D&D have released an Unearthed Arcana of Feywild races.
Races are an increasingly hot topic for some D&D fans and for detractors. Some gamers are happy with the way things are now, but others find the merging of culture and race to be clumsy and sometimes insulting. Why are elves always aloof and orcs always prone to barbarism?
Folk of the Feywild, the latest playtest material from Taymoor Rehman, Ari Levitch, and Jeremy Crawford step headlong into tension. Unearthed Arcana reminds us of Tasha’s new rules wherein non-human races get attribute bonus increases of the players choice. The intro says the old method is valid too, but it’s not the default one presented.
The previous Unearthed Arcana introduced Gothic Lineages, this one builds on the design notes there.
Fairy
Infused with the magic of the Feywild, fairies share a few commonalities with one another but can differ widely in appearance, behavior, and attitude. Many fairies have a special physical characteristic that sets them apart from other creatures of their kind.
Fairies are small, and all have some unusual characteristic that players should pick. D&D provide a Fey Characteristics d8 table of suggestions. It might be that a constant, glittering mist surrounds the fey character, of they have large ears, insect wings, or perhaps they smell like fresh brownies.
Those wings sound nifty, right? Whether fairies have wings or not, they can fly. They also know druidcraft and the faerie fire spells.
Lastly, fey can also squeeze through a space as narrow as a one-inch wide hole.
Hobgoblins
On some worlds, such bonds lead hobgoblins to form communities with deep ties to each other. In the Forgotten Realms, vast hobgoblin legions have emerged, with ranks upon ranks of devoted soldiers noteworthy for how effective they are at fighting as a unit.
The Hobgoblins of the Feywild are taller than goblins but not as large as bugbears and have ears and noses that turn red or blue when the hobgoblin is being emotional.
Hobgoblins have darkvision, and fey ancestry, which makes them hard to charm and experienced Hobgoblins can offer the fey gift of hospitality, passage or spite.
Through the Fortune of the Many abilities, Hobgoblins can gain a last-second bonus to a roll they would otherwise have failed based on the number of nearby allies.
Owlfolk
Because of their ancestral tie to the Feywild, owlfolk can innately see the magic of their surroundings. Like owls, owlfolk are graced with feathers that make no sound when they move or fly, making it easy for them to sneak up on you in the library.
Owlfolk are related to giant owls and come in a range of shapes and sizes but are humanoids with arms, legs and wings.
These fey folk have darkvision and magic sight, which acts as a ritual cast of the detect magic spells, with a bonus from Intelligence, Wisdom or Charisma.
Owlfolk are also proficient in Stealth due to their Silent Feathers and benefit from Nimble Flight.
Rabbitfolk
Rabbitfolk are bipedal, with the characteristic long feet of the animal they resemble and fur in a variety of colors. They share the keen senses and powerful legs of leporine creatures and are full of energy, like a wound-up spring. Rabbitfolk are blessed with a little fey luck, and they often find themselves a few fortunate feet away from dangers during adventures.
Embodying the spirit of freedom and travel, Rabbitfolk can be either medium or small in size and have a proficient bonus to your initiative rolls and in the perception skill.
When a Rabbitfolk fails a Dexterity saving through, they can use a reaction to roll for a 1d4 last-minute bonus which may turn that failure into a success.
If a Rabbitfolk has moved far enough, they may hop and add d12 extra feet in any direction.
Quick Links
- Unearthed Arcana: Folk of the Feywild.
Creative Commons credit: Snow Fey by Inkserval
What do you think? Measured observations are welcome and you can leave them in the comment section below.
