D&D 5E Unearthed Arcana: Gothic Lineages & New Race/Culture Distinction

The latest Unearthed Arcana contains the Dhampir, Reborn, and Hexblood races. The Dhampir is a half-vampire; the Hexblood is a character which has made a pact with a hag; and the Reborn is somebody brought back to life.

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Perhaps the bigger news is this declaration on how race is to be handled in future D&D books as it joins other games by stating that:

"...the race options in this article and in future D&D books lack the Ability Score Increase trait, the Language trait, the Alignment trait, and any other trait that is purely cultural. Racial traits henceforth reflect only the physical or magical realities of being a player character who’s a member of a particular lineage. Such traits include things like darkvision, a breath weapon (as in the dragonborn), or innate magical ability (as in the forest gnome). Such traits don’t include cultural characteristics, like language or training with a weapon or a tool, and the traits also don’t include an alignment suggestion, since alignment is a choice for each individual, not a characteristic shared by a lineage."

 

[Scribe]

Hmm. The reborn is an interesting idea.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Ravenloft or Innistrad? I wonder which. . .

 

[Weiley31]

So it looks like they listened to the remarks that Reborn as a Rogue Subclass, made better sense as a race/lineage instead of a subclass.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

So, Ravenloft?

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

So, Ravenloft?

Or Innistrad. WotC does love their M:tG settings. Though, I do think that we're more likely to get Ravenloft this year than Innistrad, as we got a M:tG setting just last year.

 

[Ibrandul]

Sounds like the Tasha’s “optional” rules about racial bonuses are no longer really optional:

“Design Note: Changes to Racial Traits

In 2020, the book Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything introduced the option to customize several of your character’s racial traits, specifically the Ability Score Increase trait, the Language trait, and traits that give skill, armor, weapon, or tool proficiencies.
Following in that book’s footsteps, the race options in this article and in future D&D books lack the Ability Score Increase trait, the Language trait, the Alignment trait, and any other trait that is purely cultural. Racial traits henceforth reflect only the physical or magical realities of being a player character who’s a member of a particular lineage.

Such traits include things like darkvision, a breath weapon (as in the dragonborn), or innate magical ability (as in the forest gnome). Such traits don’t include cultural characteristics, like language or training with a weapon or a tool, and the traits also don’t include an alignment suggestion, since alignment is a choice for each individual, not a characteristic shared by a lineage.

Finally, going forward, the term “race” in D&D refers only to the suite of game features used by player characters. Said features don’t have any bearing on monsters and NPCs who are members of the same species or lineage, since monsters and NPCs in D&D don’t rely on race or class to function. Moreover, DMs are empowered to customize the features of the creatures in their game as they wish.”

 

[TwoSix]

Finally, going forward, the term “race” in D&D refers only to the suite of game features used by player characters. Said features don’t have any bearing on monsters and NPCs who are members of the same species or lineage, since monsters and NPCs in D&D don’t rely on race or class to function. Moreover, DMs are empowered to customize the features of the creatures in their game as they wish.

Definitely empowers the idea that the PHB descriptions don't need to be extrapolated for world building.

 

[Weiley31]

Also: I like the idea that this is presenting: It's similar to how the Hollow One supernatural gift changed your type. It seems like this idea of Lineage could be a new way in which you could do stuff like Half Dragons(Even though you just reflavor Dragonborn and be done with it), or even any other type of template stuff for a race.

 

[Istbor]

Personally, I like the Hexblood most of all.