D&D 5E (2024) WotC Should Make 5.5E Specific Setting

[Zardnaar]

Yeah, about 4% is the threshold for core. About 3% gets deleted.


In 5e 2014, both the half elf and the full elf are exceptionally popular. And together the merge surpasses the Human.

Half Elf was cut for other reasons. Wouldn't be surprised to see them return in 6E.

Also very popular BG3.

 

[Maxperson]

I reread the Awsimar description. It is ambiguous. I read the following.

"They resemble their parents", especially their species biology. Except for incidental "hint" of Celestial magic, comparable to cantrip thematics. This subtle magic becomes more prominent as their Celestial magic advances with character level.

Hmmm. On reconsideration, the fact that Awsimar are a "species" means they can only reproduce with other Awsimar and can no longer reproduce with the species of their parents.

In this sense, the "biology" is altered after all. Albeit it isnt actually the biology that changes. It is the planar distortion by the Celestial aster that makes reproduction with other mortals incompatible.

A few things. First, the fact that skin color, eye color, etc. are influenced by the divine spark unambiguously means that the spark makes biological changes to the Aasimar. Second, D&D allows cross-breeding(not sure what better word to use) between pretty much all of the races, so an Aasimar would be able to reproduce with other races just like anyone else.

 

[Yaarel]

Half Elf was cut for other reasons. Wouldn't be surprised to see them return in 6E.

I doubt we will ever see a "half elf" again. Not in core anyway.

We might see a miscibility method to combine any two species. Because magic.

To use origin feats for an Elf-touched Human ancestry is easy for 2024. Even the Magic Initiate feat is enough mechanics to represent magical influence from an Elf ancestor. Because the Human has two origin feats using one of them for a nonhuman ancestor opens up player options that a conceptually strict Human would lack.

Level 1 has so much design space. To narratively describe an unusual ancestry is often good enough: an Elf who looks humanish or a Human who looks elvish.

Also very popular BG3.

I agree the trope of a Human having some Elf ancestry is narratively important.

 

[Yaarel]

A few things. First, the fact that skin color, eye color, etc. are influenced by the divine spark unambiguously means that the spark makes biological changes to the Aasimar.

The Thaumaturgy cantrip makes eyes glow. An other cantrip can change hair color. The Awsimar exhibits superficial "hints" of the Celestial magic.

Second, D&D allows cross-breeding(not sure what better word to use) between pretty much all of the races

2024 systematically removed "Half races", not just from core but from settings as well.

Designers seem to be rethinking how or even if species hybriding happens.

so an Aasimar would be able to reproduce with other races just like anyone else.

If there is a method to combine any two species, it applies to the Awsimar too.

But even if hybrids happen narratively, it may never get mechanics.

Personally, I prefer a Human and Elf can never reproduce because the Elf is truly nonhuman. If an anomalous child does happen it is because the Elf shapechanged into a Human, in order to parent a Human child. And so on for comparable scenarios.

 

[TiQuinn]

Yeah, about 4% is the threshold for core. About 3% gets deleted.

God, I really hate to do this. Like I really hate it. But can I get a cite on this? Like, really, where did you actually get that information?