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.)
519
questions
7
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is the forest gnome's "Speak With Small Beasts" feature definitively bi-directional in 5e?
Forest gnomes have the following racial feature:
Speak with Small Beasts. Through sound and gestures, you may communicate simple ideas with Small or smaller beasts.
Like many words in English, "...
- 7,223
5
votes
1
answer
791
views
Book like 'Ancestry and Culture' but with a lot more races included
I remember encountering a D&D book online as a pdf, which offered rules to create characters belonging to multiple races/cultures, similar to 'Ancestry and Culture'. Unlike 'Ancestry and Culture', ...
- 251
0
votes
1
answer
316
views
Is this Changeling homebrew race balanced?
The objective of this presentation is to provide a buffed yet balanced and more setting-encompassing alternative to the already introduced Changeling race.
Ability Score Increase. When determining ...
- 19
1
vote
3
answers
287
views
Is this "Mentar" homebrew race balanced?
I come here with a homebrew race for 5e D&D, its history, physical and mental description as well as racial features. I would like to know your take on the racial bonuses, if they are balanced ...
- 2,799
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can I put all points in one ability with customized origins?
I was making a mountain dwarf monk in dnd beyond and was able to get my dex up to 19 at level one, using point buy and customized origins (it allowed me to put both initial ASIs on dex). This seems ...
0
votes
0
answers
71
views
Does being a Fey creature type offer any advantages? [duplicate]
In the book Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse (MPMM), many creatures are classed as Fey, some that were not classed as fey now are, namely the Changeling.
However with things like ...
- 869
3
votes
1
answer
501
views
Can you build a lineage from a lineage?
While searching for more details on the limitations imposed on ancestral lineages, I came across this answer from Thomas Markov where he included Fairies and Dhampirs as possible sources for flight ...
- 6,790
5
votes
5
answers
553
views
What constitute as mechanics as opposed to lore information when it comes to races?
A bit of a while back, I asked a question about certain shadar-kai in printed material, which suggested to me that Mr. Witch and Mr. Light are not beholden to the Raven Queen as others of their race ...
- 6,790
10
votes
1
answer
755
views
Where can I find the Drink Blood ability?
The Taste Blood feat has a prerequisite:
Cel Rau, Straveika, Svetocher, or another lineage from a vampire with the Drink Blood ability
However, when I check these lineages, there is no mention of ...
- 60.8k
-1
votes
1
answer
166
views
Is this Ellayn race balanced?
The Ellayn are a falcon-winged fey creatures that dwell in the skies of Faerie, the ellayn are relatives of the elves and their long-standing allies. They live in tight-knit family units consisting of ...
6
votes
1
answer
871
views
Is this homebrew Flower/Plant race balanced?
As it is my first time making a homebrew race, I'd like to know if this race is somewhat balanced. I've used Detect Balance to try and achieve this purpose, but I would like to see what others think ...
- 63
-3
votes
3
answers
367
views
If I play as a Faerie Dragon can I use dragon-born feats or Fey Touched?
I want to have a feat, but most feats either
are unusable (e.g. weapon feats (can only use undersized weapons plus only one-handed, I use the tail to wield them)
offer no benefit (armor feats, I have ...
- 67
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Is this Lunarri race balanced?
The Lunarri are an enlightened race of being, born from the celestial spark of the moon goddess. Blessed with a long life and an innate power, they were a peaceful and contemplative, who mastered ...
1
vote
2
answers
413
views
Illithid PC idea-OP or balanced?
I had a really interesting idea for a character for D&D 5e-an Illithid PC. They're a rogue who, at first, prefers to work alone like your stereotypical edgelord and just kill bad people and ...
1
vote
1
answer
79
views
How does the Shifting Faces feat interact with worn equipment?
The Kitsune feat shifting faces lets you, once per day
You wear many faces, even those that don't belong to you. When you Change Shape into your tailless form, you gain the effects of 3rd-level ...
- 1,295
5
votes
2
answers
445
views
What happens to gear and clothing when you use the Kitsune’s Change Shape ability? (Or other polymorph effects in general)
I was trying to search on the Archives of Nethys for what happens to a character's clothing/gear when they use change shape . I couldn't find anything on the specific ability or even polymorph rules ...
- 1,295
5
votes
2
answers
559
views
Is this Alquir race balanced?
The Alquir are a race of semi-aquatic creatures that resemble newts and salamanders. They possess a potent regenerative ability and an affinity for watery magics.
My main balance concern is the ...
- 945
3
votes
2
answers
337
views
Is this revised Hamadryad race balanced?
Original race: Is this homebrew hamadryad race unbalanced?
Hamadryads are creatures born of the forest, connected to the wild lands and the very lifeblood of the world itself. They are liminal beings -...
- 375
11
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Just how good is Grovel, actually?
The Kobold 5th level ancestry feat Grovel has two key benefits. The first of these is straightforward enough - it allows the Kobold to feint from a 30 foot range - an unambiguous and clear advantage.
...
- 3,423
6
votes
1
answer
464
views
Is there a correct way to transfer the gloaming race from 3rd edition to 5th edition?
I've been playing in a 3rd edition campaign for quite a long time and the DM has recently decided that they would like to continue in 5th edition. My character in this campaign is a gloaming which is ...
- 3,345
5
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is there a way for a human barbarian to acquire the cold-honed half-elf racial trait?
Question is as the title says, "Is there a way for a human barbarian to acquire the cold-honed half-elf racial trait?"
Maybe through feats or traits? Something adopted?
(The racial trait is ...
- 8,796
2
votes
1
answer
172
views
Is this Ainher race balanced?
The Ainher are a race of humanoids, crafted by the ancient giants with a spark of divine flames. They were like men, but greater in skill, passion and stature. They were left to live a harsh life in ...
- 375
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is my Shroomlib homebrew race balanced?
For this race I used Detect Balance to try and figure out how balanced it is (I got around 25-26), and before I try to playtest it, I would appreciate some feedback.
Ability Score Increase:
You gain a ...
- 1,215
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Is this homebrew hamadryad race unbalanced?
A player of mine wanted to play a hamadryad based on the old 4e version and this is what I came up with. The lore is that they're dryads who, through falling in love with a mortal or some other means, ...
- 375
5
votes
2
answers
863
views
Is this Tirnani homebrew race balanced?
In ages past, a vast empire of beast folk ruled the lands after driving destructive elementals from it. In time, they grew corrupt and enslaved a race of druidic fae folk to their service, so they ...
3
votes
2
answers
530
views
Would a monster trait-based Kobold race be balanced?
There are playable races for a number of monsters, for example you can play a Bugbear, Duergar, Goblin, Goblin, Hobgoblin, Kenku, Kobold, Lizardfolk, or Orc, and Satyr all of which are directly ...
- 84.9k
5
votes
1
answer
359
views
Can a player's damage immunity be balanced out when paired with a vulnerability?
Would it be balanced to allow a player to be a race which from 1st level had immunity to an elemental damage type (example: fire), but was paired with a vulnerability to another damage type (example: ...
- 519
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can Anadi walk on walls?
After a discussion with a player of mine about Anadi I noticed, that contrary to what my instincts said (because they are spiders) I saw nothing about them able to crawl up walls in any other way than ...
- 8,029
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Could a plasmoid gain a 10-foot range for touch spells by using the Shape Self trait?
The Plasmoid's Shape Self ability reads, in part:
As a bonus action, you can extrude a pseudopod that is up to 6 inches
wide and 10 feet long or reabsorb it into your body. As part of the
same bonus ...
- 4,349
5
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is this Cambion race balanced?
A Cambion is a half-fiend - an offspring of the lilu or lilith demons (known commonly as incubi and succubi respectively) and a mortal. Beings with hollow souls and endless desire for pleasure, ...
9
votes
1
answer
1k
views
What playable races are there with insect-like features besides Thri-Kreen?
In the recent Spelljammer book releases for D&D 5e, there is the option of playing a race with "insectile features", i.e. Thri-Kreen. (AAG, p.15)
I want to know what - if any - other ...
- 8,698
17
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is this homebrew Rhynkos race balanced?
While playing The Quiet Year as set up, a race of platypus-like people were encountered by the seaside settlers. This homebrew race is intended for the players in the following 5e game as a new race ...
- 6,369
1
vote
1
answer
396
views
How can I allow my player to be a Doppelganger without excessive HD/LA?
A player character who is a Doppelganger has four levels of Monstrous Humanoid and LA +4:
Racial Hit Dice: A doppelganger begins with four levels of monstrous humanoid, which provide 4d8 Hit Dice, a ...
- 7,785
0
votes
2
answers
695
views
Is it balanced with other races to give Dragonborn short-range blindsight as an additional racial trait?
I use this homebrew rule for darkvision and add a new racial trait called low-light vision in my games:
Darkvision: The following player races have darkvision to a range of 60ft; Drow, Half-Drow, ...
- 192
-2
votes
1
answer
237
views
Is this a balanced homebrew race? [closed]
Me and my friend made a race with these traits:
They do not regain hitpoints through resting.
As an action, they can deal necrotic damage to a target within 10 meters and heal as much damage as they ...
- 981
33
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What is Detect Balance?
In a lot of homebrew reviews and discussions, I keep seeing something called Detect Balance employed. Often with little to no context despite it and its points being the core of the response. So I'd ...
- 47.7k
2
votes
2
answers
675
views
Is this Half-Ogre race balanced?
None of the race options published so far is Large, not even the Centaur, Goliath, or Firbolg. I'd like a Large option, to see how that plays.
Half-Ogre
When an ogre mates with a human, hobgoblin, ...
- 84.9k
-1
votes
4
answers
465
views
Is this Huu-kikra bird race balanced?
I have figured out that making homebrew races is rather fun and lets my creativity flow free. Any suggestions for fixes or suggestions, for this homebrew race of bird-like people, to make it balanced ...
4
votes
4
answers
309
views
Is this homebrew Leafling race unbalanced?
Leaflings are a small race of fey creatures, resembling human children with pointed ears and green tinged skin, that inhabit idyllic places of natural beauty in proximity to humanoid settlements. ...
- 945
2
votes
2
answers
596
views
Is this True Orc variant a good option to use?
I have made 2 orc races (Feral-orc and True-orc) and I recently got the Feral variant looked at and now I am wondering about the other variant, I updated it together with the feral variant after ...
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is the homebrew Feral Orc race balanced?
I asked a while back about a homebrew orc race for my campaign. And after my 2 players playing it for a few sessions, and getting feedback on the post as well, I have tweaked it so I feel it still ...
3
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Can you be a Reborn Dhampir?
Can you combine Reborn with Dhampir? Both are "lineages" that combine with another race and keep certain things such as climbing speed (which dhampirs get), so could you have both or is ...
- 322
5
votes
3
answers
305
views
What are the repercussions for continuous usage of polymorph spells?
There are several items that allow for continuous duration alter self such as the FleshShifter Armor (Book of Vile Darkness) and the Skin of Proteus (SRD). Using these allows a character to act as a ...
- 1,285
6
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What implications would a monstrosity as a player character entail?
Travelers of the Multiverse Unearthed Arcana lists the Thri-kreen race, and its type is monstrosity. I am wondering what playing as a monstrosity would entail.
All things that come to my mind are ...
- 2,799
-1
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Why can't flying races fly while wearing armor?
No flying race has the ability to fly while wearing any armor other than light armor. Is there a balance issue that this causes?
If there is, then what is the difference between a flying race in plate ...
- 43
4
votes
1
answer
428
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?...
- 696
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 ...
- 43
2
votes
1
answer
446
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 ...
4
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How unbalanced is this 3 Kobolds in a Trenchcoat Player Race?
A player wants to try to play the 3 Kobolds in a Trenchcoat meme. I'm inclined to allow it to add some lighthearted content to our next campaign (Curse of Strahd). I came up with this, based largely ...
- 182
4
votes
1
answer
843
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 ...
- 193