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

[Scott Christian]

So is your position that the norm is not to use existing settings? Not even say... 40% of the time?

When you run Eberron how much of the world are you writing? When you run Forgotten Realms, how many NPCs can you take solely from the existing material? Did you create the magic system of Dark Sun?

Heck, when you created a custom world, did you copy most of the lore about Dwarves and Moradin? Did they bother to rewrite the lore for orcs, or did they just write "orcs here" on the map?


You seem to want to say that the DM always puts in years worth of effort to craft a unique and compelling world. But first rule of world-building is to steal ideas from everywhere. Meaning that you are actually supplementing work done by others.

And, none of this even addresses the point. Since it is all about who puts in more effort, if I as the player have written more words, crafted more ideas, and put in more money, time and effort... does that give me the final say over the DM? No matter how unusual that situation is, would that be your position? That what matters is who put in the most effort?



Also, your assumptions about how I make characters are hilariously off base.

Whatever you believe I guess is law.

Players put in more work than the DM most of the time. That sounds right.

A clear expectation by the DM prior to character creation is ignored by the player and deemed a better expectation. That sounds right.

Most players can only follow one character creation because of their passion. That sounds right.

 

[Scott Christian]

Your first scenario does sound implausible, and if (B) is true and players here have encountered that (has anyone? genuinely asking), whew, red flag, that's a campaign bound for r/rpghorrorstories.

Said it before. I will say it again. Many states. Many tables. Many DM's. Many years. Never once experienced a DM doing this during a campaign. I have seen it during a one shot, and it is a jerk move, even for a one shot. But a campaign - never.

I have seen in the middle of the campaign a DM say, let's use fumble rules, or I bought a deck of crit cards, let's use them. I've even seen a DM buy a miniature and finally paint them and decide to just use them, even though it was out of context. But they wanted to use the mini. None of these were enough to make me lose faith in the DM or think they were acting in bad faith or leave.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

I also DM the majority of the time, so this is also true for me. So I should just abandon playing what I want the few times I get to play? That doesn't sound like a sound argument.

I really just find it very difficult to understand someone who only has ONE character that they want to play. It just seems completely alien to me. For every character I do get to play there are dozens that I don't.

 

[prabe]

I really just find it very difficult to understand someone who only has ONE character that they want to play. It just seems completely alien to me. For every character I do get to play there are dozens that I don't.

The closest I've ever come was when I was the first to make a character (usually I go later if not last and make characters to fill in/out the party).

 

[Paul Farquhar]

However, if the situation was "well, we're playing Ravnica this game, so no tieflings. However, the next game I run will probably be Eberron, so you can play your tiefling then" is a fine enough compromise. But be warned I'm holding you to that!

That's pretty much how I play, yes. I haven't been to Ravinia yet though. Races as appropriate to the setting.

There may be other things though - for example I started one campaign with "you are all condemned criminals being transported to a prison colony. It's up to you to decide what your crime was, and if you are guilty or wrongfully convicted".

 

[Remathilis]

That's pretty much how I play, yes. I haven't been to Ravinia yet though. Races as appropriate to the setting.

There may be other things though - for example I started one campaign with "you are all condemned criminals being transported to a prison colony. It's up to you to decide what your crime was, and if you are guilty or wrongfully convicted".

Yeah, I do that too. You're an honorable pirate. Your're an exile from the Empire. Etc. I try not to go overboard with concept (one of my posts in this thread discussed a concept that went overboard) but I have no problem with "here is the theme, make your pc work with it or at least not oppose it."

 

[Zardnaar]

Which might be a long time for a character concept. Until then, I could be playing a concept I'm less enamored with. With no guarantee that I might get my choice next time either.

Which is good. I do too. Some people run campaigns for decades in the same setting, so if there is no dragonborn this campaign, there is a very good chance they won't be there next one either.

Except time, other responsibilities, distance, and finding groups that have opening AND will allow my choice. I lament the days of yore when I played in 4-5 groups and played a couple times per week. Adulting sucks.

However, if the situation was "well, we're playing Ravnica this game, so no tieflings. However, the next game I run will probably be Eberron, so you can play your tiefling then" is a fine enough compromise. But be warned I'm holding you to that!

In my game I would tell you Eberrons on of the options and Tieflings are fine.

I asked group about this last night using Ravnica and Theros as is hypothetically. One asked if they could swap a Tabaxi for Leonon on Theros.

Would have to think about that but not a fan of swapping strength race for dex based.

 

[Remathilis]

In my game I would tell you Eberrons on of the options and Tieflings are fine.

I asked group about this last night using Ravnica and Theros as is hypothetically. One asked if they could swap a Tabaxi for Leonon on Theros.

Would have to think about that but not a fan of swapping strength race for dex based.

Depending on how through you are with MTG lore, both cat folk and Leonin exist on various planes. If I was doing Ravnica, I'd probably open a lot of MTG races like dwarves, tritons/merfolk, orcs, vampires, Leonin, and lizardfolk/viashino less common but still available. Then again, I like the feel of mixing different sets to build a deck.

 

[Zardnaar]

Depending on how through you are with MTG lore, both cat folk and Leonin exist on various planes. If I was doing Ravnica, I'd probably open a lot of MTG races like dwarves, tritons/merfolk, orcs, vampires, Leonin, and lizardfolk/viashino less common but still available. Then again, I like the feel of mixing different sets to build a deck.

Haven't played Magic for a while but recognize most of the races. Both are a less is more type setting imho.

 

[Minigiant]

Pepperoni needs to be in a layer underneath the tomato sauce.

Gino's East of Chicago, represent.

Let's not put Chicago style pizza in this.