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

[Yaarel]

Indeed, you likely wouldnt see a lot nuance would you?

How would you describe the Human species in four sentences?

 

[Vaalingrade]

How would you describe the Human species in four sentences?

So you know Vin Diesel? Like him, but usually with hair and sometimes also ladies. And their only real advantage in the game is getting a feat like everyone should get at level 1. Only now they will, so they're screwed, I guess.

 

[bedir than]

Again. No.

What does the text ACTUALLY say? What is the tone Wizards ACTUALLY conveys? Its not even difficult, you just continue to interject your own head canon or definitions or intent, where none exists. So, here we go.



There is no interpretation needed here. Those born in the Lower Planes often migrate out, and never look back. There is no value judgement. There is no explanation, there is no nuance. There is no qualitative here beyond 'often'. Wizards is saying 1 thing, and 1 thing only.

Of those Tieflings born in the worst places in the multiverse, they OFTEN leave. End.



Again, this is not open to interpretation. Tiefling descendants are on many worlds, are are especially found on Sigil, which is the center of the multiverse.

Thats it. No judgment. No moral question. No Alignment. Nothing but that. End.



Finally, something!

They joined ranks with other species to repel fiendish incursions on many worlds.
They earned the trust of those who might otherwise have mistaken them for Fiends.

These are 2 direct, positive statements. "Joined Ranks" and "earned the trust", are both contributing to the POSITIVE TONE. End.



And the peak of nuance (aka subtlety) here.

Thanks to the VICTORY and SACRIFICE of these LEGENDS, tieflings THROUGHOUT the multiverse ENJOY WIDESPREAD ACCEPTANCE. END

This cannot even be possibly mistaken for anything but a statement of positive glory for the entire species. At all. If I were to read this, I would assume they are one of the most noble species in the setting!

This is about as nuanced as a hammer to the side of the head. If you gave this to anyone, told them what the "Lower Planes" are, told them Tielfings are born with a touch of this "Lower Planes" in their very essence, and then asked them if Tieflings are good or bad based on the actual Wizards text?

"They are good people who fought against evil and enjoy widespread acceptance."

That is it, that is all. That is what Wizard has SAID. Anything else is your head canon as such as it refers to this Origin UA description.

You know that a Tiefling PC that doesn't leave the Abyss isn't part of any campaign, right?
They must often leave. Because if they don't they aren't in the campaign.

INDEED.



True, this says nothing of the species, only where SOME are born and they OFTEN leave from. No moral judgment, though most would think LEAVING Hell is a good thing.



True, this says nothing of the species itself. No more judgment is possible against the species itself.



This is NOT stated in the text. This is FALSE.



Objection, speculation your Honour. This is conjecture at best. This is FALSE.

The description about Player Characters is true for Player Characters. Why ignore that?

 

[Yaarel]

So you know Vin Diesel? Like him, but usually with hair and sometimes also ladies. And their only real advantage in the game is getting a feat like everyone should get at level 1. Only now they will, so they're screwed, I guess.

Heh.

I would say something like ...

The Human species is unusual within the Material Plane, evolving naturally from Beasts while gaining the capacity of speech and sapience. They value learning and forming social communities where they transmit knowledge to future generations. Humans are curious and ambitious − and highly aggressive, the most violent and dangerous of all natural creatures. Yet they also tend to balance compassion and justice, community obligations and individual freedoms.

That is four sentences. Maybe also.

Humans exhibit features of Astral thought and Ethereal spiritual forces while also being Material bodies. This holistic "soul" is often a source of fascination from other planar creature types who wonder if the Human is a microcosm of the multiverse, with clues to the mysteries of what is to come.

 

[Scribe]

How would you describe the Human species in four sentences?

While it's unknown where Humanity originated, it is rumored that Sigil is their original home. Driven and adventurous humanity has spread across the multiverse as commonly as explorers, as conqueror. Forming or joining diverse cultures, humanity reflects the scope of potential present among all the Planes of existence. Scribe is the pinnacle of Humanity.

 

[Scribe]

The description about Player Characters is true for Player Characters. Why ignore that?

Uh, the description I've now broken down 3 times?

 

[Micah Sweet]

While it's unknown where Humanity originated, it is rumored that Sigil is their original home. Driven and adventurous humanity has spread across the multiverse as commonly as explorers, as conqueror. Forming or joining diverse cultures, humanity reflects the scope of potential present among all the Planes of existence. Scribe is the pinnacle of Humanity.

Every sentence sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

 

[bedir than]

Uh, the description I've now broken down 3 times?

You are acting as if the description that applies to player characters applies to 100% of the species. That ignores the verbiage used for 5e

 

[Mistwell]

Oh, and I'm over the age of 35. By several decades.

And I think it's very nice that your grandchildren taught you how to use the interwebs.

 

[Mistwell]

So let me get this straight:

Literally all the same: nuanced.

Diverse and individualized: bland and boring.

This is the thing you are saying. That is the argument you are putting forth.

Not that I want in on this fight but neither is nuanced. A race which is diverse and individualized is no more or less characterized by subtle shades of meaning or expression than a race which is all evil or all good. Subtle shades of meaning or expression comes from the actual behavior they exhibit to express that morality, not the morality spectrum or non-spectrum of that race itself.