D&D (2024) Half Race Appreciation Society: Half Elf most popular race choice in BG3

[Micah Sweet]

Aren't they spitting out:

• A bunch of books with small adventures that can be spliced into lots of places (like Yawning Portal)
• A bunch of "setting books" that don't have a lot of depth but give them an excuse to provide races, subclasses, and spells that people on Beyond can plug into their own campaigns if they fit (like the MtG ones)

Yawning Portal was years ago, and the other anthologies came with their own setting, making them act like any other AP.

The setting books all come with adventures they're designed to be played using, and you don't get enough detail to really go beyond that (so you remain hungry for the next AP).

 

[TwoSix]

A lot of folks seem to think humans shouldn't be the centralized character choice, despite virtually all our stories featuring humans in leading roles. Hence the Cantina Effect.

Just going by BG3, the core races are really Human, Elf, and Half-elf.

Other fantasy games where I’m aware of the statistics for racial choices (like WoW) also follow this trend.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Just going by BG3, the core races are really Human, Elf, and Half-elf.

Other fantasy games where I’m aware of the statistics for racial choices (like WoW) also follow this trend.

And yet my parties still up an eclectic mess of weird aliens.

 

[Scribe]

And yet my parties still up an eclectic mess of weird aliens.

Because

1. The visual in BG3 really takes a front seat. The number of mods that are there just to add new eye shape/colour, and hair styles...its a lot.
2. The most 'traditionally attractive' options in BG3, are Human, Half-Elf, and Elf.
3. The species design and options otherwise (crunch) are pretty dire. It just doesnt matter because.
4. The game released with floating ASI.
5. There are a million magic items in the game.

I will say, the Fizban's Gem Dragonborn mod is awesome though.

In short: If they released more sexy species options, those would have been played as much, or more.

 

[Yaarel]

Just going by BG3, the core races are really Human, Elf, and Half-elf.

Yup. This is why 2024 needs to give the Human/Elf multispecies a full writeup. It has popculture appeal.

Notice, in BG3 the oversimplified "races" are actually cultures, such as every Human having weapon proficiency with polearms, including spears.

For 2024, a similar Baldurs Gate Infantry background can represent how the city legally obligates its citizens to train in the use polearms from the age of 10 years old. Also, regionally, one weapon proficiency such as a spear or other polearm might swap for one of the two skill proficiencies. Perhaps the Baldurs Gate Artillery units typically train in crossbows. Exemptions can exist for those training in magic to defend the city.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

And now I'm googling and glad the only Neanderthal character options are 3PP. <Insert deflection of essays on irl taxonomy>

I mean... as Homo neanderthalensis was a completely different species to Homo sapiens, adding a playable neanderthal species would be like a playable elf, dwarf, or orc.

Rather than just being a human subspecies.

 

[Scribe]

Notice, in BG3 the oversimplified "races" are actually cultures

I dont know how you can continue to do this lol its not culture. Its biology.

A Wood Elf and a Half Elf (Wood) both run faster, because its a biological attribute of the Wood Elf.

Wood Elf | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Wood Elf is a Subrace in Baldur's Gate 3. Wood Elf guide with all features, traits, features and tips for BG3.

baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com

Wood Half-Elf | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Wood Half-Elf is a Subrace in Baldur's Gate 3. Wood Half-Elf guide with all features, traits, features and tips for BG3.

baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com

Like their wood elf parent, these half-elves have a quickened stride and eye for stealth.

 

[Yaarel]

I dont know how you can continue to do this lol its not culture. Its biology.

A Wood Elf and a Half Elf (Wood) both run faster, because its a biological attribute of the Wood Elf.

Wood Elf | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Wood Elf is a Subrace in Baldur's Gate 3. Wood Elf guide with all features, traits, features and tips for BG3.

baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com

Wood Half-Elf | Baldurs Gate 3 Wiki

Wood Half-Elf is a Subrace in Baldur's Gate 3. Wood Half-Elf guide with all features, traits, features and tips for BG3.

baldursgate3.wiki.fextralife.com

Wait. How are Humans "biologically" proficient with polearms? Obviously this is cultural.

The Wood subrace of earlier editions, perhapse specifically the High Forest culture, encourages the choice of a variant of the Longstrider spell for its "supernatural" lineage. There is no biological difference between Elves − only magical choices. There is no racism.

 

[Scribe]

Wait. How are Humans "biologically" proficient with polearms?

Obviously this is cultural.

That, is part of a specific ruling that all (seemingly) Human/Half Elf's of the area are given Militia training. Its a nice house rule that Larian implemented for their specific campain.

Much like what you can do for your take on background/culture.

This is much like how Elves had their specific proficiencies, until people online started complaining about 'what if my elf was raised by a dwarf in a port'.

 

[Mistwell]

I mean... as Homo neanderthalensis was a completely different species to Homo sapiens, adding a playable neanderthal species would be like a playable elf, dwarf, or orc.

Rather than just being a human subspecies.

Yeah I mentioned earlier in this thread we're really talking about Genus rather than Species. Genus: Homo, Species: Sapien, Species Neanderthal. And gave a fantasy example of the Imass species (which became the T'Lan Imass).