Discussion:Could species other than elves, humans, and orcs interbreed?

Could most races interbreed?

Wackymynd 15:12, 31 December 2007 (MST)

There are human-elves and human-orcs in D&D, but could other characters, or at least other humanoids interbreed? Like a gnome and a human, or a dwarf and a halfling? I don't see any reason why not. If so, what would the offspring's stats be like? For example, a dwarf/gnome might cross the dwarf's skill with stone and the gnome's skill with alchemy.

Eiji 15:45, 31 December 2007 (MST)

I say yes, I presume they are just not popular or common enough to make note, otherwise they need half-this half-that etcs. Though I did make a Pandwarf for a Pangoloid/Dwarf halfbreed, because of the closeness those two races are involved flavorwise.

Stats, I try to figure half and half. Gnomish spell like abilities with an elf's searching skills. Probably take the elf stats of -Str, +Dex.

A dwarf gnome of course is a dome, or a gnorf. Don't get dwarf orcs though, they're dorcs.

Sam Kay 06:09, 1 January 2008 (MST)

Scientifically, half-breeds are impossible.

I think they have covered all the possible (or likely) ones, although I am not sure I get half-orcs...

Aarnott 07:14, 1 January 2008 (MST)

Scientifically Elves are also impossible... I think it is a fair assumption that Humanoid is the base creature. Much like you can breed a poodle with a bull dog (bull poo hehehe) because they come from a common ancestor, I think it is fair to assume Humanoids come from a common ancestor. We could also assume that certain Goblinoids come from the same ancestor (Half-Orcs are possible this way). I think a whole interesting set of races could be created from this idea. The general rule I would use is that the size category should be the same (perhaps with the exception of Dwarves whom are very short). Here are some ideas...

• Gnorf (Gnome-Dwarf)
• Gnoblin (Gnome-Goblin)
• Half-Goblin (Halfling-Goblin)
• Elfling (Halfling-Elf --> not my idea, someone told me about them from some book and they sound cool)
• Gnomeling (Halfling-Gnome)
• Strongheart Halfling (Halfling-Human --> already exists)

One of the generals in the enemy army in a game I'm DMing is a Bugbear-Orc mix (Orcbear --> name pending :P). I gave it lower stat bonuses, but also only one level in Humanoid (rather than the 3 bugbears take). You get the idea though. I think race mixes are cool if used sparingly. Don't make every enemy a half-dragon Gnoblin or a fiendish psudonatural Orcbear. Otherwise the uniqueness factor wears off.

MorkaisChosen 11:09, 1 January 2008 (MST)

You'd expect some... let's say "mechanical difficulties" with a big size difference (and before anyone mentions half-dragons, they usually shapeshift). There are the Eberron Changelings, which aren't exactly a half-breed, but they're still descended from two types (doppelgangers and Humans).

Sir Milo Teabag 11:15, 1 January 2008 (MST)

Shifters as well... but warforged would not work. There's little common anatomy.

I wonder if halfling mixes should be called quarterlings... I'm playing a quarterling bard in my Campaign right now. racial modifiers are -2 Str, +1 dex and Con.

Sledged-20080101130610

Sledged (talk) 2008 January 1 13:06 (MDT)

There have been a few cross-breeds published outside the standard races. Darksun has muls which are human-dwarf crossbreeds and half-giants (from which the XPH version is far cry). Dragonlance has gully dwarves—gnome-dwarf crossbreeds—half-kender, and I think there was also an instance of an elf-ogre. Under 2E, orogs were orc-ogre crossbreeds as were ogrillons (the difference what which parent was of which race). Under 2E, elves were incompatible with orcs, and human-halfing pairing always produced one or the other, never a mix.

There's no better laugh than the one that you're ashamed to share with your mother. —Stephen Notley, creator of Bob the Angry Flower A common mistake that people make when trying to design something completely foolproof was to underestimate the ingenuity of complete fools. —Ford Prefect in "Mostly Harmless" by Douglas Adams

Wackymynd 18:01, 1 January 2008 (MST)

Well, I was thinking that they would be in the same size catagory. So no orc-halflings. Although that is sort of ridiculous for many other reasons.

Eiji 18:30, 1 January 2008 (MST)

I make that problem easier by having two differing size categories drift to medium as a rule. If you have orc and halfling, the child will be medium with a slight frame inside of small and beefy. If you do that the problem is less of an issue as you have something to go with, and medium is good game mechanic-wise. Exception to dwarves... a dwarf/small race may still be small. Dwarflings.

The half breeding process is much houseruling. It is best to think of what the kid looks like (is he big and green with thin frame, or small and normal skinned with a thick frame), and apply appropriate racial abilities from the two races according to what appearance you have. For the Orcling example, I'd say the Str issues cancel out (+0 Str), +2 Dex is good, -2 Int and -2 Cha remain but they get a bunch of halfling traits (saving throws, racial skill bonuses, save vs fear) and a weakened Darkvision (turn to Low Light).

120.154.38.148

Possible Cross Species

Plague Elf: (Elf-Human); Human and Elven Diseases often jump species via this cross species. Consequently many Elf Clans have been descimated by something as simple as the Flu.

Bog Elf: (Elf-Troll); Born of some terrible act, These usually wind up as eight foot tall elves with leathery green skin and an ability to heal wounds. They may be a hated subspecies, uglier than the average elf, but they have incredible survival ability.

Midden Elf: (Elf-Orc); The Elves will always attempt to dispose of the offspring of this union (hence the name). They wind up looking like Deformed Humans with Pointed Ears and Jutting Teeth.

Grim914 23:45, 2 June 2011 (MDT)

Has no one ever heard of the Bastards and Bloodlines book by Green Ronin?

Taiyo liadon 00:51, 29 April 2012 (MDT)

there is actually another book that will help with this the book is a little adult but the book of erotic fantasy actually has a list in it of who they think can cross breed though i don't follow it because they say that dwarves can't breed with anything, and i made the dwelf race. :)

Marasmusine 02:35, 29 April 2012 (MDT)

We're talking about fantasy here, with made-up creatures across multiple different story worlds. Really the only answer to the question is "Whatever you think is right for your campaign." I almost face-palmed at the "scientifically impossible" comment above. Fun fact: Originally, gnolls were crosses between gnomes and trolls. Marasmusine 02:35, 29 April 2012 (MDT)

Yeah, someone published a player's companion. Pretty much all of the 1st section is all the possible half-breeds using the player's handbook (and orcs). You could probably extrapolate other combos from it, and homebrew. I wanted a perfect thief race, so I created Greylings. They're half Kalamaran Grey Elf, and half Lightfoot Halfling. Say hello to +2 Dex, +2 Int, +2 Cha. (Of course there's still that bit about the -2 Str, -2 Con. Hmmm...)

Half-races.

In fantasy, all races and creatures can interbreed.

Two non-human races that interbeed are not suitable for level 1 player characers

and usually have templates with high level adjustment.

Most races that kind of look the same are similar enought to breed,

meaning Orks and Minotaurs and anything called monstrous humanoid

or humanoid can breed without problems.

Some races like Orks are supernaturally fertile

and can breed with animals and plants.

Elves uses magic to breed with animals and plants.

Either from two humanoids breeding or

becouse Dragons, Gods and Demons transform

into humans or the race to breed with

and the offspring of such two parents

of the same race still inherits traits from

the race that any parent belonged to before

its fransformation.

See planetouched.

All possibilites already exist, they are just hard to find

in some obscure book.

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