D&D 5E (2024) Thoughts on the revised Ardling?

[Corinnguard]

Still got no clue why we need taxabi AND leonin AND cat shifters, AND cat head aardlings.

We now have four ways for people to play as a cat-like schmorp.

When you adventure in the Multiverse, it's best to have a lot of options.

 

[Vaalingrade]

We need MtG Catwarriors too

 

[Frozen_Heart]

When you adventure in the Multiverse, it's best to have a lot of options.

I'd rather they spent time adding options actually missing, like a plant schmorp.

Leshys are one of the best and most adorable parts of pathfinder.

 

[Vaalingrade]

But to really answer the question, it's because they operate differently if you actually look at the species rather than the fact that they're cats.

Tabaxi are the fast nimble housecat people. Leonins are big, strong 'leaderly' lion types. Cat shifters are were-cats, having modes between person and creature. And Ardlings are so you can get close to the big horse mommy from the BoED.

 

[Xamnam]

Would love a plant schmorp. Somewhat related, I think there's definitely design space between genasi and warforged for something interesting.

 

[Corinnguard]

I'd rather they spent time adding options actually missing, like a plant schmorp.

Leshys are one of the best and most adorable parts of pathfinder.

New & Alternate Player Races by laserllama Check out the Entlings from Laser Llama.

 

[Corinnguard]

Would love a plant schmorp. Somewhat related, I think there's definitely design space between genasi and warforged for something interesting.

Elemental Warforged.

 

[Gorck]

Just thinking about a cow headed Ardling reminds me of the Minotaur from Time Bandits:

Spoiler

 

[Kobold Stew]

Still got no clue why we need taxabi AND leonin AND cat shifters, AND cat head aardlings.

We now have four ways for people to play as a cat-like schmorp.

Just having a cat beast race (with taxabi and leonin as subspecies options), and shifters would be enough.

I do not understand this position.

Leonin were in the Theros book, and has had no wider uptake, I don't think. Didn't make the cut into MotM, for example, as satyrs did.

I don't think the word cat even appears in the description of shifters -- weretiger ancestors being the closest thing, and only one of two speedy options.

So there's tabaxi and a small subset of ardlings (1 of 16 examples given).

Of these, would your objection disappear if they simply removed the example of "cat" from the list of creatures associated with the climber option?

For most players, there is one cat race -- Tabaxi. Players who want to can add catlike characteristics to two others, where it is completely optional and has no menchanical effect.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I do not understand this position.

Leonin were in the Theros book, and has had no wider uptake, I don't think. Didn't make the cut into MotM, for example, as satyrs did.

I don't think the word cat even appears in the description of shifters -- weretiger ancestors being the closest thing, and only one of two speedy options.

So there's tabaxi and a small subset of ardlings (1 of 16 examples given).

Of these, would your objection disappear if they simply removed the example of "cat" from the list of creatures associated with the climber option?

For most players, there is one cat race -- Tabaxi. Players who want to can add catlike characteristics to two others, where it is completely optional and has no menchanical effect.

The word 'feline' also used to describe swiftstride shifters. It's quite clear that they can be humans with cat-like features if the player wants.

Using the taxabi/leonin/shifter trio was just an example though. My main issue is just aardlings trying to simultaneously overlap with aasimar, shifters, and the varying beastfolk at the same time.

Ideally I'd prefer to see aardlings become an aasimar sub-schmorp, with links to Guardinals as their celestial heritage. The player could them flavour that as traits from whatever animal they wanted, including an animal head.