While Ardlings are cool conceptually, it does feel like their roleplay and mechanical niches are already filled by other races. Aasimar yes, but also Shifters and other animal themed humanoids. I think it would ultimately be fine if Ardlings were simply absorbed by Aasimar or vice-versa. Their One D&D mechanics already read like an Aasimar redux (fun damage and fear effects aside). Flavor-wise, similar to how Tieflings come in multiple shapes and sizes depending on their fiendish ancestry. Aasimar A could be a Croc-Headed man, while Aasimar B could an angelic looking woman. It's hard to justify both existing at the same time.
I could totally see it as a ‘servants of the gods’ as the thematic tie ins. Angelic visages, more middle eastern animal-headed person, kami-style with like a lily pad head, or flaming hair. All falling under the umbrella of “god servant” kin.
So it seems like they’re trying to get a race for the non-western style of godly servants (I.e angels and aasimar). Egypt has jackal/crocodile/ibis headed gods and godly servants fairly well represented and it looks like they’re trying to branch into that. It’d be fine to just roll that into aasimar, but I guess they thought it would bloat them too much?
It's the rock and hard place dilemma, you have a new race that runs the risk of messing with aasimars and beast folk (aaracrockas, tabaxis, bullywugs, etc) so you can't really pivot to much to each side. I myself am fine with this interpretation because it's clearly evocative of Egyptian gods, so I would use them in my world in a similar fashion.
I kinda wish they were a race in the Mythos setting (or they created an Egyptian inspired setting) similar to the Saytr where its a race in Mythos but a creature in Faerun. Not that Id say no to people playing it as Ive had a player play a Saytr in my TOA game. Just world building it might make a bit more sense.
Seems so random to insert ancient Egyptian imagery into the PHB when there is literally nothing remotely like that anywhere else in the game. Animal heads like the gods! Uh WotC... what gods? I don't recall DnD gods ever having animal heads. Oooooh you're just going to, ah, appropriate that from a real world culture and slot it in. Ok.
@@danrimo826 This is my point for it being specifically in the PHB instead of being a race added into something like Planecape or Spelljammer… Still they are playtest material so giving this feedback is important.
@@danrimo826 I mean pretty much all of the dnd pantheons are based on ones from our world I don't see a big deal with it and it can be a cool concept if played right but it has to be played right to work
I like ardlings more than aasimar. They're people touched by extraplainer energy, just like how lower plain energy affects tieflings, higher plain energy should have a similar because humans and humanoid races are not inherently good or evil creatures so such energies should "corrupt" the person. Higher plain energy should not just create aesthetically perfect looking people because beauty should be disconnected from whether or not the person is "good"
Aasimar are a little too Abrahamic religious in theme. Ardlings have their origin in the fantasy of D&D, as well as opening up to other religious possibilities. You can be a Ra, or Horus, or a Brhama. What you're talking about from the visuals is covered by their option for having half-races. Really opens it up to being exactly what you said. You can be more human/elf/dwarf/etc-like, while having those animalistic traits.
I actually think this is a great way to justify a wide range of anthropomorphic characters into a campaign. I have at some point wanted to play a werewolf or shifter type of character and this is a new alternative to that. Also there will always be new players to d&d who might not have a "Tolkien-based" idea of what classic fantasy races consist of. I am not an Elder Scrolls fan but this seems like a similar looking fantasy world aesthetic. Or maybe this is all slightly influenced by fellow WotC family Magic: the Gathering races like Loxodon. To me this is just a nice furry-catch-all side of the coin where the other side was the emo-demon-boy/girl Tiefling. Also, does anyone else think of the Starfox characters when picturing this race?
On a 'mechanical' I really like the Ardlings. You get a nice choice of bonus spells and a flight ability that even the harshest DM would be okay with. But 'Visually/thematically' they feel disjointed and messy. In an "Egyptian" themed setting an Ardling would perfectly at home, but anywhere else they feel as out of place as that donkey-headed guy from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. They're an out-of-place-oddity whom no one can take seriously. Which makes them an extremely weird choice for a PHB race. When I think "Generic Fantasy Race" that I can drop into any setting, "Angel Person in a half finished Fur Suit" Isn't what usually comes to mind. Personally, I would Put Ardlings in the Monster Manual And Aasimar in the Player's Hand Book. It's time Aasimar got the same recognition as their Tiefling counterparts.
100% my initial feeling as well! Give me an Egyptian style Mythos setting and let Ardling be the Saytr race of that world where in Faerun the Saytr is a fey monster in the monster manuel.
Instead of creating an animal-headed race with divine powers, I'm sure it would make much more sense if they created a new race that would gather all humanoid animal races such as Aarakocra, Tabaxi, Harengon under one roof, and nicely update the Aasimar race and include it in the core races. But if I'm not mistaken, this is a playtest, so they will take into account the feedback from the players and shape D&D One accordingly.
Yeah it is 100% play test material and I am excited to see what eventually happens! This is all about building the new foundations of the next evolution of D&D for brand new players/DMs while keeping current fans invested!
I have not read been able to play test it, but initial read, I am not a fan. It feels like they are trying to do too much at once. If you are in an Egypt like game, then it would be awesome. Outside of it? Not so much. Personally, I think they should replace the Ardling with two races. Have the Aasimar be the Celestial Counterpart to the Tieflings, and just make a Beastfolk race. Aquatic, Mammalian, Avian and Reptile sub-races with their own flavor and tricks could resolve an awful lot.
I have seen so much of your response which I pretty much agree with. I think as a "Classic PHB Race" the Ardling doesnt really fit. However as a race that can be found in another universe like a specific Egyptian styled Mythos (for example) or something that comes from Planescape as an interplanar race that is rare and still connected to celestials in some way for sure! Overall the agreement I see if that they just dont quite fit the PHB races for brand new players and DMs to pick from and that they could be built differently... I think they would need to have some really solid lore to sell them as a Faerun race for me.
@@TheDMSide The Aasimar already have a fair bit of lore to them and feel appropriate. Making the Beastfolk could include Tabaxi, Minotaur, Loxodon, Kenku, Aarakocra, Triton, Bullywog, Lizardfolk, a dog-folk, and many others.
So you just want to be a humanoid with animal like features? Then just play the shifter or the beastial barbarian. I'm happy they are bringing new looking and feeling races.
@@TheDMSide I was thinking that it could be an interesting starting place for Shifters. As a secret origin, the Ardlings came from the celestial plane and using their "Divinity" would either rule over or play tricks on mortals like with the Egyptians, Aztecs, Native Americans but they wouldn't have stayed as much as they would pop in and play with men and women. They could even introduce magic to w/e world they're introduced in as divine.
@@mileslugo6430 I like that. Reminds me of I think its Zeus turning into a Swan to sleep with someone? I personally would have liked to see then show up in Planescape as this weird almost alien race that dont have a home anymore and are fleeing to other planes. A destroyed plane where all manner of living things barely managed to jump out before it collapsed.
imma be real, when first reading their descriptions i went through a sort of 3 stage thought process: 1. oh so theyre replacing aasimar with a standard phb race, but are they really gonna "replace" aasimar tho or just adding yet another race? 2. oh so its more beast-like, maybe theyre turning all the endless "humanoid but with animal features" into one overarching race, or, once again, is this just gonna be yet another additional race? 3. wait, this is just a race for furries in all seriousness, i think this could indeed be an opportunity to stop the endless adding of new animal-like races (which lets be honest, gets tiring and boring after a while) and possibly combining it with aasimar, but i honestly fear this isnt what they have in mind, which imo would be a missed chance + it could actually, unironically be a good way of attracting furries to dnd lol
I find a few things really jarring about this race; 1. It has no connection to DnD. Almost all other races either existed in thee dnd world, or had strong connections to the dnd world before they became playable. Not only are ardlings are completely out of the blue, so is their lore. Animals heads like the gods! Um, what dnd gods have animal heads? I cannot think of any. The heads of animals with virtuous associations! Um, since when have animals in dnd had "virtuous associations"? What animals are these? The lore as given in the playtest made them feel like they were from a different game (would totally work for Planescape tho) 2. It doesnt give anyone what they want. People who want to play animal people want to play *animal* people, not godly people. And people who want to play godly people dont necessarily want to play animal people. And nobody wants an animal head on a fully human body. It's such a weird mash up. 3. This is likely personal taste, but their story is not compelling. I find this true of the aasimar too. In fiction, generally 'descended from gods' means 'demi-god with super powers'. Here it's... you can do some fun stuff but you are basically just a funny looking ordinary person. The teifling story is compelling - "they are outcasts, they look bad... but will they do good?" It's basically the theme of the X-Men. The reverse of that, "you look like you are descended from the gods so everyone loves you and thinks you are great" That can be compelling for an evil NPC but for a player...? 4. It has joke character written all over it. Now that guy plays a bard with a dolphin head. Because. I'm called Assman and I have a donkey head. Get it? I am a mighty barbarian with the head of a WORM! Yay. Maybe I am just too old.
I appreciate your comment and the detail youve put into it. Youve laid out your concerns really well and I agree with a lot of what you have said! Planescape race could make a lot of sense. Ardling needs more detailing into the lore to give them a place within dnd. It will def be personal taste and Im sure over time they will find a place among players. They are oddly jarring. I would also love a mythos style world that have these are the center race using Egyptian mythology as a base to really bring the look and feel to its own dnd world. Lots to build from. Playtest means it can change so here is hopping for some detailing.
If the ardling is going to be in d&d 6th edition, I’m simply going to ban it and look at the old edition assimar or home brew a assimar that is kinda parrellel the new teiflings. I find the concept of the ardlings as kinda stupid and just another furry for the most part. Hope they just update the assimar instead.
It’s totally evocative of middle eastern angel(godly servant) equivalents. Jackal/crocodile/ibis headed people being pretty well represented in Egyptian mythos
@@TheNaturalnuke that's why I like ardlings more than aasimar. They're people touched by an external plane of existence and as such that should warp your body in inhuman ways. Be the animal-headed servant of gods rather than reinforcing the trope of good equals beauty.
Hate Ardling and it really feels like they are just trying to bring back Divas or bring furies into the game and it does not work. I am good with furry humanoids in the game but this race is Human with animal head with angelic origins - too much. Just a simple redesign on the Aasimar works for me. I so dislike them they are a ban - but that is just me and the way I see my world.
Apparently in the old translations Angels had animal heads. So it’s pretty accurate. Nevertheless I don’t like it either. When I want to play a Khajit (Elder scrolls) or a Panterkin alla Gods eye (Litrpg) I want a PC with bestial mechanics and not cleric the race.
Have you play-tested the Ardling? What was your experience!
While Ardlings are cool conceptually, it does feel like their roleplay and mechanical niches are already filled by other races. Aasimar yes, but also Shifters and other animal themed humanoids.
I think it would ultimately be fine if Ardlings were simply absorbed by Aasimar or vice-versa. Their One D&D mechanics already read like an Aasimar redux (fun damage and fear effects aside). Flavor-wise, similar to how Tieflings come in multiple shapes and sizes depending on their fiendish ancestry. Aasimar A could be a Croc-Headed man, while Aasimar B could an angelic looking woman. It's hard to justify both existing at the same time.
Couldn’t agree more.
Adjusting the Assimar to take on some of the Ardling aspects would be wonderful.
I could totally see it as a ‘servants of the gods’ as the thematic tie ins. Angelic visages, more middle eastern animal-headed person, kami-style with like a lily pad head, or flaming hair.
All falling under the umbrella of “god servant” kin.
So it seems like they’re trying to get a race for the non-western style of godly servants (I.e angels and aasimar). Egypt has jackal/crocodile/ibis headed gods and godly servants fairly well represented and it looks like they’re trying to branch into that.
It’d be fine to just roll that into aasimar, but I guess they thought it would bloat them too much?
I hadn’t thought of that and do appreciate wotc being as inclusive as they can.
It's the rock and hard place dilemma, you have a new race that runs the risk of messing with aasimars and beast folk (aaracrockas, tabaxis, bullywugs, etc) so you can't really pivot to much to each side.
I myself am fine with this interpretation because it's clearly evocative of Egyptian gods, so I would use them in my world in a similar fashion.
I kinda wish they were a race in the Mythos setting (or they created an Egyptian inspired setting) similar to the Saytr where its a race in Mythos but a creature in Faerun.
Not that Id say no to people playing it as Ive had a player play a Saytr in my TOA game.
Just world building it might make a bit more sense.
Seems so random to insert ancient Egyptian imagery into the PHB when there is literally nothing remotely like that anywhere else in the game. Animal heads like the gods! Uh WotC... what gods? I don't recall DnD gods ever having animal heads. Oooooh you're just going to, ah, appropriate that from a real world culture and slot it in. Ok.
@@danrimo826 This is my point for it being specifically in the PHB instead of being a race added into something like Planecape or Spelljammer…
Still they are playtest material so giving this feedback is important.
@@danrimo826 I mean pretty much all of the dnd pantheons are based on ones from our world I don't see a big deal with it and it can be a cool concept if played right but it has to be played right to work
I like ardlings more than aasimar. They're people touched by extraplainer energy, just like how lower plain energy affects tieflings, higher plain energy should have a similar because humans and humanoid races are not inherently good or evil creatures so such energies should "corrupt" the person. Higher plain energy should not just create aesthetically perfect looking people because beauty should be disconnected from whether or not the person is "good"
This is a fair point to make!
Im really enjoying the discussion on this video. My views are being opened.
Aasimar are a little too Abrahamic religious in theme. Ardlings have their origin in the fantasy of D&D, as well as opening up to other religious possibilities. You can be a Ra, or Horus, or a Brhama.
What you're talking about from the visuals is covered by their option for having half-races. Really opens it up to being exactly what you said. You can be more human/elf/dwarf/etc-like, while having those animalistic traits.
Mmmm yes very very true!!!
I actually think this is a great way to justify a wide range of anthropomorphic characters into a campaign. I have at some point wanted to play a werewolf or shifter type of character and this is a new alternative to that. Also there will always be new players to d&d who might not have a "Tolkien-based" idea of what classic fantasy races consist of. I am not an Elder Scrolls fan but this seems like a similar looking fantasy world aesthetic. Or maybe this is all slightly influenced by fellow WotC family Magic: the Gathering races like Loxodon.
To me this is just a nice furry-catch-all side of the coin where the other side was the emo-demon-boy/girl Tiefling.
Also, does anyone else think of the Starfox characters when picturing this race?
On a 'mechanical' I really like the Ardlings. You get a nice choice of bonus spells and a flight ability that even the harshest DM would be okay with. But 'Visually/thematically' they feel disjointed and messy. In an "Egyptian" themed setting an Ardling would perfectly at home, but anywhere else they feel as out of place as that donkey-headed guy from 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'. They're an out-of-place-oddity whom no one can take seriously. Which makes them an extremely weird choice for a PHB race. When I think "Generic Fantasy Race" that I can drop into any setting, "Angel Person in a half finished Fur Suit" Isn't what usually comes to mind.
Personally, I would Put Ardlings in the Monster Manual And Aasimar in the Player's Hand Book. It's time Aasimar got the same recognition as their Tiefling counterparts.
100% my initial feeling as well!
Give me an Egyptian style Mythos setting and let Ardling be the Saytr race of that world where in Faerun the Saytr is a fey monster in the monster manuel.
Me: its ok, undercooked but ok. Furries: AWWW YEEEH!
🤣🤣🤣
i would have played as a frog or toad too - its a great image - but mine might be more like the frog from chronotrigger and less nightmare fuel lol
Yes!!! Chronotrigger is such a vibe!
I like their latest update to the class. It feels like they really listened to player concerns for tue most part.
Why don't they just make Tieflings and Aasimar lineages? An Ardling is basically an Aasimar Leonin or Minotaur, or Aaracokra etc. in all but abilities
Put that in the play test feedback! Its a good thought. I agree
Instead of creating an animal-headed race with divine powers, I'm sure it would make much more sense if they created a new race that would gather all humanoid animal races such as Aarakocra, Tabaxi, Harengon under one roof, and nicely update the Aasimar race and include it in the core races. But if I'm not mistaken, this is a playtest, so they will take into account the feedback from the players and shape D&D One accordingly.
Yeah it is 100% play test material and I am excited to see what eventually happens!
This is all about building the new foundations of the next evolution of D&D for brand new players/DMs while keeping current fans invested!
I have not read been able to play test it, but initial read, I am not a fan. It feels like they are trying to do too much at once. If you are in an Egypt like game, then it would be awesome. Outside of it? Not so much. Personally, I think they should replace the Ardling with two races. Have the Aasimar be the Celestial Counterpart to the Tieflings, and just make a Beastfolk race. Aquatic, Mammalian, Avian and Reptile sub-races with their own flavor and tricks could resolve an awful lot.
I have seen so much of your response which I pretty much agree with. I think as a "Classic PHB Race" the Ardling doesnt really fit. However as a race that can be found in another universe like a specific Egyptian styled Mythos (for example) or something that comes from Planescape as an interplanar race that is rare and still connected to celestials in some way for sure!
Overall the agreement I see if that they just dont quite fit the PHB races for brand new players and DMs to pick from and that they could be built differently... I think they would need to have some really solid lore to sell them as a Faerun race for me.
@@TheDMSide The Aasimar already have a fair bit of lore to them and feel appropriate. Making the Beastfolk could include Tabaxi, Minotaur, Loxodon, Kenku, Aarakocra, Triton, Bullywog, Lizardfolk, a dog-folk, and many others.
So you just want to be a humanoid with animal like features? Then just play the shifter or the beastial barbarian. I'm happy they are bringing new looking and feeling races.
It is definitely going to appeal to people so Im at least happy they are pushing new options into the game even if I find them odd 🤣
I think it needs better flavor then just coming from the celestial plane.
It definitely just needs to have a more exciting lore base otherwise its really just weird.
@@TheDMSide I was thinking that it could be an interesting starting place for Shifters. As a secret origin, the Ardlings came from the celestial plane and using their "Divinity" would either rule over or play tricks on mortals like with the Egyptians, Aztecs, Native Americans but they wouldn't have stayed as much as they would pop in and play with men and women. They could even introduce magic to w/e world they're introduced in as divine.
@@mileslugo6430 I like that. Reminds me of I think its Zeus turning into a Swan to sleep with someone?
I personally would have liked to see then show up in Planescape as this weird almost alien race that dont have a home anymore and are fleeing to other planes. A destroyed plane where all manner of living things barely managed to jump out before it collapsed.
imma be real, when first reading their descriptions i went through a sort of 3 stage thought process:
1. oh so theyre replacing aasimar with a standard phb race, but are they really gonna "replace" aasimar tho or just adding yet another race?
2. oh so its more beast-like, maybe theyre turning all the endless "humanoid but with animal features" into one overarching race, or, once again, is this just gonna be yet another additional race?
3. wait, this is just a race for furries
in all seriousness, i think this could indeed be an opportunity to stop the endless adding of new animal-like races (which lets be honest, gets tiring and boring after a while) and possibly combining it with aasimar, but i honestly fear this isnt what they have in mind, which imo would be a missed chance + it could actually, unironically be a good way of attracting furries to dnd lol
I find a few things really jarring about this race;
1. It has no connection to DnD. Almost all other races either existed in thee dnd world, or had strong connections to the dnd world before they became playable. Not only are ardlings are completely out of the blue, so is their lore. Animals heads like the gods! Um, what dnd gods have animal heads? I cannot think of any. The heads of animals with virtuous associations! Um, since when have animals in dnd had "virtuous associations"? What animals are these? The lore as given in the playtest made them feel like they were from a different game (would totally work for Planescape tho)
2. It doesnt give anyone what they want. People who want to play animal people want to play *animal* people, not godly people. And people who want to play godly people dont necessarily want to play animal people. And nobody wants an animal head on a fully human body. It's such a weird mash up.
3. This is likely personal taste, but their story is not compelling. I find this true of the aasimar too. In fiction, generally 'descended from gods' means 'demi-god with super powers'. Here it's... you can do some fun stuff but you are basically just a funny looking ordinary person. The teifling story is compelling - "they are outcasts, they look bad... but will they do good?" It's basically the theme of the X-Men. The reverse of that, "you look like you are descended from the gods so everyone loves you and thinks you are great" That can be compelling for an evil NPC but for a player...?
4. It has joke character written all over it. Now that guy plays a bard with a dolphin head. Because. I'm called Assman and I have a donkey head. Get it? I am a mighty barbarian with the head of a WORM! Yay.
Maybe I am just too old.
I appreciate your comment and the detail youve put into it.
Youve laid out your concerns really well and I agree with a lot of what you have said!
Planescape race could make a lot of sense. Ardling needs more detailing into the lore to give them a place within dnd.
It will def be personal taste and Im sure over time they will find a place among players. They are oddly jarring.
I would also love a mythos style world that have these are the center race using Egyptian mythology as a base to really bring the look and feel to its own dnd world.
Lots to build from. Playtest means it can change so here is hopping for some detailing.
@@TheDMSide Hahaha you are very kind. Now I need to go back to yelling and shaking my fist at clouds :P
If the ardling is going to be in d&d 6th edition, I’m simply going to ban it and look at the old edition assimar or home brew a assimar that is kinda parrellel the new teiflings. I find the concept of the ardlings as kinda stupid and just another furry for the most part. Hope they just update the assimar instead.
I keep hearing “update Assimar” and I cant help but totally agree.
It’s totally evocative of middle eastern angel(godly servant) equivalents. Jackal/crocodile/ibis headed people being pretty well represented in Egyptian mythos
@@TheNaturalnuke that's why I like ardlings more than aasimar. They're people touched by an external plane of existence and as such that should warp your body in inhuman ways. Be the animal-headed servant of gods rather than reinforcing the trope of good equals beauty.
Hate Ardling and it really feels like they are just trying to bring back Divas or bring furies into the game and it does not work. I am good with furry humanoids in the game but this race is Human with animal head with angelic origins - too much. Just a simple redesign on the Aasimar works for me. I so dislike them they are a ban - but that is just me and the way I see my world.
Apparently in the old translations Angels had animal heads. So it’s pretty accurate. Nevertheless I don’t like it either. When I want to play a Khajit (Elder scrolls) or a Panterkin alla Gods eye (Litrpg) I want a PC with bestial mechanics and not cleric the race.