Because what else are cool edgelords going to play?What good is an "undead race" if you have to excise all the tropes that define undead, just to make them work mechanically as a PC race.
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Reborn can be themed as undead, or constucts, or something else. It's up to the player to decide on their nature.Reborn too. Both count as humanoid, but they’re thematically undead
Sure. Point being, they fit the bill for the most part.Reborn can be themed as undead, or constucts, or something else. It's up to the player to decide on their nature.
Nah.Werewolves?
Would they count as undead?
There wolves =>Werewolves?
Forsaken from WoW show its a very viable archetype. I'd also argue the number of various undead characters in pop culture like Sans or, well, to go with the Warcraft example, everyone's favourite banshee queen Sylvannas, have more pop-culture push than Mordenkainen these daysWhat good is an "undead race" if you have to excise all the tropes that define undead, just to make them work mechanically as a PC race.
Nah, plus well served by shiftersWerewolves?
Would they count as undead?
you got stats as they fell a bit off but could be a start?@Mind of tempest, if you're open to homebrew options, I have created two "playable undead" races for 5e that I've elaborated on in other threads. They're the Vezyi and Fehntüm (zombie/wight/ghoul-people and specter/phantom people). They were created by Vecna, who uses them as "farms" for undead bodies and souls to use in his war against the Raven Queen and Shadar-Kai.
Sans? Who?. I'd also argue the number of various undead characters in pop culture like Sans
this fellowSans? Who?
Players have always picked races because of the theme rather than mechanical advantages.A more serious answer: D&D is moving in the direction of players choosing their species because of the theme, not because it gives them mechanical advantages.
Now that we're going with stat mods as being whatever you want, it's easy to see how people are picking more on theme.
It depends on what they gain in return but I agree "we can't heal undead" is a thing that would be a pretty important foundational element even if said undead were created by the Odakry Rites & living as a resident of fort bones or fort zombie & protected by the code of kaius. For 6e to include undead as a playable race I think it would need to include a spell like the repair light/moderate/serious/critical wounds spells warforge had in 3.x or it would feel very off to me.I don't disagree. But "is harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy" is a pretty damn big part of the Undead theme. Removing it for the sake of unification would actually make me less eager to play an undead character.
But anyway, I don't see "undead" as a race or a species: it's a state.
I'm just not sure it is for most people.I don't disagree. But "is harmed by positive energy and healed by negative energy" is a pretty damn big part of the Undead theme.
positive energy deathless still require life energy from the living, it's just donated somewhat more freely than what most undead takeI'm just not sure it is for most people.
It's a mechanic, more than anything thematic. Further, it's been completely inconsistent across the editions, and there have always been weird things like "Positive Energy Undead" or undead who aren't harmed by CLW or the like knocking around.
I think it's mostly older D&D players who think of it as important or thematic, and with no insult, that's not really the focus of D&D going forwards.
Sans of Undertale fame, won the Tumblr sexyman vote, noted for his battle song being played in front of the Pope, most unexpected character to be added to Super Smash Brothers even with Banjo Kazooie, Ridley, K. Rool, Sephiroth and Sora finally making it inSans? Who?
Honestly, in my opinion, if your "going" to do an undead race for now with regular 5E material, I would say at least jack the Reborn's Deathless Nature feature and slap it on there along with the Hollowed One supernatural gift. You and the DM would have to work the healing out or just jack the Autognome's healing work around.
I am hoping that one of the new pc race types in the upcoming future is either Undead OR an Aberration.
3e went hard on negative energy heals undead, positive damages them.I'm just not sure it is for most people.
It's a mechanic, more than anything thematic. Further, it's been completely inconsistent across the editions, and there have always been weird things like "Positive Energy Undead" or undead who aren't harmed by CLW or the like knocking around.
I think it's mostly older D&D players who think of it as important or thematic, and with no insult, that's not really the focus of D&D going forwards.