How do you prefer to use subraces in your campaign?

How do you prefer to use subraces in your campaign?

  • Subraces? Bah, humans only!

    Votes: 9 4.7%
  • Only standard PHB stats are used for any member of any race.

    Votes: 32 16.8%
  • Standard subraces are used, but PCs are limited to PHB subraces only.

    Votes: 16 8.4%
  • Standard subraces are used, but some are off-limits to PCs (ie, no drow or duergar PCs, etc).

    Votes: 51 26.7%
  • Standard subraces are used, and PCs may be of any subrace.

    Votes: 24 12.6%
  • As many subraces as possible!

    Votes: 10 5.2%
  • The campaign uses any number of non-standard subraces that are unique to the campagin.

    Votes: 49 25.7%

Orius

Unrepentant DM Supremacist
Ok, I was inspired to do this thread from some comments in the elf hate thread. Do you like lots of subraces in your campaign, none at all, or somewhere in between?
 
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I, the first voter, went for the "Subraces? Bah, humans only!" choice, as that is how I'm running my campaign currently.

If I were using a setting that featured multiple player races, then the "The campaign uses any number of non-standard subraces that are unique to the campagin" response would probably be more accurate.
 

I put down standard with restriction for my own campaigns, since I usually stick with standards but usually disallow stuff like drow.
 


I stick to standard races for simplicity's sake, as I don't see subraces as necessary. If a player really wanted to use a subrace, though, I'd allow it with a good backstory, but I'd otherwise only use subraces for unique and exotic situations.
 

I too restrict players to the races in the PHB. I understand people's desire to offer players options, but there are plenty of options in the existing rules, and adding to it can complicate matters (I know someone who allows > 40 races in his world - lucky for him he doesn't GM much).
 

I prefer how Eberron has handled the races, where there are 3 different Cultures of Elves, but they're all still basicly the same race (I think the favored weapons change for Valenar elves, but that's about it.
 

I like the idea of subraces, though I dislike when they come in too much of an abundance. Elves for example. I like the idea of perhaps a couple variants of elf depending on the reason, but I seriously don't need nor use the 15 different types of elves.

People in different areas are different, it only makes sense. I don't think the stats for someone from Asia would be the same as an Eskimo or someone from Africa. However, detailing eight different races from each country in the United States is ridiculous, and subraces are becoming ridiculous. I pick and choose a few that I like for my campaign and ditch the rest.
 

Arbiter of Wyrms said:
I accidently chose standard subraces and players can choose any, but it's actually more like "as many as possible, on a case-by-case basis."
This is pretty much how I do things also. There are a lot of sub-races, but not all are allowed as PC's. I do allow drow depending on the player (no more drow rangers weilding scimitars!!!), but most of the time I tell the player's no on that issue. As long as the race doesn't have a lot of weird powers I alright with it usually.

Kane
 

Hmm, I voted "standard, some off limits" but I also have several homebrewed subraces imc.... imho this would have been better if multiple choice. :)
 

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