Human-only campaign

[Vanifae]

A) The thing about DnD races being pretty much exaggerated humans is totally true. But thats intentional. Most people don't have the acting/rping chops to pull of something totally alien, nor do most people want to.

B) Never done it myself, and have no urge to. Not in DnD at least. Being an elf or dwarf or whatever is as much a part of the game as being a wizard or a fighter IMO.

Pretty much this, it's intention for ease of play and vision.

With that said I would totally do this, it's not terribly hard to pull off.

 

[gamerprinter]

In 30 years I can count the number of non-human races as characters I've ever played on 1 hand. About 5 years ago, we ran a 'monster races' campaign where nobody was human - deva, half-giant, half-dragon, drow, thrikreen, and guess what I was... an undead human fallen paladin that ended up with the Death Knight template. So even my 'monster' class was still human, just a dead one.

Throughout 1e - 2e, there were many elves in our character parties, some half elves, perhaps one or two dwarves, and one halfling (that I can recall, perhaps more, though). Still I mostly played humans exclusively. Once we got heavy into 3e, the problem with our party is that they prefer to multi-class, and we follow the 10% XP penalty for multi-classing as non-humans. (As well as the bonus feat and the extra skill points that only humans get.) So most of the party now play humans exclusively, but not for flavor reasons, but strictly due to mechanics.

I like to build 'historically' reflecting settings - feudal Japan, ancient Celt, Roman Empire, even native American, though these are fantasy worlds that emulate history, they aren't historical places redone in fantasy. In these settings human is the dominant or only playable race. These are the settings I prefer to play in, so by design preference - I only play humans.

GP

 

[sellars]

I once played in a medieval campaign in which we only had humans, very low magic, etc. I liked it a lot for a change. I didnt feel limited at all

 

[Wepwawet]

I did something similar and different for a campaign I ran. In this world there is only one race (let's call them human) but with as many sub-races as published D&D races.
There are no big physical differences, for example, elves are taller and slenderer humans, dwarves are a bit shorter and bulkier, dragonborn have a metallic skin tone, genasi have bright-shiny-red hair or windy white hair... etc.
In this type of campaign, the racial differences and powers are explained through the character's culture and home place.

So, it's a way of having only humans, but at the same time, all the available races

 

[S'mon]

I like it, I enjoyed running the OGL Conan game which has different human races instead of non-human races/species. I thought it was a bit unfair* giving Cimmerians an INT penalty, though!

I'm GMing the Wilderlands, which has all the traditional non-human races (and many more) but also many exotic human races, like green Viridians, blue Avalonians, red Altanian barbarians, sinister Orichalans, winged Windriders etc etc. I love the 'Planetary Romance' (Flash Gordon, Barsoom et al) feel this gives the setting.

*Well I am half-Celt myself...

 

[Plane Sailing]

I've played in human only campaigns and run human only campaigns. Never felt limited, always worked. There might have been one whiney player who "wants to play a dwarf", but since he wasn't going to be running the game, he just knuckled down and joined with everyone else for the campaign (and guess what - not playing a dwarf didn't impact his enjoyment)

 

[amerigoV]

The question is hard to answer in a vacuum (especially since there is no air to breathe). If it really is a Greek mythos campaign, then yes I would be up for it. If it is Black Company, count me in. If it is FR but only humans, then probably no (as others noted, the races are as much a part of the base game as the classes).

 

[nnms]

As a human supremacist, I definitely approve of an all human campaign. That'll definitely help give the campaign a more mythological feel to it.

 

[IronWolf]

I have not played in a human only campaign. In addition I tend to play either dwarves or elves with only the occasional human character.

With that said, if our DM came to us and said he wanted to run an all human campaign I think I would probably be fine with it. I like my fantasy worlds to have elves or dwarves or gnomes or what have you, but I would be willing to give an open chance to an all human campaign.

 

[Neonchameleon]

I did something similar and different for a campaign I ran. In this world there is only one race (let's call them human) but with as many sub-races as published D&D races.
There are no big physical differences, for example, elves are taller and slenderer humans, dwarves are a bit shorter and bulkier, dragonborn have a metallic skin tone, genasi have bright-shiny-red hair or windy white hair... etc.
In this type of campaign, the racial differences and powers are explained through the character's culture and home place.

So, it's a way of having only humans, but at the same time, all the available races

... Bladelings? Thri-keen? Shardminds? Warforged? Even Eladrin with a racial fey step are pushing it.