Speculation -- next Friday's PH3 Playtest?

[tsadkiel]

I agree that it's probably going to be thri-kreen, which is . . . okay. Lots of people like them, and I'll find a way to use them. There are a few other possibilities, as well - raptoran is an outside chance, at least.

You know what I hope/wish it is, though? There was a mention in Races & Classes that they had considered Narnia style talking animals for the first PHB. That would certainly require playtesting.

 

[PoeticJustice]

What do you mean by a modal race?

Perhaps I should have written multi-modal, but I thought that would be too confusing. I mean a race that has multiple partially-exclusive options written into its text. Illumians are multi-modal because there are many choices of sigils and even more choices of words one could form. Although one can use several, it's likely that players won't use them all.

From what I've seen, 4e doesn't represent this level of choice-making very well.

I say this because of the representation in shifters, another race that is multi-modal because of the different kinds of shifter traits one can utilize. In 3.5, this was modeled by giving each shifter trait or "mode" different ability.

In 4e, each mode/shifter trait exists much farther away from other modes than they were in 3.5. The designers seem to be doing an Eladrin/Elf/Drow type sub-race design instead of making the different shifter traits the sole point of distinction.

I confess that this makes more builds possible, but only because there are now two shifter races, rather than one race with multiple modes. It's a cleaner design, but not one that models small choices as well as its 3.5 counterpart.

 

[PoeticJustice]

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).

You may be onto something here. The adverts for Player's Guide to Eberron mention "new race options" but not specifically any new races. Since Shifters, Changelings, and Warforged are already in the mix, they don't really need to.

Kalashtar are far and away the highest profile race not represented in 4e so far, too.

 

[avin]

You know what I hope/wish it is, though? There was a mention in Races & Classes that they had considered Narnia style talking animals for the first PHB. That would certainly require playtesting.

Ibixian (Goatfolk)? Kenku? Boarmen? Ratfolk? Sign me in...

Kalashtar aren't different enough to do a mini. Almost every new race is visually distint. By Deva developing article you'll see that Wotc is concerned about how the race would look as a mini, unless they change how they look.

 

[Dice4Hire]

I'm hoping for shadow power source with elemental. I'm not a huge fan of psionics, but if they do it right I may be interested.

I have been a huge fan of psionics from all the way back in 2E, but I don't think people will have to worry about psionics being all that different this time. So far, Primal, DIvine, MArtial and Arcane all seem very very similar. Unfortunately psionics will probably be the same, just powers with different keywords and defenses targeted.

Though I do hope I am totally wrong.

 

[Shroomy]

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

I think that the elan were added by the 3.5e Dragon/Dungeon Dark Sun conversions.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

I think that the elan were added by the 3.5e Dragon/Dungeon Dark Sun conversions.

Ahh, that would explain it. I only picked up the random Dragon once in a blue moon.

 

[Nahat Anoj]

By virtue of the monk playtest, PH3 will definitely have ki as a power source. I also strongly suspect it'll have psionics. So, I think the playtest race will be one that's frequently associated with the monk or psionics. Githzerai, githyanki, and elan all seem like good possibilities to me.

 

[jgsugden]

The modal idea was close - it will actually be modrons. Yep. Modrons. I have it on very bad authority that the 6 new races will be d4, d6, d8, d10, d12 and d20.

On a serious note: My theory is that PHB II will have 1 new power source: Ki. Why? Because they need to stretch outt he remaining PSs over the next few years to make sure there are 'cool' ideas to introduce each year.

2008: Martial, Divine and Arcane.
2009: Primal.
2010: Ki.
2011: Psionic.
2011: Elemental.
2012: Shadow.
2013: Incarnum.
2014: 5E.

 

[Kesh]

You may be onto something here. The adverts for Player's Guide to Eberron mention "new race options" but not specifically any new races. Since Shifters, Changelings, and Warforged are already in the mix, they don't really need to.

Kalashtar are far and away the highest profile race not represented in 4e so far, too.

Most of the rumors seem to be that Doppelgangers (formerly Changelings) would be Eberron's race in the Player's Guide.