How Diverse?

[Lanefan]

In our 1e games, there's been maybe 1 non-core PC in a hundred (and those there have been weren't always by player choice!), so I voted 0. There's been lots more non-core party NPCs, usually charmed Orcs and the like.

In the 3e game I was in, there were a few more, mostly broken.

Lanefan

 

[Rechan]

What's there to get?

I guess "Because it's mechanically best" is a good enough explanation. Although the guys picking human are often the not-munchkins.

I guess it's just my bias against all core races.

 

[haakon1]

I'll lay odds that an in-game poll on the subject will be less lopsided than a meta-game poll.

Whaddya mean, Mark? Asking characters in character or something?

 

[Wik]

As the time goes on, we get more and more non-core races. So far, in my 4e game, there's quite a few non-core races. We've had a drow thief, a minotaur fighter, a doppleganger rogue, and a kobold fighter. Considering we've only had eleven or so PCs, that's a pretty big number!

3e, though, was the big killer. A lot of non-core races... I think in our STAP game, only two or three PCs were core... the rest were Catfolk, Goliaths, Phanatons, and the like.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Like in the class poll, racially speaking, most of our campaigns are solidly core, with about 25% non-core races. (And like in the class poll, nobody in our group is running 4Ed, so there is no data.)

Again, I was usually the exception as a player- Drow, Minotaurs and more can be found in my stack of D&D character sheets.

As a DM, while I allowed a wide variety of races, most players stuck to the core.

drothgery

Rechan
Universally any group I sit down with, almost always want to play humans. I don't get it.

What's there to get? If you're playing 3.x, humans are usually the best choice mechanically speaking; it's very rare that any race's benefits help more than a feat an a skill point per level would. If you've got experienced 3.x players playing 4e, then humans aren't a bad choice most of the time, and you're kind of stuck in the 'default to human' habit.

Our group is a mixed bag, and its not always the powergamers who want to play humans. One of our players ALWAYS plays humans...and always has for the past 20 years. He's a bit of a powergamer, but he's not the only one who primarily or exclusively plays humans.

The way I've had it explained to me was that, for some at least, when they envision themselves within a game world- much like when they immerse themselves in whatever fantasy literature they read- they most strongly identify with the human characters.

 

[haakon1]

The way I've had it explained to me was that, for some at least, when they envision themselves within a game world- much like when they immerse themselves in whatever fantasy literature they read- they most strongly identify with the human characters.

I've heard three more explanations for sticking to humans that make sense tome:
1) In a fantastic world, it's simpler to keep the PC "closer to home".
2) Humans have the most complexity and diversity and unpredictability within them. Dwarves usually fit a single stereotype, or perhaps are played against that stereotype. Humans can be many, many different things, from jungle primitive hunter, to professorial guardian of secret knowledge, to prince charming, to hedge mage, to Viking berserker, to stern centurion, etc., etc.
3) Play what you know.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

I'll play just about any race, even humans.

Mainly, though, if I'm role-playing a human, its because I'm representing someone in court or having a client meeting.





What?

 

[Jhaelen]

I've heard three more explanations for sticking to humans that make sense tome:
1) In a fantastic world, it's simpler to keep the PC "closer to home".
2) Humans have the most complexity and diversity and unpredictability within them. Dwarves usually fit a single stereotype, or perhaps are played against that stereotype. Humans can be many, many different things, from jungle primitive hunter, to professorial guardian of secret knowledge, to prince charming, to hedge mage, to Viking berserker, to stern centurion, etc., etc.
3) Play what you know.

One of my players always plays humans (in every edition/rpg). When I asked him about the reason he told me he felt uncomfortable playing anything else because he couldn't get into an 'alien' mind.

He also mentioned that most of the non-humans he'd seen in play reminded him more of stereotypical humans in disguise than members of a different race.

So, I guess, his reasons are almost exactly identical to the three explanations you offered.

 

[Wombat]

pre-3e -- all core. Never used "non-standard" races.

3e -- Since we used AU/AE a lot, we were at about 50/50 on core versus non-core races.

4e -- in our brief endeavour, we only used standard races. And given how excited we were over 4e, it will stay at this count.

 

[Dragonbait]

2ed = Usually only 1 humanoid out of 4 to 6 characters.

3ed = only about 1 to 2 characters that are what you define as core. All others had templates or non-"core" races.

4ed = Well.. All races are core, but by your list then I'd say in all groups 4 out of 5 to 6 PCs are your core.