A thought experiment.
Theory: Though originally inspired by Tolkien's work, D&D and Pathfinder have selected physical characteristics of what may be considered to be the "major races" of a given campaign setting based on a select few traits. In addition to the standard PC races we are familiar with, excluding humans and hybrids, the choices of common villainous races (which also serve as alternate PC races for some) serve to "fill in the blanks," as it were.
The primary characteristics in question are:
(a) Height,
(b) weight/build,
(c) Morality, and
(d) Hairiness.
These four traits can be mapped to a table of boolean attributes.
Height: {tall | short}
Weight/build: {light | heavy}
Morality: {good | evil}
Hairiness: {hairy | nonhairy}
Mathematically, these four boolean traits allow for up to 16 non-human non-hybrid races. This does not exclude the possibility of making each of these races more distinct by giving them additional traits unrelated to these four basic characteristics, for example giving dwarves stonecunning, or giving elves resistance to enchantment magic.
Here's the breakdown:
Of course, a few iconic virtuous and villainous races will inevitably be missed: aasimar, bugbears, ogres, and troglodytes, just to name a few. Certainly a fifth meaningful attribute could be added that might accommodate these and other races remaining in the Advanced Race Guide to expand this table further.
The table above has two significant gaps:
the short-light-good-nonhairy race (SLGNH), and
the tall-heavy-good-nonhairy race (THGNH).
It could be argued that D&D/PF halflings are in fact the SLGNH race, but this only leaves us with the problem of figuring out which race is the short-light-good-hairy race (SLGH).
Now, if you care to depart from established lore, you might have Hobgoblins as a good-aligned or "redeemed" goblinoid race, which will let you fill the tall-heavy-good-nonhairy (THGNH) slot, and allow you to place troglodytes in the tall-heavy-evil-nonhairy (THENH) slot.
That's all I got. Your thoughts?
Theory: Though originally inspired by Tolkien's work, D&D and Pathfinder have selected physical characteristics of what may be considered to be the "major races" of a given campaign setting based on a select few traits. In addition to the standard PC races we are familiar with, excluding humans and hybrids, the choices of common villainous races (which also serve as alternate PC races for some) serve to "fill in the blanks," as it were.
The primary characteristics in question are:
(a) Height,
(b) weight/build,
(c) Morality, and
(d) Hairiness.
These four traits can be mapped to a table of boolean attributes.
Height: {tall | short}
Weight/build: {light | heavy}
Morality: {good | evil}
Hairiness: {hairy | nonhairy}
Mathematically, these four boolean traits allow for up to 16 non-human non-hybrid races. This does not exclude the possibility of making each of these races more distinct by giving them additional traits unrelated to these four basic characteristics, for example giving dwarves stonecunning, or giving elves resistance to enchantment magic.
Here's the breakdown:
Code:
CODE Height Build Moral. Hairiness
0000 short light evil nonhairy Kobolds
0001 short light evil hairy Goblins
0010 short light good nonhairy ?
0011 short light good hairy Halflings
0100 short heavy evil nonhairy Derro
0101 short heavy evil hairy Duergar
0110 short heavy good nonhairy Gnomes
0111 short heavy good hairy Dwarves
1000 tall light evil nonhairy Drow
1001 tall light evil hairy Gnolls
1010 tall light good nonhairy Elves
1011 tall light good hairy Satyrs
1100 tall heavy evil nonhairy Hobgoblins
1101 tall heavy evil hairy Orcs
1110 tall heavy good nonhairy ?
1111 tall heavy good hairy CentaursOf course, a few iconic virtuous and villainous races will inevitably be missed: aasimar, bugbears, ogres, and troglodytes, just to name a few. Certainly a fifth meaningful attribute could be added that might accommodate these and other races remaining in the Advanced Race Guide to expand this table further.
The table above has two significant gaps:
the short-light-good-nonhairy race (SLGNH), and
the tall-heavy-good-nonhairy race (THGNH).
It could be argued that D&D/PF halflings are in fact the SLGNH race, but this only leaves us with the problem of figuring out which race is the short-light-good-hairy race (SLGH).
Now, if you care to depart from established lore, you might have Hobgoblins as a good-aligned or "redeemed" goblinoid race, which will let you fill the tall-heavy-good-nonhairy (THGNH) slot, and allow you to place troglodytes in the tall-heavy-evil-nonhairy (THENH) slot.
That's all I got. Your thoughts?
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