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

[Azzy]

There are, of course, other swarm of bees, but I may be the first sentient one. I don't know.
However, I am hostile towards stupid swarms (int less than 2). So I kill them and take their nest for my children, and that is the main reason I travel. Hoping that they will grow to be intelligent as well, and join in a more advanced bee society.
Though I hate wasps even more.

As for class... as funny as it would be for a swarm of bees to wear heavy armor and swing a great axe, the most fitting would probably be dance bard, with unarmed attack dealing piercing damage.

How about a swarmkeeper ranger? Or is that too on the nose?

 

[mellored]

How about a swarmkeeper ranger? Or is that too on the nose?

That would still require weapon and armor.

Though the idea of a swarm of bees casting Conjure Humanoid is fun. Then I could send the humans into traps and have them scout dangerous monsters...

 

[Shardstone]

I really want WotC to have the gumption to put out a "humans only" campaign setting.

I actually want the opposite and a no humans setting. I'd like a setting that's all monster races -- I think it would be interesting.

 

[CreamCloud0]

I actually want the opposite and a no humans setting. I'd like a setting that's all monster races -- I think it would be interesting.

i think it'd have to be done right, you'd have to cut out alot of other common 'civilized' species as well, your elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes and the like and not just 'role swap' the monster species into the boxes you've just taken those other ones out of, otherwise i don't think it would really end up as much all that different from a basic kitchen sink setting,

but i can see value in what @Reynard says, an all-human setting could be worthwhile, remind people that a vast fraction of fantasy media manages to get along without including a laundry list of other species and can still manage to be interesting and engaging, remind people that curation is a valid tool, that it's both allowed and worthwhile and can actually be used to create interesting scenarios.

 

[RoughCoronet0]

No, I would not play if races/species had no mechanical weight to them. I won't even entertain the notion by picking one I'd play in this hypothetical, I'd just play a different game. I want my birdfolk who can fly, aquatic folks with swim speeds and underwater breathing, and my dragonfolk with breath weapons.

Honestly, I'm someone who wants your race/species to matter more in Character Creations, with different options you can choose from to compliment your class and play style choices, whether through racial/species feats or a separate addition system that you can choose from as you level up.

 

[Shardstone]

i think it'd have to be done right, you'd have to cut out alot of other common 'civilized' species as well, your elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes and the like and not just 'role swap' the monster species into the boxes you've just taken those other ones out of, otherwise i don't think it would really end up as much all that different from a basic kitchen sink setting,

but i can see value in what @Reynard says, an all-human setting could be worthwhile, remind people that a vast fraction of fantasy media manages to get along without a laundry list of other species and still manage to be interesting and engaging, remind people that curation is a valid tool, that it's both allowed and worthwhile and can actually be used to create interesting scenarios.

Well yes, any setting should be well executed.

Humans only is worthwhile but isn't hard to do IMO. I've played in IRl settings (like rome) and other settings like Game of Thrones that are largely just people. It's a fun creative exercise, but it's one of the oldest tricks in the book and just not that special to me. Figuring out how to have an engaging, sensible setting of monster races is something fresh I'd like to see or enjoy.

Also, I don't think most people need to be reminded about "laundry lists of species." Every one who reads Fantasy media, or who watches Fantasy movies, largely sees mainly humans anyway. Many settings are also mainly humans. But I don't think that really matters for the most part. I think a lot of people who are into the "humans-only" idea unfairly judge people who like more fantastical races, as if we need to be told that we "don't need our species to make an engaging character," as if everyone who uses a fantasy race is relying on some crutch to make a good character.

 

[RhaezDaevan]

Alright, if there's no mechanical differences, then the party will consist of:

A Carebear Fighter
A Cthulhu Cleric
A Bumblebee (the insect, not the Autobot) Rogue
A Godzilla Bard
A Can-of-beans Wizard

Mechanically, they're all humans, but lore-wise the players could still argue that they should still have advantages in certain situations. Can the Cleric and Rogue fly? Is the Wizard resistant to damage from weapons that aren't can openers? Does the Bard's singing melt things?

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Alright, if there's no mechanical differences, then the party will consist of:

A Carebear Fighter
A Cthulhu Cleric
A Bumblebee (the insect, not the Autobot) Rogue
A Godzilla Bard
A Can-of-beans Wizard

Mechanically, they're all humans, but lore-wise the players could still argue that they should still have advantages in certain situations. Can the Cleric and Rogue fly? Is the Wizard resistant to damage from weapons that aren't can openers? Does the Bard's singing melt things?

In D&D 5E, the clear answer is no to all those questions.

In a more narrative-oriented or fictional-positioning-based system, things might be very different, of course.

 

[Voadam]

Alright, if there's no mechanical differences, then the party will consist of:

A Carebear Fighter
A Cthulhu Cleric
A Bumblebee (the insect, not the Autobot) Rogue
A Godzilla Bard
A Can-of-beans Wizard

Mechanically, they're all humans, but lore-wise the players could still argue that they should still have advantages in certain situations. Can the Cleric and Rogue fly? Is the Wizard resistant to damage from weapons that aren't can openers? Does the Bard's singing melt things?

I am not sure how many of those outside of the carebear a DM would consider a reasonable humanoid species per the OP.

 

[Misanthrope Prime]

Rachel Dolezal