Do You Prefer a Humanocentric RPG Setting?

[Mark]

Do You Prefer a Humanocentric RPG Setting?



Don't forget to chime in on the entire RPG Survey Round-Up!

 

[DragonLancer]

Do You Prefer a Humanocentric RPG Setting?

Yes. It makes more sense for me that way since my players are all human (well, ok, maybe one of them isn't... not sure) and they understand how a human thinks. A world dominated by elves would be just as alien as one domianted by orcs or centaurs. Its easier to comprehend.

 

[ChristianW]

Not only do I prefer humanocentric, but I've run games where the only PC race was human.

It's nice to take a break from the Tolkien world model or warring orcs, elves, humans and dwarves now and again.

 

[Meloncov]

Humanocentric worlds not necesairly, but most of my campaigns focus around the affairs of humans, even if others dominate the world.

 

[The Thayan Menace]

What's in a Name?

My preferred setting is "humanocentric" and xenophobic.

-Samir Asad is Thay

 

[Huw]

Yes. It's easier to play a human, 'cause that's the species we're familiar with. Everything else is merely a reflection of human or human culture.

In settings where the non-human races are truly inhuman (such as Runequest or Empire of the Petal Throne), the non-humans are next to impossible to roleplay properly as a player (though they're actually great to roleplay as a Gamesmaster, especially when players are trying to get to grips with alien cultures).

 

[Agent Oracle]

Yes. It's easier to play a human, 'cause that's the species we're familiar with. Everything else is merely a reflection of human or human culture.

True, true. I'm Reminded of an object i found in the Basement of Warehouse 23 (Steve Jackson Games depository of bizzare artifacts for any game setting)... let me see if i can recall...:

"You open one of the 999 crates on this level and find:
Dozens of source books for a Role Playing Game, except they are written from the perspective of other species. The few you can decypher all have one thing in common; the racial entry of human includes the text "Short Lived and racially persecuted, Humans begin the game with the Slave Race Disadvantage, and may not advance beyond level 6."

 

[Wombat]

Yep.

 

[pogre]

Yes, and my wife hates me for it. She insists a fantasy roleplaying game should be fantasy - No Humans Allowed! She's a Gobbo at heart

 

[Andor]

I don't have a preference for them, but having said that...

To do a non anthropocentric game well you need to have a wealth of information in the book about the though processes and culture of the non-human races. Then all the players need to read and absorb that information and come to grips with it. It takes a lot more effort to do a non-human game well, and relatively few group are willing to put in that effort. Off the top of my head the only game that makes a real effort to get inside the heads of the non-humans is World Tree. In most games non-human races are Star Drek NS like humans with funny forehead/ears and one stereotypical racial quirk.