Final Fantasy XIV Race Redefined

FFXIV Race Redefined

Preface

Hey everyone!

Some may wonder what the purpose of this book is and where it came from, so let me give a quick rundown on where this comes from.

In North America, there are many important movements and discussions around race ongoing. One such discussion I came upon was on the topic of race in the context of Dungeons & Dragons. I agreed with many of the thoughts being put forth in these discussions that the way race is handled in this game is not inclusively done and may even reinforce some harmful ideas around race.

Mechanically, the idea of race being tied to ability of characters doesn't make a lot of sense either. Though ancestry and culture has been packaged together as race in the past, splitting racial traits up into ancestral and cultural traits I feel is a smart move to allow for more flexibility.

Though Wizards of the Coast have given no specifics on what they're going to do to handle reimagining race in D&D, I found a resource I thought handled it quite well. Ancestry & Culture An Alternative to Race in 5e breaks the two elements of where a person comes from, allowing for ancestry and culture to be mixed and matched, easier options to tackle mixed ancestry characters or tackling cultures outside of book resources.

This side book acts as an optional addendum to my Final Fantasy player guide which builds on the ideas put forth in Ancestry & Culture and acts as my answer to the race conundrum until Wizards of the Coast decide how they are going to tackle it. When that time comes I'll be aligning the official book with their method of wrestling with this problem.

If this feels like a good resource for you in the types of games you play today, please enjoy!

Au ra

The Au Ra people hail from the Orthard region, spreading across archipelagos, vast grasslands and mountains. Though their origins are difficult to determine, often being theorized to have descended from dragons, the Au Ra creation myth holds that two key bloodlines descended from their gods. The dark scaled Xaela have descended from the Dusk Mother. The Xaela have chosen to stay true to their ancestral roots and their culture remains largely unchanged across history. Their light scaled bretheren, the Raen, descend from the Dawn Father. Many tribes of this bloodline chose to integrate with Eastern society, giving up their nomadic life styles.

Elezen

The Elezen were the first peoples to settle Eorzea, a old common held belief they held that they were the chosen race of the gods. This belief still holds as a source of pride amongst them today. Overtime they were forced to relocate due to mass environmental disaster eventually finding their homes in the Black Shroud, a massive forest in central Eorzea, or to the Coerthan highlands, a mountainous region they settled only to come into conflict with the draconic inhabitants of the area. Some Elezen chose to migrate and found vast underground cities of Gelmorra.

Duskwight Ancestral Traits

Your Duskwight Elezen character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of Elezen ancestry.

Age. Elezen are one of the longest standing groups, they do live a few decades longer than the average lifespan of most groups. They reach physical maturity around age 18 and live to be over 100 years old.

Size. Elezen are known for their tall slender bodies. Men can reach a maximum 6 feet 8 inches and rarely are shorter than 6 foot 3 inches. Women reach a maximum of 6 and a half feet and rarely shorter than 6 feet tall. Your size is medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30ft.

Superb Hearing. Your large ears offer you improved hearing. You have advantage when making perception checks which rely on hearing.

Darkvision. Many generations of living in the caverns beneath the Black Shroud have changed your eyesight. You have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.

Wildwood Cultural Traits

Wildwood Culture is built around the elementals who call The Black Shroud home. It was these powerful spirits who caused the calamities which caused their relocation in the past, and living in the forest they call home leaves them in service to their power. Wildwood culture focuses on living in harmony with nature and protecting their home from any threats against the forest and taking only what the elementals permit.

Alignment. Those who live in Wildwood culture lean towards a lawful alignment. They have spent a large part of their lives following the laws of the forest to ensure the elementals do not unleash the fury they had many centuries ago.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and old Elezan, an archaic language sometimes known as Elven.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Trackers and Trappers. Your life in the forest has provided you with basic hunter knowledge. You are proficient in the Survival skill.

Wood Wardens. You have grown accustomed to understanding the natural world and the whims of the elementals. You are proficient in the Nature skill.

Ishgardian Cultural Traits

The Ishgardians who settled the Coerthan Highlands built large stone forts and a massive city from which they draw their name. The Holy See of Ishgard has been a theocracy for centuries, only recently shifting politically to a democratic two house system led by elected representatives. This long history of strictly followed tradition has left its mark on their culture all the same.

Alignment. Those who grew up in Ishgard, a city state with strict society hierarchies and religious practicies lean towards a lawful alignment.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and old Elezen, an archaic language sometimes known as Elven.

Ability Score Increase. Your Intelligence score increases by 2 and your Strength score increases by 1.

Passage of Legends. Many stories and legends are passed down in Ishgard from elders to the young. You are proficient in the History skill.

The Holy See. The prevalent laws and tales of religion have provided you with a large amount of religious knowledge. You are proficient in the Religion skill.

Duskwight Cultrual Traits

The Duskwights settled undergroud, founding the city state of Gelmorra. Though their historical home fell many years ago, the Duskwights continue to live in the subterranean ancient cities, relying on poaching and banditry to support their people.

Alignment. Life amongst the Duskwight in the underground leaves many leaning towards a chaotic alignment. Their reliance on living outside the law to survive as left them at odds with their people of the surface.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and old Elezen, an archaic language sometimes referred to as Elven.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Darkstalkers. Reliance on thievery has made you great at sneaking around. You are proficient in the Stealth skill.

Shadowy Skulkers. Life in the caves has assisted you in learning how to hide in dark places efficiently You gain advantage on Stealth ability checks when in dim light or darkness.

Garlean

The Garleans are a people who were driven to the brink, only to find power in their suffering to rise up and build an Empire of their own. Though they lack an aptitude for magic, their mysterious third eye allows them to perceive and imagine complex systems easily. Using these gifts and being forced to infertile lands rich with natural resources by magic users, the Garleans were able to become great engineers and create magitek to level the playing field with those who drove them to the frigid north.

Hyur

Around 1000 years ago, the Hyur spread across the land in a great migration from the north. They made their homes wherever they could set their footing. Some took to the mountains, while others found a foot hold in any city which would accept them. Today the Hyur are one of the most populous peoples in the world.

Dunesfolk Ancestral Traits

The Dunesfolk settled in the deserts of Thanalan, their bodies adapting to their environment over many generations of life in the heat and sand. Their most distint feature being the film which covers their eyes to protect from the blowing sands.

Age. These smallfolk are able to live just as long as the other races. Lalafells reach physical maturity around the age of 18, and live until their mid eighties.

Size. Lalafells are a diminuitive people who see no difference in height due to gender. Their heights on average range from 2 feet and 8 inches to just over 3 feet. Your size is small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25ft.

Dustshield. Your eyes have developed a film to protect them from desert conditions. You have advantage on saving throws against being blinded.

Lalafellin Cunning. You have advantage on all Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma saving throws against magic.

Lalafellin Nimbleness. You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.

Naturally Stealthy. You can attempt to hide even when when you are obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.

Plainsfolk Cultural Traits

The Plainsfolk are an amiable people who happily host those who come to their homes and lands. The plainsfolk have a storied history which started as a farming society, which expanded into a merchant's society as the Lalafell began to load their ships with their goods and travel the world. These travels would result in developing naval navigation techniques still used today. Many plainsfolk still make their living farming and trading, their rustic hospitality assisting them in their preferred trades.

Alignment. Plainsfolk lean torwards a Good alignment, their culture being a highly welcoming one where anyone has a seat at their table.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Lalafellin.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Agrarian Society. Your farming focused roots have led you to a robust knowledge of flora. You have advantage when making Nature skill checks when identifying plants.

Mercantile History. You have proficiency in the Deception skill.

Dunesfolk Cultural Traits

The Dunesfolk share their humble begins with the Plainsfolk, having arrived in the Deserts of Thanalan. Changing the way they live, they turned to animal husbandry, living life nomadically, building their homes on the backs of beasts of burden, traveling around the desert trading with those they encounter. This would eventually lead to the formation of cities in the desert run by merchants and monarchs.

Alignment. Living structured nomadic lives as merchants lead the Dunesfolk to a lawful alignment.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Lalafellin.

Ability Score Increase. Your Charisma score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Husbandry. Growing up on the back of beasts have helped you understand how to work You have proficiency in the Animal Handling skill.

Merchantry. Due to the shady deals Dunesfolk merchants are willing to make, you've learned how to swindle people well. You have proficiency in the Deception skill.

Norvrandt Dwarf Cultural Traits

In a parallel world, calling a land called Norvrandt home, the Dwarves of Kholusia were born from the common ancestor with Eorzea's Lalafell. Their culture has developed into one of rough and tumble miners with a penchant for tinkering. They wear masked helmets and large scarves that look like beards. A member of the Dwarves may only remove their helmet and scarf when in the presence of their immediate family. To do so before strangers is to give up one's place amongst the dwarves.

Alignment. The dwarves lean towards a lawful alignment as their tribes strictly follow their traditions and find a role for everyone in their tribe, which they are expected to follow dutifully.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Dwarven.

Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and your Intelligence score increases by 1.

Tool Proficiency. You gain proficiency with the artisan’s tools of your choice: smith’s tools, brewer’s supplies, mechanic’s tools, or mason’s tools.

Stonecunning. Whenever you make an Intelligence (History) check related to the origin of stonework, you are considered proficient in the History skill and add double your proficiency bonus to the check, instead of your normal proficiency bonus.

Miqo'te

The Miqo'te are an aloof people who value their independence from the world. Centuries ago the Miqo'te migrated, Seekers spreading across the world in low numbers while Keepers finding dense forests as a new home. Miqo'te have integrated into society with pockets of die hard traditional Miqo'te tribes surviving out in the world.

Seeker of the Sun Cultural Traits

Seeker culture follows their tradition of their tribal lives from the past. Often settled in warm places like the Sagolii desert, the Seekers of the Sun are great hunters. Their tribes are centered around a patriarch known as the Nuhn, who is the only male allowed to breed in the tribe. Other males are known as Tia and either spend their lives serving the tribe, training to try and win a duel and control of the tribe or leaving to start their own tribe as Nunh.

Alignment. Seeker adherence to tradition leaves them leaning towards lawful alignments.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and the old Miqo'te tongue.

Ability Score Increase. Your Dexterity score increases by 2 and your Wisdom score increases by 1.

Hunter Economy. Your life in a hunting tribe has left you with sharp senses. You have proficiency in the perception skill.

Tribal Training. Training within your tribe has left you with experiencing wielding a selection of weapons. You have proficiency in Longbows, Shortbows and Shortswords.

Keeper of the Moon Cultural Traits

The Keepers of the Moon decided to settle in the lush forests of The Black Shroud when they migrated to Eorzea. These people center their tribes around a matriach and highly value the women of their society. Once children become men they are sent out into the world, only visting their tribes for short visits and delivery of their spoils from hunting. Their tribes are often only a cluster of two to three families who hunt together. They worship the Goddess Menphina and before taking part in a hunt or battle, they'll stain their hands with blood and paint their faces with war paint, the blood to show their readiness to die in battle and serve her in the after life. They believe war paint allows them to draw in great lunar power.

Alignment. The Keepers of the Moon also follow a strict traditional code. As such they lean towards a lawful alignment.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and and the old Miqo'te tongue.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and your Dexterity score increases by 1.

Natural Remedies. Life in the forest using natural medicines has granted you thorough medical knowledge. You have proficiency in the medicine skill.

Menphina's Sworn. Your ritualistic practices before battle show your determination in the face of death. You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.

Roegadyn

The Roegadyn are a people who boast the largest frames of the humanoids in Eorzea, standing tall amongst their neighbours. They hail from the bleak islands of the Northern Empty, their peoples name drawing from this home meaning "People of the Rain." Though many maintained their sea faring culture, some Roegadyn settled in the Abalathian mountains long ago.

Hellsguard Cultural Traits

The Hellsguard settled in the high peaks of the Abalathian mountains. They draw their name from the area they settled their first tribes, on volcanos. They believe that volcanos are the gates to the underworld and find it is their sacred duty to guard these gates and prevent the souls of the dead from returning to the world of the living. Often times only the first born of a family is permitted to stay on the mountain, further children being sent off to the cities away from their tribal homes. Many Hellsguard partake in firewalking at a young age to help cultivate powers of mysticism, granting them great magical aptitude. They also have a strong distaste for sciences like Alchemy, viewing them as dark arts.

Alignment. The Hellsguard are a people who stay true to many of their cultural traditions. This credence to tradition they keep leaves those who grow up as Hellsguard to lean towards a Lawful alignment.

Languages. You can speak, read and write Common and Roegadyn.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2 and your Charisma score increases by 1.

Magical Knowledge. Training in magical arts from a young age has granted you occult knowledge. You gain proficiency with the arcana skill.

Warden's Eye. Your strict training and sense of the world has improved your intuition. You gain proficiency with the Insight skill.

Viera

The Viera are a beautiful and mysterious folk, shrouded in mystery as many spend most of their lives in the Woodlands they call home. Their tall, slender bodies adorned with rabbit-like traits creates an air of grace amongst them. Though there are multiple Viera tribes out in the world, most follow the same code across their homelands.

Mixed Ancestry and Personalized Culture

Loosening the strictness of race, splitting it into two elements: ancestry and culture, leaves room for much customization in character creation. Though there are rules around this covered in Ancestry & Culture An Alternative to Race in 5e I will not divulge them here as its really not my place to share their work in this manner, instead strictly sticking to my own races with their process.

Thank You

Thank you for checking out my work. I felt that this was an important document to create in support of the movement to make table top gaming more inclusive for those who may have experienced discrimination based on race in their real lives. I hope that this document helps alleviate some of those issues for you at your own game tables.

Get out there and have some fun!