D&D General What is the purpose of race/heritage?

[CreamCloud0]

Why "ribbon" I wonder.

Also, I hate jargon.

I think it’s because it’s ‘decorative but of little real value/use’

 

[billd91]

Why "ribbon" I wonder.

Also, I hate jargon.

The definition I've seen is that it's a bit of flavor that might not come into play regularly (depending on your group and its style of play, of course).
And while I'm not sure of the etymology of the term, it always struck me as connoting something that's not very important that you get for participation in that class.

 

[Reynard]

Yes, I think so. I think ENworld was the first place I ever saw this term used for minor character abilities, but it was fairly intuitive in context.

It's possible it emerged naturally here, but I would not be surprised if it wasn't terminology that has been borrowed from theory elsewhere.

 

[MGibster]

I'm not really sure what the purposes of different races is any more. If you divorce culture and abilities from a race, what are you left with?

 

[Reynard]

I'm not really sure what the purposes of different races is any more. If you divorce culture and abilities from a race, what are you left with?

Aesthetic.

 

[CreamCloud0]

Aesthetic.

If aesthetic is all that matters why don’t we just trash all the existing races, go all in on custom lineage builder and let people flavour their creations however they wish

 

[Scribe]

I'm not really sure what the purposes of different races is any more. If you divorce culture and abilities from a race, what are you left with?

A funny hat.

 

[Micah Sweet]

A funny hat.

Can a post be both funny and sad?

 

[grimslade]

A rulebook with just rules is dry and will not grab new participants. The trick is to layer enough story in with the rules to keep interest and open up possibilities. Halflings are small, dextrous, and lucky folk who live in agrarian secluded societies. Gnomes are small, dextrous, and magical folk who live in secluded forest villages. Goblins are small, dextrous, cowardly folk who dwell in isolated filthy warrens... It is all shorthand. If you are starting out it is a spur. If you have a bit of rule mastery maybe you play against type, an unlucky halfling, a gnome who hates filthy burrowing animals, a goblin paladin. Custom Lineages let you build your character within the world without being a stereotype. But if you can't develop your own personality for roleplay store-bought or rulebook stereotype is fine.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

I find the argument that you can't play a race unless you have four pretty much meaningless racial features that you barely use and are completely overshadowed by the myriad of Class features you are actually using to be a relatively weak one. But that's me.

I mean, that's one of the reasons which I want racial features to be more impactful, and to continue to have a significant impact as you level.

I quite like how pathfinder 2e has done this. Characters who focus on racial feats get some really crazy stuff.