I think d D&D (for digital dungeons and dragons) would be great if they just dumped a gang of cash into a character/avatar/portrait creation system that worked with Unity/Unreal or cool modelling/VA as like some kind of plug-in. Don't make a movie - make that!
Like, a full to rights, highly detailed, extensive, expansive character creator that was custom built for that express purpose, that we made available and accessible, so that the surrounding community to continue to add assets to its libraries via modding extensions, would be wonderful. There's a reason so many people have dozens of characters they've never played in their D&D beyond libraries... it's because deep down many us us still want to play with our virtual doll house, and more catering to that from a tool-and-function perspective would be great.
For the races the missing Half Elves are kinda notable since that's been such a staple, though I suppose it makes sense the way they're framing it out.
I'm kind of on board with this; we won't be seeing half-elves or half-orcs, because they're officially opening up the statement of half-anythings can work. It will be the first time that Wizards have publicly and canonically stated that most humanoid races can interbreed with each other successfully - up until now they've avoided saying anything directly and fallen back on the realms-lore that points to magic and divine intervention allowing couplings to work that otherwise wouldn't.... As long as they do this *well*, and the structures for mixed race parentage are well laid out and flexible for how they build into your character, I think this is potentially actually a good move. I'm not happy about several important race features up and vanishing, and I hope all of the things we know and love do make it back in (Where's my halfing's ability to hide in places that others generally can't? that's important! Actually the halfling block in general looks incredibly thin and light-weight compared to most of the other race blocks in the document... I'm concerned, honestly). In other news, my gnome sorceress is probably going to have to start being a little bit more careful about minding her dates and/or using protective cantrips, I suppose... rather than relying on the assumption that other gnomes are her only risk factor for partners.
Now that they're going with full on Orcs I kinda think they're missing a chance to do the Snakes at the same time. That race just has a lot of potential with the shedding skins and the venom fangs and Serpentor vibes, for something similar to Dragonborn but with a different flavor that works in a lot of settings. Cosmic snakes and eggs and all hehe. I liked exploring the Gith in BG3, but the Snakes would probably feel a bit more grounded. I suppose that could just be a Tief subtype with a lot of Merrshaulk-to-Set material to draw on. That would be kinda cool to counterbalance the Stargate Animal heads vibe on the celestial side, with some showcase variety for the Abyssal Tiefs say. You know so they could be more like Serpents with forked tongues rather than Devils with horns or whatever, maybe some snake hair. Just picturing how it might present in something like BG3 for a visual. Another route to the reptilian peoples of other games.
Just checking, but are you aware of Yuan-ti, black_elk? The realms have the perfect sneeple representatives for you already ^.^ (
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Yuan-ti)
I still think Sprites are another interesting potential race that could do something sort of new, conceived as a counterpoint to the heavy STR Orcs maybe.
They recently gave us the criminally underwhelming Fairy playable race, which was intended to cover all manner of small fey, however between the playtesting and the official release they gutted and strangled it into oblivion, so the block is an empty, bland, dead shell of what they intended it to be.... However... most people I know still absolutely use it to play as sprites, pixies, quicklings, nac mac feegle and other already established fey creatures that exist in the realms. Given your comment,s I think you might get a lot of value reading up about the feywild, as it exists in the forgotten realms; a lot of what you might be looking for, or feel is missing from D&D is actually there already ^.^
I noticed Halflings "2-3 feet" which I dig. A 2 ft tall Halfling is something I wish they drum up for BG3.
I was surprised (but not displeased) to see them tweaking the height scale for halfings. This is a good move because it's really affirming the slight difference between halfings and gnomes on this score. In early editions ,they went back and forth about which race was taller than the other, and there existed a lot of confusion. They made a firm ruling with 5e - halfings at 'about 3 feet' and gnomes at 'just over 3 feet', but as much as that was a clear answer, it was still a bit vague. By lowering the halfling bracket slightly, they've made the distinction in heights clear enough that folks shouldn't trip over it any more.
It also means that my little bard, Wren, is technically within the allowed heights now, since she's 2'6, which is lower than you can formally roll in the handbook (she's slightly fey-touched, to pixies, and so is small and slight, and is also only 17)
Also: Hey Larian, Halflings are small! Like, properly, small! Please Fix!
