A question for those who play kobolds, orcs, or whatever

[Kai Lord]

Do you actually play them as unique, complex creatures? Or do you play them as complex, but in a Disney "talking animal or monster that otherwise completely behaves like a human" kind of way?

For those who practice the former, please give some notable deviations from how you would play a traditional humanoid character.

My impression is that most people play monstrous characters just for the sake of being a nonconformist, and either play them as ugly humans, or misunderstood humans, or misunderstood, ugly humans.

I'd be happy to read some examples that prove me wrong.

 

[Xarlen]

Hey, Kai! Long time no see.

I like to think that I play them a lot differently, or I would, if I got the chance. But then again, you can do that with ALL the core races, instead of just playing them as funny humans (The best example I saw was an elf who was very casual, very slow with things; he'd just go romp off on a side trek because he HAD Time; an elf who commented about how ridgid and unfriendly human castles are, requested sleeping in trees over Inns, etc).

However, I would agree that a lot of people play them like humans. Because well... we're humans. What else do we have to go on? It just takes some looking outside the box, I guess, and getting into the character's skin: the best way to think of it, is to Think Like the Race. How do they act? How would they see the world? Would an Orc see things the same way as an elf? Look at their culture, and reflect on that. I myself played a Kobold once who was too... 'humanish'? I'd love to give it a shot again. But I've played different races (in non-combat games; roleplaying online, whatever) and I think that sometimes, I've done a lot better.

Let's take the example of a Kobold. A kobold is seen as Cannon fodder by anything that can swing a stick. A kobold is short, weak, and looked down upon.

Kobolds are going to have an attitude. A chip on their shoulder. The world is out to get them, so they better take as many out as they can, while they can, and keep on livin'. They are going to be vicious when they have the upper hand. They are going to be sneaky, and plan, always have a Backup plan, a plan C, an excape attempt (or two), and they are never going to get toe to toe (Unless that's the Kobold's schtic). They are going to be cautious. A kobold can be a McGyver. That inherit +2 to trapmaking can mean a lot. They can think of ways to hinder individuals, while staying out of the line of fire. A 30ft speed and a +2 to dex means Hit and Run tactics are a natural skill.

However, within this framework, a Kobold has a lot of potential. They can be outwardly snippy and vile towards others, or they can play up their race's apparent 'ineptness', and act like a snivelling coward. They can play up the unexpected overlooking of 'It's just a kobold'.. Until they drive the knife into your gut for +6d6 of Sneak attack damage. They can be wheelers, dealers, and so on.

While they also can be survivalists, and out for Number One, can also understand the idea of Strenght in numbers, and use Teamwork to their best advantage. These people can save your life, or they can get you killed. So you either need to get out at the first sign of trouble if you can't trust them, or help them as much as possible, and get out of you don't get the same.

Or, they could actually be good. While keeping the Kobold Tenants (A Kobold in Melee is a Dead kobold, always have a backup plan or three, prepare), they can be good. They are said to be the decendants of Dragons, so they may uphold themselves to the glory that a Dragon ideals, such as a Gold or Silver (I'm thinking Kobold Paladin here).

They could want to show the world a Kobold isn't a weakling. They could revel in the power, but never lose sight that they are still killable. Maybe use intimidation, bluff, and so on.

Now, I could do another race, if you like? I hope I answered your question in this longwindedness...

 

[Fenes 2]

I have to post here, because something about the "playing other races as funny humans"-complaint rubs me the wrong way.
IMHO, humans are so diverse, and have so many different cultures, both present and historical, that you cannot help but play any humanoid race as a sort of human. Or rather, that you can take any culture, and find some human culture that is close.
Think like elves? Well, there are humans living in the amazon jungle that come close to the "living in harmony with nature" stereotype. Add some celtic touch to it and a desire to sleep in trees and you have most of what people seem to think is typical for forest elves. Take some new age back to nature ideology, add some skills in carving and other craft, a sprinkle of supremacism and racism and some stereotypical roman decadence and you can pass it for high elves, if you don't use the cliché from Tolkien.

We (as the human race) created those races in our imagination and we usually try to interpret things in our view. It stands to reason that those races will be seen - and created - as "funny humans", just some people only reach Disney when the look for examples, while others have a broader horizon and use other human cultures as examples.

 

[Tonguez]

Its a matter of Culture imho

I have a distinct Orcish Culture IMC in whgich Females and Males live seperately (the Females form semi-agrarian 'clans' made up of a domiant female her daughters and their whelps (and possibly a effeminate 'male' Shaman). Males are forced out of the clans at 8 yrs old and form roving mobs who survive by raiding.
The only contact between the female clans and the male mobs is either raids or 'ritual rape' (by which mating occurs)

Male Orcs thus come from a Culture based on rejection, dislocation and 'survival of the fittests' where any show of affection or mercy is a sign of weakness to be exploited by others. In this culture an Orc must either act first or react without thinking. Goblins being small and weak adapt to this lifestyle by becoming sneaky, Orcs adapt by becoming violent.

Thus violence and rapine are built into the culture and therefore the psychology of the Orc, you either remain dominant by beating any rivals to a pulp or you yourself get beaten.

Orc society then generally has 3 levels - the Dominant few (a small elite of the Chief and his/her bodyguard), the majority in the middle order and the few 'weaklings' at the bottom who generally get bullied around and are treated as virtual slaves until they can 'prove themselves', get killed or escape (and find their way into human cities)

Of course an individual Orc might have moments of affection for those it feels an affinity for (like siblings, close friends etc) and especially those who find themselves adventuring with humans will have a slightly abberent psychology (in Orc terms anyway) These Orcs will either be the 'escaped weaklings' (and thus have the same chip on their shoulder as a Goblin/Kobold) or be a somewhat surly, bad humoured type who considers humans weak and stupid as compared to the more brutal but honest and honourable Orc.

 

[Xarlen]

What I mean by 'funny human', in a sense, is a human in an x costume.

For example, I'm involved with a lot of 'Furry' stuff (Jokes welcome ). This includes online rolelpaying. However, some people can either approach it like they are simply a human in the animal's suit, or really the bipedial animal-humanoid with a sapient mind.

I mean this in this sense: Even if they are humanoid, they still have those characteristics. Interaction can be dictated more by body language then by speech, in some cases. They may never smile (Either not have the facial expression techniques to form lots of vibrant smiling features), or it's seen as a threatening act. But that doesn't mean expression can't be announced in the ears, the tail, the way the body moves. True, this cannot be duplicated via tabletop interaction, but the idea is there.

And such, it can be so with demi-human or monster races.

True, the standard 'Culture' of a Demihuman is a very presonified form of Human culture. Dwarves are stout and glower, down to earth, and focus on honor. Elves are hedonistic, beautiful, graceful, casual. Gnomes are playful, looking for humor in many things, Halflings are very layed back and wandering sorts. As Tonguez has it, male orcs are very exterior focused, emotionally withdrawn and hidden, brutish and force oriented.

These all are, as Fenes pointed out, Human behaviors, and may mimic them. These are human cultures, presonified to an ideal point. So sure, they're going to have it happen. But like Fenes said, you have to broaden the horizon. But even moreso, you have to go Beyond human culture, because these are not humans, but something entirely different. So they may have even more radical presonifications (or twists) then visible in any human culture.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

*Considers an adventure where all the PCs are members of the Kobold tribe in the Sunless Citadel, defending their territory against humanoid and goblin invaders ...*

 

[Xarlen]

*Considers an adventure where all the PCs are members of the Kobold tribe in the Sunless Citadel, defending their territory against humanoid and goblin invaders ...*

Check out the old 2e Reverse Dungeon. Hell, maybe then they could deal with the adventurers that come through.

 

[Celebrim]

In general, differences in a race have thier origins in biology. If the biology of the races is identical, and lets face it for all practicle purposes it is, then there won't be significant differences in the nature of the races. You could say, 'Well the differences are cultural', and I'm sure that they are, but in point of fact most 'alien' races have cultures that fall within the norms of human culture. Moreover, it always bothers the heck out of me that a given 'alien' race has a uniform culture given how varied human culture is and has historically been. Generally it seems one sterotype, and one culture, seems to suffice for any non-human race of any sort. And generally, any alien race isn't that 'alien', it is just a funny shaped human. Biologically speaking they could be the same race, and many are, since they apparantly create viable hybrids.

To really play a non-human in an interesting way requires examing what is different about the culture of the race. Is the race egg laying? That could have some differences in how parental relations are formed, or how children are viewed. Is the race exclusively herbavivorous or carnivorous? That could influence attitudes relating to industry, nature, and other races. Elves are extremely long lived, but it seldom seems to influence how the average character plays an elf. Part of this is that a elven scale campaign should occur over decades or centuries of game time, which is just impractical.

 

[Kai Lord]

Hey, Kai! Long time no see.

Yep. How's it going? Head over to the Art Gallery if you want to see what my Barbarian Archer looks like.

Now, I could do another race, if you like? I hope I answered your question in this longwindedness...

You definitely did. Nice work. Same with the others who posted on this thread. Feel free to post more ideas for playing other races. Savage Species is coming out soon and I'm interested in seeing how others play monsters as PC's.

 

[Xarlen]

Your avatar picture amuses me.

Yep. How's it going? Head over to the Art Gallery if you want to see what my Barbarian Archer looks like.

We cannot have a conversation that passes without that coming up, eh? Did you hear that Unearthed Arcana is coming out? I'm sure that makes you all tingly.

BTW, y'know, I've been considering Barbarian Archers, myself, but a Real barbarian archer.

You definitely did. Nice work. Same with the others who posted on this thread. Feel free to post more ideas for playing other races. Savage Species is coming out soon and I'm interested in seeing how others play monsters as PC's.

Thanks! I put a lot of thought into my kobolds, and other things. I was afraid this thread would fall off the board without any replies from you.