Half-orcs, half-elves and the like are classic fantasy characters, especially in Dungeons and Dragons, but thematically they often tie into cultural tropes that fit those worlds more than Omesa. Also, I think the “new world” could also be stronger if it’s very much like the American “melting pot”.

I like Daggerhearts approach (any character can have a parent and traits from any species in the book) which allows this sort of thing to happen, and I’d very much like “that boy’s got a bit of Dwarven blood in ‘im, I’d say” to be a thing in Omesa.

I’ve mostly decided that lore wise, but this opens up a concept that I am excited about but also concerned: the idea that everyone in Omesa is either descended from Orcs, Dwarves, Humans or Elves, with many being a combination. Furthermore, this means some of the other classic races I haven’t added to the lore become cosmopolitan species based on the primary four. Examples:

Halflings: Dwarven and Human bloodlines. Homebodies, but above ground, with human hope and optimism and Dwarven patience and sedentary ways.

Gnomes: Dwarven and Elvish bloodlines: Long-lived, inherently magical, and curious from their elven blood, but reclusive and industrious from their dwarven line.

Hobgoblins: Human and Orcish bloodlines. With a bit more lifespan from their human side, hobgoblins can take the warlike nature of the Orcs and human ingenuity to become the terrifying battlefield strategists of class D&D, the Klingon archetype in full. (Hobgoblins are Klingons, if you didn’t note.)

Gnolls: Dwarven and Orcish bloodlines: I really like dogs as a thematic thing for Orcs, and the idea of “this is what a dwarf is like if you cut their lifespan down and remove all patience” and “this is what an Orc is like ley-lines effected them”. Probably not LITERAL dog people in Omesa, but people with a more primal magic of the land infused in them who gain more doglike traits as they grow in power. Gnolls are traditionally “these guys are pure evil, just kill them” characters, but I like Eberrons edition of “but its not their fault, and those who escape that path have loyal, family driven packs that will die for a good cause or a good friend.” Torn on this, but also struggling to find a better Dwarf/Orc paralell.

Tieflings: Human and Elven lineage: What happens when you infuse a human with magic, and get around the heavy demonic influence in the world, as I think any obvious “child of the Devil” wouldn’t be mistrusted and shunned, but probably burned at the stake. But maybe Tiefling players want that? But I think people who have magic they don’t understand and were never “meant” to have is a more B&B type of outcast.

Trolls: Orcish and Elvish bloodlines. Considering the two races' disdain and absolute contrast, Trolls might be a good “thing that should not be” type of outcast. Their healing ability is how the Elven magic manifests in them, and their unlikely pairing allows them to be rare and secluded like they traditionally are. Also, I already added a troll into a game, so I guess I want them. :)

Half-elves and Half-orcs: I think these could be more represented as what any character with mostly Elf or Orc lineage but not …quite.. Leaning towards being fully socially integrated in the Frontier, but sneered a little back in the Crown Nations. “We don’t talk about Grandma’s second husband…”

BUT.

I’m debating whether I should even do this, or just say “yeah, these other species just aren’t a thing in Omessa, use Daggerheart style rules if you want to play someone with multiple bloodlines.” Or even just outright saying no, because eugenics much? Maybe? Or maybe I’m just being lazy and I should write up halflings and Tieflings and everything else next. Eberrons take when asked “how to I play X in Eberron” is always “they’re not core to the lore, but if you wanted to play one, here’s how they would come to exist and make sense in the world” but that’s because Keith Baker is the single source of truth for that game, and this one’s open source.

Help! Is the “all the less influential species you might want to play are of mixed bloodlines” thing cool? Or weird and problematic? I should make this decision soon!