D&D 5E What is the appeal of the weird fantasy races?

[Don Durito]

I always ask then, what are you replacing elves with?

My biggest pet peeve is when a DM takes away an option but doesn't replace it with anything. You want to make elves mysterious and unheard of? Fine. What race are you adding to make up for the loss of an iconic race? Maybe someone who wants to be an ethereal magical being could select aasimar, or someone wanting to be a nature guardian can take firbolg. If you're not allowing drow, maybe another "dark" race can fill that role like tiefling, shadar-kai (human variant) or such. No orcs? How about goliath as the bruiser race?

Unfortunately, time and again in this thread, the alternative to the removed race is nothing. There are no fey races. There are no PC monstrous races. There are no planar races. There are no animal races. There are no aquatic races.

That's what I think is my issue. When whole categories of races are cut off and that limits your types of options. It's less about a specific race, and often more about the archetype being removed that bothers me.

You do realise that no one is saying you have to have to play in a game with limited options right?

You can say no and play in a differrent game.

Do people miss elves when they play Call of Cthulhu?

 

[Remathilis]

You do realise that no one is saying you have to have to play in a game with limited options right?

You can say no and play in a differrent game.

Do people miss elves when they play Call of Cthulhu?

Yeah, I get a lot of "my way or the highway" replies in this thread.

 

[Maxperson]

I always ask then, what are you replacing elves with?

My biggest pet peeve is when a DM takes away an option but doesn't replace it with anything. You want to make elves mysterious and unheard of? Fine. What race are you adding to make up for the loss of an iconic race? Maybe someone who wants to be an ethereal magical being could select aasimar, or someone wanting to be a nature guardian can take firbolg. If you're not allowing drow, maybe another "dark" race can fill that role like tiefling, shadar-kai (human variant) or such. No orcs? How about goliath as the bruiser race?

Unfortunately, time and again in this thread, the alternative to the removed race is nothing. There are no fey races. There are no PC monstrous races. There are no planar races. There are no animal races. There are no aquatic races.

That's what I think is my issue. When whole categories of races are cut off and that limits your types of options. It's less about a specific race, and often more about the archetype being removed that bothers me.

Why do you feel entitled to have those options?

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

You do realise that no one is saying you have to have to play in a game with limited options right?

You can say no and play in a differrent game.

Do people miss elves when they play Call of Cthulhu?

A Elbereth Gilthoniel, nfaughlth mglwi R'lyeh!

 

[Chaosmancer]

It was just an idea. Usually most of the PHB is fine so I would probably replace with another dex based race.

I probably wouldn't cut elves they're a bit to popular but I might change the fluff.

Gnomes, Dragonborn would be the most likely to be cut. Dragonborn normally get replaced with Dragonkin, no one cares about gnomes.

Obligatory fix "No one at my table seems to care about Gnomes."

Myself and a friend of mine did a lot of work on Gnomish lore, and that has led to them becoming one of my favorite races. Only reason I don't play them more often is that I have no real desire to play a wizard.

 

[Zardnaar]

Obligatory fix "No one at my table seems to care about Gnomes."

Myself and a friend of mine did a lot of work on Gnomish lore, and that has led to them becoming one of my favorite races. Only reason I don't play them more often is that I have no real desire to play a wizard.

Not just at my table. Very few people seem to care about Gnomes and post AD&D they don't even seem to have a niche.

Out of the classic races I would say they're easily the least popular. Tieflings for example seem a lot more popular.

They used to be the only race with an intelligence bonus for example.

 

[Chaosmancer]

You do realise that no one is saying you have to have to play in a game with limited options right?

You can say no and play in a differrent game.

Do people miss elves when they play Call of Cthulhu?

Why do people keep thinking that brining of Call of Cthulhu is relevant? Just because it is another game?

It is December now, holiday season. That means I want Egg Nog. Egg Nog is a big part of the holiday season for me. Do I want Egg Nog all year? No, but in December it is time for Egg Nog.

Would I be upset if Egg Nog wasn't offered at a 4th of July party? No, that'd be silly, it is the wrong time of year. Would I be mildly upset about going to a 4th of July party with no fireworks of any type? Yes, because that is part of the point of the celebration.

So, no, I don't get upset that Call of Chthulu is Call of Cthulu and not DnD. But if I'm playing DnD.... I'd like to play DnD.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Why do you feel entitled to have those options?

Dungeons and Dragons

 

[Minigiant]

Why do you feel entitled to have those options?

I think most people don't feel entitled and it's more that people have different preferences of archetypes and like having their preferences available.

If you like mental challenges and being clever with your options, you'd like the DM's curated world to offer classes and races and items that allow you to be clever. If you like playing archers, you'd hope the DM doesn't ban all ranged weapons but blowdarts. If you like fire, you'd want class and race options with fire powers. If you like flexing diplomacy, you'd hope the DM's ability scores generation allows for a Decent CHA without being forced to be a Sorcerer or Warlock.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Not just at my table. Very few people seem to care about Gnomes and post AD&D they don't even seem to have a niche.

Out of the classic races I would say they're easily the least popular. Tieflings for example seem a lot more popular.

They used to be the only race with an intelligence bonus for example.

Hugely popular at my tables. I think I've seen a gnome at every table so far