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

[Misanthrope Prime]

which is honestly such a shame IMO, since nearly day 1 one of the most iconic catchphrases of DnD was always 'pick your class and race species' but they're not even in the same league anymore.

I think "Roll initiative" or even "You must gather your party before venturing forth" might be more well known.

 

[CreamCloud0]

I think "Roll initiative" or even "You must gather your party before venturing forth" might be more well known.

maybe, but i wasn't claiming it was THE most iconic catchphrase, just one of them.

also, in hindsight i don't think 'catchphrase' exactly the right terminology but i can't think of what the right word is.

 

[DEFCON 1]

which is honestly such a shame IMO, since nearly day 1 one of the most iconic catchphrases of DnD was always 'pick your class and race species' but they're not even in the same league anymore.


tangential general question not just to defcon, do you consider species abilities that are weaker but passive/infinitely usable better or worse to help define a species' identity than a more powerful ability of limited use? i was looking at the orc statblocks and the limited use of '24's adrenaline rush(BA dash, gain temp HP, PB/LR uses) seems like a worse deal to me than it's counterpart in 14's agressive(BA dash, must end closer to an enemy than you started), (and yes i'm aware adrenaline rush was also on some versions of '14 orcs.)

They all stink and do not identify a gosh-darned thing.

BA Dash? Is it an orc or a rogue or monk? I guess this ability insinuates they are one and the same.
Perception skill proficiency? Is it an elf or pretty much any other character that selects the most popular skill in the game? The ability insinuates they are one and the same.

One would need to completely revamp the Dungeons & Dragons game to make a character's species meaningful from a mechanical point of view. Which basically would mean to slice class levels in half and replace the other ten with species levels that actually gave class-equivalent power to species mechanics. Possible? Sure. Ever going to happen? Nope. Simple fact is that D&D is a class-based game system, not a species-based one, so other than a couple minor features that pretty much lose any impact to your PC after 3rd level... choosing your species is pretty much merely a flavor choice-- like your height/weight, or hair color.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I dont agree with the bolded. Maybe...maaybee recently...but over the years IME people played half-elf for the flavor and versatility.

Flavour needs no mechanics. You can play a half gnome/half dwarf with plenty of flavour without any special mechanics.

As for “versatility” that’s a synonym for overpowered.

 

[The Firebird]

Flavour needs no mechanics. You can play a half gnome/half dwarf with plenty of flavour without any special mechanics.

As for “versatility” that’s a synonym for overpowered.

The important thing is that the world responds to your character to amplify the feeling of being a particular species. Mechanics guarantee that. But a GM who cares will get you further.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

I dont agree with the bolded. Maybe...maaybee recently...but over the years IME people played half-elf for the flavor and versatility.

Half-elf has always been great mechanically, for instance, in 2E it was the most generous multi-classer. And yes, Tanis Half-elven was a wonderful character that inspired many people, including designers and storytellers.

But even as a fan of mixed races, I did not like either the historical or modern terminology "half" because "half" was often use negatively, or was descriptively limiting when a character could have had a single elven grandparent, and not technically count as "half". I prefer and use the term "elfkin" in my campaign, which suggest elven heritage mixed in. (I also use "-kin" for more mixed heritage characters also, like "orckin" and "dwarkfin".

At my table, mechanically, we choose either the 2024 human or elf, or an ability score-nerfed 2014 half-elf, or my homebrew elfkin. All can be representative of mixed-elf heritage characters.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Mechanics guarantee that.

No, they do not. The world doesn’t care what your characters stats are. The world reacts to your character’s appearance and actions. Having a bonus skill or advantage on charm saves is not something the world can see. They are irrelevant to flavour.

 

[Scars Unseen]

They all stink and do not identify a gosh-darned thing.

BA Dash? Is it an orc or a rogue or monk? I guess this ability insinuates they are one and the same.
Perception skill proficiency? Is it an elf or pretty much any other character that selects the most popular skill in the game? The ability insinuates they are one and the same.

One would need to completely revamp the Dungeons & Dragons game to make a character's species meaningful from a mechanical point of view. Which basically would mean to slice class levels in half and replace the other ten with species levels that actually gave class-equivalent power to species mechanics. Possible? Sure. Ever going to happen? Nope. Simple fact is that D&D is a class-based game system, not a species-based one, so other than a couple minor features that pretty much lose any impact to your PC after 3rd level... choosing your species is pretty much merely a flavor choice-- like your height/weight, or hair color.

It's not unprecedented in D&D. Setting aside the obvious race-as-class from Basic D&D, 3.5E had the Savage Species book, which allowed you to play monstrous characters and level them up as their race. There was also the Unearthed Arcana book, which gave little 3 level racial paragon classes. Nothing will really have as much impact as a good DM and group of players leaning into the characters and shared world, but that's true of practically every aspect of the game. If there was enough interest in more mechanically prominent racial features, it could definitely be done without leaving D&D's lane.

 

[DEFCON 1]

It's not unprecedented in D&D. Setting aside the obvious race-as-class from Basic D&D, 3.5E had the Savage Species book, which allowed you to play monstrous characters and level them up as their race. There was also the Unearthed Arcana book, which gave little 3 level racial paragon classes. Nothing will really have as much impact as a good DM and group of players leaning into the characters and shared world, but that's true of practically every aspect of the game. If there was enough interest in more mechanically prominent racial features, it could definitely be done without leaving D&D's lane.

Could be done, but never going to be done. At least not within the 5E paradigm.

The D&D advancement game is about Class. That's it. Class is all that matters. Species, background, feats-- all minor flavor bits by comparison.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

BG3 lets you select from two different types of drow. They have different cosmetic options, and some NPCs react differently depending on your choice, but there is no mechanical difference whatsoever.

No reason Solasta2 couldn't do something similar for half elves.