Every single D&D race explained

Summary

This script from a Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) video offers a comprehensive guide for new players creating their first character. It emphasizes the importance of choosing a race, which affects a character's physical traits and abilities. The video discusses various races, including dwarves, elves, half-elves, humans, halflings, gnomes, half-orcs, tieflings, and dragonborn, detailing their unique characteristics, abilities, and potential for role-playing. It also covers subraces, providing insights into their special abilities and how they can influence gameplay and character development, encouraging players to consider both mechanical benefits and personal connections to their characters.

Takeaways

• 🎲 The video is aimed at new Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) players, particularly those creating their first character.
• 🏆 The two most important aspects to consider when creating a character are class and race, with race being the focus of this video.
• 🔍 Race in D&D defines physical attributes and innate abilities, such as pointy ears and height, but also includes more than just physical traits.
• 📊 The three 'S's' - Size, Speed, and Specialty - are the key characteristics for each race, with size affecting combat positioning and speed influencing movement during turns.
• 🧍‍♂️ Dwarves are short, stocky, and medium-sized with special abilities like dark vision, constitution boost, and dwarven resilience against poison.
• 🧝‍♂️ Elves are similar in size to humans, have a long lifespan, and possess abilities like keen senses, resistance to charm, and immunity to magical sleep.
• 🧝‍♀️ Half-elves are hybrids with traits from both humans and elves, including average size, dark vision, charisma boost, and the ability to choose proficiency in two skills.
• 👤 Humans are medium-sized with average movement speed and no dark vision, but they have a balanced attribute boost with plus one to all ability scores.
• 🌳 Halflings are small and cheerful, with a unique 'lucky' trait that allows them to reroll a roll of one, and they are adept at stealth and have a natural dexterity boost.
• 🤓 Gnomes are small, intelligent beings with dark vision, intelligence boost, and gnome cunning to resist certain types of magic, with subraces offering different abilities like communicating with small beasts or tinkering.
• 🐉 Dragonborn are humanoids with draconic ancestry, having above-average size, no dark vision, strength and charisma boosts, and unique breath weapons based on their dragon ancestry.
• 🔥 Tieflings are infernal-human hybrids with unique appearances, charisma and intelligence boosts, resistance to fire damage, and the ability to cast infernal cantrips.

Q & A

What are the two most important things to consider when creating a character in D&D according to the script?

The two most important things to consider when creating a character in D&D are the character's class, which defines what the character does, and the character's race, which provides certain physical and special attributes.

What are the three 'S's referred to in the script when discussing the characteristics of each race in D&D?

The three 'S's referred to in the script are Size, Speed, and Specialty. Size determines how big the character is and their movement on a battle map. Speed determines how many feet the character can move per turn in combat. Specialty refers to the unique attributes each race has that differentiate them from others.

Why might a player choose to play a Dwarf character in D&D?

A player might choose to play a Dwarf character in D&D because of their unique attributes such as dark vision, increased constitution, and dwarven resilience against poison, as well as the opportunity to play a character with a rugged and resilient nature or to break stereotypes by playing a Dwarf with a different role or personality.

What is the significance of the 'dark vision' ability in D&D and which races typically have it?

Dark vision is significant in D&D as it allows characters to see in darkness as if it were dim light, which is very useful for dungeon delving. Races like Dwarves, Elves, Gnomes, and Half-Orcs typically have this ability.

What are the benefits of choosing an Elf character in D&D and what are their unique features?

Elf characters in D&D benefit from a long lifespan, which allows for rich backstories, increased dexterity, keen senses, and resistance to magical charm and sleep. Unique features include the ability to learn cantrips and the potential for increased movement speed and stealth capabilities depending on the sub-race.

How does the 'lucky' racial feature for Halflings work in D&D and what does it mean for gameplay?

The 'lucky' racial feature for Halflings in D&D allows them to reroll a roll of 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, taking the higher result. This means that Halflings have a safety net against the worst possible outcomes in gameplay, making them more resilient.

What are the racial features of Gnomes in D&D and how do they reflect their intelligence and small size?

Gnomes in D&D have racial features that reflect their intelligence and small size, such as dark vision, increased intelligence, and gnome cunning which provides resistance to certain types of magic. Subraces like Forest Gnomes and Rock Gnomes have additional features like increased dexterity and the ability to make or repair items.

What is the 'Relentless Endurance' racial feature of Half-Orcs and how can it impact gameplay?

The 'Relentless Endurance' racial feature of Half-Orcs allows them to drop to 1 hit point instead of falling unconscious when their hit points reach zero, once per day. This can significantly impact gameplay by providing Half-Orcs with an extra round of action before needing to be healed or before they are defeated.

What are the unique aspects of Tieflings in D&D and how do they reflect their infernal bloodline?

Tieflings in D&D have unique aspects such as hellish resistance to fire damage, infernal legacy which allows them to cast certain cantrips for atmospheric effects, and the ability to choose from a variety of infernal appearances. Their infernal bloodline is reflected in their appearance, resistance to fire, and their ability to perform infernal-themed cantrips.

How does the 'Draconic Ancestry' of Dragonborn in D&D affect their gameplay and what are the choices available to players?

The 'Draconic Ancestry' of Dragonborn in D&D affects their gameplay by determining their breath weapon and resistance to specific types of damage based on the type of dragon they are descended from. Players can choose from 10 different types of dragons, each providing a unique breath weapon and damage resistance.

What is the significance of the 'Menacing' racial feature of Half-Orcs and how does it influence their interactions in D&D?

The 'Menacing' racial feature of Half-Orcs makes them good at intimidating others, which can be used to influence interactions in D&D. It reflects their generally larger and more imposing size, giving them an advantage in social situations where intimidation is useful.