D&D (2024) Monster manual Fey video up

[Micah Sweet]

No, not you specific. But I notice a general trend: if WotC does it, it is lazy, unsinspiring or whatever negative word design, if someone else does it, it is brilliant.

I think it is a perfect valid reasoning to have creatures that are removed from their origins to lose some traits.

Actually this is nothing new. In AD&D, drows who were out of the underdark for long time lost some of their traits. At least IIRC.

And back then it was also to slap a lore band-aid on splitting PCs and NPCs that are the same species. Just because TSR did it doesn't by itself make it a better idea than if WotC does it.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Do you get an advantage?

Maybe, and if so sure, a feat makes sense. But that doesn't answer my question. Why should a feat tax be the only way to play those half-species?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Should deciding to play a half-elf or a half-orc require a feat tax?

No. It is the free feat you gained from human anyway which half elves and half orcs never got. Context matters.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I don't really care about this particular issue, but I do prefer lots of inconsistencies in my RPG products. It makes it clear it is a tool a guidebook and not "rules." But I'm weird and don't expect others to feel the same.

I would be fine with that if the book was clear about it being a tool and guidebook that provided multiple ways of doing things. But that's not what they do. They change things and present them as, "This is how it is". We're already seeing that all over the 5.5 books, just like D&D has always done. The books are not presented as a bunch of options to choose from.

 

[Reynard]

Maybe, and if so sure, a feat makes sense. But that doesn't answer my question. Why should a feat tax be the only way to play those half-species?

You're real question is "why aren't half elves and half orcs available as playable species in the PHB" and the answer to that is: they decided against it. For whatever reason (and I am sure we can all think of a couple).

I am 100% certain that there are already half orc and half elf species for 2024 out there.

 

[Reynard]

I would be fine with that if the book was clear about it being a tool and guidebook that provided multiple ways of doing things. But that's not what they do. They change things and present them as, "This is how it is". We're already seeing that all over the 5.5 books, just like D&D has always done. The books are not presented as a bunch of options to choose from.

Wait, haven't you abstained from buying the 2024 books?

 

[Micah Sweet]

But probably quite a bit harder to play and to integrate in a given adventure for an average or new Player/DM.

So having that alien PCs should be an opt in, not an opt out.

You opt in by deciding to play a gith.

 

[Micah Sweet]

So the goblins that lair in the wastelands can be humanoid goblins? I.e. a specific species that have lost their connection to the Fey over time.

But without monster statblocks. Because only fey goblins get those.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

You opt in by deciding to play a gith.

Maybe, maybe not.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It was never part of the "rules" that all spells are in the PHB. Is it really surprising that some people or creatures of spells not commonly available to PCs?

Is there a way for PCs to learn those NPC spells? If not then you are breaking setting logic.