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

[Vaalingrade]

However if races are functionally identicle, then why do they exist?

People keep saying this like the stupid ability scores are all the mechanics species had.

Am I just hallucinating halfling luck or elf spells or is this just an intensely bad talking point that is objectively and provably false simply by looking at a PHB?

 

[Reynard]

One interesting choice here would be centaur, as there's a built-in workaround for some dms having extreme difficulty with the concept of characters who can't climb ladders, despite never using a ladder in the actual game.

A centaur would be interesting as a test case for what "cosmetic only" means in practice.

Size: the centaur would be medium, like everyone else.
Speed: The centaur would move at 30 like anyone else.
Carry capacity: the centaur would be limited in its carry weight by its strength score, like everyone else.
Quadruped: this is cosmetic only so no impact on terrain, stairs, or (as mentioned) ladders.

Does this break anyone's brain, or can they visualize how a centaur might exist in this state in the game's fiction?

 

[jmartkdr2]

The true essence of playing an elf is being 7.6% more likely to hit with a bow. Without that, are you really playing an elf?

 

[CreamCloud0]

Are you going to interrogate everyone's choice along similar lines of tangible benefits that could potentially exist for each race under certain circumstances or just mine? Could being a short halfling not also provide tangible benefits in some circumstances? Or how about being an elf? Or how about being a dwarf? I stated that my reason was simply because if you are bored that you could change your appearance. I understand that you view this as a tangible benefit. It is a tangible benefit, but IMHO there is a difference between a tangible benefit and a mechanical one. When my partner got top surgery, I doubt anyone would claim there is a "mechanical benefit" to their choice; however, there was clearly a tangible benefit.

i'm not 'interrogating' anyone else's choice as they're not asking to functionally keep the mechanical benefits of their species disguised as species narrative, that halfling is medium size and has no benefits of stealth, that elf doesn't resist sleep and charm, the dwarf takes poison damage and is blind in the dark. your tangible benefit is functionally an unwritten mechanical one unless like as someone mentioned upthread no matter your appearance everyone can immediately identify your character as themselves.

 

[jmartkdr2]

A centaur would be interesting as a test case for what "cosmetic only" means in practice.

Size: the centaur would be medium, like everyone else.
Speed: The centaur would move at 30 like anyone else.
Carry capacity: the centaur would be limited in its carry weight by its strength score, like everyone else.
Quadruped: this is cosmetic only so no impact on terrain, stairs, or (as mentioned) ladders.

Does this break anyone's brain, or can they visualize how a centaur might exist in this state in the game's fiction?

Having played a centaur, I can tell you the most important mechanical aspect was: +2 strength. All the other stuff barely came up (as in, maybe once) in a 1-16 campaign.

So even if you reduced them to only +2 strength ... they would play exactly the same mechanics-wise. All the rest - all the little ribbon-y rp moments that leaned in on her centaur-ness, were purely rp and narration.

 

[deadman1204]

People keep saying this like the stupid ability scores are all the mechanics species had.

Am I just hallucinating halfling luck or elf spells or is this just an intensely bad talking point that is objectively and provably false simply by looking at a PHB?

because those mechanics ARE all they have in 5th ed. There is SOO little actual content and world development in 5th ed, that the different races are simply a picture and a stat block. If you take away the stat block, then they are literally nothing. You can say theres a group of humans who like to live in the woods and be naturey, and now you have elves without pointy ears. When there are no rules or distictions, then nothing matters and its all the same.

 

[Corinnguard]

Could you remove racial mechanics from D&D without affecting the mechanics found in the rest of the RPG?

 

[Reynard]

because those mechanics ARE all they have in 5th ed. There is SOO little actual content and world development in 5th ed, that the different races are simply a picture and a stat block. If you take away the stat block, then they are literally nothing.

I think you misread @Vaalingrade there.

 

[Reynard]

Could you remove racial mechanics from D&D without affecting the mechanics found in the rest of the RPG?

Yes.

 

[jmartkdr2]

Could you remove racial mechanics from D&D without affecting the mechanics found in the rest of the RPG?

It's be a slight nerf to pc's overall, and a reduction in customizability, but the game would still work.

I'd include a level one bonus feat if I were to do this. That should mostly make up the "lost" ground.