It sounds like a mixed bag to me so far. The changes to crits are just bad as far as I'm concerned. Taking them away from monsters just moves them one more step away from any sort of simulationism. I don't like monsters/npcs and PCs working on different systems, I'll just say that. Crititcal successes and failures for skill checks are really bad houserules IMO and should not be a core rule. Aardlings should have been called Aasimar. Just expand Aasimar to include the idea that they can have bigger and varied manifestations of their upper-planar heritage, just like Tieflings. I like that background and race are separated now. That's something I have wanted since I started playing, and although there have been little attempts here and there to address that (like 3rds background feats and regional feats) This is a solid step in the right direction. Not a fan at all of the removal of half orcs and half elves. Now from what I can tell you'd either make an orc or a human and tell your dm 'this is a half-orc' to simulate a half-orc and that's not something I like. Every race getting a cantrip or magical ability....not something I'm crazy about tbh. tremorsense is a good fit for dwarves and in line with abilities they have had in the past, but I'm against the mass proliferation of abilities just so everyone can have a gimmick on principle.
The name is stupid 'Xbox One' level needless corporate marketing tinkering.
