Other Sentient Races in the New World

This guide only documents playable races; there are many more unplayable races out there to discover. Some mythical species, such as titan aasimar and platinum dragonborn, are far too powerful to be player characters, (if they're even real at all, that is. You don't know. You've never heard of them, you befuddled charlatan.) And then there are the dread penguins...

Character Creation

New World characters generate their ability scores through the point buy method. They do not use the flexible ability score rules from Tasha's Cauldron of Everything.

Human Traits

It’s hard to make generalizations about humans. They seem to be into a lot of different stuff. Good for them.

Ability Score Increase. Three different ability scores of your choice increase by 1.

Age. I think you know how long humans live.

Size. Humans vary widely in height and build. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Determination. Once per turn, when you roll an ability check, attack roll, or saving throw that you do not have advantage or disadvantage on, you can use your reaction to reroll.

You can use this ability a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus and you regain all uses when you finish a long rest.

Diversity. You gain proficiency in two skills of your choice.

Mundanity. Humans are so mundane and unmagical that they notice traces of magic much easier than the other races. They can identify the abilities of a magic item without using the identify spell, but they cannot detect curses and other exempt magical effects.

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

Halfling Traits

Halflings in the New World have traded physical agility for keener minds and it seems to have done them a great deal of good.

Ability Score Increase. Your Wisdom score increases by 2. Your Intelligence or Charisma score increases by 1.

Age. A halfling reaches adulthood at the age of 20 and generally lives into the middle of their second century.

Size. Halflings average about 3 feet tall. Your size is Small.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 25 feet.

Lucky. When you roll a 1 on the d20 for an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.

Mental Fortress. Halflings are extremely mentally sound. You have resistance to psychic damage and have advantage on saves against fear, charm, and illusions.

Silent Speech. You can speak telepathically to any creature within 30 feet of you. The creature understands you only if the two of you share a language. You can speak telepathically in this way to one creature at a time.

Naturally Psionic. You know the mind sliver cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast mind spike without the use of a spell slot or material components a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.

Once you reach 5th level, you can cast intellect fortress without the use of a spell slot or material components once per long rest.

Wisdom is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

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

Rare Half-Dwarven Variants.

There's no solid proof that "full" dwarves have ever existed, meaning that if the half-dwarven race is not a biologically distinct offshoot of relations between ancient humans and extinct dwarves, it may just be that one day humans encountered a new species that looked half-similar to a fantasy creature and simply decided to name it accordingly. Some half-dwarves found this uncertainty to be unacceptable, departing from human society to uncover the secrets of their heritage. When they returned, they had been greatly changed.

These variants make up a very small percentage of the half-dwarven population worldwide.

Variant Ability Score Increase. Your Constitution score increases by 2 and another ability score of your choice increases by 1.

God-Scorched Half-Dwarf

Millennia ago, the progenitors of this lineage set out to find the truth through the use of divine magic, seeking to obtain comprehension of creation itself. It is rumored they got extraordinarily close, but found themselves undone by the very devotion that had brought them to that point. Instead, they returned from their journey irreparably deranged by some unspeakable horror, their vision forever destroyed.

So impossibly terrifying and inscrutable was this devastation that it took sight from not just the witnesses, but every generation of their descendants since.

THE SUN THE SUN THE SUN. You are blind. You are immune to fire damage.

Fate-Scorned Half-Dwarf

Millennia ago, the progenitors of this lineage set out to find the truth through the use of arcane magic, seeking a way to create infinite time to study the mystery. It is rumored they got extraordinarily close, but found themselves undone by the very tools that had brought them to that point. Instead, they returned from their journey completely sundered from the weave of magic, and perhaps even knowledge itself.

They were so vulnerable to their reliance on their magic than when it failed them, it fled not just their reach, but from their line for all eternity.

IT'S NOT FAIR! IT'S NOT FAIR!. You cannot read. You lose access to Focus, Tremorsense, and spellcasting. You have advantage on saving throws.

Kindred-Raised Half-Dwarf

Millennia ago, the progenitors of this lineage at first heeded the call to solve the great mystery of their origin, but soon grew weary of the struggle and wary of the dangers. Instead, they began their own settlements in uncharted wilderness, starting a long and proud tradition of exulting the value of half-dwarves, not the traits of some hypothetical forebears that may not have even ever existed. When they at last reintegrated into civilization, they brought this ethos with them.

Even now, many half-dwarf families teach their children that there is nothing incomplete about being half a dwarf. Some are even calling for a official renaming of their kind.

You Are Enough. You lose access to Focus and Tremorsense. When calculating your armor class, add your proficiency bonus.

Religion in the Savanna

Prior to being exposed to the culture and religion of the other peoples of the New World, kings worshipped sphinxes, both the actual creature and the concept of some intangible divine sphinx. When worship of the gods of the New World Pantheon became commonplace in the Savanna, many kings retained their previous faith by simply depicting those new gods as sphinxes.

You thought I didn't think of how to explain what the kings' religion was before they met everyone else, and why they would adopt the gods of a different culture, but I did. I did think of it. I'm always two steps ahead of you. You morons; you fools, you cowards.

King Shit

Kings are smart and worthy combatants. They are just as home in a library as they are in a battlefield or a throne room. Truly the ultimate student-athletes.

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

Age. Kings are able to walk 10 days after birth, albeit only on 4 legs. They graduate from helpless infants to toddlers at the 6 to 8 week mark. By their second year they begin to prefer the two-legged approach and before their fifth birthday they lose the ability to walk on all fours completely. Otherwise, Kings mature and age at about the same rate as humans.

Size. Kings are typically over 6 feet tall, with some standing over 7 feet. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 40 feet.

Darkvision. 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.

Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d8 + your Strength or Intelligence modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

Daunting Roar. As a bonus action, you can let out an especially menacing roar. Creatures of your choice within 10 feet of you that can hear you must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or become frightened of you until the end of your next turn. The DC of the save equals 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Strength or Intelligence modifier. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you finish a short or long rest.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common and the native language of the kings: Sphinx.

Perspective. Choose either Well Read or Fresh Eyes.

Well Read. Kings are universally well-read throughout the New World and almost all of them greatly appreciate the value of learning. You have proficiency in the History and Religion skills. It's time to read between the lions.

Fresh Eyes. Kings who are not raised to value learning avoid a great deal of reading, and thus a great deal of strain on their eyes. This allows them to see potential danger with greater detail. You are proficient in the Perception skill.

Bear Traits

It's a god damn bear.

Ability Score Adjustment. Your Strength and Constitution scores increase by 3. Your Dexterity score decreases by 6.

Age. Bears leave the wild when they reach maturity at around 5 years of age. They live to around 60 years old. Rare exceptions may make it to 80. Even rarer exceptions age past 60 gracefully.

Size. Your size is Medium, but the largest adult bears can reach nearly 10 feet in height. Bears are by far the largest playable race in the New World.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 20 feet. Your speed is not reduced by wearing heavy armor

Darkvision. 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.

Natural Swimmers. Bears know how to swim. Deal with it. Your swimming speed is 30 feet.

Powerful Build. You count as one size larger when determining your carrying capacity and the weight you can push, drag, or lift.

Bear Claws. Your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you can deal slashing damage equal to 1d10 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.

It's a Bear! It's Clearly a Bear! You have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks and Wisdom (Survival) checks. You have disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) and Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) checks.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common. You can also speak with normal bears, for whatever that's worth.

Grizzly Bear

Grizzly bears originate from forests across the New World. With no kin and and no knowledge of the world beyond their wild home, they instinctively set out to join civilization. It is always a strange day for the locals when a giant beast walks into town on two feet, but it usually ends well, especially if someone has surplus honey.

Keen Senses. The wild is awash in distinct scents and sights, all of which are individually perceptible to a hyper sensitive nose and keen eyes. You have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks.

Natural Climbers. Grizzly bears have no problem clambering up trees in the blink of an eye. You have a climbing speed of 30 ft.

Polar Bear

Polar bears hail from the cold ice floes of the north. With no kin and and no knowledge of the world beyond their wild home, they instinctively set out to join civilization. They usually run into penguin settlements first, where they are welcomed and trained in whatever they wish to do, which usually involves fish.

Arctic Beast. Bro, they're polar bears. They're not gonna get cold. You have resistance to cold damage and immunity to the effects of extreme cold.

Tough Hide. You are the biggest bear. Your hit point maximum increases by 1, and it increases by 1 every time you gain a level.

Skyborn Subraces.

The two known varieties of skyborn are cloudborn and stormborn.

Starkid Traits

Starchildren have the potential for great power but they are extremely fragile.

Ability Score Adjustment. Your Constitution Score decreases by 6. A score of your choice besides Constitution increases by 5.

Proficiency Bonus. It would appear the children of the stars are blessed with a certain degree of competence. Your proficiency bonus increases by 2.

Age. Few Starchildren survive more than a decade in the New World. Those who can are regarded with an even more stellar level of fascination. Their natural lifespan is unknown.

Size. Starchildren range in height from 5'0 to around 5'9. Your size is Medium.

Speed. Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Infravision. You can see normally in darkness, both magical and nonmagical, to a distance of 60 feet.

Astral Body. Your mysterious form may be weak but it is not without its advantages. Your body is comprised of the raw magic of the universe... if the universe is indeed made of raw magic. It's unclear. Who knows? Regardless, you have resistance to force damage and advantage on Intelligence (Arcana) checks.

  Veil of the Weak. Starchildren who make it past their first day in the New World quickly learn the importance of staying hidden from mortal danger. You have proficiency in the Stealth skill and can cast the disguise self spell at will, although you may only use it to make the bare minimum changes needed to make yourself look human. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the darkness spell. You can cast this spell once using this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest.

Extraterrestrial Fragility. You are not long for this world, it seems. You have disadvantage on all saving throws. You die after two failed death saves, not three. You cannot be resurrected by any means.

Stellar Immunity. You're made out of space. This makes you hard to poison or otherwise medically corrupt. You are immune to poison damage, being poisoned, and disease. You do not need to eat/drink or breathe, although you may do the former if you wish. You are immune to the negative effects of extreme cold, extreme heat, and high altitude.

Starlight. You know the light cantrip. Once you reach 3rd level, you can cast the faerie fire spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the moonbeam spell, dealing force damage instead of radiant damage. You can cast these spells once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Starcrash. You know the magnify gravity spell. Once you reach 5th level, you can cast the pulse wave spell. You can cast these spells once with this trait, and you regain the ability to do so when you finish a long rest. Intelligence is your spellcasting ability for these spells.

Languages. You can speak, read, and write Common. You can temporarily understand and speak the language of any humanoid or celestial you are speaking with.

Your skin, hair, or eye color is:

• Blue - You have advantage on saving throws against spells and other magical effects, except for fear.
• Green - As an action, you can spray acid from your mouth, targeting one creature or object you can see within 30 feet of you. The target takes 1d10 acid damage unless it succeeds on a Dexterity saving throw against a DC equal to 8 + your Constitution modifier + your proficiency bonus. This damage increases by 1d10 when you reach 5th level (2d10) and 11th level (3d10).
• Orange - When you are reduced to 0 hit points but not killed outright, you can drop to 1 hit point instead. You can’t use this feature again until you finish a long rest.
• Purple - As a bonus action, you can turn invisible. The effect ends if you attack or cast a spell. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
• Red - You have resistance to fire, cold, lightning, and poison damage. You are immune to the effects of extreme heat.

Your hair's natural style can be described as one of the following:

• Aerodynamic - When you fall and aren't incapacitated, you can subtract up to 100 feet from the fall when calculating falling damage, and you can move up to 2 feet horizontally for every 1 foot you descend. You always land silently.
• Explosive - If you surprise a creature and hit it with an attack on your first turn in combat, the attack deals an extra 2d6 damage to it. This damage increases by 1d6 at 5th level (3d6) and 11th level (4d6).
• Practical - You have a walking and swimming speed of 40 feet. You can breathe air and water.
• Subtle - You can take the Disengage or Hide action as a bonus action on each of your turns.
• Thick - You gain a +1 bonus to AC when you are not wearing heavy armor.

Your eyes are:

• Astute - When you fail an ability check, you can add a d4 to the roll, potentially turning the roll into a success. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
• Cautious - You have advantage on Dexterity saving throws against effects that you can see.
• Engaging - As a bonus action, you can choose one target you can see to have disadvantage on all attack rolls against targets other than you until the end of your next turn. You can use this trait a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus, and you regain all expended uses when you finish a long rest.
• Unreadable - You have advantage on Wisdom saving throws against everything except fear.
• Unusual - You have magical darkvision.

The way that you move can be described as:

• Aggressive - As a bonus action, you can move up to your speed toward an enemy of your choice that you can see or hear. You must end this move closer to the enemy than you started.
• Agile - When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
• Spider-Like - You have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed. You can move up, down, and across vertical surfaces and upside down along ceilings, while leaving your hands free.
• Spring Loaded - Once during each of your turns, you can jump, rolling a d20 and moving that many feet in a direction of your choice. This extra distance doesn’t cost movement, but you can jump only if your speed isn’t 0.
• Unstoppable - Difficult terrain doesn't cost you extra movement. In addition, magic can neither reduce your speed nor cause you to be paralyzed or restrained.

Lessons from 1.0

1.0 races did not get access to backgrounds, owing to how overtuned each race's feature list was. Instead, each race had features that granted proficiencies. This turned out to be an unnecessary homebrew adjustment. Plus, it led to everyone starting out with no money and very few known languages.

Thus, in 2.0, several "nerfs" to innate racial proficiencies have been made to allow for the return of backgrounds. Other features that turned out to need improvement have also been altered. Additionally, the proficiency-feature removal-project affected the races disproportionately, snowballing into other changes that had to be made to retain "balance."

Update 2.5

More recently, the 2.0 races received another overhaul. The chief benefactor of this was the half-dwarf, which was entirely remodeled. The human soon followed.

Humans

A free feat proved too troublesome to balance against in 1.0 (and early 2.0), and thus the entire race has been reworked to accommodate the departure of that trait.

Halflings

• Adjusted: Ability Score Improvements: Greater flexibility for halfling characters was introduced without tampering with balance.
• Adjusted: Mental Fortress.: Charm and illusion resistance has been added.
• Removed: Halfling Proficiency: With the introduction of Backgrounds into the New World, halflings no longer need a trait that gives proficiencies. All races have been rebalanced to accommodate for this.

Half Dwarves

This race was too bland in 1.0, and thus has been entirely reworked, most notably by adding in rare variants and Tremorsense as defining features.

Kings

• Added: Fresh Eyes: A alternate feature was included for those who wished to play kings who were raised outside of king culture.
• Adjusted: Claws: The damage die has been increased from 1d4 to 1d8 to make the trait viable. Also, the thematic option to use Intelligence instead of Strength is now available.
• Adjusted: Speed: With the removal of the following three traits, the "lion feel" was being reduced, so Speed was increased to accommodate. 35 to 40 is a small bump, but now it looks like an actual racial advantage as opposed to flavor.
• Removed: Regal Instincts: This was proficiency bloat.
• Removed: Warring Kings, Lion's Pounce: These traits were clutter more than anything else.
• Removed: Spear Gang: This was a meme trait.

Penguins

• Adjusted: Ability Score Improvements: The bonus to Charisma and Intelligence has been removed as well as the penalty to Constitution, as these were not vital to the theme of the race and needlessly complicated balancing the penguins with the other races.
• Adjusted: Kowalski, Analysis: Skill proficiencies have been made more flexible.
• Removed: Fury of the Small, Penguin Tactics, Happy Feet: The penguin race was suffering from trait bloat and did not need any of these traits to be competitive with the other choices.
• Removed: Aversion to Heat. Unlike Tiny Bird, this trait was not hilarious enough to keep around.
• Adjusted:Flightless: Swim speed was bumped from 50 to 60 feet, which may not do much, but it will feel like more.