Questions tagged [races]

For questions about races, a term used to delineate creatures encountered in a game world, often but not always sentient. Examples include humans, orcs, green dragons, kzinti, and griffins. (See also: the [racial-traits] tag.)

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4 votes
2 answers
9k views

Now that Monsters of the Multiverse is out, are variant Humans still relevant?

I understand that an extra Feat is a big deal, but it seems to me that given the attributes changes put everything in line with V. Humans now, that feat isn't a big deal any more since most of the new ...
4 votes
1 answer
440 views

Would it be balanced to use the Starfinder system for races with more than 2 arms in Pathfinder 1e?

In Starfinder creatures with more than 2 arms have a feature where they can hold more items but not take extra actions with those arms. Would it be balanced if a race in Pathfinder 1e had this feature?...
3 votes
1 answer
473 views

Is this homebrew orc race close to balanced?

I am a brand new DM and I was asked if I allowed orc races, but my 2 players both wanted to play dumb brutish orcs, and so I homebrewed a race for them, but I am unsure whether it is balanced in any ...
3 votes
1 answer
722 views

Is this homebrew 'Outsider' race balanced?

I am currently editing a homebrew race that I have created, and after a good few versions, I believe I am coming to some semblance of a decent homebrew race. However, I fear that it may be unbalanced ...
6 votes
2 answers
4k views

How overpowered is this Dhampir / Changeling?

I am going to be running a game for a new player, and they want to play a Dhampir Changeling. I don’t want to use the Dhampir as written, because removing the Changeling's shapechanger feature feels ...
6 votes
1 answer
2k views

Is this Cervitaur race unbalanced?

Cervitaurs are a race of fey beings born from the breath of Succelos, The Oak Father. They resemble centaurs, but have the lower bodies of deer instead of horses. Possessing an innate druidic gift, ...
4 votes
1 answer
1k views

Do Owlin have feet or talons?

I do not currently own the Strixhaven book and one of the players in my new group is playing an Owlin (I am not DMing this one.) From the description I found online, the Owlin have hands and feet like ...
11 votes
3 answers
5k views

What PC races do not speak Common?

In 5e, seemingly all races know "Common and [at least 1 other language]" for their languages. Are there player races or subraces published by Wizards of the Coast, either officially or in UA, that do ...
6 votes
1 answer
233 views

How can we play different types of animals?

Mouse Guard only lets you create mice as player characters, but we want to tell a story about all manner of woodland creatures living, working, and fighting together. How can we do that with the Mouse ...
7 votes
1 answer
336 views

Do metatypes find members of their own metatype the most aesthetically pleasing in Shadowrun?

Do metatypes find members of their own metatype the most aesthetically pleasing in the Shadowrun canon? In other words: Sure, elves (and possibly humans) are most likely to find elves the most ...
18 votes
3 answers
4k views

Can metahumans in Shadowrun interbreed?

In the world of Shadowrun, can metahumans (i.e. non-humans, such as elves or dwarves) interbreed with each other or with humans? For instance, can a half-elf, half-human exist? Or a half-ork, half-...
2 votes
1 answer
242 views

Is this Bo'tirnan homebrew race balanced?

The Bo'tirnan are a race born from the fallen branches and fruit of the tree of life. At the beginning of their lives, the Bo'tirnan resemble humans with tough, bark-like skin and wild leafy hair. As ...
31 votes
5 answers
4k views

Where does the D&D concept of a dwarf come from?

Where does the modern D&D concept of a dwarf come from? I've noticed it's fairly far from the old Germanic concept of a dwarf. Where did Gary Gygax and company get the idea for the current long-...
4 votes
1 answer
266 views

Is my revised Cynocephali race balanced?

The race of dog men returns for a version two that aims to have more interesting abilities that don't skew to paladins or rogues that much! Ability Scores: Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and ...
3 votes
1 answer
303 views

Can NPCs detect that a PC is hiding/dissimulating their race? If so, how? [closed]

I'm working on a campaign (DnD, 5e-based, Forgotten Realms with some customizations) in which my party would go through a land in which one of my players is not welcome, because of her race. She's an ...
2 votes
1 answer
568 views

Is this draenei homebrew race balanced?

I've been a big fan of World of Warcraft for some time and even though I no longer play or interact much with the community, I do have a soft spot for some of the races and lore. So I made a draenei ...
16 votes
3 answers
2k views

How do you play a LA+1 race at level 1?

How do you play a LA+1 race at level 1? I have a group starting, and want to keep things equal with the players. I have one player who would like to play a LA+1 race. How do I balance all of this to ...
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

Do Red Dragon Disciples become vulnerable to cold?

Basically, I'm asking if Dragon Disciples receive the elemental vulnerability of their dragon ancestor. And what about Half-Dragons? The "Red" in "Red Dragon Disciples" refers to their "red dragon ...
11 votes
2 answers
1k views

Is this Grovekeeper homebrew race balanced?

Grovekeepers are a race of treefolk in my own homebrew setting. They were created by the god of nature to shepherd animals and plants. I'm somewhat worried that the race might be a touch too strong. ...
8 votes
1 answer
420 views

Half-rock- half-forest-gnome

I'd like a new character I'm building to have the stats and background of a forest gnome, but primarily the personality traits (curiosity, inventiveness) of a rock gnome. Does this seem like a ...
2 votes
3 answers
578 views

Can a Kenku that becomes a Hexblood speak normally?

The Kenku race's Languages trait states: Languages. You can read and write Common and Auran, but you can speak only by using your Mimicry trait. The features of the Hexblood lineage state: ...
24 votes
2 answers
15k views

How do I evaluate whether my homebrew race is balanced?

I've just created a couple of homebrew races for my players to potentially choose from for an upcoming campaign. The problem is, I have no idea how well they stack up against the official races when ...
6 votes
1 answer
321 views

Is this cynocephali race balanced?

Cynocephali are a race of dog men that appear in many real world sources. They're intelligent, have their own language and trade, but eat their prisoners of war. I tried capturing the canine feel ...
0 votes
0 answers
31 views

Vryloka Race for 5e v2 [duplicate]

So after getting responses and suggestions about the previous version of my vryloka homebrew race, I decided to rework it. So here's version two! Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases ...
13 votes
2 answers
2k views

Can a tortle become proficient with thieves’ tools if they have large fingers and long claws?

I'm a new DM and I'm helping two members of my party create their first characters. One wants to be a tortle druid. Their chosen background is Far Traveler but they also want to be proficient with ...
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Is this homebrew gnoll race balanced?

I've been tinkering with a gnoll race and I've been wondering whether it's balanced or not. I want to hear your thoughts on so I can possible revise it in the future. The traits are mainly based on ...
4 votes
1 answer
262 views

Lizardfolk Ranger Spell Attribute for Innate Cantrip

A Lizardfolk Ranger with the Ancestry Feat Bone Magic. He has +2 Wisdom and +0 Charisma modifier. He chooses Puff of Poison as his innate cantrip granted by Bone Magic. Bone Magic does not mention any ...
19 votes
7 answers
4k views

Is it possible to play as a necromancer skeleton?

I am a new DM. One of my players, my boyfriend, wants to be a necromancer skeleton that basically can't die, sort of like Voldemort with the horcrux. We are starting off at level 1. Is it at all ...
3 votes
2 answers
3k views

Does the Changeling's Shapechanger trait (from UA: Eberron) change your physical stats and abilities?

The Changeling race from Unearthed Arcana: Eberron has the Shapechanger trait, which lets it innately shapeshift: As an action, you can polymorph into any humanoid of your size that you have seen, ...
11 votes
1 answer
4k views

Can I play as a Changeling?

I will be playing my first D&D-campaign soon and I want to play as a changeling. Is this possible?
10 votes
4 answers
1k views

What variants/alternative options are there for half-elves?

The 3.5e half-elf is underpowered; even WotC admits it. The issue is, I want the Mark of Storm, which is exclusive to the half-elven d’Lyrandar family, one of Eberron’s Dragonmarked Houses. The Least ...
18 votes
4 answers
10k views

Does a Character with a Custom Lineage belong to a race, for the purposes of racial requirements?

Tasha's Cauldron of Everything introduces new character options. In the Customizing Your Origin subsection, there is a side panel that details the Custom Lineage options. This option allows you to, &...
10 votes
1 answer
1k views

Are half-Hobgoblins canon or even possible?

Half-orcs, half-elves, and even half-ogres abound in nearly all editions of D&D. However, I cannot recall any instances of half-hobgoblins in the source books or even canon literature. They are ...
8 votes
1 answer
236 views

Does Catfolk's ancestry feat Lucky Break work with the Grapple action?

For reference: Grapple action Lucky Break feat I argue that when grappling with the Lucky Break feat, you are able to reroll the Grapple attack action (when failing or critical failing), because the ...
6 votes
2 answers
1k views

Can I take Kobold Breath with Adapted Ancestry?

Kobold Breath does not list any prerequisites, but it talks about your draconic exemplar: You channel your draconic exemplar's power into a gout of energy that manifests as a 30-foot line or a 15-...
4 votes
1 answer
347 views

When a Changeling is granted an acquired template in one form, what forms does it apply to?

For an adventure I'm working on, I have a Changeling NPC character who's currently in a shape which would normally have the Earth subtype and is using Racial Emulation to gain that subtype. He's ...
10 votes
1 answer
2k views

If A Changeling becomes a Succubus, can she fly?

If a Changeling becomes a Succubus, can she fly? More broadly, does a Changeling gain the racial abilities of any race he or she is mimicking?
6 votes
1 answer
395 views

Does Racial Emulation grant you the traits of the emulated subtype?

I have a changeling character with the Racial Emulation (Races of Eberron 110) feat, whose benefit says: When you use your minor change shape ability to assume the form of a humanoid creature, you ...
7 votes
1 answer
8k views

What is a dhampir's max lifespan?

What is the maximum lifespan of dhampirs? Are they semi-immortal like undead creatures, do they have lifespans similar to those of humans, or are their lifespans in between these extremes?
13 votes
3 answers
6k views

Are the elf races really so bad?

Every popular charop class handbook I read seems to indicate that Elf is a terrible race choice, or at best "okay" (but sub-optimal) for some of the sub-types of elf. It seems to me that they actually ...
5 votes
1 answer
605 views

Are there any classes or prestige classes in Pathfinder 1e that alter or change the characters base type permanently?

In Dungeons & Dragons 3.X, there are a number of classes and prestige classes, like Dragon Disciple, and Green Star Adept, that permanently alters the characters base type... I was wondering if ...
-3 votes
4 answers
2k views

Is my Quickling homebrew race balanced?

Is my Quickling homebrew race balanced? I have adapted the Quickling for a homebrew playable race. Is this race balanced in proportion to other official 5e races? I used information from the DMG (p. ...
11 votes
1 answer
2k views

Are Aarakocra and Kenku related?

As far as I can read, the oldest lore on Kenku states that they are avian humanoids who lost their wings and speech when they defied their god. However, I can't help draw striking, yet vague links ...
10 votes
2 answers
2k views

What are the starting countries for races in Eberron (PHB, VGtM, GGtR, SCAG, WGtE)?

When I DM D&D, I want my players to write about their character's background. But even if I know some races' "starting countries", I don't know them for all races. I define starting countries as ...
2 votes
1 answer
266 views

What is the Level Adjustment of this Gorilla Avatar of Nature template? (Version 2)

I would like to include in my world the ability for a PC to turn into a sort of aspect of nature based on one of several animals in my current campaign. I am using the transformation process for ...
14 votes
7 answers
11k views

What does a Kenku's speech sound like?

Introduced in Volo's Guide to Monsters, Kenku can only speak by imitating sounds they've heard — they're unable to speak with their own voices (p. 110): Although unable to speak in their own voices,...
9 votes
2 answers
1k views

How does Simic Hybrid's Manta Glide work?

Simic Hybrid's Manta Glide (GGR p. 20) states the following: You have ray-like fins that you can use as wings to slow your fall or allow you to glide. When you fall and aren't incapacitated, you can ...
4 votes
2 answers
186 views

Does a race that is a sub-variant of another one qualify for feats restricted to members of that race?

Does a character being a race that is described as a sub-variant of another - for example, Svirfneblin to Gnome - qualify said character to take feats that are restricted to members of the super-race (...
8 votes
2 answers
2k views

Do the Elf Blood racial trait allow you to fulfil "being an elf" prerequisites?

In Pathfinder, half-elves have the following racial trait: Elf Blood: Half-elves count as both elves and humans for any effect related to race. Since now I always considered that it meant that a ...
10 votes
3 answers
5k views

Can a half-elf take human traits?

Can a half-elf raised by Varisian nomads take the trait Varisian Tattoo?

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