D&D General No More "Humans in Funny Hats": Racial Mechanics Should Determine Racial Cultures

[Faolyn]

While I agree that some people clearly want to make their characters however they want, I'm not sure you're right about people not liking stereotypes. I do think there might be some shame about it in some circles, but stereotypes are so deeply embedded in human consciousness, and are so much easier to deal with in a game context than a more complex, nuanced portrayal, that quite a few people actually prefer it in their popular entertainment.

Considering this thread is called "no more humans in funny hats," I think it's safe to say that that a fair number of people don't want to deal with noxious stereotypes even in a game.

 

[Faolyn]

If it's not about the 16, why do you continue to reinforce this?

If the 16 doesn't matter, why do you continue to not want people to put a floating ASI in it?

 

[Scribe]

If the 16 doesn't matter, why do you continue to not want people to put a floating ASI in it?

World Building.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Considering this thread is called "no more humans in funny hats," I think it's safe to say that that a fair number of people don't want to deal with noxious stereotypes even in a game.

You added the word noxious. I think that's a reflection of a personal bias. And this thread started a long time ago and has explored many facets of this issue.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

Considering this thread is called "no more humans in funny hats," I think it's safe to say that that a fair number of people don't want to deal with noxious stereotypes even in a game.

The point of this thread is to discuss racial stereotypes, yes, but it's to discuss those that make sense (i.e. are motivated by the racial features of those species). "Noxious" is a bit harsh, IMO, to apply to the broad subject that is "stereotypes". The OP is about having stereotypes/cultures that are based off of what makes up D&D's races/subraces/lineages, thus removing the "humans in funny hats" issue that people have been bringing up increasingly since TCoE's changes to races were announced.

 

[Scribe]

Considering this thread is called "no more humans in funny hats," I think it's safe to say that that a fair number of people don't want to deal with noxious stereotypes even in a game.

This has nothing to do with stereotypes, its about making races distinct from humans...

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

This has nothing to do with stereotypes, its about making races distinct from humans...

Mostly right, but it's about making the races culturally distinct from humans. I have no idea how this thread turned into another racial ASI debate. That was never the intent of this thread.

 

[Faolyn]

This has nothing to do with stereotypes, its about making races distinct from humans...

You want races to have very stereotypical ASIs and are very resistant to floating ASIs because they don't fit what you think is the "right" way to do those races.

 

[Scribe]

You want races to have very stereotypical ASIs and are very resistant to floating ASIs because they don't fit what you think is the "right" way to do those races.

Floating ASI is how the game is now designed, being resistant to it or not is irrelevant.

Lets just not pretend its for balance, or that without it you cannot create unique, diverse characters.

EDIT: In a world without ASI, what prevents you from creating any character you want?

Not Alignment.
Not Race Restriction.

So what?

 

[Faolyn]

Mostly right, but it's about making the races culturally distinct from humans. I have no idea how this thread turned into another racial ASI debate. That was never the intent of this thread.

Lynxen said I was "ranting" when I suggested make a list of 2-5 cultural and biological quirks for each race and giving it to the players, so they could RP the races differently.