D&D 5E (2024) Solasta 2 and the 1/2 elf

[Misanthrope Prime]

Heir of Strahd exists.
The Fallbacks exist.

Those are published by Penguin Random House, not WotC. WotC no longer publishes novels, they have a license with PRH

 

[Weiley31]

For Solasta 2, add a toggle to allow em or DLC.

For 5E Pen and Paper: use 2014 Half-Elf.

It's all backwards compatible.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

Curious if
-if you were a dm would you allow it
-if there’s enough push coming from the community on a game like Solasta 2 is there underlying discontent with this rule change? Could wotc change their mind and add them back in through a supplement

What I could see WotC adding if there is enough clamor for half-species is adding back in the rules they initially included in the playtest but then deleted from the official release - where you can mix any species that you want, but mechanically you choose one for which bonuses your character has. I use those rules for half-species and it works great, my most recent campaign had a Half-elf (Human/Elf) character taking Elf bonuses and a Goliath-Halfling character taking Goliath bonuses among the party. I don't get why WotC cut that from the PHB but it's easy to house rule back in

 

[bedir than]

Those are published by Penguin Random House, not WotC. WotC no longer publishes novels, they have a license with PRH

But they also, clearly, coordinate with the D&D tabletop game staff, as The Fallbacks are part of the 2024 glossary and Heir of Strahd is getting full promotion on D&D social.

To suggest it's a mere licensing agreement like a pair of boxers ignores that the plot and characters are part of the game

 

[Divine2021]

Of course I’d allow it, because in my opinion I think getting rid of half elves and half orcs was moronic. It erased me as a mixed race person, and I am frankly still rankled by the decision.

 

[Benjamin Olson]

Adventure Hook: Overnight all the half-elves and half-orcs have disappeared from the Sword Coast. Everyone knows a local strange cabal of wizards is responsible, but for some mysterious reason most people are content to just let it happen or would rather debate the merits than take action.

 

[EzekielRaiden]

I would try to not mix the stuff. If I said that we are using the 24 rules and there are no 1/2 elves, then there is no 1/2 elves. If only to prevent the next question to be what about 1/2 orcs. Then all the what abouts to cheese the game to make your cool combo.

Show people the new rules and how to play that way of that is the game you are making. Next year come out with a patch to let you have unlimited life or unlimited ammo.

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I mean, there's a very simple answer to deal with your obvious slippery-slope fallacy (beyond, y'know, calling it out as a fallacious argument).

"Half-elves and half-orcs were already possible in Solasta 1, so they aren't being cosmically deleted in Solasta 2. Other options from 5.0 MIGHT be considered, on a case-by-case basis, if and only if they were present in Solasta 1 and aren't yet included in 5.5e's rules."

Of course, folks love to demonize optimizers whenever they can, so I doubt this simple and straightforward argument will matter much, but still. It's trivial to make a clear, principled stance while still avoiding "ANYTHING GOES! BREAK EVERYTHING!!!!"

 

[cbwjm]

Adventure Hook: Overnight all the half-elves and half-orcs have disappeared from the Sword Coast. Everyone knows a local strange cabal of wizards is responsible, but for some mysterious reason most people are content to just let it happen or would rather debate the merits than take action.

Those dang wizards over in their tower on the coast messing with the people of the realms.

 

[Clint_L]

-I would allow as a DM for some worlds. If my setting had half elves before, I'd allow 2014 rules.
-I think it was a poor change but I'm not that discontented and I doubt we'll see a return. Here I think it depend on what other systems do. If after 10 years, WotC is the only one doing it this way, maybe they'll switch back.

Don’t count on it. The change was made for reasons that go beyond the game, which is why newer systems are avoiding the issue altogether. And the proportion of D&D players who have strong feelings on the subject will be dwindling over the next decade, not growing.

 

[Clint_L]

What I could see WotC adding if there is enough clamor for half-species is adding back in the rules they initially included in the playtest but then deleted from the official release - where you can mix any species that you want, but mechanically you choose one for which bonuses your character has. I use those rules for half-species and it works great, my most recent campaign had a Half-elf (Human/Elf) character taking Elf bonuses and a Goliath-Halfling character taking Goliath bonuses among the party. I don't get why WotC cut that from the PHB but it's easy to house rule back in

I get it; the whole issue is fraught, as this thread attests. Best to stay out of it and individual DMs can do what they like, as always.

The only reason those two mixed species were ever singled out for special attention was because Tolkien, anyway.