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

[MGibster]

Alright, I guess I just am not gonna understand your POV on this. I can’t fathom why not just let a PC be part of a crew that did the incredible but very possible feat of crossing beyond the known world without dying. I mean, it happened IRL, in various centuries and places. Why should it only be an option if the PC wants to play out that journey?

It's quite possible that a foreign character is not a good fit for the campaign and the DM doesn't want to shoehorn it in. That's a completely legitimate reason to say no to the concept.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I can see where you're both coming from. I don't agree, though, because anyone truly new to the game isn't going to have hard expectations of it, and anyone experienced with D&D has assuredly run into, well…

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I’d say both of those statements are simply untrue, based on my experiences and on observing D&D based online communities and activity.

Noobs have expectations, some very strong, because noobs tend to have watched or listened to media about D&D that pretty accurately portrays D&D , these days. And one of the most common expectations, because all human games are pretty rare, is that D&D features a variety of races.

Hell, just being on tik tok will give someone that expectation.

As for long time players, no, you can’t assume any long time player is familiar with the experience of a DM having a ton of houserules and the like. A lot of people play pretty close to RAW, with maybe one or two pet peeve houserules. I’d go so far as to say most players haven’t read those passages you posted, and many that have, have the same mindsets that are leading folk to argue with you in this thread.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

It happened so rarely irl it is an epic adventure in its own right.

So rare using it to justify a Samurai in Europe (pre 1600) is ridiculous.

Assuming the tine is vaguely Earth like campaign. A Samurai wanting to explore west is fine but not if the DM wants a different tonebeg campaign in Kara The or whatever.

It kind of like saying in a modern setting my background I landed on the moon.

If you had a setting based on 1960’s America, a player wanting to play an Apollo astronaut wouldn’t be ridiculous or outlandish at all.

 

[Oofta]

I’d say both of those statements are simply untrue, based on my experiences and on observing D&D based online communities and activity.

Noobs have expectations, some very strong, because noobs tend to have watched or listened to media about D&D that pretty accurately portrays D&D , these days. And one of the most common expectations, because all human games are pretty rare, is that D&D features a variety of races.

Hell, just being on tik tok will give someone that expectation.

As for long time players, no, you can’t assume any long time player is familiar with the experience of a DM having a ton of houserules and the like. A lot of people play pretty close to RAW, with maybe one or two pet peeve houserules. I’d go so far as to say most players haven’t read those passages you posted, and many that have, have the same mindsets that are leading folk to argue with you in this thread.

I've DMed for quite a few "noobs". My restrictions have never been an issue.

 

[Zardnaar]

I’d say both of those statements are simply untrue, based on my experiences and on observing D&D based online communities and activity.

Noobs have expectations, some very strong, because noobs tend to have watched or listened to media about D&D that pretty accurately portrays D&D , these days. And one of the most common expectations, because all human games are pretty rare, is that D&D features a variety of races.

Hell, just being on tik tok will give someone that expectation.

As for long time players, no, you can’t assume any long time player is familiar with the experience of a DM having a ton of houserules and the like. A lot of people play pretty close to RAW, with maybe one or two pet peeve houserules. I’d go so far as to say most players haven’t read those passages you posted, and many that have, have the same mindsets that are leading folk to argue with you in this thread.

And those players are free to run the game how they want or find a compatible game.

It also goes both ways. Imagine a new DM, is only vaguely familiar with the PHB and then some player turns up with books they're not familiar with with races they know nothing about.

Or some player wants something exotic and has written a background involving Spelljammers.

A lot to be said for the KISS principle.

 

[prabe]

If you had a setting based on 1960’s America, a player wanting to play an Apollo astronaut wouldn’t be ridiculous or outlandish at all.

That'd depend on other factors in the game, wouldn't it? I mean, saying your character is one of twelve people to have done something?

 

[Zardnaar]

If you had a setting based on 1960’s America, a player wanting to play an Apollo astronaut wouldn’t be ridiculous or outlandish at all.

If it's a space program based rpg sure, normal rpg not so much.

 

[PsyzhranV2]

Modifying the rules is not only not a non-sequitur, it's relevant. In all the games I've played since 1e, I've never been in a by the book with no changes at all game. Rules changes are widely prevalent. So while I wouldn't go into a game expecting there not to be elves, I would go into it expecting things not to be exactly as the book states. If a DM did not offer up the changes, I would ask him what was changed.

The rules as they exist in their baseline state is the common foundation for any discussions regarding D&D. As well, they are what we need to be looking at when analyzing the text and breaking it down into its constituent systems. It only makes sense to study the RAW; otherwise coherent discussion and analysis becomes impossible.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

That'd depend on other factors in the game, wouldn't it? I mean, saying your character is one of twelve people to have done something?

Other factors? I guess. I don’t see the issue with the astronaut thing.

 

[Zardnaar]

Other factors? I guess. I don’t see the issue with the astronaut thing.

Outside if a NASA themed rpg it's kinda ludicrous.

DM might be running a Tour of Duty RPG in Vietnam. Astronaut training didn't involve being sent to the frontlines although you might be able to go the other way if you're a pilot in Nam.

It's roughly equivalent to PCs wanting to be king or emperor in their background.