yeah.

It is a deep effort to rid D&D of racism, which especially plagues the D&D Elf traditions.

It feels like you're using a grenade to hammer in a nail.

Just change the name from sub-species to something that's more acceptable. It's not the mechanics at issue.

 

[Yaarel]

Like I said, @Yaarel wants to change the rules, or more specifically, he wants WotC to change the rules for everyone to suit himself.

Actually, I am happy with the Playtest Elf.

I think it gets it correct where the difference between one Elf and an other is the choice of spells.