D&D General Race Has No Mechanics. What do you play?

[Aldarc]

Because remember, the premise here is that one's choice of species gives no in-game benefits or penalties. The very fact that a changeling can change its appearance is itself a significant mechanical benefit in many situations.

Correction: the premise here is that one's choice of species gives no mechanical benefits other than being cosmetic. Being able to change one's cosmetic appearance as desired for purely cosmetic reasons is ummm... let me check.... yep, cosmetic.

 

[Reynard]

Correction: the premise here is that one's choice of species gives no mechanical benefits other than being cosmetic. Being able to change one's cosmetic appearance as desired for purely cosmetic reasons is ummm... let me check.... yep, cosmetic.

This is a cheat and I agree with @Lanefan here. Unless you invest in disguise or whatever, your shape-shifted changeling is still obviously a changeling.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

I mean, this has probably been mentioned but, it would depend on the lore. I would ask,

“Which race is not present or common in the lore?”

When the DM gives me an answer, I would play that race,

“I am the only one from my race. I am an outcast in society. I wear black clothes and am waffling between playing a warlock or a dual wielding ranger with a pet panther.”

 

[Mind of tempest]

I mean, this has probably been mentioned but, it would depend on the lore. I would ask,

“Which race is not present or common in the lore?”

When the DM gives me an answer, I would play that race,

“I am the only one from my race. I am an outcast in society. I wear black clothes and am waffling between playing a warlock or a dual wielding ranger with a pet panther.”

how are dark elves not common in the lore?

 

[Aldarc]

This is a cheat and I agree with @Lanefan here. Unless you invest in disguise or whatever, your shape-shifted changeling is still obviously a changeling.

This is poppycock. If it's purely cosmetic with no mechanical benefits, then what's the big deal? I have not once argued that I would use the changeling in a way to confer a mechanical benefit. I said at the start that it would be purely cosmetic based.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

how are dark elves not common in the lore?

You didn’t get my point.

I would play whatever race was not common.

I never mentioned dark elves. you did. I just said dual wielding ranger with a panther who was a social outcast. Because, obviously, I’m playing into a trope.

 

[Mind of tempest]

You didn’t get my point.

I would play whatever race was not common.

I never mentioned dark elves. you did. I just said dual wielding ranger with a panther who was a social outcast. Because, obviously, I’m playing into a trope.

and we all know who you mean by that latter point, hell I know and I am busy being a miserable gen with out a reliable group

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

This is poppycock. If it's purely cosmetic with no mechanical benefits, then what's the big deal? I have not once argued that I would use the changeling in a way to confer a mechanical benefit. I said at the start that it would be purely cosmetic based.

Being able to change your face whenever you want is a benefit based on the lore. It’s definitely not a mechanical advantage but it definitely is narrative advantage.

If race has no mechanical advantage, it ONLY has narrative advantage based on the Lore.

Which is why I made the joke of being the only person of a specific race. While it was a joke, Doing so adds narrative complications and can make a race more interesting without needing mechanical advantages.

So , if the lore has a slave race, it will be disadvantageous to be that race in many situations. If the lore has a noble race, it will be advantageous to be that race in many situations. If you can select your race, you can pick and choose advantage. This has nothing to do with mechanics and everything to do with narrative

 

[Reynard]

This is poppycock. If it's purely cosmetic with no mechanical benefits, then what's the big deal? I have not once argued that I would use the changeling in a way to confer a mechanical benefit. I said at the start that it would be purely cosmetic based.

Yeah, that's what the "still obviously a changeling" part makes clear.

You are trying to sidestep the restraint. Just say you don't like it and wouldn't play in such a game. There is nothing worse than a player that agrees to a premise then decides to undermine it the whole time.

 

[Aldarc]

Yeah, that's what the "still obviously a changeling" part makes clear.

You are trying to sidestep the restraint. Just say you don't like it and wouldn't play in such a game. There is nothing worse than a player that agrees to a premise then decides to undermine it the whole time.

I am not trying to sidestep the restraint or saying I "don't like it and wouldn't play in such a game." So don't accuse me of being a spoil sport player trying to undermine the premise. You asked a question. I answered earnestly: a changeling. And now you are moving the goal posts and maligning me.