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Alien races: The Bizzarre form VS the vaguely humanoid form
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<blockquote data-quote="El Mahdi" data-source="post: 4515312" data-attributes="member: 59506"><p>I guess, for me, appearance needs to be in the middle somewhere, kind of like what you said. Not too alien but not too human like. However, I too don't like getting caught in the <em>Star Trek</em> trap: all humans are bipedal, have two arms, two eyes, one mouth, etc. (I understand that <em>Star Treks</em> constraints are based on the limitations of television, it's hard to find good amorphous, multi-limbed actors these days.<img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite2" alt=";)" title="Wink ;)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=";)" />)</p><p> </p><p>I think, that once you get past appearance, or once a player can look past appearance, there are only a few specifics that really matter for an RPG character race.</p><p></p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">If not bipedal humanoid, the race must have a mode of locomotion compatible with the challenges of the adventuring environment (must be able to navigate stairs, ladders, rough terrain, etc.), whether through natural biological or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The alien character race must be able to communicate with other PC races, whether through natural biological abilities or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The alien race must be able to interact with it's environment (touch, handle objects, sense environmental factors, eat, etc.) whether through natural bilogical abilities or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap.</li> </ul><p>Other than the above requirements, the only thing limiting the form of alien character races would be the preferred aesthetics of your group, or your desired customer base. Tastes vary, although I'd expect that most people would best be able to relate to a race that has at least some features familiar to, or similiar to, themselves.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="El Mahdi, post: 4515312, member: 59506"] I guess, for me, appearance needs to be in the middle somewhere, kind of like what you said. Not too alien but not too human like. However, I too don't like getting caught in the [I]Star Trek[/I] trap: all humans are bipedal, have two arms, two eyes, one mouth, etc. (I understand that [I]Star Treks[/I] constraints are based on the limitations of television, it's hard to find good amorphous, multi-limbed actors these days.;)) I think, that once you get past appearance, or once a player can look past appearance, there are only a few specifics that really matter for an RPG character race. [LIST] [*]If not bipedal humanoid, the race must have a mode of locomotion compatible with the challenges of the adventuring environment (must be able to navigate stairs, ladders, rough terrain, etc.), whether through natural biological or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap. [*]The alien character race must be able to communicate with other PC races, whether through natural biological abilities or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap. [*]The alien race must be able to interact with it's environment (touch, handle objects, sense environmental factors, eat, etc.) whether through natural bilogical abilities or artificial means, without undue advantage or handicap. [/LIST]Other than the above requirements, the only thing limiting the form of alien character races would be the preferred aesthetics of your group, or your desired customer base. Tastes vary, although I'd expect that most people would best be able to relate to a race that has at least some features familiar to, or similiar to, themselves. [/QUOTE]
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