Wizards of the Coast Reveals Revised Eberron Species Details

Wizards of the Coast has revealed some new details about Eberron: Forge of the Artificer, specifically detailing some of the changes players can expect to see from the species rules in the book. The upcoming Eberron splatbook will feature five species. Four of the species appeared in Eberron: Rising From the Last War, while the Khoravar (which have mixed human and elvish ancestries) are presented as a unique species in the book.

Today on D&D Beyond, Wizards listed some of the changes that will appear in each ruleset. Most notably, the Warforged is now presented as a Construct, while the Kalashtar are presented as aberrations. This makes these species immune to various spells that only impact humanoids. Additionally, the Khoravar has a new Lethargy Resilience feature that turns a failed saving throw to end or prevent the Unconscious condition into a success. This feature recharges after 1d4 Long Rests, which is a new design element to D&D.

According to D&D Beyond, the following changes are being made:

Changeling:

• Based on the Changeling from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse.
• Shape-Shifter: You have Advantage on Charisma checks while shape-shifted.

Kalashtar:

• Creature Type: Kalashtar now have the Aberration creature type.
• Mind Link: You can now allow multiple creatures to communicate with you telepathically, and they no longer must be able to see you.
• Severed From Dreams: You gain proficiency in one skill of your choice after a Long Rest. This proficiency lasts until you finish another Long Rest.

Khoravar:

• Now included as a unique playable species in the world of Eberron
• Darkvision: Gain Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
• Fey Ancestry: You have Advantage on saving throws to avoid or end the Charmed condition.
• Fey Gift: You know the Friends cantrip. When you finish a Long Rest, you can swap it for any Cleric, Druid, or Wizard cantrip.
• Lethargy Resilience: You can turn a failed save to avoid or end the Unconscious condition into a success. You can use this trait again after you finish 1d4 Long Rests.
• Skill Versatility: Gain proficiency in one skill or tool of your choice. After you finish a Long Rest, you may swap that proficiency for a different skill or tool.

Shifter:

• Based on the Shifter from Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse.
• Size: You can choose to be Medium or Small when you select this species.

Warforged:

• Creature Type: Warforged now have the Construct creature type.
• Constructed Resilience: Now have Advantage on saving throws to end the Poisoned condition and some aspects of this trait have been moved to Sentry's Rest and the new Tireless trait.
• Integrated Protection: Donning armor no longer takes an hour.
• Sentry's Rest: Now specifies Warforged don't need to sleep, and magic can't put them to sleep.
• Tireless: You don't gain Exhaustion levels from dehydration, malnutrition, or suffocation.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Culture and ethnicity are not as distinct as you might think.

There are German and Scandinavian (Viking) phenotypic (physical) traits. You can grow up in those societies while looking different, but you will stand out as an outsider. You can be born into those societies and then grow up within a different culture, but again might be viewed as an outsider. Culture is not limited by ethnicity or phenotypic traits, but to say it has nothing to do with your physical appearance is simply not true.

In order to qualify as German, you just have to have been born in Germany. Phenotype is irrelevant. You are getting into "all Irish people have red hair" territory here.

And if you "stand out as an outsider" it's because you are surrounded by racists.

 

[king of the ceaders]

In order to qualify as German, you just have to have been born in Germany. Phenotype is irrelevant. You are getting into "all Irish people have red hair" territory here.

And if you "stand out as an outsider" it's because you are surrounded by racists.

Acknowledging someone stands out doesn't make someone a racist, treating them differently because they stand out might.

 

[LazarusKane]

In order to qualify as German, you just have to have been born in Germany. Phenotype is irrelevant. You are getting into "all Irish people have red hair" territory here.

And if you "stand out as an outsider" it's because you are surrounded by racists.

This is your culture. It has nothing to do with either your physical appearance or your abilities. You wouldn’t write half-German on your character sheet, and I’m sure no one would be able to tell by your appearance.

It would be like me writing “Scouser” on my character sheet. Or push it back further and writing Half-Viking/Half-Viking, or further still and writing African, since all humans are descended from dark skinned Africans if you go sufficiently far back.

I's not IMHO so simple: If you don't "look the part" then of course you are noteworthy. For example a child from korean Immigrants that's born in (ok, let's use) Germany may feel like a German (and is a German!) and maybe didnt't have any connection to "Korean Culture". Not only racists will notice - how someone reacts and perceives the person is the big question: is it (falsely) a foreigner for them or is the person a German with roots in another region of the world (and yeah, all humanity ultimately has it's roots in Africa)?. The same is true for mixed heritage.

And maybe I would write "Half-German" (as abridgment for Half-Japanese/Half-German) on a Character sheet: If I play a campaign in Japan and the Char is of mixed heritage - to signify the "cultural roots" the Char may feel and to explain the ugly drawing on the sheet because I can't draw a regonizable picture of a half-japanese/half-german person.

The same is true for fantasy cultures and fantasy species.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I can't draw a regonizable picture of a half-japanese/half-german person.

That's because there are no unique features of a "half Japanese, half German" person. So obviously, it's impossible to draw one. Of course, there is actually no such thing - their nationality would depend on where they were born. Their cultural background is going to be written into the character's backstory. But it's not a stat that affects gameplay.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

I's not IMHO so simple: If you don't "look the part" then of course you are noteworthy. For example a child from korean Immigrants that's born in (ok, let's use) Germany may feel like a German (and is a German!)

I think using German might be a bad example in many cases, as someone can be of a Turkish background and be born in Germany and really not be much of an outsider because a lot of Germans happen to be of Turkish backgrounds.