I don't get the arguments for bioessentialism

[Corinnguard]

I imagine at some point we'll just be able to have conversations in heavily coded language.

User 1: Premise #32 regarding player species.
User 324: Question #42.
User 444: Rebuttal #21.
User 841: Offensive statement #3.
Moderator 3: Banning statement #98 followed by plea to keep things polite #4.

If the inhabitants of Mechanus had a planar language of their own, this would be it.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

If the inhabitants of Mechanus had a planar language of their own, this would be it.

What? They don't speak in Lawful Neutral?

What, alignment language are no longer a thing? But... I WANT OPTIONS!!?!

 

[SkidAce]

That argument requires the belief that PCs follow the same patterns and statistics as NPCs, which I don't subscribe to. I understand that others do.

I hear you.

I imagine at some point we'll just be able to have conversations in heavily coded language.

User 1: Premise #32 regarding player species.
User 324: Question #42.
User 444: Rebuttal #21.
User 841: Offensive statement #3.
Moderator 3: Banning statement #98 followed by plea to keep things polite #4.

Darmok and Jalad at Enworld.

 

[Corinnguard]

Darmok and Jalad at Enworld.

If Darmok and Jalad were Modrons...

 

[TiQuinn]

If Darmok and Jalad were Modrons...

01101100 01101111 01101100

(lol)

 

[Corinnguard]

01101100 01101111 01101100

(lol)

What if they speak in Hexadecimal or Trinary?

 

[The Firebird]

Interesting. In your experience, do you attribute that to a change in practice or did you player with a newer crowd?

Many AL players have started in just the past few years. They are also the ones who, if you told them about 'halfling rogues' or 'elf wizards', would look at you funny.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Yeah I'm not against races having different flavor, in fact I'm all for actual flavor as expressed by unique abilities. I just think that +1/-1 bonuses/penalties don't actually add any flavor, they just force an unnecessary tradeoff between roleplaying and optimization.

I think it’s a false dichotomy. A half orc that stands up after being knocked down AND is stronger expresses the concept more and not less effectively.

The addition of modifiers should not be the only thing but surely don’t take away from the other features.

As to optimization, it’s a delay until ASI I guess if you must have that 20. But I acknowledge and can understand some want their dwarf super quick from the first tier.

I don’t value it that much and that is just taste.

 

[Umbran]

But more optimal builds than previously, which is...more builds, and therefore, more diversity.

If you get loose with the word "optimal", I guess. But more typically, there's only one absolute best, really optimal build per type.

 

[CleverNickName]

I don't really optimize my characters to their ability scores, so those flat numerical adjustments don't add much for me. I'd much prefer they add more unique features like the dwarf's Stonecutting, Halfling Luck, dragonborn Breath Weapon, etc.

In other words, what @Micah Sweet suggested.