Of course, there could be racially-unique backgrounds. It can only add to the flavor.
D&D 5E Racial Backgrounds
- Thread starter dream66_
- Start date
dream66_
First Post
Guess it shows why Dark Sun is my favorite setting.
Early in my D&D experience I was exposed to Thri-kreen of Athas, and it spent a lot of time making sure you understood, Kreen are not just dudes. Elves of Athas did the same thing.
I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong, but just my preference due to my early exposures.
Early in my D&D experience I was exposed to Thri-kreen of Athas, and it spent a lot of time making sure you understood, Kreen are not just dudes. Elves of Athas did the same thing.
I'm not saying it's right or it's wrong, but just my preference due to my early exposures.
DMZ2112
Chaotic Looseleaf
No, true, AD&D2 Dark Sun did alien races well. Planescape, also, did a passable job at this with the original tiefling, only to have its efforts steamrolled into conformity in D&D3.5 and later 4th Edition. I think it was an era thing. At some point during D&D3.5 anything that could be perceived as a disadvantage became persona non grata in D&D.
steeldragons
Steeliest of the dragons
ELF
Treesinger
Stargazer
Shipwright (for a little Tolkien flave)
DWARF
Prospector
Engineer
Clan Archivist
HALFLING
Fisherman
Merrymaker (better than and including gambler as a thing, but also heavy drinker, smoker, singer/tale teller, etc)
Field Tender (farmer, shepherd, orchard worker, vintner, gardener, etc)
Treesinger
Stargazer
Shipwright (for a little Tolkien flave)
DWARF
Prospector
Engineer
Clan Archivist
HALFLING
Fisherman
Merrymaker (better than and including gambler as a thing, but also heavy drinker, smoker, singer/tale teller, etc)
Field Tender (farmer, shepherd, orchard worker, vintner, gardener, etc)
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Warforged are not just dudes.
They are complex living constructs.
Constructed for a war now over, given the rights of personage but denied the ability to make more of themselves, facing racism, they are veterans who constantly struggle with finding a purpose besides killing other creatures, they desperately want to find themselves and some take on personalities of other human or demi-human individuals.
They live in a world where a good number of people view them as nothing more than a talking magic item, without a soul, that can be bought and sold, torn apart and rebuilt, that their existence is the same as a lighting train or skyship.
There are protests about them finding jobs, because they can work twice as long for half the pay since they don't need much sleep or rest and have no need to spend money on food.
There is a resistance group forming, led by a violent and bloodthirsty leader who wishes to start another war but this time a war between warforged and the races made of flesh.
To know that you might have killed your companions grandparents in a war that lasted 100 years, that you will might live a long time but wont ever be able to create another of your kind.
Do you have a soul? This thought occurs to them, you were not made by the gods, but if you pray to them they answer your prayers, healing magic works on you including bringing back from destruction, so you must have a soul right...maybe? Where does something that wasn't made by the gods go when they die? Struggles with existence and faith are common.
So yeah in a way they are a lot like humans, with issues and problems, but they have a few only other warforged understand.
They are complex living constructs.
Constructed for a war now over, given the rights of personage but denied the ability to make more of themselves, facing racism, they are veterans who constantly struggle with finding a purpose besides killing other creatures, they desperately want to find themselves and some take on personalities of other human or demi-human individuals.
They live in a world where a good number of people view them as nothing more than a talking magic item, without a soul, that can be bought and sold, torn apart and rebuilt, that their existence is the same as a lighting train or skyship.
There are protests about them finding jobs, because they can work twice as long for half the pay since they don't need much sleep or rest and have no need to spend money on food.
There is a resistance group forming, led by a violent and bloodthirsty leader who wishes to start another war but this time a war between warforged and the races made of flesh.
To know that you might have killed your companions grandparents in a war that lasted 100 years, that you will might live a long time but wont ever be able to create another of your kind.
Do you have a soul? This thought occurs to them, you were not made by the gods, but if you pray to them they answer your prayers, healing magic works on you including bringing back from destruction, so you must have a soul right...maybe? Where does something that wasn't made by the gods go when they die? Struggles with existence and faith are common.
So yeah in a way they are a lot like humans, with issues and problems, but they have a few only other warforged understand.
steeldragons
Steeliest of the dragons
Long as they stay in Eberron, they can be whatever they want. 
Long as they stay in Eberron, they can be whatever they want.
13th Age has them in their core setting of the Dragon Empire, but they are called Dwarf forged.
The setting of Zobeck from Kobold press has them but they are called Gear forged.
In 4e there were articles on including them in the Realms, Oerth, and Darksun.
Every setting can be a kitchen sink setting as far as the PC's go, they can play magic talking ponies if they wish and the DM is cool with it.
My Little Darksun Ponies, Defiling is Magic.
steeldragons
Steeliest of the dragons
Fair and true enough.
In suppose I was too vague. Let me try again...
"As long as I don't have to deal with them, [or talking ponies, for that matter, since that's now -again- a thing] they can be whatever they want."
There, that's better.
dream66_
First Post
Beleriphon
Totally Awesome Pirate Brain
They are pretty weird. The fluff is pretty clear that they are soliders with limited life experience, they don't sleep at all (that by itself makes them super weird, imagine never sleeping
), and even if they are superior warriors they tend to be fairly naive on the whole.The novels tend to play this up a bit more, especially the ones by Keith Baker. Pierce isn't human and he's written very obviously as such, even if Dain can read his "expressions" due to familiarity they are very much called out as not being human.
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