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

[Scribe]

In the context of "biological traits", it is polymorph magic, learned and cultural.

Polymorph has literally nothing to do with a Sea Elf breathing water. Nor is it a spell, a cantrip, or a culturally learned ability.

It is innate, biologically distinct.

 

[Yaarel]

Which, for the people at home, is literally, factually, objectively NOT the innate ability to breath water which the 2024 compatible release of the Sea Elf, has and is 'born with'.

Because its not cultural, its biological.

The Elf is born with innate cantrips.

It is easy to say, the newborn exhibits the same cantrips as the mother (who bonds with a specific environment), but the childs innate cantrips can develop different spells later in life.

 

[Yaarel]

Polymorph has literally nothing to do with a Sea Elf breathing water. Nor is it a spell, a cantrip, or a culturally learned ability.

It is innate, biologically distinct.

Are you just not hearing people's very legitimate objections to this? I'm honestly confused at this point.

I said polymorph magic − shapeshifting, transmutation − it covers many spells, rituals, and forms of magic.

And one can learn how to do it.

It can easily be, the Sea Elf performs a "ritual" to ensure a newborns cantrips include Waterbreathing.



And again, the Sea Elf might actually be an Elf/Triton multispecies.

 

[Scribe]

The Elf is born with innate cantrips.

Thats right, its a magical species, and its various offshoots developed an innate ability to cast different spells, and developed different biological attributes and features.

Because they are not all the same.

I said polymorph magic − shapeshifting, transmutation − it covers many spells and forms of magic.

And one can learn how to do it.

They could, meanwhile some features have nothing to do with casting spells, and are biologically innate.

Like a newborn Sea Elf drawing its first breath of water.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

If members of a culture typically learn the Waterbreathing spell, then breathing under water is cultural.

Where Sea Elf is typically born with an innate Waterbreathing cantrip, that is cultural.


It is worth mentioning again, the unique situation of the Sea Elf could mean it is a multispecies community, whose ancestors are Elf and Triton.

This doesn't resonate with me at all. Waterbreathing for undersea creatures is an inherent species thing, not a cultural cantrip that has a duration or can be dispelled.

Tritons, Merfolk, Sahuagin, and other underwater breathing species are not Sea Elves.

I cannot get on board with your efforts to completely redefine "cultural."

 

[Yaarel]

This doesn't resonate with me at all. Waterbreathing for undersea creatures is an inherent species thing, not a cultural cantrip that has a duration or can be dispelled.

Tritons, Merfolk, Sahuagin, and other underwater breathing species are not Sea Elves.

I cannot get on board with your efforts to completely redefine "cultural."

It depends on the spell description of the cantrip. A Waterbreathing cantrip can easily be "always on".


In a world of magic, culture includes cultures of magic.

Similarly in reallife, in a world of technology, culture includes cultures of technology.

Consider genetically modifying an ovum to cure known illnesses. This would be a cultural phenomenon that directly alters biology.

Likewise, implanting a computer chip into the brain. Culture.

 

[Scribe]

I cannot get on board with your efforts to completely redefine "cultural."

Yeah this aspect is particularly weird. We do not get to just reinvent and redefine words.

It depends on the spell description of the cantrip. A Waterbreathing cantrip can easily be "always on".

Your near singular vision is not a design bible, and introduces as many 'issues' as it 'fixes'.

Sea Elves breath water. Wood Elves run faster. Drow see better.

Biologically distinct elements of different entities.

 

[Remathilis]

What I'm reading here is that Tasha's is the problem. I agree. [emoji6]

That's not what I said. Try again.

 

[Scribe]

 

[Yaarel]

Yeah this aspect is particularly weird. We do not get to just reinvent and redefine words.


Your near singular vision is not a design bible, and introduces as many 'issues' as it 'fixes'.

Sea Elves breath water. Wood Elves run faster. Drow see better.

Biologically distinct elements of different entities.

Water Breathing is a spell.
Longstrider is a spell.
Darkvision is a spell.

Transmuting biology is magic.

Learning new magic is cultural.


Alternatively, the Sea Elf can be a Triton/Elf multispecies.