Speculation -- next Friday's PH3 Playtest?

[Fallen Seraph]

I could see the Elan being worth a Racial Playtest. Also, it may be more then just the Race Mechanics, you would have:

• The Core Race Mechanics
• Paragon Paths
• Backgrounds
• Feats

Lots of things that could be showcased if they wished to go beyond just the core mechanics. One thing that makes me think Elan, is if they went into detail about the ritual to turn into Elan (I think it will work differently then before). Perhaps they will stretch the boundaries of what races Elan seek out, so what would a Tiefling Elan look like, or a Eladrin, etc. So Elan could be a PC-Template actually.

If not Elan then yeah Thri-keen, thanks to the six arms. Either will be great to see, though Elan is my favourite race second to Tieflings to would love to see them.

 

[PoeticJustice]

I'm not quite sure why it would be hint at 2010's Campaign Setting. Wouldn't that content be put in the Player's Guide to whatever it is, rather than PHB3?

I'm going to assume 2010's setting will be Dark Sun and therefore Elan, Half-Giants, or Thri-Kreen will not be the preview race.

Given how hard it is to do modal races like Illumians and Shifters in 4e, I doubt it will be one of those either.

I'm hoping it'll be those shadow-orcs from Races of Destiny. I think they're called Sharakim? They have a strong thematic tie to the Plane of Shadow, which is now the Shadowfell, and interesting angle (smart orcs).

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Given how hard it is to do modal races like Illumians and Shifters in 4e, I doubt it will be one of those either.

Shifters are already in 4e. They were in the MM and then fully made into a PC race in PHB2. Unless your talking about another kind of Shifter.

Also, I don't remember my books having Elan in Dark Sun? Where does it say they are?

 

[avin]

Bariaur and Wemic are unlikely.

What about a new race?

And maybe it's just Drow coming to core PHB...

 

[Intense_Interest]

My guess would be a Large Race of some sort: Half-Ogre, Half-Giant, Biggin Minotaurs, or something similar.

They'd need to be playtested just on the factor of the size issue playing with everyone's campaigns and seeing if they're useful.

Further, we might see this race with a single +4 or a +4/+2/-2 or somesuch. It'd be a huge step into the unknown for PC races.

 

[TwinBahamut]

I'll echo those hoping for the Elan. It is certainly a race unusual enough to warrant a playtest, and it would be a great way to finally confirm that the Psionic Power Source is going to be in the PHB3 (unless it isn't, I suppose).

 

[Hellzon]

With three power sources in the PHB3, you'll probably see about two races keyed to each power. Assuming kalashatar were one of the psionic races, which would the hardcore D&D player rather see as the second? Dromites or Thri-Kreen? Yeah, mantis warriors no contest.

Why do everyone assume the PHB3 will have three sources? PHB1 had to because the four classic classes (Fighting Man, Thief, Magic User and Cleric) are Martial, Arcane and Divine, and the PHB2 had to finish up Divine and Arcane while doing Primal.

I think PHBs will have two sources from now on. Not that i have more info than anyone else.

Agree about the thri-kreen, though. I like them without even having played Dark Sun.

Maybe it will be the Giff... and then we get to watch lots of peoples heads asplode.

Oh hell yes.

 

[Mournblade94]

Given how hard it is to do modal races like Illumians and Shifters in 4e, I doubt it will be one of those either.

What do you mean by a modal race?

 

[Festivus]

Didn't they say something about PHB3 Monk playtest in May?

This is something I am hoping for. 4E monks should be a rather fun class for me to play.

 

[MatthewJHanson]

I'm not quite sure why it would be hint at 2010's Campaign Setting. Wouldn't that content be put in the Player's Guide to whatever it is, rather than PHB3?

Shifters were originally an Eberron race, but were released in the PHB 2, so there's a prececident.

My guess is actually going to be Kalahstar. They are waiting for the PHB 3 because it will introduce the Psionics power source, but they decided to "playtest" it so that Eberron players won't be upset that it is missing from the Eberron player's guide. (Unless it's been confirmed in EPG, then I'll go with Thri-Kreen).