D&D (2024) New Jeremy Crawford Interviews

[Remathilis]

Since they're specifying that the '14 versions are still usable because nothing in the '24 PHB is "replacing" them, I wonder if that means the "Pick-a-Parent" system didn't make it in at all, or if it's just been allocated to a book further down the line (perhaps the DMG). In spite of my general grouching on this subject, I don't actually have anything against "Pick-a-Parent" in and of itself, I just feel that it's a partial solution at best and needs to be bolstered by something more robust.

My guess.

Pick-a-parent will the the PHB "default" option for players/DMs who don't want to mess with the rules.
The 2014 options will be available to players who have access to older material.
WotC will probably create some system in a future supplement for people who want a meatier combination system (in a book where they can give that room and time).

The only players who would be locked out are ones whose DM's only will allow the 2024 PHB (and nothing else) and if that's your DM, you probably have bigger problems than half-elf access.

 

[Parmandur]

Question: Instead of looking at spellcasters for how to "improve" the paladin, why not take some inspiration from the monk?

Smite could have been powered by a limited pool of "piety points." If you want a handful of actual spells, have those also powered by the points -in the same way the 4 Elements monk could produce spell-like effects (or maybe even in the same way that the Sorcerer could turn points into spell slots).

The auras, channel divinity, and etc could all stay mostly as is.

You of course realize that Focus Points are also just Spell Slots, cinvertrd using the Spell Point variant...?

 

[Chaosmancer]

Got another one from Dungeon Dudes, really appreciate that this round of PR has helped me find some gamer channels that are not toxic weirdos:

D'oh. SHould have known it would be on page two.

Still, love the Dungeon Dudes content, they rarely get into things I haven't heard of before, but they bring a great energy to the various discussions

 

[jerryrice4949]

I mean, none of it is untrue. Half-elf and half-orc are still entirely playable according to the guidelines we’ve been told the new PHB gives on using older content, and they did use those extra two species slots to bring more diverse species into the PHB. I only say it “feels like there’s some spin going on” because he doesn’t acknowledge the presumption that they didn’t want to include “half-species” for sensitivity reasons. Can’t say I blame him.

Yes. And if we are being honest it has been a long time since describing a race as ‘half’ anything has been appropriate.

 

[Veltharis ap Rylix]

Not in modern WotC D&D. Apparently everyone in the worlds of D&D loves tieflings now.

A preview video on the new tieflings by Pointy Hat from a month or so back confirmed that the "everyone loves tieflings now" thing has been reverted.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Well, glad Crawford acknowledged "half-elves" and "half-orcs", at least.

Since they're specifying that the '14 versions are still usable because nothing in the '24 PHB is "replacing" them, I wonder if that means the "Pick-a-Parent" system didn't make it in at all, or if it's just been allocated to a book further down the line (perhaps the DMG). In spite of my general grouching on this subject, I don't actually have anything against "Pick-a-Parent" in and of itself, I just feel that it's a partial solution at best and needs to be bolstered by something more robust.

Intentionally or not (and to give the designers credit, almost certainly not), "Pick-a-Parent" is a tool that feels like it encourages a "wide, but shallow" approach to mixed ancestry characters - you can play any mix you can imagine, so long as they don't have the generational "depth" that might warrant "speciation" (i.e. being treated as a distinct species option and given their own distinct mechanics). Lots of first-gen mixed individuals, no cohesive societies with a shared mixed heritage.

Ultimately, though, "use the old stats" is just a stopgap. It's never been a question of where to get the mechanics - I can homebrew just fine, and like they suggest, the old stats still work for "half-elves/orcs" - but rather the world-building implications of those mechanics being deliberately left behind, particularly on settings like Eberron. "Pick-a-Parent" may well work fine for "half-elves" in FR or Dragonlance, but it's a torpedo when pointed at Eberron's Khoravar.

It is also possible (though I have few stakes in the arguments) that they were planning the "Pick-a-Parent" but when they realized they were keeping all of the old stuff, and that Custom Lineage is still an option, that it didn't make sense to call it out anymore.

 

[Oofta]

I wonder how long they will remain in Beyond, or if a new DM likes the idea...will they be able to recreate the half-elf mechanically for their campaign?

Several monsters that had new versions are still there, just marked as legacy. I'm assuming many other things will be marked the same.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Question: Instead of looking at spellcasters for how to "improve" the paladin, why not take some inspiration from the monk?

Smite could have been powered by a limited pool of "piety points." If you want a handful of actual spells, have those also powered by the points -in the same way the 4 Elements monk could produce spell-like effects (or maybe even in the same way that the Sorcerer could turn points into spell slots).

The auras, channel divinity, and etc could all stay mostly as is.

Because making Divine Smite work in line with every single other smite spell in the paladin toolbox (And raising the profile of those spells was ALSO a goal) is far less disruptive than making an entire monk-inspired piety point system solely for smites.

 

[Scribe]

Just think of it as "combining to fit more options in the PHB"; like combining all the planetouched or small races into a single option...

If there was a Human -> Half-Elf option, and that was the alignment structure for the species options sure. There isnt though.

 

[Minigiant]

For me, the two half-races were a way to explore the struggles of mixed heritages; as well, they both represented different reflections of humanity and the variety of things that someone with mixed heritage faces when navigating life.

Being a mix of both while situationally neither is a unique experience.

The other element of hybrids is they let you combine mechanical or roleplaying elements of both races.

For example half elves became the versatile diplomat by combining human adaptation with elven grace without human short lives and elven haughtiness.

Half orcs were "imagine if an orc could be a tactical genius without a dark god's blessing"

Half dwarves or muls were "dwarven muscle on a human body". Tough, strong, and tireless without being slow.

Without the racial limitations of past editions, it would put the onus on WOTC and Worldbuilders to decide how species could combine to create new archetypes.