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<blockquote data-quote="Helpful NPC Thom" data-source="post: 8442826" data-attributes="member: 7031378">The argument that &quot;genetics in D&amp;D don't work like genetics in real life&quot; is like saying &quot;physics in D&amp;D don't work like physics in real life,&quot; except they do. Presumably, a spark and kindling produce fire, fire and water produce steam, and steam and a teakettle produce a whistling that tells the British it's time for biscuits.Certain expectations from the real world carry over into the game, and they inform and ground gameplay.The implication of the D&amp;D rules is that yes, genetics do work like real life, which is why half-elves and half-dragons and aasimar and tieflings and sorcerer bloodlines exist. The racial change is arbitrary and amounts to &quot;a wizard did it&quot; for explanation, which rightly rankles those who enjoy a marginally more cohesive fantasy world, those who enjoy the design aspect of racial ability scores, and those who enjoy keeping D&amp;D's traditions alive.It's not a dealbreaker for me, but sweeping discontent under the rug with &quot;it's fantasy, it doesn't have to work like real life&quot; is quite dismissive.For those dissatisfied with the changes, I can only encourage you to take the chassis of D&amp;D and customize it for your home games. Remove, alter,&nbsp; and add elements according to your preference. It's how Runequest started.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Helpful NPC Thom, post: 8442826, member: 7031378"] The argument that "genetics in D&D don't work like genetics in real life" is like saying "physics in D&D don't work like physics in real life," except they do. Presumably, a spark and kindling produce fire, fire and water produce steam, and steam and a teakettle produce a whistling that tells the British it's time for biscuits. Certain expectations from the real world carry over into the game, and they inform and ground gameplay. The implication of the D&D rules is that yes, genetics do work like real life, which is why half-elves and half-dragons and aasimar and tieflings and sorcerer bloodlines exist. The racial change is arbitrary and amounts to "a wizard did it" for explanation, which rightly rankles those who enjoy a marginally more cohesive fantasy world, those who enjoy the design aspect of racial ability scores, and those who enjoy keeping D&D's traditions alive. It's not a dealbreaker for me, but sweeping discontent under the rug with "it's fantasy, it doesn't have to work like real life" is quite dismissive. For those dissatisfied with the changes, I can only encourage you to take the chassis of D&D and customize it for your home games. Remove, alter, and add elements according to your preference. It's how Runequest started. [/QUOTE]

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