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Morrus on... Races
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<blockquote data-quote="Kannik" data-source="post: 5825426" data-attributes="member: 984"><p>Interesting interesting and great great discussion. And once again we see the wide variety of styles and interpretations that people want and have for their D&D games. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>Myself, having read all of this, I am now leaning towards a view that says “race should matter, but not in a direct base way.” Which is a horrible and not very descript way of putting it. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /> Expounding, I like the idea that race choice has little influence on the <em>direct, fundamental ability</em> of your class (in the way that stat bonuses/penalties can), yet that race choice allows nifty variation on how you accomplish said fundamental ability of your class. </p><p></p><p>If we remove bonuses/penalties to hit or damage resulting from race choice, then it lets race choice be more about RP and about options. If we give class options based on characteristics of the race (say, options for small/large characters for a fighter class) that are interesting, play differently, yet are equally effective in their pursuit of what the class is supposed to do, then it becomes a flavour choice rather than a flavour & effectiveness choice. </p><p></p><p>Then, if we give each race interesting and nifty abilities (or access to them) that could be useful for a number of classes, again it allows for flavour choices and diminishes the need to factor in statistical effectiveness as a choice for the player to make. </p><p></p><p>Taken all together, race matters to the extent that different characters will play differently and may have different special niftys, but race does not matter to the extent it will not create noticably substandard class/race combinations. So a kind of middle ground, I guess?</p><p></p><p>It would be a tall order to design... (no pun intended <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> )</p><p></p><p>In the DMG could also be rules for making the races choice more loose (swapping racial features, RP vs Mechanics race, etc) or even tighter if the DM desires (even disallowing certain class selections for fiction reasons), thus covering all the options.</p><p></p><p>Rambly thoughts,</p><p></p><p>Peace,</p><p></p><p>Kannik</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Kannik, post: 5825426, member: 984"] Interesting interesting and great great discussion. And once again we see the wide variety of styles and interpretations that people want and have for their D&D games. :) Myself, having read all of this, I am now leaning towards a view that says “race should matter, but not in a direct base way.” Which is a horrible and not very descript way of putting it. :P Expounding, I like the idea that race choice has little influence on the [I]direct, fundamental ability[/I] of your class (in the way that stat bonuses/penalties can), yet that race choice allows nifty variation on how you accomplish said fundamental ability of your class. If we remove bonuses/penalties to hit or damage resulting from race choice, then it lets race choice be more about RP and about options. If we give class options based on characteristics of the race (say, options for small/large characters for a fighter class) that are interesting, play differently, yet are equally effective in their pursuit of what the class is supposed to do, then it becomes a flavour choice rather than a flavour & effectiveness choice. Then, if we give each race interesting and nifty abilities (or access to them) that could be useful for a number of classes, again it allows for flavour choices and diminishes the need to factor in statistical effectiveness as a choice for the player to make. Taken all together, race matters to the extent that different characters will play differently and may have different special niftys, but race does not matter to the extent it will not create noticably substandard class/race combinations. So a kind of middle ground, I guess? It would be a tall order to design... (no pun intended :) ) In the DMG could also be rules for making the races choice more loose (swapping racial features, RP vs Mechanics race, etc) or even tighter if the DM desires (even disallowing certain class selections for fiction reasons), thus covering all the options. Rambly thoughts, Peace, Kannik [/QUOTE]
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