Questions tagged [racial-traits]
Quantifiable capabilities or limitations specific to a race, such as Dwarves, Orcs, Romulans, et. al.
2
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2answers
80 views
Do bloodlines not increase your ECL?
Bloodlines, in all their weird but flavorful glory. For those who don't know, bloodlines are kind of like a racial template that gives you more abilities as you level up. Instead of having a level ...
5
votes
1answer
98 views
Does a human still get more feats and skill points when he acquires a template?
A feature of the human race is that they get an extra feat and extra skill points.
If a player decides to play human with a half-troll template (Fiend Folio p.93), does he still get his extra feat ...
5
votes
2answers
422 views
Do all Half-Elf subraces forgo the Skill Versatility feature?
On D&D Beyond, the Half-Elf page has this structure, and roughly the following content:
Half-Elf variants (saying that some variants forego Skill Versatility)
Half-Elf traits (showing all ...
14
votes
2answers
1k views
Does the kobold player race feature, Pack Tactics, give ranged attacks advantage?
On page 119 of VGtM, the description of the Kobold playable race's trait, Pack Tactics, reads:
Pack Tactics. You have advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of your allies ...
10
votes
2answers
116 views
Does a warforged benefit from composite plating when it uses alter self to assume a different form?
The spell alter self mentions nothing about the affected creature losing its racial traits that are natural abilities, like the warforged racial trait composite plating.
With this in mind, if a ...
6
votes
3answers
214 views
Can a PC cast cantrips without being in a spellcasting class?
I am a new player creating a rogue tiefling which gives me the thaumaturgy cantrip. From my understanding you can't cast spells or cantrips without being something like a wizard.
Can I cast this ...
3
votes
1answer
62 views
How does Light Blindness interact with artificial light sources?
Question
How does the Light Blindness weakness (found, for example, as a weakness racial trait for Drow) interact with artificial light sources like torches, campfire, oil lamps, Light Spell, other ...
4
votes
2answers
227 views
Does repairing the gnome's clockwork device require no materials and make it functional for another 24 hours?
I am thinking about roleplaying a Rock Gnome, and was wondering whether my interpretation of the Tinker trait was correct.
The rock gnome's tinker Trait (PHB pg. 37) says:
Using those [tinker's] ...
4
votes
1answer
674 views
Can a Changeling shapeshifted into a mind flayer read Deep Speech?
Can a Changeling (Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, p. 61) shapeshifted into a Mindflayer read the Qualith language?
The ability to read Deep Speech is dependent on tentacles, so could a Changeling use ...
0
votes
1answer
145 views
How does a Doppelganger monster's Shapechanger trait differ from the Changeling playable race's Change Appearance trait?
In D&D Beyond, I compared the Doppelganger monster's Shapechanger trait to the Changeling playable race's Change Appearance trait. While I think the two are very similar, some differences stood ...
4
votes
1answer
190 views
Could a kenku talk with thaumaturgy?
I was reading this question about kenku communicating using sign language, and was wondering about the other ways a kenku could communicate.
For example, the thaumaturgy cantrip states:
You create ...
6
votes
2answers
173 views
Can a Kenku communicate using sign language?
The description for the Kenku race (VGtM, p. 109-111) includes this statement:
You can read and write Common and Auran, but you can speak only by using your Mimicry trait.
In the Kenku origin tale,...
6
votes
2answers
354 views
Does the Warforged Envoy's Integrated Tool feature give you a free tool?
The Envoy subrace of Warforged (Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, p. 69) gives you the Integrated Tool feature, which states:
Choose one tool you’re proficient with. This tool is integrated into your ...
1
vote
2answers
195 views
How does a lizardfolk monk's Bite attack work? [duplicate]
I got an idea to build a lizardfolk sun soul monk for some cool RP with praise the sun, sunrays from reptile jaws and stuff. But then I see bite can be used as unarmed attack. From this point I have ...
11
votes
2answers
1k views
What happens when my aasimar Celestial warlock has overlapping class and racial features?
If you are a Aasimar warlock who's otherworldly patron is The Celestial you will know the light cantrip from both race and class. Additional once your reach 6th level in warlock you will have have ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
Can a lizardfolk monk use their bonus action to make an unarmed strike using their Bite trait?
I'm gonna be playing my very first D&D game pretty soon and I'm really excited. I'm playing a Lizardfolk monk, and I just finished my character sheet, but I was confused about something.
We're ...
3
votes
2answers
81 views
How old does a Dragonlance kender have to be, to be an “adult”?
I haven't been able to find any information on this. How old does a kender have to be, to be considered as much of an "adult" as their kind ever gets?
8
votes
1answer
415 views
Does a wildshaped druid retain his/her racial resistances?
A druid's Wild Shape feature specifies the following:
• Your game statistics are replaced by the statistics of
the beast, [bla-fu about stuff you retain; resistances are not mentioned]
[...]
...
3
votes
3answers
442 views
Is this version of the dragonborn race unbalanced?
When comparing the dragonborns with the other races of the Player's Handbook, it is pretty clear they are a bit underpowered. A quick search in google shows many people also think so.
Besides their ...
6
votes
1answer
2k views
How does the Wood Elf's Mask of the Wild trait work, in terms of flavor?
Just a flavor question (with perhaps slight gameplay influence):
How does a wood elf use the Mask of the Wild trait to hide?
The wood elf's Mask of the Wild trait says:
You can attempt to hide ...
3
votes
2answers
136 views
How does the Dwarven Resilience trait interact with the Prismatic Spray spell if the target is struck by two rays and only one does poison damage?
The prismatic spray spell can do different damage types (and status effects) depending on a d8 roll for the target that determines which ray targets each creature in the area of effect.
Say the ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
How does the spell Darkvision interact with races who have darkvision naturally?
Okay, I have a Wood-Elf character that is going to become a Monk that follows the Way of Shadow. A Way of Shadow Monk gets the ability to cast the spell Darkvision (among others) using Ki. I want to ...
10
votes
2answers
459 views
How does the simic hybrid's Manta Glide racial trait work during combat?
Consider a Simic Hybrid with the Manta Glide trait:
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 ...
22
votes
2answers
2k views
What are the mechanical consequences of a Centaur's Fey trait?
Centaurs have the Fey trait (Guildmaster's Guide to Ravnica, pg. 16):
Fey. Your creature type is fey, rather than humanoid.
What does this mean in terms of gameplay? I know that certain spells, ...
22
votes
2answers
573 views
Can a Warforged Envoy pick a land vehicle as his integrated tool?
I am aware that a Warforged Envoy picking anything but the tools in the PHB on page 154 is probably against RAI and would be an awkward implementation. But is it RAW?
The Warforged Envoy's Integrated ...
6
votes
2answers
461 views
Can Aasimar derive from stock other than human?
Inspired by this question: Can Tieflings derive from stock other than human?
Separated out from this question: Can Genasi derive from stock other than human?
Crudely speaking, tieflings are half-...
3
votes
1answer
187 views
How does the UA Centaur's Charge ability interact with critical hits?
The UA Centaur (from Unearthed Arcana: Centaurs and Minotaurs) has the Charge ability:
Charge. If you move at least 20 feet straight toward a target and then hit it with a melee weapon attack on ...
12
votes
2answers
423 views
Can Genasi derive from stock other than human?
Inspired by this question: Can Tieflings derive from stock other than human?
Crudely speaking, tieflings are half-human, half-devil. However, as the answer to the other question points out, non-human ...
16
votes
4answers
3k views
Does a Firbolg’s Hidden Step count as a spell or cantrip?
I am making a Firbolg Druid, and I was wondering if the racial feature Hidden Step (Invisible as a Bonus Action) counts as a Spell or a Cantrip? I can’t find anything that specifically says. I want to ...
27
votes
5answers
3k views
What are the mechanical consequences that arise for a PC with the undead creature type?
A tabaxi ranger/assassin in my game made a pact with an unknown power (homebrew deity-like undead necromancer from the Death Plane). To achieve this he became an undead tabaxi (and he took one level ...
20
votes
1answer
2k views
Is this homebrew Mind Flayer race balanced?
I have found a homebrew Mind Flayer race* and am wondering if it is reasonably well balanced against other races.
I have removed the fluff like age etc and just left the important parts.
My personal ...
4
votes
2answers
710 views
Would reach as a racial trait for my homebrew Mutant race be unbalanced?
I am creating a race of Mutants for my dark fantasy campaign.
The core racial mechanic is that each Mutant character picks two mutations from a list. Each mutation gives +1 to an Ability Score and a ...
9
votes
1answer
1k views
How can I increase the range of a Dragonborn's breath weapon?
Is it possible to increase the range/area of a Dragonborn's breath weapon?
If yes, how?
-1
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2answers
459 views
Would the Spell Sniper feat add to the range of a Dragonborn's breath weapon?
I was looking at feats for my backup character, and was wondering:
Would the Spell Sniper feat affect the range of a Dragonborn's racial breath weapon?
16
votes
1answer
2k views
Can an Aasimar grow their wings in an Antimagic Field?
One of my players wants to play a Protector Aasimar (VGtM, p. 105) but wondered if he'd be able to use his racial ability, Radiant Soul, in an antimagic field.
Would an antimagic field block the ...
3
votes
1answer
172 views
Can a tortle character use the extra action from the Haste spell to withdraw into their shell?
Can the extra action from the haste spell be used by a tortle (from The Tortle Package) to withdraw into their shell?
0
votes
2answers
244 views
Can a gifted aetherborn monk use Drain Life with Flurry of Blows?
Plane Shift: Kaladesh has the Aetherborn race. At the DM's option, they can gain access to ability called Drain Life, a natural attack that deals 1d6 necrotic damage and heals the an amount of HP ...
1
vote
3answers
382 views
Is this homebrew Dryad Sapling race (including its subraces) balanced compared to the official published races?
This race is part of a conversion of a race I built for a 3.5e campaign years ago, and I want to start a new campaign in the same setting, so I need to have the same races available for the new ...
8
votes
2answers
1k views
Can a lightfoot halfling use the ability to hide behind a larger creature while otherwise being observed?
Lightfoot halflings have the Naturally Stealthy trait:
You can attempt to hide even when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.
Can a lightfoot halfling use ...
14
votes
4answers
2k views
Does a magical creature's sounds mimicked by a kenku have the same effect as the real sound?
One of the antagonists in my plot is a kenku scientist. The party has met her a couple of times and is more and more disturbed with her experiments. She had accepted her curse and the fact that she ...
9
votes
2answers
2k views
Can a lizardfolk using Cunning Artisan build a club I can cast Shillelagh on?
One of the racial features of lizardfolk is the Cunning Artisan trait (Volo's Guide to Monsters, p. 113), which states:
As part of a short rest, you can harvest bone and hide from a slain beast, ...
14
votes
2answers
2k views
Does a non-spellcasting Drow PC need material components to cast Dancing Lights?
A Drow's Drow Magic racial trait means that they know the Dancing Lights cantrip at level one, regardless of class. Dancing Lights requires a material component: a bit of phosphorus or wychwood, or a ...
2
votes
4answers
318 views
How can a lawful good Paladin help a lawful evil Giant? [closed]
The story:
The Fire giant King has a daughter who was possessed by a powerful Demon.
The Daughter is also a powerful evil Cleric with a hundred followers. Under the influence of the Demon she and her ...
2
votes
0answers
124 views
I am confused about making a half-elf that is a drow [duplicate]
I am thinking about making a new character and was wondering what would a half-elf with a drow history act like and if it would have something new. For example, would it have the drow magic trait? Or ...
7
votes
2answers
3k views
Can changelings change shape to look identical to a specific person?
Could a changeling (from the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron) become a copy of a specific person, or can they only change to be a generic member of that race?
A player asked if they could play a ...
23
votes
1answer
4k views
What are the consequences for a Warforged that does not spend 6 hours in its inactive state?
In the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron, a Warforged has the two following traits:
Sentry's Rest. When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inaction, mostionless state, rather ...
2
votes
1answer
124 views
Are targets aware they are targeted by Halfling Jinx?
This questions is probably similar to witch hexes and other mind-control spells, but seems different enough to ask.
Halflings with this racial trait gain the ability to curse another
creature ...
16
votes
2answers
3k views
Is a Warforged considered to be wearing armor?
The Warforged race from the Wayfinder's Guide to Eberron has a unique feature, Integrated Protection, that affects their armor class (AC) and ability to wear armor, detailed below:
Your body has ...
-5
votes
1answer
328 views
Is this homebrew Liscem race balanced compared to the official races? [closed]
Are this homebrew Liscem race and its subraces balanced compared to the official races?
Liscem
Alignment: Liscem tend towards Chaotic.
Type: Humanoid.
Size: Small.
Ability score improvement: Your ...
4
votes
1answer
420 views
Can a scourge aasimar's Radiant Consumption dispel magical darkness?
Scourge aasimar (Volo's Guide to Monsters, p. 105) have the Radiant Consumption trait, part of which states:
Starting at 3rd level, you can use your action to unleash the divine energy within ...
