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apprentice
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apprentice
Joined: Oct 2023
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You can cast longstrider on taller races as well, including wood elves, so they still outpace the small races. For melee classes, it makes a big difference, especially if your build is not strength based (a weak leap also makes a big difference in combat mobility). That lower movement rate is probably why the short races get some of the strongest other benefits, like the halfling Lucky and the gnome advantage on int/wis/cha saves. Still, it is the main reason I don't like short races for melees (though I do have a gnome + Shattered Flail build, for the wis save factor).
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addict
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addict
Joined: Aug 2023
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[...] That lower movement rate is probably why the short races get some of the strongest other benefits, like the halfling Lucky and the gnome advantage on int/wis/cha saves. [...] Dwarves get nothing like that, though.
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apprentice
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apprentice
Joined: Oct 2023
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[...] That lower movement rate is probably why the short races get some of the strongest other benefits, like the halfling Lucky and the gnome advantage on int/wis/cha saves. [...] Dwarves get nothing like that, though. The advantage on poison saving throws is pretty nice, since being poisoned gives you disadvantaged on attack rolls. And beyond that, the subraces have a couple of decent ones. Shield Dwarves with medium armor proficiency is nice for robed casters (because, when you think dwarf, you naturally think wizard, right?... yeah, it's a bonus that encourages you to play a dwarf contrary to their image... not ideal), while Duergrar have that long range dark vision, can cast invis, and so on. And while Gold Dwarves aren't standouts with their +1 hp per level, at least it is something that is universally useful. But yeah, I'd agree, they get the worst of the lot. Problem is the weapon proficiency bit, which is mostly a wasted bonus for them, as is often that armor prof bonus for Shield Dwarves. The type of classes commonly associated with dwarves already have these things, making them wasted. Kinda wish they had given shield dwarfs the Defensive fighting style as a freebie instead.
Last edited by Talismina; 18/10/23 01:10 PM.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2020
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In general, few of the choices made at character creation are permanently impactful. Stats. skills, class can all be respecced at nominal cost. You can freely switch from a Monkbarian to a Bardlock or vice versa. You can take your Oath of the Ancients Paladin and temporarily 'forget' their oaths as you switch them to a Thief or Assassin Rogue, embarking on a crime spree across the land, only to switch them back to the Oath of the Ancients Paladin once you are satiated, with their oaths apparently intact and unbroken. With adequate gold, you can have your character be a 'master of all trades' and have them be the ideal build for any given environment and situation. One of the few things you cannot change and are stuck with after choosing it at character creation is their race.
Given that, Rank the Races! I'll start, but I encourage everyone to not just critique my rankings but more importantly to supply their own. Judge them by whatever criterion you see fit. For myself, I'm grading them on 3 primary criterion: Appearance, Flavor, and Mechanics, all of which in my opinion matter for your primary character and avatar in the campaign. Without further ado, here we go!
1. Drow
(Appearance A, Flavor S, Mechanics A)
Elves, Humans, Half Elves and Drow all have more body types available than any other races. This includes the 'lithe and attractive' and 'swol beefcake' varieties. They also work well with any hairstyle and generally have the most and best customization options for appearance of anyone. Mechanically, Elves don't have the best abilities ever, but they do have a *ton* of them. Darkvision, Sleep Immunity, Charm Resist, a bonus proficiency in the always useful Perception, potentially useful or useless weapon proficiencies, and that's without even adding in what they get from their subraces. Drow get all of that, then trade high elves' cantrip for a cantrip and 2 2nd level spells and also superior Darkvision, with absolutely no downsides whatsoever. They also have the most unique interactions and flavor of any race in the game. They are, in every way, the complete package. Swole Beefcake Elves is actually a Canon Violation, also Dragonborns don't have tails, if you see a Dragonborn with a Tail, it's actually a Half Dragon, they're like identical cousins with the main difference being that one has a tail.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
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Swole Beefcake Elves is actually a Canon Violation, also Dragonborns don't have tails, if you see a Dragonborn with a Tail, it's actually a Half Dragon, they're like identical cousins with the main difference being that one has a tail. LOL  TBH whole character creation is Canon FR violation. Just to appease those 0.01% of vocal pink Skrillex haircut individuals. And I'm sure tails are there for a reason too  All that aside, I chose male Drow for my first playthrough because I wanted to see all those interactions (not worth it only for that btw, but it made sense for me from RP perspective, had only 1 badass reaction overall) For second playthrough I rolled a vanilla pretty Human girl. It's nice to look at a pretty character. But any time I use disguise self, I always roll with Gnome or Halfling, I love their running / climbing / jumping animations. So yea I rate races on their appearance options, animations etc., couldn't care less about racial attributes.
Last edited by ladydub; 18/10/23 03:57 PM.
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enthusiast
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enthusiast
Joined: Apr 2023
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In this game? They all suck. I particularly hate how Larian decided to divide Drow into Lolth and Seldarine for no reason. Don't want to follow Lolth? Don't pick her as a goddess. Drow should have had to pick a god, not this bull.
In actual D&D (aka, anything before all the retcons and rewrites to appease certain people): Drow forever. Drow starting to break off Lolth domination is actually one of the better changes in the new edition. If you know the lore, Lolth Drow are absolutely the most vile people in the realms. I don’t think it’s possible to have a “Classic” Lolth drow as a player character. They just can’t function in a normal society among normal people. Is like having a Gnoll leading a party of Gale, Shadowheart etc. makes no sense
Last edited by ladydub; 18/10/23 10:24 PM.
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Banned
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Banned
Joined: Sep 2023
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its depons what class, for casters human or half elf for shields
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stranger
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stranger
Joined: Nov 2023
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In re: Guthyanki noses, did no one ever consider that they might have psionic sinuses? Being from the astral plane, it's possible that their mucus is mental thus no need for a big honker or for handkerchiefs.
As for rating the races, imho Drow come first. The reactions in game to them are the best. Then follow Gnomes and Halflings, then Githyanki and tieflings followed by everyone else. I prefer to play elves or small races (halflings and gnomes), but the Dark elves are my person al favourite. In terms of gameplay, in the long run the starting bonuses are more for flavour than anything else. I do like the extended Darkvision so duergar, deep gnomes and Drow > everyone else.
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old hand
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old hand
Joined: May 2023
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In re: Guthyanki noses, did no one ever consider that they might have psionic sinuses? Being from the astral plane, it's possible that their mucus is mental thus no need for a big honker or for handkerchiefs. Peed myself, thank you  As for rating the races, imho Drow come first. The reactions in game to them are the best. Yass! TIEFLING BRAT: I heard you people kidnapp kiddies like me? [DROW] PALADIN: LIES! We slaughter many more children than we enslave! :P
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Bard of Suzail
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Bard of Suzail
Joined: Oct 2020
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First I will say I HATE the racial modifiers that Larian chose to use. I wish they would go back to the PHB and not use custom for that.
Next ranking the races to me is more about personal choice than one actually being "better" than another. By level 5 or 6 most "advantages" with the current system have vanished.
My two Favorite races are Human and Dwarf, next is Half Elf. After that I really, personally, do not care. I would probably rank Hobbit after Half Elf. My choices BTW are about my RP, not the mechanics.
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