The more customization, the more fun everyone is going to have.
I think they really need to implement Genasi and Dragonborn. Perhaps marketing wise, they could bring in new classes (incl. PrC) and races every few months or so...
Personally I'd have them all available at the beginning but as long as they are implemented eventually it should still satisfy. I just hope they don't go the route of DDO and offer the special classes/races only if you pay additional fees or subscribe to a higher service (silver/gold account).
EDIT - Shadar-kai would be an interesting race as well!
lets see, i like the classics.
Humans
Elves -Wood, Wild and Eladrins(? Sun and Moon or whatever)
Half-Elves
Half-Orcs
Dwarves- Shield, Gold (is there another one for the mountain dwarf race?)
Halflings for sure - hopefully there will be enough customization for my fatty tolkien-hobbits, i never really liked the superdownsizing of halflings to resemble Dragonlance Kender but whatever.
Gnomes- Rock, Forest and Deep (snirfiblin- bah i cant spell it)
Drow- not that im especially in favor of this, but folks will raise a big stink if that option is not open to them.
-the key is that we have enough customization factors in order to totally personalize our toon. Yes lots of faces and tattooes and scarring are all well and good, but these are really only seen in a character portrait. My big issue is with the hairstyles and body types that we are constantly seeing of our characters on the screen to differentiate between "my dude, that dude and that chick."
-please remember that not everyone wants to have the 80's glam rock big hair with the ponytail and i personally do not like cornrows on my halflings
-i happen to really like LOTRO's dying system to further customize our character's armor and clothing also.
on Monstrous Races - preferably anything that is notorious for eating humans and demihumans should be out IMO. Sure special instances exist where a drow or an ogre or a giant or something could be a "goodguy" or a "hero," but we have to remember that once the decision to include a monstrous race is made, it is made for all players. Do we want to walk around the hubs/town and see all kinds of "StarWarsBar" races everywhere we go? If so, then sure. If the realm content and setting have a specific context in which that scenerio could present itself, then sure. But if these monstrous races are simply included to "appease the masses" or because "well, they're in 'this' or 'that' player handbook" then it is my thought that we should be taking a closer look at what the culture and context of Neverwinter is going to be to make that decision, not because "Well, it says i can be a Yuan-Ti Sorceror in PH2" (or whatever).
If we are going to be starting "simple" on the Class front, why shouldnt we also be starting "simple" on the Race front as well? 7-8 "normal" races (depending on what "normal" constitutes anymore, i admittedly don't know) and if the devs want to put an "exception to the rule" in there for fun (Deekin) wonderful, then they have a context for it. These are just my thoughts, though, and other folks will have differing opinions for sure. I remember one guy in my old dnd group that said "Criminny Christmas buddy, we're playin DnD! Why the heck would you wanna be Human?!"
I wonder if we'll see the "create your own" feature from STO come to NW in some form...
I personally would love this. While the Star Trek IP is just plain packed with humanoid aliens with all kinds of distinguishing features, Forgotten Realms isn't too far behind.
I think, in the end, that this is the only way we'd get to have access to all the different kinds of planetouched (including all 4 varieties of genasi, not to mention some of the non-human based ones like Fey'ri or Tanarruk), not to mention all the different half breeds.
I would definitely support this kind of feature.
Between all the hybrids, not to mention all the ways that different lineages could play in, I think this is exactly what this game needs.
If it's like STO, then they'll give us a list of premade races and let us make up our own. As for the Premades, I'd wager, based on what I've seen:
Human (duh)
Halfling (Heroes of Neverwinter)
Elf (they've said as much, haven't they?)
Eladrin (again, Heroes of neverwinter)
Drow (all over the site and what we've seen)
Dragonborn (Heroes of Neverwinter)
Dwarf (they've said as much)
Granted, I could easily have mis-interpreted somethings (like maybe they don't distinguish between eladrin and elves or something). But, I like my list.
They could do some other varieties, but in the end, in order to give us all of the varieties we'd want (Duergar, Half-elves/orcs/who-knows-what, Deva's/Aasimars, All 4 varieties of Genasi, Shaderkai, etc.), they'd have to give us the ability to create our own races. Since we know they're perfectly capable of this, and Cryptic has a reputation for player character customization, I see no reason why we shouldn't expect this from them.
For me, the most important feature to make Neverwinter a true D&D experience, is to have as many races as they can include. I would like to play a Changeling (as if that's going to happen); but, won't be getting into the game to heavily until they actually make it a D&D game by adding in a numerous number of races to play (perhaps 20 or more). However, until they actually plan to make it a D&D game,... I will probably dable here and there with the crappy choices they include at launch.
For me, the most important feature to make Neverwinter a true D&D experience, is to have as many races as they can include. I would like to play a Changeling (as if that's going to happen); but, won't be getting into the game to heavily until they actually make it a D&D game by adding in a numerous number of races to play (perhaps 20 or more). However, until they actually plan to make it a D&D game,... I will probably dable here and there with the crappy choices they include at launch.
If you want a ton of races, the most plausible way for that to happen is to have the option of creating a race, just like in STO (also by cryptic). That's probably the only way to get the nuances (what kind of elf, what elemental subtype of genasi, etc). Furthermore, it's cryptic, so we know they can do it.
I've listed what races I think they'll actually have premade.
I'd kill for there to be "Aasimar" as a playable race, but as we all know they've been scrapped in favor for "Devas", so Deva's have my vote.
I can't help it, I think Celestials are awesome.
But furthermore, I agree with the "Create your own Race" suggestion! There's always fear that it can be abused (I. AM A VAMPIRE DROW ORC!), but customization is the spice of life. I think it'd do more good them harm.
I'd be very shocked if Wizards allows us to build custom races. Maybe we can really stretch the appearance but I'll bet race names and stats will be fixed by the license.
I bet we won't be able to create our own.
Probaly won't have any shifter races - I'd be surprised to have Wilden available.
Primary issue for create your own race is racial powers.
I expect to have fairly basic races -Human, Drow, Eladrin/Elf, Tiefling, Dwarf, possibly Halfling and Dragonborn- to start.
Then add some races with expansions/modules.
What I really want to be able to play but don't expect at launch are:
Genasi
Half-Orc
Gnoll
Dragonborn (just because they'd need lots of custom work to handle the wings)
Umm, Dragonborn don't have wings until they follow a particular advancement path. Normal Dragonborn aren't born with wings. They have to follow the racial prestige path in order to become heroes. I'd get my 4th edition books out to give the names, but honestly, my roommate is sleeping and that would just be rude.
However, I hope, expect, and wish mightly for the Dragonborn to be in at launch. I so want them. Gnolls would be cool, too, but mostly because everyone has them and no one ever makes them playable.
There may be the option of having a "subrace" as a cosmetic option; it's already been announced that there will be paid options for that. Hopefully the impact of those purchases on gameplay mechanics will be slim to none -- but it might allow for an Eladrin to be a Moon or Sun Elf, a dragonborn to have a choice of damage type/color, etc.
PS Just because I love to roleplay them, I'm gonna throw my two cents in and say I want Kalashtar in the game. I know they're Eberron... just saying.
There may be the option of having a "subrace" as a cosmetic option; it's already been announced that there will be paid options for that. Hopefully the impact of those purchases on gameplay mechanics will be slim to none -- but it might allow for an Eladrin to be a Moon or Sun Elf, a dragonborn to have a choice of damage type/color, etc.
PS Just because I love to roleplay them, I'm gonna throw my two cents in and say I want Kalashtar in the game. I know they're Eberron... just saying.
Their was an article in dragon I believe on Kalashtar in the realms. Don't have a sub so I can't tell you much more. I think Kalashtar might be related to the spell plague some how. Someone with a subscription will be able to tell you more.
Personally I'm love Doppelgängers, but changeling's disguise would be the single hardest racial power in the game to implement. Maybe special access to the character creator when you use the power or click on a humanoid to activate it, taking their form.
Barring that I'd like the new Vyrloka, Shade, Shadar-Kai, and Satyr races to be in.
Their was an article in dragon I believe on Kalashtar in the realms. Don't have a sub so I can't tell you much more.
If you can find that article again, I would be interested to know what issue of Dragon that was in as I have a DDI subscription but can't seem to find it and I am wondering how they managed to work them into the setting.
The one article I can find on them in 4E talks about them being from 'Dal Quor' which is another plane of existence known as the 'Region of Dreams' and then it wanders on to talk about them and Eberron some.
The Complete Book of Humanoids from Advanced Dungeons and Dragons second Edition ( my favorite edition by the way hehe )
This book had playable monster races.
I think the Basic races should be there:
Man, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Half Orc, Half Elf, and "Monster".
These could have thier sub species, like Drow, Duergar, Derro, Stouts Harfoots, Tinkers, etc, as a quick reference ( and name ) but basically, stat wise they should pretty much be standard.
Monster as a playable race is logical and feasible.
Given the fact that in another Cryptic game ( Star Trek Online ) they have a great player character customization option for "Alien" as a race, ( height and girth sliders , as well as add on items including a few special racial bonuses and hindrances ) I don't see why "Monster races" could not work here.
If the height slider scales down to half a halfling size, and 1/4 bigger than a half orc in size, you pretty much could cover all your races that way, with the size sliders, add ons like wings for pixie sized critters, ( bird, bat, draconic, insect, butterfly ) You'd cover just about whatever a "Fae" character could want.
Tails as an add on to a "Monster" race ( Feline, Canine, Reptilian, insectoid, and so on )
Movement and standing Stances, ( if taken from both Star Trek Online and Champions Online ) you could have some interesting "races" of characters, all within a "monster race" option.
I have been impressed with the character creation available for Star Trek Online ( Alien race ) and with those options I had doing that, I was able to recreate many interesting characters.
In my days playing NWN1, I both played monster races, and standard races, each had particular roleplay needs, My playstyle as both player and DM, had me roleplaying with "characters" whether these were monsters or normal standard races. A lot of times this was done to progress my tales.
So I think I'd like to see "Monster" as a race option, not only to see a variety amongst people out there, but also to use as a DM tool for your modules, and just play sessions.
NWN1 I have used CEP, and add ons to play:
( on halfling bodies )
Goblins, Kobolds, Pixies, as well as a felinoid, and , ratkin type race, Imps and small demon things, and so forth.
In my days of DMing pen and paper D&D some 25 years back or so, I lead campaigns where the players were not your average "player".
I did one such campaign where all the players were goblin, and the enemy ( according to them ) was a fortress of man-folk.
In the eyes of the goblins, they of course were not 'evil' but the man-folk were the evil ones, as they'd came in to their territory and taken it away from them, slaughtered villages, and allies of the goblins.
While this setting, will be within the Walls and outskirts of Neverwinter, we will have modules, and we will have opportunity to recreate various interesting roleplay events from our old pen and paper days.
The various races from the Monster's Manuals and other supplementary materials are fun for a variety of reasons including stats, racial abilities, and roleplay flavor. I really hope Cryptic can work in as many of them as possible as time goes on for a more diverse game world.
As for my favorite races, I tend to gravitate towards human, half-elf, eladrin, halfling, and dragonborn from the Player's Handbook series and changling, githyanki, and the cool crystal creatues whose name I forgot from supplementary materials.
If you can find that article again, I would be interested to know what issue of Dragon that was in as I have a DDI subscription but can't seem to find it and I am wondering how they managed to work them into the setting.
The one article I can find on them in 4E talks about them being from 'Dal Quor' which is another plane of existence known as the 'Region of Dreams' and then it wanders on to talk about them and Eberron some.
Sorry I took so long to respond, it was 385 i believe and it was in an article called power of the mind. It was a mostly fluff article for Eberron Kalashtar, BUT, the good news is it also had origins for Kalashtar in other settings as well, including FR. One such origin and I get this second hand as I've never seen the article is the spell plague caused some creatures to fused into one being, I guess with the collective descendants of the embodied partner inheriting the presence of the one who I guess is now more mental and spiritual. So you could have a human who becomes infused with the mental mind and spirit of say a mind flayer, dragon, giant, beholder, or what ever exotic creature he was fighting at the time and his descendants inherit that ever thinning mind. So if you go with that origin then it makes a good excuse to say go dragon sorcerer or some other indicator of that presence. Spellscarred also makes sense.
I'd just love to see the standard core races all available at launch, but the more exotic ones priced from 0.50 USD to a few bucks based on the ECL increase. Dunno if 4.0 has ECL for certain races or what not.. but yeh.
Only 3 I absolutely want ( and hence probably wont get ) would be Githyanki, Githzerai & 1/2 Dragons ( 1/2 Shadow Dragon FTW! )
Reasons why these races rock is quite obvious. Don't think I need to reiterate their AWESOMENESS here.... ( whew, been watching too much Archer me thinks )
Only 3 I absolutely want ( and hence probably wont get ) would be Githyanki, Githzerai & 1/2 Dragons ( 1/2 Shadow Dragon FTW! )
Reasons why these races rock is quite obvious. Don't think I need to reiterate their AWESOMENESS here.... ( whew, been watching too much Archer me thinks )
The gith are also playable (only one is recognized as a typical played race while the other is playable and is more monster.) 1/2 dragon is no longer done since we have dragon-born.
As for monster customization, it's an interesting idea. At first thought, it seems against the D&D core concept, then seems even more like it in the realms of imagination. If done, there would have to be some generic stat/skill limitations for anti-munchkin reasons, but it's awesome the same reason the alien in STO is.
Doubtful it could be done by release, but if the developers could work on this idea, it would be cool!
Hope to see teh Shifter race actually from the PHB2. Not sure which class I would actually care about, I am still perusing the ones in the PHB1 and such and getting acquainted with the general rules of 4th edition.
Hope to see teh Shifter race actually from the PHB2. Not sure which class I would actually care about, I am still perusing the ones in the PHB1 and such and getting acquainted with the general rules of 4th edition.
Shifter has been brought over ever since Eberron was introduced for 4E years ago. It's a universal race and can be played in any campaign as a "part lycanthrope." Yes both Longtooth and Razorclaw variants are available.
Shifter has been brought over ever since Eberron was introduced for 4E years ago. It's a universal race and can be played in any campaign as a "part lycanthrope." Yes both Longtooth and Razorclaw variants are available.
You mean 3rd edition Even though I didn't care for 3rd editions roll over role playing aspect, I did keep a casual eye on it.
You mean 3rd edition Even though I didn't care for 3rd editions roll over role playing aspect, I did keep a casual eye on it.
No I meant it was updated to 4th ed ever since the Eberron Book debuting years ago. I know my shifters and when they premiered since I was one of the first to play the shifter and Eberron's play test, so I respect 'em a lot! Yeah, the 3rd ed mechanics became overbearing.
I just hope the more traditional races of D&D make it in BEFORE we start seeing things like Shardminds, Wildens, and Pixies. I'm okay with giving a race The Axe if it means retaining a more lore friendly demographic. Some things just work better as NPCs.
I just hope the more traditional races of D&D make it in BEFORE we start seeing things like Shardminds, Wildens, and Pixies. I'm okay with giving a race The Axe if it means retaining a more lore friendly demographic. Some things just work better as NPCs.
/Agreed. It was hinted in the latest PC Gamer preview article that the typical 4th ed races were all there but the classes have not been finalized. As for the "expansion" races and classes, I do look forward to the Drow and Assassin options later.
/Agreed. It was hinted in the latest PC Gamer preview article that the typical 4th ed races were all there but the classes have not been finalized. As for the "expansion" races and classes, I do look forward to the Drow and Assassin options later.
I hope drow are destroyed and burned to their black little hearts. I've hated Drow ever since that Mary Sue, Drizzt, appeared on the scene.
I hope drow are destroyed and burned to their black little hearts. I've hated Drow ever since that Mary Sue, Drizzt, appeared on the scene.
I don't 'hate' drows but I always used to think their SR thingy always made them overpowered villains and not a PC ... but I would be lying if I say I didn't saw it coming (Good natured drows).
Its something which also happened with other games having good demon heroes straight from underworld(HoMM was it?).
Eventually makes sense when you realise that good cannot be separated from bad and no white and black exists but patches of grey. But its an overused plot nowadays...
Comments
I think they really need to implement Genasi and Dragonborn. Perhaps marketing wise, they could bring in new classes (incl. PrC) and races every few months or so...
Personally I'd have them all available at the beginning but as long as they are implemented eventually it should still satisfy. I just hope they don't go the route of DDO and offer the special classes/races only if you pay additional fees or subscribe to a higher service (silver/gold account).
EDIT - Shadar-kai would be an interesting race as well!
Humans
Elves -Wood, Wild and Eladrins(? Sun and Moon or whatever)
Half-Elves
Half-Orcs
Dwarves- Shield, Gold (is there another one for the mountain dwarf race?)
Halflings for sure - hopefully there will be enough customization for my fatty tolkien-hobbits, i never really liked the superdownsizing of halflings to resemble Dragonlance Kender but whatever.
Gnomes- Rock, Forest and Deep (snirfiblin- bah i cant spell it)
Drow- not that im especially in favor of this, but folks will raise a big stink if that option is not open to them.
-the key is that we have enough customization factors in order to totally personalize our toon. Yes lots of faces and tattooes and scarring are all well and good, but these are really only seen in a character portrait. My big issue is with the hairstyles and body types that we are constantly seeing of our characters on the screen to differentiate between "my dude, that dude and that chick."
-please remember that not everyone wants to have the 80's glam rock big hair with the ponytail and i personally do not like cornrows on my halflings
-i happen to really like LOTRO's dying system to further customize our character's armor and clothing also.
on Monstrous Races - preferably anything that is notorious for eating humans and demihumans should be out IMO. Sure special instances exist where a drow or an ogre or a giant or something could be a "goodguy" or a "hero," but we have to remember that once the decision to include a monstrous race is made, it is made for all players. Do we want to walk around the hubs/town and see all kinds of "StarWarsBar" races everywhere we go? If so, then sure. If the realm content and setting have a specific context in which that scenerio could present itself, then sure. But if these monstrous races are simply included to "appease the masses" or because "well, they're in 'this' or 'that' player handbook" then it is my thought that we should be taking a closer look at what the culture and context of Neverwinter is going to be to make that decision, not because "Well, it says i can be a Yuan-Ti Sorceror in PH2" (or whatever).
If we are going to be starting "simple" on the Class front, why shouldnt we also be starting "simple" on the Race front as well? 7-8 "normal" races (depending on what "normal" constitutes anymore, i admittedly don't know) and if the devs want to put an "exception to the rule" in there for fun (Deekin) wonderful, then they have a context for it. These are just my thoughts, though, and other folks will have differing opinions for sure. I remember one guy in my old dnd group that said "Criminny Christmas buddy, we're playin DnD! Why the heck would you wanna be Human?!"
I personally would love this. While the Star Trek IP is just plain packed with humanoid aliens with all kinds of distinguishing features, Forgotten Realms isn't too far behind.
I think, in the end, that this is the only way we'd get to have access to all the different kinds of planetouched (including all 4 varieties of genasi, not to mention some of the non-human based ones like Fey'ri or Tanarruk), not to mention all the different half breeds.
I would definitely support this kind of feature.
Between all the hybrids, not to mention all the ways that different lineages could play in, I think this is exactly what this game needs.
If it's like STO, then they'll give us a list of premade races and let us make up our own. As for the Premades, I'd wager, based on what I've seen:
Human (duh)
Halfling (Heroes of Neverwinter)
Elf (they've said as much, haven't they?)
Eladrin (again, Heroes of neverwinter)
Drow (all over the site and what we've seen)
Dragonborn (Heroes of Neverwinter)
Dwarf (they've said as much)
Granted, I could easily have mis-interpreted somethings (like maybe they don't distinguish between eladrin and elves or something). But, I like my list.
They could do some other varieties, but in the end, in order to give us all of the varieties we'd want (Duergar, Half-elves/orcs/who-knows-what, Deva's/Aasimars, All 4 varieties of Genasi, Shaderkai, etc.), they'd have to give us the ability to create our own races. Since we know they're perfectly capable of this, and Cryptic has a reputation for player character customization, I see no reason why we shouldn't expect this from them.
If you want a ton of races, the most plausible way for that to happen is to have the option of creating a race, just like in STO (also by cryptic). That's probably the only way to get the nuances (what kind of elf, what elemental subtype of genasi, etc). Furthermore, it's cryptic, so we know they can do it.
I've listed what races I think they'll actually have premade.
I can't help it, I think Celestials are awesome.
But furthermore, I agree with the "Create your own Race" suggestion! There's always fear that it can be abused (I. AM A VAMPIRE DROW ORC!), but customization is the spice of life. I think it'd do more good them harm.
Probaly won't have any shifter races - I'd be surprised to have Wilden available.
Primary issue for create your own race is racial powers.
I expect to have fairly basic races -Human, Drow, Eladrin/Elf, Tiefling, Dwarf, possibly Halfling and Dragonborn- to start.
Then add some races with expansions/modules.
Umm, Dragonborn don't have wings until they follow a particular advancement path. Normal Dragonborn aren't born with wings. They have to follow the racial prestige path in order to become heroes. I'd get my 4th edition books out to give the names, but honestly, my roommate is sleeping and that would just be rude.
However, I hope, expect, and wish mightly for the Dragonborn to be in at launch. I so want them. Gnolls would be cool, too, but mostly because everyone has them and no one ever makes them playable.
For some reason that got me thinking that I would love to see Neverwinter
themes as a requirement which impacts NPC interaction.
PS Just because I love to roleplay them, I'm gonna throw my two cents in and say I want Kalashtar in the game. I know they're Eberron... just saying.
Their was an article in dragon I believe on Kalashtar in the realms. Don't have a sub so I can't tell you much more. I think Kalashtar might be related to the spell plague some how. Someone with a subscription will be able to tell you more.
Personally I'm love Doppelgängers, but changeling's disguise would be the single hardest racial power in the game to implement. Maybe special access to the character creator when you use the power or click on a humanoid to activate it, taking their form.
Barring that I'd like the new Vyrloka, Shade, Shadar-Kai, and Satyr races to be in.
If you can find that article again, I would be interested to know what issue of Dragon that was in as I have a DDI subscription but can't seem to find it and I am wondering how they managed to work them into the setting.
The one article I can find on them in 4E talks about them being from 'Dal Quor' which is another plane of existence known as the 'Region of Dreams' and then it wanders on to talk about them and Eberron some.
This book had playable monster races.
I think the Basic races should be there:
Man, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Gnome, Half Orc, Half Elf, and "Monster".
These could have thier sub species, like Drow, Duergar, Derro, Stouts Harfoots, Tinkers, etc, as a quick reference ( and name ) but basically, stat wise they should pretty much be standard.
Monster as a playable race is logical and feasible.
Given the fact that in another Cryptic game ( Star Trek Online ) they have a great player character customization option for "Alien" as a race, ( height and girth sliders , as well as add on items including a few special racial bonuses and hindrances ) I don't see why "Monster races" could not work here.
If the height slider scales down to half a halfling size, and 1/4 bigger than a half orc in size, you pretty much could cover all your races that way, with the size sliders, add ons like wings for pixie sized critters, ( bird, bat, draconic, insect, butterfly ) You'd cover just about whatever a "Fae" character could want.
Tails as an add on to a "Monster" race ( Feline, Canine, Reptilian, insectoid, and so on )
Movement and standing Stances, ( if taken from both Star Trek Online and Champions Online ) you could have some interesting "races" of characters, all within a "monster race" option.
I have been impressed with the character creation available for Star Trek Online ( Alien race ) and with those options I had doing that, I was able to recreate many interesting characters.
In my days playing NWN1, I both played monster races, and standard races, each had particular roleplay needs, My playstyle as both player and DM, had me roleplaying with "characters" whether these were monsters or normal standard races. A lot of times this was done to progress my tales.
So I think I'd like to see "Monster" as a race option, not only to see a variety amongst people out there, but also to use as a DM tool for your modules, and just play sessions.
NWN1 I have used CEP, and add ons to play:
( on halfling bodies )
Goblins, Kobolds, Pixies, as well as a felinoid, and , ratkin type race, Imps and small demon things, and so forth.
In my days of DMing pen and paper D&D some 25 years back or so, I lead campaigns where the players were not your average "player".
I did one such campaign where all the players were goblin, and the enemy ( according to them ) was a fortress of man-folk.
In the eyes of the goblins, they of course were not 'evil' but the man-folk were the evil ones, as they'd came in to their territory and taken it away from them, slaughtered villages, and allies of the goblins.
While this setting, will be within the Walls and outskirts of Neverwinter, we will have modules, and we will have opportunity to recreate various interesting roleplay events from our old pen and paper days.
Just my thoughts and hope!
As for my favorite races, I tend to gravitate towards human, half-elf, eladrin, halfling, and dragonborn from the Player's Handbook series and changling, githyanki, and the cool crystal creatues whose name I forgot from supplementary materials.
Sorry I took so long to respond, it was 385 i believe and it was in an article called power of the mind. It was a mostly fluff article for Eberron Kalashtar, BUT, the good news is it also had origins for Kalashtar in other settings as well, including FR. One such origin and I get this second hand as I've never seen the article is the spell plague caused some creatures to fused into one being, I guess with the collective descendants of the embodied partner inheriting the presence of the one who I guess is now more mental and spiritual. So you could have a human who becomes infused with the mental mind and spirit of say a mind flayer, dragon, giant, beholder, or what ever exotic creature he was fighting at the time and his descendants inherit that ever thinning mind. So if you go with that origin then it makes a good excuse to say go dragon sorcerer or some other indicator of that presence. Spellscarred also makes sense.
Reasons why these races rock is quite obvious. Don't think I need to reiterate their AWESOMENESS here.... ( whew, been watching too much Archer me thinks )
The gith are also playable (only one is recognized as a typical played race while the other is playable and is more monster.) 1/2 dragon is no longer done since we have dragon-born.
As for monster customization, it's an interesting idea. At first thought, it seems against the D&D core concept, then seems even more like it in the realms of imagination. If done, there would have to be some generic stat/skill limitations for anti-munchkin reasons, but it's awesome the same reason the alien in STO is.
Doubtful it could be done by release, but if the developers could work on this idea, it would be cool!
It does not. Balance is king in 4e, so everybody levels at the same rate, and there are no xp costs either.
Shifter has been brought over ever since Eberron was introduced for 4E years ago. It's a universal race and can be played in any campaign as a "part lycanthrope." Yes both Longtooth and Razorclaw variants are available.
You mean 3rd edition
No I meant it was updated to 4th ed ever since the Eberron Book debuting years ago. I know my shifters and when they premiered since I was one of the first to play the shifter and Eberron's play test, so I respect 'em a lot! Yeah, the 3rd ed mechanics became overbearing.
/Agreed. It was hinted in the latest PC Gamer preview article that the typical 4th ed races were all there but the classes have not been finalized. As for the "expansion" races and classes, I do look forward to the Drow and Assassin options later.
I hope drow are destroyed and burned to their black little hearts. I've hated Drow ever since that Mary Sue, Drizzt, appeared on the scene.
I don't 'hate' drows but I always used to think their SR thingy always made them overpowered villains and not a PC ... but I would be lying if I say I didn't saw it coming (Good natured drows).
Its something which also happened with other games having good demon heroes straight from underworld(HoMM was it?).
Eventually makes sense when you realise that good cannot be separated from bad and no white and black exists but patches of grey. But its an overused plot nowadays...