D&D 5E Playable Plant People

[Marandahir]

For AL, I've been thinking about using a Wood Elf and CALL it a Volodni. There still is no way to become a plant. (Is there a 5e description of what that means, mechanically? I don't own an MM.)

Plant is a creature subtype in the MM. They are vegetable creatures, not ordinary flora. Includes fungal creatures as well.

 

[Sunseeker]

Plant is a creature subtype in the MM. They are vegetable creatures, not ordinary flora. Includes fungal creatures as well.

Well, I imagine the "plant" type would also describe a rose bush as well as it would describe a sentient rose bush.

 

[Marandahir]

Well, I imagine the "plant" type would also describe a rose bush as well as it would describe a sentient rose bush.

Not in the 5e MM. If you're a rose bush, you're not a creature (i.e., you don't belong in the MM). If you're an evil rose that's going to suck my blood, then you're a Plant-type creature, and should be in the MM.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

So what you're saying.

The Plant People live above ground. They use their leaves to produce high carbohydrate grain from the sun.
The Fungus Folk live underground. They use their hyphae to produce water filled seedless fruit from the soil.
They traded fruit and grain peacefully for centuries. They cheated each other but never actively used aggression to each other.

Then a magic artifact appears and destabilizes the two economies with it's endless light and water.

Is anyone else bothered by the concept of plant & fungi folk bartering their unborn young- or something close to it- to be consumed by each other?

 

[Minigiant]

Is anyone else bothered by the concept of plant & fungi folk bartering their unborn young- or something close to it- to be consumed by each other?

You are using humanoid logic and morality.
Plant People and Fungus Folk don't want care for their young.
Just how fey don't get why humans get so upset when they steal their young.

Fey: Why are you so upset?
Human: You are STEALING MY SON AND YOU LEFT ME THIS... THING!
Plant: Only one of your babies for one of theirs? Lady, you're getting ripped off. You should ask for 2 more. Or at least a fatter one.

ADDITION
Many plants literally cover their babies with natural candy so others might eat them and "eject" them someplace else.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

You are using humanoid logic and morality.

Only to provoke!

 

[Marandahir]

You are using humanoid logic and morality.
Plant People and Fungus Folk don't want care for their young.
Just how fey don't get why humans get so upset when they steal their young.

Fey: Why are you so upset?
Human: You are STEALING MY SON AND YOU LEFT ME THIS... THING!
Plant: Only one of your babies for one of theirs? Lady, you're getting ripped off. You should ask for 2 more. Or at least a fatter one.

ADDITION
Many plants literally cover their babies with natural candy so others might eat them and "eject" them someplace else.

Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me, I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for *you*! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations. Isn't that generous?

Fey are crazy. Plants and Fungi are also crazy.

This is why 2e's book warns about letting any race be any class or get to max level in various classes: it would mean having to build a world that's not dominated by humans, and it's hard to imagine what a world like that would look like, since their mindsets are so alien to humans. It is a big flaw of 3e-onwards: too much tendency to have races be cultures rather than alien mindsets.

 

[Sunseeker]

Is anyone else bothered by the concept of plant & fungi folk bartering their unborn young- or something close to it- to be consumed by each other?

I'm not sure why people are stuck on this idea that generic plants are anything more to plant-people than cows or chicks are to humanoids.

 

[Marandahir]

I'm not sure why people are stuck on this idea that generic plants are anything more to plant-people than cows or chicks are to humanoids.

Agreed. Human morality doesn't apply.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'm not sure why people are stuck on this idea that generic plants are anything more to plant-people than cows or chicks are to humanoids.

He didn't say generic plants- he stated "their leaves", etc.