D&D (2024) Comeliness and Representation in Recent DnD Art

[Micah Sweet]

People like to pretend to be magical beings. It doesn’t have to be any more complicated than that.

If it's going to mean something beyond looks, I think it does.

 

[Fifth Element]

Simple desire isn't a reason.

If you mean that the reason would actually be what is creating the desire, then technically true but not meaningful. If someone has a subjective desire that they can't explain, that's still perfectly valid.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Extremely high brow arches, prominent cheekbones, pointed nose, earthy color scheme, and doing magic. All things that could be found on a human character, but which in concert do evoke elvishness at least to some degree.

None of that stuff says this is an elf to me without the ears.

 

[Lanefan]

The soul is not necessary. Warforged are more like a Roomba which is magically given a soul. Or a sentient magic item. They don’t have a positronic brain equivalent. They think because magic.

Not that I'm likely to ever play a Warforged; but if I do it's going to be named Roomba.

Thanks for that!

 

[Azzy]

Simple desire isn't a reason.

Yes, actually, it is. "I felt like it" has been the reason for many a thing.

 

[Charlaquin]

Simple desire isn't a reason.

It is when we’re talking about a game that’s entire purpose is recreation.

 

[Lanefan]

You’re telling me that elf doesn’t have a distinctive appearance?

Google "fantasy Elf image" (then filter to remove Santa's Elves) and while many of them do look distinctive, many others look just like Humans with pointy ears.

Elves live a bajillion years, have inherent magical abilities and a connection to fae creatures. Dwarves are preternaturally strong and tough, have an inherent connection to the earth, and are usually uncannily crafty.

To the bolded: untrue, ever since their inherent boosts to Strength and Constitution went away.

 

[Charlaquin]

If it's going to mean something beyond looks, I think it does.

I think we’ve established pretty clearly here that looks isn’t even the primary draw.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Yes, it is.

No, it isn't. Not by itself. A reason has, well, reason behind it. Sourceless desire seems nonsensical to me. There must be a reason, even if the person in question doesn't know what it is.

 

[Lanefan]

Just for fun, I decided to edit the ears out of the Daggerheart illustration. Does this still look like an elf to people (i.e., does it have a "distinctively elvish" look), and if so, why?

Speaking for myself, I'm pretty sure I would assume this was a human if I saw this illustration with no context.

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I'd think Hobbit, only one that has somehow had to have both its left limbs replaced.