How to describe a race?

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Okay, seriously. Stop stealing my house rules.

Don't be so harsh. It's not stealing if you still have your house rules.

 

[Roman]

Jesus, yes. I don't see how elves and orcs are so far from humans in the first place that we would ever need a half-way point.

Am I the only one who likes the half-elves? Half-orcs are OK too, but I admit I would prefer seeing full orcs in the PHB if we could not have both.

 

[delericho]

Am I the only one who likes the half-elves? Half-orcs are OK too,

In principle I agree. However, the 3.5 implementation of both was poor.

but I admit I would prefer seeing full orcs in the PHB if we could not have both.

I disagree. Making Orcs a standard PC race means they can't be used as the 'classic Evil humanoid race', in exactly the same way it became unacceptable for Klingons to be unquestionable the enemy as soon as Worf was a core character in Next Gen.

I have no problem with the MM making Orcs a playable race, for those groups that want that option, but they absolutely should not be in the PHB.

 

[Roman]

In principle I agree. However, the 3.5 implementation of both was poor.

Well, yes, they were both mechanically underpowered.

I disagree. Making Orcs a standard PC race means they can't be used as the 'classic Evil humanoid race', in exactly the same way it became unacceptable for Klingons to be unquestionable the enemy as soon as Worf was a core character in Next Gen.

I have no problem with the MM making Orcs a playable race, for those groups that want that option, but they absolutely should not be in the PHB.

Hmm, I did not consider that. You may have a point there.

 

[gothmaugCC]

Originally Posted by delericho
"I disagree. Making Orcs a standard PC race means they can't be used as the 'classic Evil humanoid race', in exactly the same way it became unacceptable for Klingons to be unquestionable the enemy as soon as Worf was a core character in Next Gen."


If I'm not mistaken, Orcs were a playable race back in first edition.
Making them a viable PC option does not ruin the race as a whole, look at Drow for instance


....Oh wait..Nevermind, I hate what drow have become since drizzit hit the scene.

Scratch that, leave pure orcs in the MM as a viable character option for those who want to use them. Personally I like half orcs, and my half orc monk characrter was perhaps one of the most memorable Pc's I have ever played.

 

[Aloïsius]

I can imagine that it's possible, but it seems it would be so unlikely as to be effectively impossible. Sort of like the chances of your house key fitting your neighbor's house when the locks were made by different companies. Star Trek is a very silly show.

It's possible for different species to share genetical material... But only for bacteria and viruses, creature who don't use sexual reproduction anyway.

There is no example of animals doing such a thing : hybridation always involves closely related species (tigers and lions, dogs and wolves...)

 

[Roman]

It's possible for different species to share genetical material... But only for bacteria and viruses, creature who don't use sexual reproduction anyway.

There is no example of animals doing such a thing : hybridation always involves closely related species (tigers and lions, dogs and wolves...)

Closely related species they may be, but they are nonetheless considered separate species, yet they can interbreed. Hence, the definition of species is not so hard and fast.