D&D (2024) Should 2014 Half Elves and Half Orcs be added to the 2025 SRD?

[Aldarc]

Well that's the rub, isn't it? One person's barbarian is another's "reskinned fighter". What deserves dedicated mechanics and what is accomplished via reskinning isn't quite agreed upon. I mean, if a human/elf needs specific mechanics, why not (for example) a Drow/High Elf having a unique mechanical representation as well? The line isn't exactly clear.

I'm not sure if thinking about this in terms of lines is useful. At the end of the day, it's not about imaginary lines, but, rather, it is about the decisions that game designers make about what they think and feel about the game (and game world) should be represented in and by the mechanics.

 

[Remathilis]

well for starters, (as far as i am aware) drow/high elf hybrids have never been a thing in the lore/fiction while half elves are quite solidly established.

So you are saying that a high elf can produce offspring with a human, but not a Drow (which is a different type of elf)? That's like saying a tiger can breed with a wolf but not a lion!

All the more reason to have some sort of anything hybrid system.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

What are the new elf subspecies rules even like?

 

[Remathilis]

What are the new elf subspecies rules even like?

You get a ribbon feature (+5 ft move, +60 ft darkvision or swappable cantrip) and then you get a cantrip, a level 1 spell (at 3rd) and a level 2 spell (at 5th). Spells vary by lineage.

A design choice that makes all the elves in Monsters of the Multiverse and Spelljammer superior design and more powerful until they are redesigned to also just be a list of spells as well.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

(Double post)

 

[Crimson Longinus]

You get a ribbon feature (+5 ft move, +60 ft darkvision or swappable cantrip) and then you get a cantrip, a level 1 spell (at 3rd) and a level 2 spell (at 5th). Spells vary by lineage.

You could easily just let an elf to choose each of those separately, to represent classic elf subspecies, their mixes, as well as other homebrewed variations.

 

[Micah Sweet]

You could easily just let an elf to choose each of those separately, to represent classic elf subspecies, their mixes, as well as other homebrewed variations.

Level Up's origin system and it's Culture metric also covers many flavors of elf.

 

[CreamCloud0]

So you are saying that a high elf can produce offspring with a human, but not a Drow (which is a different type of elf)? That's like saying a tiger can breed with a wolf but not a lion!

All the more reason to have some sort of anything hybrid system.

No, I’m saying when a high elf reproduces with a drow it doesn’t produce a unique ‘high-dark’ subspecies of elf

 

[Micah Sweet]

No, I’m saying when a high elf reproduces with a drow it doesn’t produce a unique ‘high-dark’ subspecies of elf

But it could easily produce an elf that share characteristics from both parents. I would likely create a custom culture for such a PC.

 

[Remathilis]

No, I’m saying when a high elf reproduces with a drow it doesn’t produce a unique ‘high-dark’ subspecies of elf

So does it produce a high elf or a dark elf? And by that logic, couldn't a human/high elf potentially produce either a human or a high elf?