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

[Paul Farquhar]

Thing with video games is they also have cosmetic options to differentiate species. So they could continue to include half elf models (with medium ears), and have a selection box for human/elf mechanics.

In terms of coding, it's no more or less difficult than including pointed ears options for humans and round eared options for elves.

 

[Scars Unseen]

If I ever switched to the 2024 rules (unlikely) and a player wanted to play a half-elf, a half-orc or, honestly, any other race that fit in with my campaign but wasn't represented in an official source, I'd make something up most likely. Just using the rules from two not-editions directly is too much of a kludge, but I also don't feel I need to accept the limitations WotC has imposed on itself.

 

[Weiley31]

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.

Im more of a mutt than my dog was when he was alive. Im like Half Half Half Half Half Half Half Elf/Orc/Pomeranian at this point with how much of a Mutt I am.

 

[CreamCloud0]

if presented with this issue my solution as hypothetical GM would be to try cobble together a new half-elf based off the mechanics of '24 humans and elves something like

HALF-ELF '24
Size - Medium
Speed - 30ft
Resourceful - you gain heroic inspiration after a long rest
Fey Ancestry - you have advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the charmed condition and magic can't put you to sleep.
Elven Lineage - pick one of the following lineages, you gain the stated benefits (pick a casting stat from INT, WIS or CHA at creation.)

• Drow Lineage: you have darkvision for 60ft and know either the cantrip dancing lights or poison spray.
• High Elf: you know one wizard cantrip, you can change it after finishing a long rest.
• Wood Elf: your movement speed increases by +5ft, you know either the cantrip elementalism or thorn whip.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

what's really being asked is should the rules be bent so they can exist mechanically. IMO, no.

It isn’t bending the rules. Nothing replaced them, so mechanically they are still a legal RAW option.

Not allowing them is bending the rules.

 

[Blue]

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.

Just to provide more context, because they only use the SRD, they already added a lot of homebrew material to the original Solesta because the SRD is missing most of the subclasses, etc.

So "Ruleset + homebrew" is the expected context for Solesta already.

Since they can add in a 1/2 elf as homebrew, are you okay with that homebrew matching the 2014 SRD?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Since they can add in a 1/2 elf as homebrew, are you okay with that homebrew matching the 2014 SRD?

That's not going to happen, since they are not going to add one species that uses ASIs, when all the others follow 2024 rules. Note that the Tasha's version is not in the SRD.

Any half elf would be 100% homebrew, by necessity.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

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

While I don't work with WotC or PRH, by every definition these are what we in the publishing industry call "licensed tie-in novels." It's no different than like, IDK, that netflix movie Damsel having a tie-in novelization. They used to be a bigger part of the publishing industry, I worked for a time with the World of Warcraft tie in novels and nothing tells me Fallbacks is anything substantively different from those. That they're coordinating between the rpg books and novels is just basic "transmedia branding."

 

[aco175]

Just to provide more context, because they only use the SRD, they already added a lot of homebrew material to the original Solesta because the SRD is missing most of the subclasses, etc.

So "Ruleset + homebrew" is the expected context for Solesta already.

Since they can add in a 1/2 elf as homebrew, are you okay with that homebrew matching the 2014 SRD?

If they already decided to not use only 2024 SRD, then why not. It is their game like my table that I play with my group. We call it 5e, but it has some other older things brought over accidently or added for fun.

 

[Stormonu]

I was unhappy the first time around when half-orcs were removed. Taking them (and half-elves as well) out again feels like 1989 all over again, with a different group behind the "push".