i could see half-orcs out, full orcs in.  gnomes out.  half-elves could go, but then what about the tanis fans?  

i'm also of the "halflings should be hobbits, dammit!" camp.

can't see warforged being in the new core, tho.  :raise:

I think warforged are too Eberron-specific, and while Eberron is popular, I can't see it becoming the default setting for D&D - it stretches the fantasy genre too much, and a default setting for D&D really should be as "middle of the road" (as far as D&D fantasy goes) as possible.

Well, I've already seen half-elves mentioned as having something called "inspiring presence" or some-such, so they're in there and have been revamped to some extent. Dwarves and elves have also been specifically mention, and they have some new abilities, but I think it was a given they'd be in. Halflings are in, since there is artwork of one.

See, I think the mistake is basing whether one thinks this or that race deserves to be in or not on how they were treated in past editions. Based on what has been posted so far, it looks like they've made a point of addressing what was weak about some of the races - the half-elf in particular. Revamping the half-orc could be cool if they really take a look at the concept and rework it. Still, there has been no mention of them yet that I've seen. Same with gnomes. I actually like gnomes and have come up with a niche for them in my campaign world. I hope they make it in, but if they don't, doesn't mean I can't add 'em myself.

Kiss the gnome goodbye. Say hello to a re-imagined half-orc and Vanilla D&D friendly Warforged.

Quote from: JamesVKiss the gnome goodbye. Say hello to a re-imagined half-orc and Vanilla D&D friendly Warforged.

Y'know, I hope the warforged isn't a new core race. Well, actually, I don't really mind it, but not if something like the gnome gets dumped. I have nothing against the warforged, but they seem more like what they were designed to be - a race in a very specific, (fairly) non-traditional fantasy RPG setting. They'd be a good example of how to customize a home campaign, I guess.

it's a wild thought, but perhaps eberron becomes the new default?  FR and greyhawk hang around as other campaign types, with other stuff (DL, ravenloft, etc.) reappearing every so often?

Half-elf has gotten a mention (apparently, they have some sort of 'cheer friends on' bonus.)

My guess is Gnome's getting the ax, and probably half-orc too.

Since the tiefling is definitely in, I suspect we'll see some manner of good equivalent.

Quote from: beeberit's a wild thought, but perhaps eberron becomes the new default?  FR and greyhawk hang around as other campaign types, with other stuff (DL, ravenloft, etc.) reappearing every so often?

Well, anything is possible. Based on the concept art we've seen so far, though, it doesn't seem to gibe much with the art we've seen in Eberron so far. But who knows? Maybe the "look" of Eberron will be brought more towards traditional D&D. I have to admit I doubt it, but it's an interesting thought. That said, I wonder if there will be a "default" setting at all? Nothing I've seen has been posted to indicate anything one way or the other.

Quote from: ColonelHardissonWell, anything is possible. Based on the concept art we've seen so far, though, it doesn't seem to gibe much with the art we've seen in Eberron so far. But who knows? Maybe the "look" of Eberron will be brought more towards traditional D&D. I have to admit I doubt it, but it's an interesting thought. That said, I wonder if there will be a "default" setting at all? Nothing I've seen has been posted to indicate anything one way or the other.

I seem to recall the Forgotten Realms would be the first release, followed by one setting a year. Greyhawk was mentioned, as was Eberron. The corebooks will remain setting neutral, without any default assumptions outside the rules proper.

Mind you, I've read so much 4e stuff over the last 24 hours that its running out of my ears now. Could be that I'll wake up tomorrow and find out all of this has been a particularly vivid cheese dream.

so the new core would leave out deities?  that was one core element that threw me off in 3.0 (setting-wise).  

think they'll change the spell names too?  Tenser's-, Mordenkainen's- etc. out?

Quote from: beeberthink they'll change the spell names too?  Tenser's-, Mordenkainen's- etc. out?

I don't think so. Someone at EN World was taking notes at one of the seminars, and one of the designers mentioned "Mordenkainen's Sword."

Half-Orcs and Gnomes are pretty much the least interesting of the generic races. Good riddance. My wild speculative guess with absolutely no support is that we get one other small race and one other strong race to replace them.

The Eladrin (aka Aasimar renamed) seem to be in.

Having both halflings and gnomes is redundant, so I'd like to see a single race (preferably called "halflings") that combines the most interesting traits of both and is thereby made worthwhile again.

Half-orcs are only useful if stock orcs are too powerful to be PCs... which isn't the case, so just go with orcs and get rid of the useless half-measure.  Having orc PCs would be sweet, esp. if they are to the Large-size races what halflings are to the Small.

The core lineup I'd like to see would be:

Humans
Dwarves
Elves
Halflings (the "small" race)
Orcs (the "large" race)
Eladrins (aka Aasimar)
Tieflings

Eladrins and Tieflings are useful if you want to represent the divinely-descended types commonly found in mythology -- and it sounds like 4e will be heading in a direction more evocative of real-world mythological tropes.

KoOS

Count on dwarves, elves, halflings and men.  Gnomes are redundant with halflings and will probably get the boot.  Half-breeds are pointless as separate races when you can cover them with just a Feat or a Talent attached to what is otherwise a Mannish character, and the same goes for the bred-true spawn thereof.  At most, I could see the inclusion of a goblin or orc race, but we don't need more than the Tolkien Quartet in the PHB.