D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Draconic Options

The latest Unearthed Arcana from WotC is called Draconic Options. It includes three variant Dragonborn races and a new kobold race, as well as a handful of new spells and feats. Dragonlance fans might do a double-take when they see Fizban's platinum shield (two Forgotten Realms dragons are referenced in the spells, too -- Icingdeath and Raulothim -- as is the FR god of fey dragons, Nathair).

Harness the power of dragons in this installment of Unearthed Arcana! This playtest document presents race, feat, and spell options related to dragons in Dungeons & Dragons.

First is a trio of draconic race options presented as an alternative to the dragonborn race in the Player’s Handbook, as well as a fresh look at the kobold race. Then comes a handful of feat options that reflect a connection to draconic power. Finally, an assortment of spells—many of them bearing the names of famous or infamous dragons—offer a variety of approaches to manifesting dragon magic.

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[Whizbang Dustyboots]

It doesn't have to be due to whimsy, though. Perhaps the sword just twinkled in the darkness. Drow are a chaotic race. And heck, Blood Drinker is not even drow like. Drow are not really bestial like that. That's an orc or barbarian name. Drow swords would be more subtle than that.

My players will be encountering a drow sword in the near future named "Liberator." It's +1 against hostile targets, +2 against neutral targets and +3 to friendly targets. It "liberates" you from the restrictions of friendships or alliances that no longer have value to you.

 

[Mind of tempest]

My players will be encountering a drow sword in the near future named "Liberator." It's +1 against hostile targets, +2 against neutral targets and +3 to friendly targets. It "liberates" you from the restrictions of friendships or alliances that no longer have value to you.

that is a good sword name.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

true but they would have to have the mind of a five-year-old, dangers herald would be better and that is not even a cool name.

Not at all. It isn’t especially mature or grown-up to worry about something possibly being a bit silly, and in ages past in real Western cultures, it was not virtuous or desireable to be aloof or too good for earnest or whimsical things.

but it was named by a drow who are not known for whimsy, blood drinker is a drow's weapons name.

It was named by Moon Elves, IIRC, and given to a Drow by his mentor (who was either a human or half-elf).

 

[see]

Decided, alright, let’s just call back to old school mammalian Kobold descriptions

There aren't any "old school mammalian Kobold descriptions".

Original-booklet D&D doesn't describe them at all. They're hairless egg-layers drawn with scales in the 1e Monster Manual. They're explicitly hairless and scaly in Moldvay Basic. They're explicitly hairless and scaly in Mentzer Basic. They're scaly egg-layers in the 2e Monstrous Compendium Volume 1. They're hairless and scaly in the (original) Rules Cyclopedia. They're scaly egg-layers in the 2e Monstrous Manual. They're "reptilian" scaly egg-layers in the 3rd edition Monster Manual. They're reptilian scaly egg-layers in the 3.5 Monster Manual.

You can't "call back" to mammalian D&D kobolds, because there isn't any description of them being mammalian to call back to.

 

[Charlaquin]

There aren't any "old school mammalian Kobold descriptions".

Original-booklet D&D doesn't describe them at all. They're hairless egg-layers drawn with scales in the 1e Monster Manual. They're explicitly hairless and scaly in Moldvay Basic. They're explicitly hairless and scaly in Mentzer Basic. They're scaly egg-layers in the 2e Monstrous Compendium Volume 1. They're hairless and scaly in the (original) Rules Cyclopedia. They're scaly egg-layers in the 2e Monstrous Manual. They're "reptilian" scaly egg-layers in the 3rd edition Monster Manual. They're reptilian scaly egg-layers in the 3.5 Monster Manual.

You can't "call back" to mammalian D&D kobolds, because there isn't any description of them being mammalian to call back to.

Ok

 

[Faolyn]

There aren't any "old school mammalian Kobold descriptions".

That's 2e. They have little whiskers, described as smelling like dogs and having rat-like tails. So while yes, they're reptilian and laid eggs, even then, it's not hard to see how they could be mistaken as mammalian.

I know I always did.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

look a sword is a tool of killing twinkle is a word that does not work for that function at all.

I'm sure it's worth mentioning that when I was at school I named my hockey stick Shinbane.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

What I hear you all saying is "kobold subraces." (And that will get us back the urd.)

 

[Ruin Explorer]

I'm sure it's worth mentioning that when I was at school I named my hockey stick Shinbane.

See, and your weapon sounded more menacing than either of the magical scimitars our buddy Drizzt wields!

 

[teitan]

It could be both, with the Draconomicon likely coming first.

I think we will see a DL book but these won’t be for it. I think it’s a book coming the end of summer similar to a Volo’s guide because other than spell names none of this is Dragonlance.