D&D 5E Am I no longer WoTC's target audience?

[Zardnaar]

It sounds like you’d have an interesting party there, with a strong hook. I feel like that would be a very fun game, and would stand out from all the humans and elves and dwarves parties out there.

But who wants each campaign to feel distinct?

Campaign aren't going to be distinct if each setting allows an array of goofball PC races.

At least Tieflings aren't Kender. Think that race is owrma banned in everything twice on Dragonlance and Spelljammer

Actually they might work on Spelljammer. Ban em just in case.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Campaign aren't going to be distinct if each setting allows an array of goofball PC races.

Honestly, couldn't disagree with this more.

Let's say you're playing a tiefling in Greyhawk. Unlike in FR, where tieflings aren't exactly common but are still treated mostly like people, in Greyhawk you would be considered an abomination. A fell creature, spawn of the demon king Iuz. No common man could look upon you and trust you. That's way different than how tieflings are treated in most situations.

Same for dragonborn, which I assume would be considered immigrants from a very far-off land, or drow that have almost no trade or connection with the surface races.

There are some great opportunities for character development and stories there, and I feel like you're cutting yourself off from them for purity's sake.

 

[Fenris-77]

The only way I allow Kender in any game is braised in a white wine sauce.

There is a point for me, in any setting, never mind one that's got soft restrictions, where too many non-standard PCs in the same party feels weird. For example, a 'normal' party that also includes a Loxodon is cool, at least it feels so to me. But a party made up of a Triton, a Bugbear, an Orc and a Loxodon sounds like a flaming bag of crap. I think that from a feels perspective, for me, that Tiefling and Dragonborn are more in the second category. I have no issue with one in a party, same with Drow, same with pretty much anything, but they still don't feel as 'normal' as humans and the standard demihumans. I know that this is very much a reflection of my age, and exposure to certain kinds of fantasy fiction and TTRPGs, but that doesn't change the feels. I'd bet that younger players have a much higher tolerance for races that aren't red box standard.

 

[oreofox]

A party of a Drow, Tiefling, Dragonborn, Half Orc, Lizardman and Goblin for example probably wouldn't go over well on Greyhawk or Ravenloft and I wouldn't allow it in any event.

A drow, tiefling, dragonborn, half-orc, lizardman, and goblin could work just fine in Grayhawk. I admit, I don't know much about GH outside of Hommlet and the Temple of Elemental Evil areas (despite the game being a rather big flop, I still enjoyed playing that CRPG), but isn't there an area where the more monstrous races "rule" in roving hordes? I swear I saw a an old AD&D (1e? maybe was 2e) book that had a map made from the viewpoint of the orcs or such. Been too long since I saw that thing before the owner moved away. But that detail (the map with names of areas from an orc's viewpoint). Could have a campaign set in something like that, and it doesn't even have to be an evil campaign.

Edit: The Orcs of Thar is what I was thinking of. GAZ10 The Orcs of Thar (Basic) - Wizards of the Coast | D&D Basic | AD&D 1st Ed. | Dungeon Masters Guild

 

[Zardnaar]

A drow, tiefling, dragonborn, half-orc, lizardman, and goblin could work just fine in Grayhawk. I admit, I don't know much about GH outside of Hommlet and the Temple of Elemental Evil areas (despite the game being a rather big flop, I still enjoyed playing that CRPG), but isn't there an area where the more monstrous races "rule" in roving hordes? I swear I saw a an old AD&D (1e? maybe was 2e) book that had a map made from the viewpoint of the orcs or such. Been too long since I saw that thing before the owner moved away. But that detail (the map with names of areas from an orc's viewpoint). Could have a campaign set in something like that, and it doesn't even have to be an evil campaign.

I don't mind the odd exceptional PC with the right background or story.

I'm a NG Drow who doesn't like being cruel but if everyone wants renegade type OCs it's kinda annoying.

I mean I normally allow around 12-20 races into the game already I might just rotate had a dozen or so.
. If those races are an organic part of the setting it's also fine that's how I had a Minotaur in an Egyptian game as they have them in Midgard.

Or a classic last August. Pick a theme guys. Offers 4-5 choices including GH.

Egyptian ok campaign. Undead, tombs, mummy's, traps, poison, insects.

Player "can I be a Samurai" fml.

 

[Lanefan]

I don't hoard my toys. If a player wants to play a drow that's fine by me.

And if the rest of the PCs, who have likely spent much of their adventuring careers learning how to kill these things, kill the PC Drow on first sight that's fine with me. (in broader terms, if you want to play a Drow or other such enemy, expect it to be treated by the other PCs exactly the same way they'd treat any other Drow they met; which is usually shoot first and ask questions later via Speak With Dead.

 

[Lanefan]

This statement...

Let's say you're playing a tiefling in Greyhawk .... you would be considered an abomination. A fell creature, spawn of the demon king Iuz. No common man could look upon you and trust you.

... and this statement ...

There are some great opportunities for character development and stories there ...

...are in direct conflict, unless you're defining "opportunities for character development" to include having to flee torch-and-pitchfork brigades in every village and then dying as soon as either the monarch's troops or some enterprising adventurers track you down.

I mean, I suppose it could work as a story if the rest of the PCs are willing to hide you (and the rest of the players at the table don't mind that for as long as your played career lasts a lot of the story is going to centre on you); but only once.

 

[reelo]

There is a point for me, in any setting, never mind one that's got soft restrictions, where too many non-standard PCs in the same party feels weird. For example, a 'normal' party that also includes a Loxodon is cool, at least it feels so to me. But a party made up of a Triton, a Bugbear, an Orc and a Loxodon sounds like a flaming bag of crap. I think that from a feels perspective, for me, that Tiefling and Dragonborn are more in the second category. I have no issue with one in a party, same with Drow, same with pretty much anything, but they still don't feel as 'normal' as humans and the standard demihumans. I know that this is very much a reflection of my age, and exposure to certain kinds of fantasy fiction and TTRPGs, but that doesn't change the feels. I'd bet that younger players have a much higher tolerance for races that aren't red box standard.

I very much feel the same way. I prefer humanocentric parties (and by extension settings) with the odd nonhuman in the mix. And elf, a dwarf, a halfling or gnome, all fine with me, traditional fantasy fare.
But I really don't like "freak shows" or "travelling zoos". It's just not my kind of fantasy. But I understand that this is a highly subjective opinion.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

This statement... ... and this statement ...

...are in direct conflict, unless you're defining "opportunities for character development" to include having to flee torch-and-pitchfork brigades in every village and then dying as soon as either the monarch's troops or some enterprising adventurers track you down.

I mean, I suppose it could work as a story if the rest of the PCs are willing to hide you (and the rest of the players at the table don't mind that for as long as your played career lasts a lot of the story is going to centre on you); but only once.

No it's not. You can use magic to hide your appearance, file down your horns, face paint, all kinds of things. Wear a helm at all times like Goblin Slayer, or the Mandalorian. Plenty of ways to "prove your worth" to the local town before revealing your true appearance.

I'm honestly quite shocked at the lack of creativity some people are showing here. A lot of folks are really coming down on the "NOPE DOESN'T WORK BAN IT" when it comes to playing in Greyhawk.

 

[Anoth]

Personally I like that if you are in an alliance with any drow that you are terrified of the day they will backstab you at their earliest convenience. Make them beautiful, friendly, and sympathetic to your face and let them kill the PC’s with a smile after the spent years making you think they are your loyal friend and have your back.

I once had a drow that was friendly to multiply parties in a setting for 2 solid years. And when it happened the other parties not involved would like swear that must be a mistake because Sedryn was a good man and he just couldn’t do such a thing. There are rumors that his betrayal was a set up against people that didn’t like the Falcon alliance. It’s cool if everyone wants to go all twilight and sparkles with drow. But I prefer them evil to the core.