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An Elf and an Orc Had a Little Baby: Parentage and Upbringing in D&D

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Now you can play an elf-orc raised by dwarves! Or a gnome-halfling raised by kobolds! Even a grung-warforged raised in Avernus is a possibility!

“...this supplement is truly an informed, aware and inspired step forward in continuing discussion about who, how and what makes up a D&D character, and how to create them just how we envision them.” - Curse of Sebs

An Elf and an Orc Had a Little Baby: Parentage and Upbringing in D&D is a 112-page rules supplement that entirely replaces chapter 2 of the Player’s Handbook. Instead of D&D’s bioessentialist approach, this title separates biological traits and cultural traits into two categories: parentage and upbringing.

To create a new player character using this supplement, players choose two birth parents and an upbringing. (Then they go on to choose a background and class, as normal.) Players can feel free to create any combination to create a unique and vibrant character.


Inside this title, you’ll discover

  • 35 Parentages, from aarakocra to yuan-ti; 

  • 80+ Upbringings, from being raised by abjurers to water mages; 

  • an adaptation of all 12 dragonmarks for Eberron play; and

  • a robust system for making your own parentage and upbringing options.

FAQ

What Do I Need to Use This Product? You only need a copy of the Player's Handbook or the free Basic Rules.

Any of the 35 Parentages Work Together? That's entirely up to the people at your table. Whatever you all decide, this book contains rules to make it a viable in-world reality.

What If I Can't Afford $17.95 USD? Use this discount code to get $3 off: DISCOUNT
If you're interested in alternatives to race and want to see other options, check out these titles:
Ancestry & Culture Grazilaxx's Guide 
FG

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Reviews (11)
Discussions (55)
Customer avatar
Craig E October 26, 2024 5:22 pm UTC
PURCHASER
A lot of the ability values in the point-buy system in the upbringing section need rebalancing. The best example of this that I could find is the “draw attention” ability of the “dramatic” upbringing (which is the kobold’s “draconic cry” by another name). Why switch it to a full action instead of a bonus action? Also, downgrading it to a single use with a recharge on a short rest instead of proficiency bonus times per day is a distinct reduction, too (unless you’re playing in a group that's guaranteed to always get at least 2 short rests per adventuring day... PLUS one more for every 4 levels above 1st). And despite these changes AND dropping the other kobold bonus (choose one from the following: advantage vs. the frightened condition, a sorcerer cantrip, or a skill from a short list), “draw attention” costs a full 13 points? And that is in addition to the rules for Monsters of the Multiverse, which specifically state that all races in that book include 3 points to distribute among 2-3 stats,...See more
Customer avatar
Scott S October 23, 2024 6:28 am UTC
PURCHASER
A question about the Warforged that's confused me for a while: The "Constructed Resilience" trait includes "You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep," but then there's a separate "Sentry's Rest" trait that says, "When you take a long rest, you must spend at least six hours in an inactive, motionless state, rather than sleeping." This implies that by not spending the point to get the latter, you avoid having to long rest at all.

It seems to me that it would make more sense to split sleep out of "Constructed Resilience" entirely, putting that all into "Sentry's Rest". I think I'd also break out "Constructed Resilience" further, separating the poison-resistances from the eat/drink/breathe exemption. With separate traits, players could create a diverse array of cyborg offspring!

I love these books, I use them often, and I'll happily buy a new one for the 2024 edition species. Have they ever asked to...See more
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Customer avatar
Adam H October 23, 2024 1:38 pm UTC
CREATOR
Hi, thanks for the question. If you only have Constructed Resilience, you still have to take a long rest. It's just that you don't need to spend any of it sleeping. But you're right that taking Constructed Resilience means there's no benefit to also taking Sentry's Rest.

Glad you're enjoying the books!
Customer avatar
Ash T October 08, 2024 1:00 am UTC
PURCHASER
I was wondering if there could ever be a possibility of traits that are negatives instead of just positives? I think it could be interesting, like upbringing could have something of negative memories or something similar and with mixing all of these different races I feel like there is chance for negative effects. But I understand if not, dnd is supposed to be fun but I like the idea of a challenge a character has to face

Sorry this is so long!
Customer avatar
DJ H September 23, 2024 1:12 am UTC
PURCHASER
I love these books!
I do have a quick question, with the changes into the 2024 rulebooks regarding origin(background and race/species) are you going to update these for use with the new system? If not do you have any guidance on how I can adapt it myself?
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Customer avatar
Adam H September 23, 2024 12:25 pm UTC
CREATOR
Thanks! You've probably noticed that we already don't have ASIs tied to parentages in our system, so we were closer to 2024's PHB before it was 2024. Slight modifications should make it useable.

But, yes, we have more An Elf and an Orc content coming in the near future as well!
Customer avatar
Zumz Y July 22, 2024 3:48 pm UTC
So I have pretty bad reading comprehension, but if two humans have a baby tiefling (due to cursed ancestry or similar), how would that work?
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Customer avatar
Adam H July 22, 2024 5:26 pm UTC
CREATOR
In that case, I'd look at the Infernal parentage section for at least one of your character's traits.
Reply
Customer avatar
Zumz Y July 22, 2024 7:49 pm UTC
Awesome thank you!! Saw your book at our local 'nerd' shop, was immediately interested!
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Customer avatar
Zumz Y August 02, 2024 11:27 pm UTC
Sorry to re-ask, does one of the books have deities/gods? I know that celestials is close; but I was wondering if there's a section specifically for gods/demigods?
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Customer avatar
Adam H August 02, 2024 11:50 pm UTC
CREATOR
No, sorry, we don't. You can find a list of all the ancestries by checking out the table of contents in each product's preview.
Customer avatar
Arcane S May 20, 2024 1:18 am UTC
PURCHASER
I just realized I'm unsure of one of the traits and I can't find it defined in the three books. For the trait Long Lived, when it says "If you inherit this trait from your other birth parent also, your lifespan is relatively long." What do you mean by "relatively long"? Is it an average between the parents or just an undefined longer lifespan? I'm probably overthinking it...
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Customer avatar
Adam H May 20, 2024 11:29 am UTC
CREATOR
It's an undefined longer lifespan.
Customer avatar
Justice S April 12, 2024 2:27 am UTC
PURCHASER
Just wondering how long it takes to receive a physical copy. i love this book and have bin waiting 11 days for an update
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Customer avatar
Adam H April 12, 2024 10:44 am UTC
CREATOR
Hi Justice,

Just so you know, the folks in charge of printing/shipping probably won't see this message. Recommend using the Contact Us link in the footer of this webpage.

Thanks!
Customer avatar
Alex B November 27, 2023 11:18 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I really love this resource and the entire concept behind it! I plan on getting the rest of my party introduced to it as well. I do wonder though, will books 2 and 3 become available for hardcover print as well?
Customer avatar
John Henrik K July 23, 2023 7:36 pm UTC
I bought the roll 20 version last week and it's the best purchase I have done, both me and my players absolutely love it, and I can't wait till the next books comes out there too.

Is there any planned time for more of them to be released for roll 20, I need more of this!
Reply
Customer avatar
Adam H November 29, 2023 2:17 pm UTC
CREATOR
We're watching the Roll20 conversion sales waiting for the time when it would make sense to do so.

Thanks for the question!
Customer avatar
Juliet F June 25, 2023 2:02 pm UTC
PURCHASER
hullo! i really love this series, they've been so helpful creating my custom celestial-fey unicorn inspired character! i was wondering, if i've got a character whose parents are both elves, am i allowed to take fleet of foot twice to get an extra 10 feet of movement?
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Customer avatar
Juliet F June 25, 2023 3:28 pm UTC
PURCHASER
oops, nevermind! i found the rule under the traits section
Customer avatar
Kiki P June 04, 2023 2:24 pm UTC
PURCHASER
I was interested in this and pairing it with those who wander without realizing its some of the same authors so now im excited to look through this even more because thats a great book!
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Customer avatar
Adam H June 04, 2023 2:34 pm UTC
CREATOR
Thanks for saying so!
Customer avatar
David P May 12, 2023 5:57 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Do you have this for Foundry VTT?
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Customer avatar
Adam H May 12, 2023 6:14 pm UTC
CREATOR
Foundry? No, I'm afraid not.

We do have Fantasy Grounds and Roll20 coming soon.
Reply
Customer avatar
David P May 13, 2023 4:30 am UTC
PURCHASER
too bad ok i would love to see it there.
Customer avatar
james D February 21, 2023 8:50 am UTC
PURCHASER
is there any plans to update the upbringings to a point system like in book 2?
Reply
Customer avatar
Adam H February 21, 2023 2:36 pm UTC
CREATOR
You can find exactly that in the appendices, starting on page 108.
Customer avatar
Jack D February 20, 2023 1:57 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Is there any chance of a roll20 conversion for this and its sequels?
Reply
Customer avatar
Adam H February 23, 2023 7:08 pm UTC
CREATOR
Currently looking into it. Thanks for the question.
Customer avatar
Andrew E October 26, 2022 6:26 pm UTC
PURCHASER
Are Upbringings different from the Official 5e Backgrounds (in which you can use them) or are they the same?
Reply
Customer avatar
Adam H October 26, 2022 7:45 pm UTC
CREATOR
Great question. Parentages and backgrounds are different, and a character made using this product will have both.

Thematically, a parentage is who your parents were and your biology, upbringing is your childhood and early adolescence, background is what you did pre-adventurer, and class is your career as an adventurer.

Mechanically, parentage and upbringing replace "race." Then you go on to choose a background and class, as normal.
Customer avatar
Davon H September 27, 2022 1:10 am UTC
PURCHASER
Are Parentage points separate from upbringing?
Reply
Customer avatar
Davon H September 27, 2022 1:37 am UTC
PURCHASER
That was my bad I didn't get to that part fully yet
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File Last Updated:
February 08, 2023
This title was added to our catalog on July 27, 2020.