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."

 

[dave2008]

I simply would like to have the system pre-Tasha's, also reflected, as an optional, but still printed by Wizard's, option so that I do not need to do the work that Wizard's previously was providing a system for, and has for (not forever) an extremely long time in some way or another.

Fair?

I don't think it is actually. I get that is what you want, but when I try to feel it out: I don't think printing two types of character creation is fair. And before you ask, I can't really explain it or I would. It is just a feeling.

Personally I would prefer they spend more type revamping the whole character creation process than have two sets of character creation rules. Really hone into differences of race, culture, background, and class. I've come around to the idea that your class should give you +1 to a primary stat.

The more I think about it the more I want them to keep the modifiers out. It make my job easier. I much prefer ability restrictions (racial maxes to ability scores), which is easier to house rule if there are not already bonuses in place.

 

[Morrus]

While there may very well be a legendary halfling strongman or an ogre ballet prodigy, I would posit that those are outliers who likely needed to work hard -or have some special out-sound-the-norm ability- to rise to their station and defy real (not imagined or socially-constructed) differences.

You just defined 'player character'.

We don't play average people. We're not playing Mrs Miggins who owns the pie shop. We play awesome heroes who save the world and defeat the great dragon Antrobraxranthraxus, Tyrannic Emperor of the 15 Multiverses! We play those outliers. We play legendary halfling strongmen and ogre ballet prodigies. Why should the rules prevent us from doing that?

 

[dave2008]

You are correct, but would it not be infinitely easier to not just say 'Dont like this system? Apply a global +2/+1 at your discretion.'?

Of course it would.

Imagine if this was the way it was (or how it will be) going forward. Instead of Wizards doing the work for as you noted 43 races, we will be expected to do it ourselves.

Why is it acceptable to say "just do the work as you like" when its unacceptable to say "Just apply a global 2/1 split." and clearly it WAS unacceptable, as the Tasha's reviews noted many times over. Not even an OPTION was acceptable, for some reason, and instead, those of us who wish to have ASI tied to race, need to lose our system?

Seems like a double standard at best.

I get your point, and I bet I could forge a counter argument, but you've convinced me that racial bonuses have to go and I can't unsee that now.

 

[Prebata]

I like all these new options. The dhampir feels like the new vryloka, and reborn as the new revenant, two of the more popular choices from the 4th edition we had at the table. The hexblood is also very nice.

 

[dave2008]

I think I need to see their version of a lineage that doesn't obviously have a built-in way to be used after character creation (as all of three of these do) to see what they intend.

Can you explain, I don't know what you mean?

 

[Scribe]

I don't think it is actually. I get that is what you want, but when I try to feel it out: I don't think printing two types of character creation is fair. And before you ask, I can't really explain it or I would. It is just a feeling.

Well, again, I enjoy the discussion and appreciate you taking the time to keep it going.

In my view a better (to me) system exists, than what we have, and what (Tasha's) we will have, and it would revolve around your Race, Background (Culture/Upbringing/Professions) and Class.

I do not believe it is the only way, only the way I would prefer things to be, and I disagree that the even existence of an option is unfair. If people dont like it, they can use Tasha's, or Homebrew, or simply have no modifiers, as you seem to be leaning towards.

For me, these are simply mechanical systems to represent the physiological reality of the different species within a fantasy world, and I do not believe it unfair to expect that to continue, even if only as an option.

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Probably, but that mattes to me. As a DM I like things to make sense to me, and the possibility doesn't make sense (to me). FYI, the idea that dwarfs can be stronger/as strong as the strongest humans really bugs me too.

It helps to think of dwarves not just as small humans, but as much more dense and probably broader. They may be shorter, but they have even more muscle mass than a human of the same weight - and an average dwarf weighs more than an average human.

Also, the difference in strength between builds as different as Halflings, which average 40lbs, and Goliaths, which average 310lbs is only a +2. That, to put it bluntly, is "chump change" physiologically.
The difference in strength between builds as similar as human men and women is around +4 I think. Given that, a mere +2 difference between a humanoid the size of Arnold in his prime , and one the size of an infant school child seems mostly irrelevant. Since I have no intentions of actually applying a gender-based adjustment, I really don't worry too much about applying such a minor racial one.

Sure. But what if I want to play a strong bodybuilding ungraceful elf, or a frail bespectacled orc scholar, or a dwarf with asthma? You say I'm not allowed to because it offends your sensibilities about what all elves or dwarves or orcs should be?

But what if I want to play Zidi Wheatling, the Halfling Titan, a halfling known in the nine boroughs for beating a bodybuilding goliath in a weightlifting competition? I'm not allowed to?

Morrus, this misrepresentation of the situation really bugs me.

You already could play a "Strong bodybuilding elf" or a halfling capable of beating a bodybuilding goliath in an armwrestle.
Your starting elf bodybuilder with a strength of 17 is stronger than even fairly strong goliaths. Your halfling titan with a strength of 20 is already stronger than the vast majority of goliaths, even goliath bodybuilders. It would take a goliath at absolutely peak strength - olympic level rather than mere bodybuilder to even match Zidi.

The new adjustment system isn't enabling you to play a "strong" character of a race that didn't have a strength bonus previously. Its to play a character with the maximum possible strength bonus for any character.

And it is this attitude that is fostered - this sentiment that you cannot consider yourself "strong" unless you can match the very strongest person around, or you cannot be "intelligent" unless you are as bright as the very best minds etcetera. - I find that an absolutely poisonous sentiment when expressed in real life, and no better in D&D.

Whew. OK. That out of the way, I quite like the three lineage concepts in the UA. They're pretty exotic, and that is likely an issue for a few DMs,. They do seem a good mechanical representation of some pretty iconic character concepts though. (Although probably a few places where the actual wording of the mechanics could do with tightening up a bit.)

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

You just defined 'player character'.

We don't play average people. We're not playing Mrs Miggins who owns the pie shop. We play awesome heroes. We play those outliers. We play legendary halfling strongmen and ogre ballet prodigies. Why should the rules prevent us from doing that?

Exactly this. D&D is not meant to be just Bilbo Baggins the generic Hobbit Thief sneaking into a dragon lair to steal a magical shiny rock. It's also supposed to include Gorn the Goliath Artificer that crafts weapons and armor out of bones in order to slay the Gnome Mind Flayers that kidnapped his cousin.

D&D characters should not be limited by the stereotypes.

 

[Dire Bare]

I like all these new options. The dhampir feels like the new vryloka, and reborn as the new revenant, two of the more popular choices from the 4th edition we had at the table. The hexblood is also very nice.

What I do like about these options is that each expands upon the archetype. The new dhampir opens up new space beyond just "My dad's a vampire and my mom doesn't like to talk about it". The reborn covers the revenant idea, but also other ways of being "reborn". Even the hexblood or "hagspawn" has some variety in possible origins. Neat.

 

[Morrus]

Morrus, this misrepresentation of the situation really bugs me.

You already could play a "Strong bodybuilding elf" or a halfling capable of beating a bodybuilding goliath in an armwrestle.
Your starting elf bodybuilder with a strength of 17 is stronger than even fairly strong goliaths. Your halfling titan with a strength of 20 is already stronger than the vast majority of goliaths, even goliath bodybuilders. It would take a goliath at absolutely peak strength - olympic level rather than mere bodybuilder to even match Zidi.

Yes, but you say I'm not allowed to play Zidi, the Halfling Titan, who is stronger than Bobo, the goliath bodybuilding champion. In your world, my character is not allowed to exist. You are telling me that my character concept is not allowed. Zidi, the Halfing Titan MUST have a goliath stronger than her, otherwise your fantasy magical world of elves makes no sense. The rules must not allow my world.

Yet Zidi, the Halfling Titan remains, and beats goliath bodybuilders in arm-wrestles on a daily basis.