D&D 5E D&D Races: Evolution, Fantasy Stereotypes & Escapism

[Filthy Lucre]

In our group Barbarian just becomes "angy fighter" and we don't deal with all that shamanistic "noble savage" nonsense

Let me tell you about the gritty steampunk/gas lamp fantasy game I plan to run that specifically calls for a noble savage.

 

[Scribe]

In our group Barbarian just becomes "angy fighter" and we don't deal with all that shamanistic "noble savage" nonsense

I'm afraid that nature-based/survivalist type flavour is a very large part of the draw for me.

(Edit: As a side note, I play an Orc Shaman, in WoW...)

 

[Mordhau]

Perhaps one way to move forward with Orcs would be to base their identity in the game around being nomadic peoples. Nomadic peoples aren't (obviously) evil, either always or "typically." Focusing on nomadism could be a generic base for establishing a diversity of orcish cultures and customs and variety of approaches to their neighbors (hostile or friendly or anywhere inbetween). I don't love the fluff around "Barbarians" either, but at least they get to have a variety of alignments based on their actions. Just a thought.

That's what I do. Orcs are driven to move. If they stay too long in one place they start going mad.

 

[DarkMantle]

I was imagining a setting where all fantasy races are essentially "human" (but not really, see below), instead of different species. Some inspirations include Shadowrun, X-Men, the Graygem gem in Dragonlance, and Sweet Tooth TV show.

The logic:

• The concept of elves, dwarves, orcs, etc. are basically humans with cosmetic changes
• Differences between races is even less than it used to be with the cultural traits separated out
• So just call them what they are: they're all the same race, just with different magically-induced traits

The fiction:

• One day, to everyone's shock, every race start giving birth to children that are randomly of any race
• People originally think it's wild magic or something
• But it turns out that the original mortal race were shapeshifters at birth (a magical version of Darwinian adaptation?)
• In ages past, for some reason, these shapeshifters got locked into distinct forms that stopped "evolving" at birth
• Now for some reason, it's all been unraveled

The bad part:

• It's a little bit too on the nose
• It totally messes with most campaign world-building

 

[Faolyn]

Thats simply false. There are strawmen arguments stating that that is the claim, but this is incorrect.

Most people seem to understand that the 'typical' isnt necessary, because its understood you could always change things if you wish. Typically was added for the people who couldnt grasp that, despite it being clear in the MM.

Dude, I know you've read threads like that because I've seen you post in them.

And "typically" was added because WotC realized that no matter how much you have a tiny paragraph in a section of the MM that few people read, that means nothing unless they actually showed that the various creatures aren't Always Whatever. Having them listed as "typically" is a step in the right direction. A small step--the next step is to actually make some non-evil orc or goblin societies--but it's a step.

 

[Vaalingrade]

I was imagining a setting where all fantasy races are essentially "human" (but not really, see below), instead of different species. Some inspirations include Shadowrun, X-Men, the Graygem gem in Dragonlance, and Sweet Tooth TV show.

The logic:

• The concept of elves, dwarves, orcs, etc. are basically humans with cosmetic changes
• Differences between races is even less than it used to be with the cultural traits separated out
• So just call them what they are: they're all the same race, just with different magically-induced traits

The fiction:

• One day, to everyone's shock, every race start giving birth to children that are randomly of any race
• People originally think it's wild magic or something
• But it turns out that the original mortal race were shapeshifters at birth (a magical version of Darwinian adaptation?)
• In ages past, for some reason, these shapeshifters got locked into distinct forms that stopped "evolving" at birth
• Now for some reason, it's all been unraveled

The bad part:

• It's a little bit too on the nose
• It totally messes with most campaign world-building

Did you just independently invent Shadowrun?

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I was imagining a setting where all fantasy races are essentially "human" (but not really, see below), instead of different species. Some inspirations include Shadowrun, X-Men, the Graygem gem in Dragonlance, and Sweet Tooth TV show.

The logic:

• The concept of elves, dwarves, orcs, etc. are basically humans with cosmetic changes
• Differences between races is even less than it used to be with the cultural traits separated out
• So just call them what they are: they're all the same race, just with different magically-induced traits

The fiction:

• One day, to everyone's shock, every race start giving birth to children that are randomly of any race
• People originally think it's wild magic or something
• But it turns out that the original mortal race were shapeshifters at birth (a magical version of Darwinian adaptation?)
• In ages past, for some reason, these shapeshifters got locked into distinct forms that stopped "evolving" at birth
• Now for some reason, it's all been unraveled

The bad part:

• It's a little bit too on the nose
• It totally messes with most campaign world-building

Also, at least to me, utterly pointless.

 

[DarkMantle]

Did you just independently invent Shadowrun?

I quoted Shadowrun as an inspiration, because I heard of it before, though I know almost next to nothing about it.

 

[Scribe]

Dude, I know you've read threads like that because I've seen you post in them.

And "typically" was added because WotC realized that no matter how much you have a tiny paragraph in a section of the MM that few people read, that means nothing unless they actually showed that the various creatures aren't Always Whatever. Having them listed as "typically" is a step in the right direction. A small step--the next step is to actually make some non-evil orc or goblin societies--but it's a step.

We disagree. You and I both know that if we disagree it wont resolve, so, we disagree.

Typically was added because some people couldnt make the obvious leap, or needed it spelled out for them because (hi again Drizzt) they just didnt think about it? I dont know.

It certainly wasnt added for the sake of the people who play against Orcs/Drow as the typical bad guy, we dont need Typical in our Alignment line, never have.

 

[DarkMantle]

Also, at least to me, utterly pointless.

Fine, though I feel like people should brainstorm for fun without having to hear that it's pointless.

Also, generating a whole slew of ideas, good or bad, is one of the traits of successful people, don't you know? There's a Ted Talk about it somewhere