D&D 5E What PC species should return for 5ed?

Marandahir · 2024-07-15T01:45:47+0100

Parmandur said:
Even with 3 Magic Settings! It's weird?

It is really bizarre that Gnolls never got playable stats (aside from the DMG NPC adjustment chart).

In fact, the lack of guidance on making new playable Species options out of "Monsters," like 3E Savage Species (problematic as that could be). I really, really hope this is rectified in the new DMG or MM.

Gnolls never got PC stats because they really leaned into "Gnolls aren't humanoids, they're fiends" thing. Guess they wanted a common D&D monster species that isn't undergoing the transformation into PC Species like Goblins, Orcs, Kobolds, etc.

Corinnguard · 2024-07-15T01:49:34+0100

Marandahir said:
Gnolls never got PC stats because they really leaned into "Gnolls aren't humanoids, they're fiends" thing. Guess they wanted a common D&D monster species that isn't undergoing the transformation into PC Species like Goblins, Orcs, Kobolds, etc.

3e's Races of the Wild has stats for Gnoll PCs. And Level Up does have a Gnoll heritage.

Gnoll | Level Up

a5e.tools

Marandahir · 2024-07-15T01:51:21+0100

Corinnguard said:
3e's Races of the Wild has stats for Gnoll PCs. And Level Up does have a Gnoll heritage.

Gnoll | Level Up

a5e.tools

And they got stats in 4e in Dragon magazine.
My point was in 5e, not other editions or game systems or 3rd party variant systems.

Greg K · 2024-07-15T01:55:13+0100

Half-Elves, Half-Orcs, and Half-Ogres.
edit: Lizardfolk (and give environmental variants), Gnolls, and Shifters in addition to the three above.

Parmandur · 2024-07-15T01:58:03+0100

Marandahir said:
Gnolls never got PC stats because they really leaned into "Gnolls aren't humanoids, they're fiends" thing. Guess they wanted a common D&D monster species that isn't undergoing the transformation into PC Species like Goblins, Orcs, Kobolds, etc.

Yeah, and that was always such an oddball decision.

Particularly in the Aildemount book, because the "roll a lifepath' chapter there had Gnoll as a possible result.

Dragonhelm · 2024-07-15T02:56:57+0100

Vaalingrade said:
Devas. People don't give them enough credit for a cool concept and execution.

I loved the deva! I thought they had an interesting story and were more appealing than aasimar. Plus that artwork was awesome.

I wrote an article about them several years ago for the Dragonlance Nexus called The Devas of Godshome, which detailed how they could be used in Dragonlance. Check it out!

I know that the aasimar had a deva spirit they could communicate with to guide them, but it just wasn't the same. The revised version killed that idea.

Greg K · 2024-07-15T03:03:16+0100

Vaalingrade said:
Devas. People don't give them enough credit for a cool concept and execution.

I forgot about the Deva. Definitely, should be included. While waiting, Mike Evans at DIY ( wrathofzombie.wordpress.com ) has a Deva for 5e.

Dragonhelm · 2024-07-15T03:18:39+0100

LuisCarlos17f said:
Shardminds were a original idea. If you wanted an exotic touch, here you are.

I loved the shardminds. I wanted to use them to represent Crystar from Marvel Comics.

LuisCarlos17f said:
Fraals (little gray aliens) should appear with the rest of psionic races. Dromites, elans, syands should return. Maenads may need some retouch. About the xephs the change I would add the option to spend the burst racial traits to a jump effect instead higher speed. Maybe here I feel influence by wuxia fiction.

I feel like those near-human races could be used as Kalashtar subraces, most notably the maenads and synads.

LuisCarlos17f said:
Bariaurs can't be only centaurs with goat horns.

I feel like they would need something more to be more than reskinned centaurs. Cool look, though.

LuisCarlos17f said:
What about the raptorans from "Races of the Wild"? Are they reskinned as 5e aarakocras?

The raptorans are one of my least-favorite D&D races. I feel like the aarakocra already fills their space nicely.

LuisCarlos17f said:
Azurins (Magic of Incarnum) are practically humans with a special "bloodline feat". Dusklings are practically goblings with incarnum-linked traits and "I don't mind if you are the authority here" temper. Rilkans and Skarns are like a lost opportunity and these deserve a second opportunity.

There were some neat ideas in Magic of Incarnum for the races, but I feel like they've been largely forgotten.

Marandahir · 2024-07-15T03:41:44+0100

Greg K said:
I forgot about the Deva. Definitely, should be included. While waiting, Mike Evans at DIY ( wrathofzombie.wordpress.com ) has a Deva for 5e.

Deva was just made for 4e because someone decided they had had enough of the Arse jokes about Aasimar and wanted them playable without people snickering. It's the same player species.

Greg K · 2024-07-15T03:50:00+0100

Marandahir said:
Deva was just made for 4e because someone decided they had had enough of the Arse jokes about Aasimar and wanted them playable without people snickering. It's the same player species.

I thought it was because of Aang from Avatar: The Last Airbender and, maybe, Doctor Who. Depending upon how one interprets the end of Heavy Metal, it can also work for Taarna dying and the girl becoming the new last of the Taarakians.

D&D 5E What PC species should return for 5ed?

Marandahir

Crown-Forester (he/him)

Corinnguard

Hero

Gnoll | Level Up

Marandahir

Crown-Forester (he/him)

Gnoll | Level Up

Greg K

Legend

Parmandur

Book-Friend

Dragonhelm

Knight of Solamnia

Greg K

Legend

Dragonhelm

Knight of Solamnia

Marandahir

Crown-Forester (he/him)

Greg K

Legend

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