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<blockquote data-quote="QuietBrowser" data-source="post: 7097474" data-attributes="member: 6855057"><p>Building on from what [MENTION=6801776]Mecheon[/MENTION] has said, really, why is it a <strong>bad thing</strong> if the "standard" races become "not standard" anymore? Why does D&D have to mean Tolkein-esque fantasy races are the norm? Greyhawk did it, Forgotten Realms does it, and that's fine, but why shouldn't people have the freedom to make more unique settings? If people don't feel obligated to include the "core" races of D&D, they may well find that their settings benefit.</p><p></p><p>For example, would you really tell me that a quasi-Aramaic setting where the core races are Humans, Genasi (representing ancient unions/pacts with genies, the "magical" race aka elves/gnomes), Gnolls (the "feral but not necessarily evil" race, aka half-orcs), Thri-kreen (the socially awkward but great warriors, aka more mecenary dwarves) and Dragonborn (the "token evil race", aka drow) isn't D&D?</p><p></p><p>Hells, I have a post-apocalyptic fantasy world setting I'm trying to put together, and its racial lineup could not have less in common with the standard D&D version if I tried:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Humans, because even I still default to a significant human population, the "Old Ones" of the setting.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Dwarves, a mostly extinct race who were direct causes of the apocalypse.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Forgeborn Dwarves, an elementally infused variant of dwarves who are replacing the old dwarves as more and more of them are born mutated.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Orks, descendants of elven captives alchemically mutated into super-soldiers by the dwarves during the setting's apocalyptic war, who now just want to be left alone.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Aranea, sorcerous spider-people who evolved from giant spiders used as guardians for their libraries by the elves.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Ratfolk ("Rodushi"), an aspirationally noblebright people who believe their sacred duty is to restore civilization to the wasteland.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Kobolds, mutant neotenous dragon hatchlings culturally obsessed with reverting back into dragons.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Drakkenfolk", the more successful experiments of kobold ascension.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fangwyrms, a mutant offshoot of kobolds who are basically one part kobold, one part friendly critter, one part snake and one part hungry piranha.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Shadar-kai, mutated descendents of the now-extinct elves, transformed into shadow-touched creatures by their former necromantic mastery.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Drow, mutated elves who escaped annihilation by fleeing underground.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Warforged, created by humans to try and turn the battle during the Doomwars.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Gnomes, natural arcanotech tinkers who may be mutant dwarves or mutant elves, they're not sure.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Phanatons, a peaceful race of gliding raccoon-monkeys who evolved out of the mutagenic mana-radiation saturating the forests.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Slyvharri", suicidally militant, warlike bunny-folk created by evil and thoroughly insane elven lich-wraiths as an implement of vengeance.</li> </ul></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="QuietBrowser, post: 7097474, member: 6855057"] Building on from what [MENTION=6801776]Mecheon[/MENTION] has said, really, why is it a [b]bad thing[/b] if the "standard" races become "not standard" anymore? Why does D&D have to mean Tolkein-esque fantasy races are the norm? Greyhawk did it, Forgotten Realms does it, and that's fine, but why shouldn't people have the freedom to make more unique settings? If people don't feel obligated to include the "core" races of D&D, they may well find that their settings benefit. For example, would you really tell me that a quasi-Aramaic setting where the core races are Humans, Genasi (representing ancient unions/pacts with genies, the "magical" race aka elves/gnomes), Gnolls (the "feral but not necessarily evil" race, aka half-orcs), Thri-kreen (the socially awkward but great warriors, aka more mecenary dwarves) and Dragonborn (the "token evil race", aka drow) isn't D&D? Hells, I have a post-apocalyptic fantasy world setting I'm trying to put together, and its racial lineup could not have less in common with the standard D&D version if I tried: [list] [*]Humans, because even I still default to a significant human population, the "Old Ones" of the setting. [*]Dwarves, a mostly extinct race who were direct causes of the apocalypse. [*]Forgeborn Dwarves, an elementally infused variant of dwarves who are replacing the old dwarves as more and more of them are born mutated. [*]Orks, descendants of elven captives alchemically mutated into super-soldiers by the dwarves during the setting's apocalyptic war, who now just want to be left alone. [*]Aranea, sorcerous spider-people who evolved from giant spiders used as guardians for their libraries by the elves. [*]Ratfolk ("Rodushi"), an aspirationally noblebright people who believe their sacred duty is to restore civilization to the wasteland. [*]Kobolds, mutant neotenous dragon hatchlings culturally obsessed with reverting back into dragons. [*][*]"Drakkenfolk", the more successful experiments of kobold ascension. [*][*]Fangwyrms, a mutant offshoot of kobolds who are basically one part kobold, one part friendly critter, one part snake and one part hungry piranha. [*]Shadar-kai, mutated descendents of the now-extinct elves, transformed into shadow-touched creatures by their former necromantic mastery. [*]Drow, mutated elves who escaped annihilation by fleeing underground. [*]Warforged, created by humans to try and turn the battle during the Doomwars. [*]Gnomes, natural arcanotech tinkers who may be mutant dwarves or mutant elves, they're not sure. [*]Phanatons, a peaceful race of gliding raccoon-monkeys who evolved out of the mutagenic mana-radiation saturating the forests. [*]"Slyvharri", suicidally militant, warlike bunny-folk created by evil and thoroughly insane elven lich-wraiths as an implement of vengeance. [/list] [/QUOTE]
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