Spelljammer: The Astral Elf PC playable race: D&D 5e

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  • Опубліковано 10 лют 2025

КОМЕНТАРІ • 99

  • @TreantmonksTemple
    @TreantmonksTemple  2 роки тому +8

    The link for the Mammoth Chronicles: www.kickstarter.com/projects/mammothfactory/mammoth-chronicles-vol1-8-epic-miniatures-and-adventures?ref=8z3w8e

    • @kivagalehall4965
      @kivagalehall4965 2 роки тому

      Damn those STL's idc about the adventure I just backed for the stl's

    • @SigurdBraathen
      @SigurdBraathen 2 роки тому

      Now you need to pick up some paint and some brushes, Chris, and learn how to paint! ;)

  • @AppleBiscuits
    @AppleBiscuits 2 роки тому +30

    time to make a monk in order to play an Astral Elf Astral Self

  • @homm3bonedragon242
    @homm3bonedragon242 2 роки тому +33

    "Jiff... or Giff" 😭 Don't do it to us Treantmonk, that war was over!

    • @Philistine47
      @Philistine47 2 роки тому +8

      That joke is actually in the descriptive text on D&D Beyond.

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому +2

      ​ @Philistine47 It was in the UA too. (Clearly not enough people complained after the playtesting!)

  • @MegaZed
    @MegaZed 2 роки тому +65

    For what it's worth, the diehard elf crowd will appreciate the option that no other elf gets (Sacred Flame with no multiclass), but yeah, considering that there are (too) many elves already, this one tries too little to warrant its existence (from a mechanical standpoint). I could've reskinned another existing elf race and missed little.

    • @insertname5371
      @insertname5371 2 роки тому +6

      Yeah but having a cannon Spock is enough for me

    • @matthewcrowther890
      @matthewcrowther890 2 роки тому +11

      That was my reaction when I read it. Like we have elves that have lived bascially forever, explored the realms of space, seen and done god knows what and we get…. Elf with a light flavour. Like I can get the same with Bob the light cleric from down the road

    • @barbiedea4367
      @barbiedea4367 2 роки тому +2

      ✨ Diehard Elf fan who plays forever-Bards, can confirm we LOVE this hahahahha ✨

  • @Foliash
    @Foliash 2 роки тому +55

    God the UA astral elf was actually really interesting. A little loaded, sure. But instead of pulling back a bit they just turned astral elf into a regular elf with specific spells. Very sad to see

    • @sakuda213
      @sakuda213 2 роки тому +2

      That’s the real crime tbh they took something interesting and squashed it completely.

    • @GuyFawkes051
      @GuyFawkes051 2 роки тому +6

      That's just Wotc, they do that pretty often. The Monk in 5e's playtest was actually really cool, 4 elements especially. It wasn't just "Spend x ki to cast y spell", it was actually a collection of unique features.

    • @0Fyrebrand0
      @0Fyrebrand0 2 роки тому +2

      Not sure if I'm looking at the right version, but the UA one I looked up seems almost exactly the same as this, but instead of Starlight Step they could regain a bit of health once per day on a successful death save. I dunno, I think I'd rather take the teleport, it seems more fun. The downside is, as was mentioned in the video, that ability is way too similar to the Eladrin's even better Fey Step. No matter which way you slice it, I'm not really feeling the Astral Elf.

    • @Foliash
      @Foliash 2 роки тому +4

      @@0Fyrebrand0 I'll admit I didn't realize they still got the trance proficiencies thing at the time. I still think Radiant Soul is SO much cooler than teleporting. Every elf seems to get teleporting these days.

    • @stevenyoung9738
      @stevenyoung9738 2 роки тому

      Shouldn't even exist in current state or ua state. Uninteresting addition like most elves.

  • @jjsquidbeard
    @jjsquidbeard 2 роки тому +27

    The ability to swap out skill proficency is great. I prefer to play prepared casters due to a campaign potentially changing locations, tones, or playstyles (ie, the players have given up on stealth, or arcana becomes neccessary due to plot reasons).
    However, I'm surprised I've never heard of anyone talking about the tool proficency (for this or the elves in MotM) and how that can interact with the fabricate spell.

    • @pranakhan
      @pranakhan 2 роки тому

      A very nice feature for Artificers in particular; I have lowered an already discounted price on magical item creation (due to Magic Item Adept) by generating my own high quality non-magical components with the fabricate spell.

    • @CaitSith87
      @CaitSith87 2 роки тому

      They droped the mechanic again for the new UA tough.

    • @christophergeissler1635
      @christophergeissler1635 2 роки тому +4

      I second the enthusiasm for the swappable proficiency! Pathfinder 2E has a similar option for elves and I think it’s an elegant way of portraying an ancient character

  • @The_Gnome_Chomskee
    @The_Gnome_Chomskee 2 роки тому +15

    I myself am totally excited about the Autognome. It’s the perfect racial platform for my Clockwork Soul Sorcerer.

  • @RatchildUK
    @RatchildUK 2 роки тому +1

    Astral Elf Druid of the Stars

  • @jgr7487
    @jgr7487 2 роки тому +1

    Eladrin are the elves that didn't leave the Feywild &/or Arborea, while Astral Elves are the ones who moved one step away, sailing the Astral Sea, so it makes a lot of sense that they would be similar

  • @joeleek9976
    @joeleek9976 2 роки тому +4

    Mammoth Factory sculpts are pretty awesome.

  • @TheHareedo
    @TheHareedo 2 роки тому +11

    Stars Druid Astral Elf is my newest character concept. Ships navigator 🙂

  • @elliotbryant3459
    @elliotbryant3459 2 роки тому +21

    Why was it decided that teleporting is a core thing for like half the elves subraces? I feel like there are so many other thematic abilities out there, rather than just recycling an established feature to an already standardized base race.

    • @snazzyfeathers
      @snazzyfeathers 2 роки тому +1

      There's only 3 that I can think of but I do agree that while teleporting is nice to have it gets boring when so many of them have it. They could have added something extra at least to the teleportation like they did with Eladrin. Or better yet, just kept them how they were with the UA.

  • @zhangbill1194
    @zhangbill1194 2 роки тому +1

    i am super hyped to see you talk about the new races, cant wait for a hadozee build

  • @leodouskyron5671
    @leodouskyron5671 2 роки тому +1

    The Astral Elf screams out - play me with Soulknife. You start with two excellent skills - perception and skill to be named after each long rest. Also you get to choose a tool/weapon proficiency. You also get the option to choose Sacred Flame so now you have a inbuilt radiance alternative to the Psychic Blades. You also can starlight step adding more TP to your mobility.
    If you add the Astral Drifter background for Magic Initiate-cleric. You add Guidance to your game as well as a first level spell (I recommend- bless or Shield of Faith for a tough fight). And there is as you say Elven accuracy.
    So I find them a great pick but also there are others but as a level 3 pick. Awesome.

  • @ChristnThms
    @ChristnThms 2 роки тому +3

    It's kind of funny to see this progression. Every new WoTC release causes me to flash back to The Incredibles, to the scene where Syndrome reveals his master plot and ends with the proclamation, "When everyone is super, nobody is super."
    We're watching the desire for balance and equality dissolve everything that anyone ever looked forward to for being unique.

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому

      I'm all for balance, at least. I want every option to be balanced so exquisitely that all decisions are made solely based on flavor and what you _want_ rather than what's stronger or more effective or "optimized."

    • @ChristnThms
      @ChristnThms 2 роки тому

      @@bigdream_dreambig that is a great fantasy, and also the death of the game. When no decision is better than another, then no decision has meaning at all. No accomplishments. No point.
      Don't believe? Look around you. It's playing out irl right now.

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому

      @@ChristnThms Only if you have no creativity. With perfect balance, you make build decisions based on character creation / roleplaying. And during the game, you're still deciding how best to deploy your abilities. I see no issue. Balance leads to variety; imbalance leads to every character being identical -- and _that_ would be the death of the game.

    • @ChristnThms
      @ChristnThms 2 роки тому

      @@bigdream_dreambig extremes of both lead the same place. Extreme imbalance means only one or two builds are optimal: no variety. Extreme balance means that there is no benefit to picking one thing over another thing: variety exists and is meaningless.
      I completely agree that Extreme imbalance is bad game design. But it cannot be the top concern. The desire to achieve is what get people into a game, and achievement is intrinsically comparative. When everyone is the same, everyone is zero. Once again, we can see the proof all around us. Y'know how derisively the term "participation trophy" is used?

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому

      @@ChristnThms Our fundamental disagreement here comes down to your assertion that D&D is competitive. At my table, it's not. For us, D&D is collaborative storytelling. The only "achievement" we're after is telling a good story.

  • @jamesfoster9613
    @jamesfoster9613 2 роки тому +3

    I love the Astral Elves. I'm a big Elf fanatic, but they're the best race in the book in my opinion, and the fact that the (actually well written) adventure has a Romulan-esque space elf empire as the antagonist is amazing. My only quibble is that they don't also get produce flame as a cantrip option. But these have taken the cake over Half Elves (pre-UA rules) as the top Soulknife build, because they get a free perm skill (generally Perception, but other options are possible (not sure why but) per Tasha's), and a floating skill AND tool prof.
    So not only is their flavor amazing and their rules awesome, but a soulknife astral elf would have 7 perm skills, two perm tool profs (per UA rules), and one floating skill and tool prof baseline, with two expertises, at 3rd level, and the psi bolstered knack.

  • @mentalrebllion1270
    @mentalrebllion1270 Рік тому

    Lol I recently used an astral elf for a radiant citadel campaign. It’s been great. Decided he got to the starting point by being a refugee during a power struggle where his family’s faction lost and they were killed. So he starts with that backstory as to why he is so far from the astral sea. That was my explanation at least. It’s been fun. The joke is that people can’t tell if he is a normal elf who has been affected by some magical thing or if he is just something that looks like an elf. He just wears a mask and so has settled with being mistaken as a normal elf who wears a mask.

  • @bigklu4756
    @bigklu4756 2 роки тому

    What? We have to wait for more????? LOL Your insight is appreciated, as always, Chris! Can't wait to see your take on the the rest of them. (The thri-kreen is my favorite so far.)

  • @deltavictor8369
    @deltavictor8369 2 роки тому +5

    I mean it's not bad, but... it's another elf. Hard to get excited about that, compared to gun-toting hippos, slime girls, clockwork gnomes, chameleon bugs, and wavedashing monkeys

  • @AndyReichert0
    @AndyReichert0 2 роки тому +2

    the astral elf being generic is spot on for them being from the astral, which in most editions is nowhere. it's not a place in itself as much as it is the nothing/nowhere that's between/behind/under space. having an elf that can do everything except being unique is probably the best way to execute that. in some sense, it is a quantum elf.

  • @blackdynamite2129
    @blackdynamite2129 2 роки тому +4

    Hey Treantmonk, how about a Hadozee wizard who dimension doors 500ft up into the air then glides 2,500ft away? Or how about he dips two levels in fighter, action surges for another dimension door and 2,500ft?
    And falls instantly since, according to XGE, falling is instant at 500ft or lower. That's 5000ft away without movement!
    Cast featherfall also instead of taking the inbuilt reaction.
    Broken?

    • @elliotbryant3459
      @elliotbryant3459 2 роки тому +1

      Throw on distant spell meta magic!

    • @delilahfox3427
      @delilahfox3427 2 роки тому +1

      I mean, that's where you have to look at RAI vs RAW. As a DM, I would never allow this to work. Obviously the Hadozee fall should be slower than instant. Just because it doesn't say you can't, doesn't mean you can, as Treantmonk would say.

    • @blackdynamite2129
      @blackdynamite2129 2 роки тому +2

      @@delilahfox3427 I mean it's exactly how it works, at distances of 500ft or less you instantly fall, it's just the rules.
      I would just hope my players, in a social contract to not ruin the game, wouldn't do this except for exceptional circumstances

    • @SystemLordNemo
      @SystemLordNemo 2 роки тому

      Personally I believe that free falling =/= gliding. Therefore at its turn the Hadozee moves 30 feet down by its normal movement and will get the free 5 times extra to its horizontal movement. In total 150 feet (5 times 30).

  • @therockphonian5323
    @therockphonian5323 2 роки тому

    I'm currently making an elf Druid for an upcoming campaign, and I've been struggling with figuring out how to get a good ranged attack option, and getting sacred flame as a wisdom based racial trait, plus Starlight Step, really works wonderfully for that! I love elves anyway, and this one is probably going to be my go-to from now on!

  • @Ditidos
    @Ditidos 2 роки тому +4

    The plasmoids are the one that excited me more. I always wanted to play an ooze. The Thri-Keen I kinda like in concept but I don't know, I think they cannot wield shields in their small arms and that's a big downgrade (no greatsword and shields) but could be interesting.

    • @yuvalgabay1023
      @yuvalgabay1023 2 роки тому +3

      2 hand cross bow,a sheild. Get duel willding feat,crossbow expert,and shield expert

    • @craighenry1277
      @craighenry1277 2 роки тому +3

      useful for melee/spell hybrids too, go sword and shield and still have a free hand for somatics, warcaster will still be good but less necessary to make the build work and focus on asi's 1st

    • @snazzyfeathers
      @snazzyfeathers 2 роки тому

      Wielding a two handed weapon and a shield in the smaller arms is insane to think about. I feel like it'd be kind of busted honestly. You'd end up with a lot of glaive wielding thri kreen with GWM and Pole arm master.

    • @yuvalgabay1023
      @yuvalgabay1023 2 роки тому

      @@snazzyfeathers can you weild a shield whit the tiny arms

    • @snazzyfeathers
      @snazzyfeathers 2 роки тому

      @@yuvalgabay1023 I'm not sure if a shield has the light property or is considered a weapon. If it's not either of those you can't do that, but maybe a DM would allow it

  • @jgr7487
    @jgr7487 2 роки тому

    as per Xanathar's, Tool proficiencies are almost like expanded Skill proficiencies, so they're kinda even

  • @zallos7446
    @zallos7446 Місяць тому

    Astral elf trigger warlock/rogue thief, a space elf Eldritch gunslinger.

  • @stephenstewart5650
    @stephenstewart5650 2 роки тому +2

    Another great part about Starlight Step is it’s proficiency bonus times per day, compared to Eladrin and Shadar-Kai’s once per short and long rest (respectively). Those extra uses, combined with the floating skill and weapon/tool proficiency makes this seem pretty fun for something like a bladesinger build, as well as a couple others that come to mind. Though I agree nothing particularly stands out, it just does elf stuff good 🙃

    • @draghettis6524
      @draghettis6524 2 роки тому +1

      Eladrins and Shadar-Kais have been reprinted in Mordenkainen Presents Monsters of the Multiverse, where their teleports have both been change to PB/long rest

  • @pdubb9754
    @pdubb9754 2 роки тому

    Primarily exists so you can roleplay a pointy eared ET a la Spock.

  • @singleasasin
    @singleasasin 2 роки тому

    This was interesting to watch 🙂

  • @40Found
    @40Found 2 роки тому

    Can't wait for the Hadozee teleportation conversation

  • @pranakhan
    @pranakhan 2 роки тому +1

    I wonder if Treantmonk would consider discussing how these races could be applied to his other build videos. Perhaps the Astral Elf (for example) would be really good on his recent Hexblade updated build. Or maybe the Plasmoid is an option for his recent Grappling Monk build. Its a nice way to connect his new content with his full Temple portfolio, upping view time I imagine

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому +1

      I actually have been sketching out a plasmoid astral self monk, myself, in an attempt to make the best use of their grappling abilities and the "you can fit through a 1" hole without equipment" trait! Fair warning though: the first UA for the new DND edition severely nerfs grappling, so grappling builds may end up being short-lived.

    • @pranakhan
      @pranakhan 2 роки тому

      @@bigdream_dreambig I love grappling builds! The clever use of CC in this game is immensely satisfying. I couldn't bring myself to dive into the next edition. I've been playing since the Red Box days; my hope is that my life-long gaming group continues to evolve 5th edition on our own terms indefinitely.

  • @johngst42
    @johngst42 2 роки тому

    Two of these races come from an old TSR game called "Star Frontiers" the plasmoid and the giff.

  • @roberticvs
    @roberticvs 2 роки тому

    "Builds" is what drives games into the ground.

  • @bigdream_dreambig
    @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому

    FYI, I would be especially interested to hear your thoughts on the proposed (UA) change to the Grappling/Shoving/Dragging mechanics.

  • @eXyliad
    @eXyliad 2 роки тому

    I'm just happy this elf variant seems to be balanced and that means WotC is not succumbing to the power creep business model... yet.

  • @coldfusion230
    @coldfusion230 2 роки тому

    I definitely agree this one is rather underwhelming. Only thing I can think of that suits it would be straight bard as you get a better damaging cantrip and basically get misty step without having to take fey touched.

  • @KnicKnac
    @KnicKnac 2 роки тому

    I'm excited for the Autognome. I'm just a fan of gnomes.

  • @flyinhigh7681
    @flyinhigh7681 2 роки тому +1

    Im very mad at astral elves, nit mechanically or anything, but i *just* finished playing a long term astral sea homebrew game, where i used custom lineage and some dm permission to make an astral elf custom race. And lore wise, what i made was cooler

  • @snarkyrogue118
    @snarkyrogue118 2 роки тому

    So bummed to see the death save feature from ua completely removed rather than tweaked, and all for a lackluster teleport that does less than shadar kai's and eladrin's. Free sacred flame is nice and all but otherwise this ended up a really lackluster option

  • @leonardolenzetti1164
    @leonardolenzetti1164 2 роки тому

    Does Astral Elf + Keen mind combo work in your opinion?

  • @DrAndrewJBlack
    @DrAndrewJBlack 2 роки тому

    👍🏻

  • @nearlyautomated5928
    @nearlyautomated5928 2 роки тому

    space elves

  • @scorpiovenator_4736
    @scorpiovenator_4736 2 роки тому

    I am sticking with shadar kai

  • @DanielNelson
    @DanielNelson 2 роки тому

    Hard G 🤣

  • @stevenclarke4067
    @stevenclarke4067 2 роки тому

    Cleric could starlight step and revivify

  • @PearseNation
    @PearseNation 2 роки тому +2

    There are too many kinds of elves.

  • @jonathanhaynes9914
    @jonathanhaynes9914 2 роки тому

    :)

  • @matthewjamesmjw4172
    @matthewjamesmjw4172 2 роки тому +2

    Unfortunately until feats are changed, almost every race that doesn't give a free feat is just never worth it.
    Now, if your DM gives you a free feat at level 1, then yeah maybe.

  • @matthiass.4818
    @matthiass.4818 2 роки тому

    I... think I just stick with the standard races: Humans, Halflings, (Half-)Elves, Dwarves, Half-Orcs...

    • @bigdream_dreambig
      @bigdream_dreambig 2 роки тому

      No more half-elves or half-orcs in the UA for the new edition. Just elves (or orcs) with one non-elf (or non-orc) parent happen who look like a mixture of mom and dad.

  • @PlanetOfTheApes999
    @PlanetOfTheApes999 2 роки тому

    Of all the Spelljammer races, the astral elf, autognome and plasmoid races are pretty good, the thri-kreen is passable, and the giff and hazodee are the weakest races in 5e.

    • @TreantmonksTemple
      @TreantmonksTemple  2 роки тому +12

      I think the Hadozee is the most powerful race in this book

    • @pranakhan
      @pranakhan 2 роки тому +1

      Giff; "I cast Gun".

    • @SystemLordNemo
      @SystemLordNemo 2 роки тому +1

      @@TreantmonksTemple About Hadozee. Since you are going to make a video about you probably have opinion of its gliding movement speed. Would you agree that its gliding speed is limited by its horizontal movement speed? Many seems to think that it should be subject to free falling rules while it's gliding and I don't agree. I believe that its horizontal gliding speed is it's vertical movement speed 30 feet / turn ( its normal walking speed ) times 5 (the free movement multiplier). This equals 150 feet / turn or 300 if dashing.

    • @TreantmonksTemple
      @TreantmonksTemple  2 роки тому

      @@SystemLordNemo That's my reading too

    • @PlanetOfTheApes999
      @PlanetOfTheApes999 2 роки тому

      @@TreantmonksTemple How so? Could you make a video on this race and why you think it's so powerful?

  • @barbiedea4367
    @barbiedea4367 2 роки тому +2

    I may be in the minority but I just LOVE more Elf sub races lol