Question on fantasy races

[jsears2002]

Hi all-

This is a dual faceted question. The first is about the existance of varying races in fantasy settings. Do you feel that various races are needed to make a complete fantasy setting? Or are humans with various culture enough to make a fun fantasy realm?

The second is this. While I was thinking about creating my own campaign world, I started thinking about elves and dwarves - and I see them as the cookie-cutter fantasy races. Used almost ad-nauseum. Does anyone else agree? I am juggling with the idea of creating new races.

Here is the last section. If I do decide on making new fantasy races for my campaign world, does anyone have any tips, resources, or suggestions about creating new races that aren't too outlandish and could believably exist in a fantasy realm?

Thanks in advance,
Jsears2002

 

[Oryan77]

There's no reason a fantasy game can't only have humans as the race. I'm sure plenty of campaigns are like that. But personally, I think it is boring even when my whole group is playing the same race...especially all humans I like variety and having different races makes a game more interesting to me.

Most people would probably say Dwarves and Elves are are probably the most typical fantasy race besides humans. I don't think that makes them boring in any way though. I'd think if you didn't use them because they were too common, than the first thing you'd get rid of would be humans.

There are already so many races that exist in D&D, there is almost no reason to create your own unless you just have a very specific idea that can't be used with a race that already exists. I play D&D 3.5 (Planescape) and I allow around 35 races for players to choose from that exist in published WotC 3.5 books. And that is just a small fraction of races that are playable as PCs if you include non WotC sources.

 

[Silvercat Moonpaw]

There are already so many races that exist in D&D, there is almost no reason to create your own unless you just have a very specific idea that can't be used with a race that already exists.

I might add the point that it may just feel better to be sure and design your own race rather than go with an already-existing one that's just slightly off. At least in the design process it might be a good idea to design the race part-way so that you know what you want before choosing an already-existing one, or you may miss out on an important detail you would have created but didn't because you didn't take the time to think about it.

 

[jsears2002]

Oryan, you aren't kidding about the amount of races that exist in the D&D continuum. I definitely don't want to support 35 races myself - .

I think my reason for wanting to create new is twofold. First, there is the new experience that the realm can give when the surroundings and the cultures are completely different. (Personally I am now trying Mass Effect and am enjoying the new races and what they bring to the table.) While I could, with some work, change the culture of elves and dwarves in my world for what I need, the player preconceptions could present themselves in how the characters explore the world.

Secondly, I was wanting some races that are fantasy, but wouldn't seem fantastic or unbelievable. This is also why I am looking for resources and advice. It's a thin line that I am trying to define. For example, the dragonkin race from 4e could be seen as believable (maybe a stretch), but I couldn't see them having a breath weapon - it seems to be too much for me, but I can't really put words to it yet.

 

[Oryan77]

I might add the point that it may just feel better to be sure and design your own race rather than go with an already-existing one that's just slightly off.

Heh, in my case, I wouldn't trust myself to create a brand new race that was balanced with other races. I'm not that good at judging power levels so I wouldn't really know if it has the proper level adjustment. I'd either just use a pre-existing race and change it's history info, or slightly modify a pre-existing race by changing the way he looks, but keeping it's stats (with minor adjustments if needed).

I definitely don't want to support 35 races myself - .

The funny about it is, when I compiled my list of 35 races, I assumed that was more than enough to satisfy any player. But I've had a couple players come into the group that still asked if I would allow some other race not on the list...and one girl wanted me to custom create a race just for her

I don't really know what you're definition of a race being "too outlandish" means because I thought maybe you wanted races that appeared more human-like, but then you mentioned Dragonborn and the problem with them being their breath weapon (not their racial features). But if it is just a races abilities that you find outlandish, it should be pretty easy to just tweak a race you like so it does what you want. Replace the breath weapon with some other toned down ability. You could even mix races together to create your own race.

 

[jsears2002]

I brought up dragonborn because it was on the tip of my tongue. You are right about the idea of making races a little more human like. While I don't mind races that would have things like scaled skin, large ears, shorter or taller, I can't see the variation of races that would be seen in a space faring RPG where there are tons of different planets, atmospheres, and conditions that each race would have grown with for centuries.

 

[Umbran]

Do you feel that various races are needed to make a complete fantasy setting? Or are humans with various culture enough to make a fun fantasy realm?

Good heavens, no, they aren't required. They can be very helpful in accomplishing certain things you want to do with your setting, but they are by no means required.

While I was thinking about creating my own campaign world, I started thinking about elves and dwarves - and I see them as the cookie-cutter fantasy races. Used almost ad-nauseum. Does anyone else agree? I am juggling with the idea of creating new races.

Here's a thing some folks miss - while cliche is bad, archetypes and tropes are good.

Unless you're a full-time author, you won't ever be able to portray the depth of culture and interaction in your fantasy as well as people grasp those same sorts of details and interactions in the real world. You just don't have time to get that sort of information across.

Thus - completely new and different races (and their cultures) tend to come out a little flat, they tend to lack the richness you see in previously existing stuff. If you use an existing race, you get to use the player's understanding of the archetypes in your favor. You can usually get a whole lot of mileage out of taking an existing archetype or trope, and changing it slightly, than you do out of putting in the effort of creating something really new from whole cloth.

It's a little like poetry, really. If you write really free verse, it can take a lot of effort or explanation before the reader really gets what you're trying to show them. But they grasp a variation on a limerick right off the bat.

Also, there are reasons the elves and dwarves and other races already exist as tropes, while any number of thoroughly original creations have not caught on beyond their original works. It's a sort of "throw them at the wall and see what sticks" operation - some things just fit into our fiction better than others.

None of which is to say that you can't make up your own races. I just suggest you consider tweaking the existing ones first. If you can't get something that seems cool to you that way, then go ahead and make your own.

 

[Nellisir]

To answer quickly...no, fantasic races aren't required. Humans work just fine.

Secondly, I almost always strike a few PH races from my campaign, and insert a few new ones. So, you don't have to go all or nothing. I use my imagination and information from real life folklore in coming up with new races.

 

[jsears2002]

I have never really thought of it that way. Maybe it would be more of an effect if I take the races and alter them a little then throw the players into a world where things are different. I like the idea of having different things that are unique enough that it keeps people guessing, instead of knowing all the ins and outs before the adventure ends.

Maybe I will alter them then and try that first. I definitely don't want the tree-hugging elves or antisocial dwarves. Any uggestions or examples of someone doing this?

 

[Umbran]

Maybe I will alter them then and try that first. I definitely don't want the tree-hugging elves or antisocial dwarves. Any uggestions or examples of someone doing this?

Do you have time to read?

The best example I can think of is a work of fiction - The Memory, Sorrow and Thorn series by Tad Williams.

Basically, Mr. Williams in the late 80s and early 90s decided to see what would came out if he rewrote the Lord of the Rings with modern sensibilities about fiction and culture and such. Many of the LotR tropes (and even plot) are still present, but the overall effect is entirely different. To me, it stands as a fine example of exactly what I'm talking about here.