D&D (2024) How to import "race" flavor into D&D 2024 inclusively

[Incenjucar]

Travel for pilgrimages/tourism was actually fairly common. Remember that a huge chunk of our stereotypes of the world prior to the modern era have turned out to be false.

 

[Yaarel]

It is fair to say most premodern humans never left their local environment in their entire life.

The factors that encourage traveling include:
• Nomadic hunter-gatherers without dependence on local field crops for food
• Natural disasters, such as famine, forcing population migration
• Traderoutes of useful resources and products, by land and sea

The greatest factor for human travel is the rise of the predatory economies of empires:
• Conquest of distant locales to seize and control their resources
• Exile and forced population transfers to subjugate populations
• Conscription and mobilization of foreign armies
• Centralized organization of resources and traderoutes

 

[Yaarel]

Here is a tentative writeup for the Orc species, and for it, setting-specific cultural backgrounds. The design goal is to preserve D&D traditional flavors for Orc while avoiding racist stereotypes. I also tweak the Orc species description. The species needs to be as setting-neutral as possible, to plug as-is into any D&D setting, especially any homebrew setting. Meanwhile it is important to decouple the entire Orc species from the flavor of the "undeniably Evil" Gruumsh. Oppositely, the setting-specific backgrounds dig deep into the default Forgotten Realms setting flavor, with some adaptation to highlight distinctive cultural groups. Using the Players Handbook for a setting other than Forgotten Realms is a matter of removing and adding pertinent backgrounds. A background is a building block. The cultures and worlds are made out of backgrounds. Backgrounds are the details and flavors of a setting, coming to life as player-facing options. For the Orc species description, I add the Advantage mechanic to the Adrenaline Rush trait, in order to apply it to more circumstances including social and intellectual challenges. Here adrenaline includes heightened focus, such as analyzing a clue or engaging a social challenge like speaking in front of an audience. Here the Orc Size can be Large. (I feel the Human should be able too. Large and Small Humans are rare but they exist and are obviously human.) Large has no mechanics in itself, but other mechanics might refer to it. (Exactly the how to balance Large Size can be figured out elsewhere − and its balance needs to be figured out anyway.)



S P E C I E S


ORC

Spoiler: Orc Species Description

Orcs are a Humanoid species of Giant, relating to Ogre. Comparing to other Giants, they enjoy a reputation for being smaller and fiercer, with extraordinary resilience, determination, and quick response.

Comparing to other Humanoids, Orcs tend toward tall and massive. The complexions can be any shade of greenish, especially grayish, and ranging from pale to dark. The ears are small and slightly pointy. Prominent lower canines protrude upward like small tusks. The nose tends toward flat and narrow.

Orcs often experience sudden and profound surges of adrenaline. They channel their spikes of power to face any challenge, to focus concentration, meet new people, do financial trading, engage competitive sports, seek the thrills of a daredevil stunt, urgently escape danger, and fight. Many Orcs relish in the intensity of life, while some seek out tranquility.


ORC TRAITS

Creature Type: Humanoid Giant
Size: About 7 feet tall on average, Medium (5−8 feet) or Large (8−9 feet)
Speed: 30 feet
Lifespan: Adulthood around 20 with life expectancy about 80 years on average

As an Orc, you have these special traits.

Adrenaline Rush. You surge with sudden energy. You gain advantage on all d20 tests until your next turn, gain a number of Temporary Hit Points equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and can take the Dash Action as a Bonus Action. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your Proficiency Bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a Long Rest. When you choose, your eyes can glow red during the round of your Rush.

Darkvision. You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.

Powerful Build. The body is massive. You count as Large Size when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can lift, push, or drag.

Relentless Endurance. Your resilience is astonishing. When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 Hit Point instead. Once you use this trait, you cant do so again until you finish a Long Rest.

B A C K G R O U N D S


Orc Mountainer Hulgorkyn Cultural Backgrounds

[Nomadic hunter-gatherer cultures, animism, primal, elementalism, but adding a "typically Chaotic Evil" Orcus faction]

Spoiler: Orc Mountainer Hulgorkyn Backgrounds

MOUNTAIN NOMAD

Ability Scores Increase: Intelligence, Strength
Skill Proficiencies: Nature, Athletics
Toolset Proficiency: Cook, Mason, Painter, Potter, Weaver, or Woodcarver
Language: Giant (Hulgorkyn Orcish Dialect)
Feat: Elemental Touched

The Orc is a Humanoid Giant species, relating to the Ogre. The species originates in the northwest of the continent of Faerun, at the Rauvin Mountains, northeast from the High Forest. Today, the Mountainer cultures of the indigenous Orcs flourish across most mountain ranges in Northwest Faerun, including Nether, World Spine, and Sword. These animistic nomads continue ancient ways of life while adapting to new challenges. Typically, the Mountainers travel on foot as an extended family, a kinship averaging about 26 people, such as 10 adults, yet ranging from about 4 to 100 people depending on scarcity to abundance. Many adopt Nonorc species as family members. Each kinship migrates seasonally around its own route of sites across several mountain ranges. They dwell in hand-crafted tents, tho some families circuit permanent structures. Altho migrating several mountain ranges, each kinship tends to consider one mountain range home, where they bury their dead and visit their sacred ancestor ancestors. Mountainers tend to preserve a native Old Faith that lacks gods and temples. They recognize the various features of Material nature − the shapes of rocks, the flowing streams, the blanketing night − as living mindful persons, who are members kinships that are part of the Mountainer communities. To respect, care for, and protect each member of ones community is a sacred duty. Each kinship develops personal relationships with particular natural phenomena.

ELEMENTAL TOUCHED
Background Feat
Your companionship with the neighboring minds of nature, the landscapes and the weather patterns, imbues you with Elemental affinity. You know the Commune with Nature spell and can cast it without a spell slot out to 90 feet. You can cast it this way again after a Long Rest. You also gain a cantrip of your choice, whose effect you can personalize to express your attunement with rocks, waters, winds, lights in the sky, and plants. You can cast the spell and the cantrip innately (without spell components and with chosen casting ability, including when using any spell slots to cast it).


RAUVIN HUNTER

Ability Scores Increase: Strength, Wisdom
Skill Proficiencies: Athletics and one from Perception, Survival, or Animal Handling
Toolset Proficiency: Cook, Leatherworker, or Rider of a Mount
Language: Giant (Hulgorkyn Orcish Dialect)
Feat: Savage Attacker (your Unarmed Strike Damage increases to your Strength + 1d6 bludgeoning or slashing, and you can also use this Unarmed Strike Damage for your Savage Attacks instead of a Weapon)

The indigenous Orc culture of the Rauvin Mountains traditionally hunts animals by wrestling and subduing them with bare hands. Every part of the animal is used, whether for food or other resources. Some kinships hunt regularly this way. Many kinships of the Rauvin tribe and of other Mountainer cultures across other mountain ranges do this hunt as an annual sacred event, to celebrate physical power and daring. It is common to see Nonorc Humanoids also participate in these events. Also, many hunters learn to wrangle and ride bareback the larger wild animals, gaining a friend to help them hunt.


MANY-ARROWS HEALER

Ability Scores Increase: Wisdom, Intelligence
Skill Proficiencies: Medicine and either Survival or Nature
Toolset Proficiency: Herbalist
Language: Giant (Hulgorkyn Orcish Dialect)
Feat: Chef
Alignment: Typically Good

Many-Arrows is an Orc tribe that is native along the World Spine mountain range in the far northwest of the continent of Faerun. They are one of the nomadic Mountainer Orc cultures, but after winning lengthy territorial wars, some of the kinships of the Many-Arrows tribe are in a process of settling down, building towns, and recently forming the Monarchy of Many-Arrows. Kinships from other Orc cultures and even other Humanoid species are also becoming citizens of this tribal nation. Many-Arrows healers tend to blend sacred ancestral healing customs, with recent healing techniques that the other cultures introduce. The medical training includes finding and preparing various plants, and applying balms and dosages appropriately, to enhance the activities of the body. They treat all ill and injured, first the members of ones own kinship who are often healers as well, then any others who they can. They also fortify hunters and warriors for their upcoming efforts.


ORCUS INITIATE

Ability Scores Increase: Wisdom, Intelligence
Skill Proficiencies: Religion, Arcana
Toolset Proficiency: Poisoner
Language: Abyssal
Feat: Shadow Touched (without score increase) or Undead Companion
Alignment: Typically Chaotic Evil

Orcus the Fiend of Undeath is taboo among many Mountainer Orc cultures. Folkbeliefs and cautionary tales feature it. Mountainers tend to view reincarnation within the Material Plane as the natural cycle, and Orcus waits to capture those whose lives go wrong. Traditionally, Mountainers visit their sacred burial sites to share love with their ancestral parents, and sometimes to seek advice their nearby incarnations as the dust of the earth and as the breaths of the sky. Once buried, it is forbidden to disturb their bodily remains. For curiosity, to freeze ones reincarnation, or to inflict horrifying vengeance, some individuals and some outcast families seek out Orcus among the desecrations of the resting dead. These necromancers, often powerful, terrify many Mountainers. A group of necromancers often band together as an adoptive kinship of gloom and rot and decaying tents, with Undead members among them. There are tales of a Negative Journey, thru a Shadow Crossing into the underworld, and from there a place into the Deep Shadow, where Orcus arrives to meet the necromancers.

UNDEAD COMPANION
Background Feat
Your desecrating the dead draws the attention of undeath, which changes you. You know the Find Familiar spell. You can cast it as a necromancy, as an action without a spell slot. When you do so, you must have the corpse, at least the bones, of the qualifying Beast before you. Its mindfulness awakens and animates its remains. It is an Undead, but otherwise conforms to the statistics of the Find Familiar spell. Additionally, when you take the Attack action, you can forgo one of your own attacks to allow your familiar to make one of its own attacks with its Reaction. At level 3, your familiar can instead be a Skeleton of Medium Size (upto 9 feet tall), whose corpse is before you and whose mind is willing. Note, the corpse can be of a newly fallen member of your party. The Skeleton has an independent will and can refuse your commands, behaving as it normally would, as a mockery of its former life. You can cast this spell in this way again after a Long Rest, but only one familiar at a time.

Orc Grasslander Daraktan Cultural Backgrounds

[Farming cultures, national armies, polytheism, divine, but adding a "typically Chaotic Evil" Gruumsh faction]

. . .


Orc Underdarker Orog Cultural Backgrounds

[City cultures, technology, transcendent monotheism, enlightenment, arcane, but adding a "typically Neutral Evil" faction]

. . .

 

[Incenjucar]

Millions of people a year went on pilgrimages.

 

[DarkCrisis]

we are at the point where they just have something like "Add +2 to a stat, pick a feat, and call yourself whatever you want."

"I'm a Wood Dwarf with dragons blood cause my grandpa isw a dragon, I have +2 to INT, and I picked the luck feat."

 

[Yaarel]

we are at the point where they just have something like "Add +2 to a stat, pick a feat, and call yourself whatever you want."

"I'm a Wood Dwarf with dragons blood cause my grandpa isw a dragon, I have +2 to INT, and I picked the luck feat."

To be fair, even that character concept can make sense. Dragons are serpents, snakes with unblinking eyes, all seeing, and this sense highly perceptive and intelligent. Hence the high Intelligence. Dwarves can also be intelligent, such as Alvíss. Dwarves are aspects of fates, and known for their curses. Hence the Lucky feat. It is even a thing, one of the famous dragons is actually the dwarf Fáfnir who shapeshifts into this dragon form. The character is a descendant? It is a reasonable concept.

For me what matters most is customizability, and the possibility of having the mechanics and flavor match each other. And gaming balance.

 

[Incenjucar]

To be fair, even that character concept can make sense. Dragons are serpents, snakes with unblinking eyes, all seeing, and this sense highly perceptive and intelligent. Hence the high Intelligence. Dwarves can also be intelligent, such as Alvíss. Dwarves are aspects of fates, and known for their curses. Hence the Lucky feat. It is even a thing, one of the famous dragons is actually the dwarf Fáfnir who shapeshifts into this dragon form. The character is a descendant? It is a reasonable concept.

For me what matters most is customizability, and the possibility of having the mechanics and flavor match each other. And gaming balance.

Excellent example of one of the big reasons for flexibility - fantasy is so much bigger than any one room full of designers can fathom. Creating a narrow ruleset gets you a narrow world with narrow influences. There are more vampires out there than hopping ones, and more trolls than those that turn to stone, etc.

 

[DarkCrisis]

I was going to write a lengthy post about how over complicated making a character has gotten and looks to be even more so for 5.5E but eh, if you want simple that’s what OSR is for.

I still say 5E is rapidly approaching 3Es level of over complicated mess in certain aspects.

 

[Vikingkingq]

Travel for pilgrimages/tourism was actually fairly common. Remember that a huge chunk of our stereotypes of the world prior to the modern era have turned out to be false.

This is accurate. There was a decent amount of travel for pilgrimages, although that was economically gated, as the supply of lodging/food was often rather limited prior to the emergence of inns as opposed to taverns, so it could be quite expensive - hence why you see both bandits and pirates preying on pilgrims (because they had cash on hand), and military forces to protect pilgrims (likewise).

What is more accurate is that there was less long-term migration. If you were a serf, you legally couldn't move - people did run away, but it could be quite risky. However, even if you were a free peasant, migration could be made quite difficult because labor and housing were primarily organized through traditional fixed tenancies in rural areas or through guilds in urban areas. This made it difficult to find a new job and a new place to live.

 

[Yaarel]

I was going to write a lengthy post about how over complicated making a character has gotten and looks to be even more so for 5.5E but eh, if you want simple that’s what OSR is for.

I still say 5E is rapidly approaching 3Es level of over complicated mess in certain aspects.

I feel having a readymade solves this problem. Such as, "gain this specific spell or an other spell of your choice". Those that want to finetune can do the work, those that want to get on with it can use the default. Meanwhile, the default is a powerful way to influence the perception of the species or other option, and the expectations for it. So the design decisions for the default must be judicious.

Part of the mess of 3e was the entangling prerequisites. I hope 5e continues to minimize any prerequisites beyond the blatantly obvious.