Mike Mearls Games
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Elf, Dwarves, Apes, and Humans, Oh My!
🕑 Added 2025-01-16 23:56:14 +0000 UTCHey all! A few weeks back I shared the design for the mountain dwarf, and paid backers got an early peek at the sylvan ape. Today, those two are back along with the wood elf and human.
This design is just the base stuff you get from your race, with background and destiny filling in your other two pieces. Those elements have shifted a bit.
Background represents learned skills and cultural lore you picked up. You gain a package of skills and talents you learned that includes upgrades at 2nd and 6th levels.
Destiny is a bit of a tweak to what were talents tied to race. Instead, destiny represents your character's mythic arc. As you gain power in the form of levels, you gain a supernatural ability to connect with the world. You get a benefit at character creation, along with added benefits at 4th, 8th, and 10th level.
Destinies take a few forms. Some are based on abilities - your character aspires to master all lore and unlock new secrets of the world - while others look a little lack backgrounds, such as an ambition to become a king or found an imperial dynasty. Your destiny gives you the tools, tinged with mythic power, to achieve those goals.
For instance, the original mountain dwarf had these two talents:
4th Level: Stone Gullet
You have advantage on all Constitution checks and saving throws.
8th Level: Indomitable
You ignore the drawbacks of failed death saves and die after your fifth such failed save rather than your fourth.
As a destiny, these would be recast as The Survivor, representing your character's drive to face and endure the mightiest challenges the world offers. At 1st level you likely gain an HP boost. At 10th level, you might become nearly impossible to kill or might gain the ability to come back to life. I need to design a few more of these to figure out where they stand.
Finally, ability bonuses are wrapped up in score generation. Point buy accounts for the bonus normally granted by race, and die rolling includes options that also account for it. This approach saves a step in character creation and helps streamline things.
(Also, why intelligent apes? Because I like them, that's why!)
Comments
Mike Mearls
Legolas would be the objective, but I don't see trance or darkvision as key to him. OTOH, the emphasis on a long lifespan might work better for a high elf.
Andrew Wilhelm
No Darkvision for Elves? I think the Elves' incredible perception is too iconic to omit. Trance has also become iconic for them. I know a lot of designers don't want to be too beholden to Tolkien but it feels weird having a Wood Elf that can't be used to create Legolas.
Ryan Linderman
I usually play wood elves. I love the flavor and the choices, but It is going to be difficult to narrow it down to two picks
