It's Official!

[Laman Stahros]

I've not bothered to read up much on the Races races, but this particular post got me thinking. What would it be like to play an Illuminan barbarian. Your character could spend his or her entire career wandering "What in Crom's name is this thing that's always floating around my head?!?"

As per the RoD book, Illumian Barbarians can read.

I am adapting the Illumians into my campaign (without the stupid glowing lights) and they are actually quite workable once you start tearing into them (and throw out the stupid glowing lights).

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

I've not bothered to read up much on the Races races, but this particular post got me thinking. What would it be like to play an Illuminan barbarian. Your character could spend his or her entire career wandering "What in Crom's name is this thing that's always floating around my head?!?"

That reminds me of the gnomish barbarian I wanted to play who had skill points in Perform(mime). He just keeps getting angrier and angrier at being stuck inside that invisible box...

 

[harmyn]

This reminds me: D&D works quite well for races close to the human norm. But if your campaign features anything deviating significantly from the human norm, then you might be better off with other RPGs, such as GURPS.

Let's say you want a race that is basically human, but can fly. In D&D, you would have to think hard which ECL to give it, and wonder if it is "balanced" for this or that class.

In GURPS, you simply write down: Flight (Winged) [30 points], and you are done. You have the power of flight, and its cost is within reach for most starting characters, but you have less points to spend on other stuff, whatever that might be...

D&D simply doesn't handle such "weird powers" very well, and it's good to recognize that.

This is a very good point.

Jurgen is correct in pointing out that the system as seen in current D&D can create issues in terms of balance. I would also recommend GURPS, but barring that the likes of HERO or even the D6 system can do the job fairly well for you.

 

[IcyCool]

I like Goliaths. I even like the name. I preferred them as Obsidimen in Earthdawn, but hey, they couldn't copy it exactly, could they?

Illumians. They could have been so cool! But sadly, they aren't.

Raptorans. "I want to play a winged elf!" Here, play a freaky bird-man instead. I do like them though.

I'd just like to take the opportunity to say how much I like the new Killoren race. They are just supremely cool in my opinion.

 

[Dragonhelm]

I like Goliaths. I even like the name. I preferred them as Obsidimen in Earthdawn, but hey, they couldn't copy it exactly, could they?

I'm not too familiar with the obsidimen from Earthdawn. How do they contrast and compare with the goliaths?

Raptorans. "I want to play a winged elf!" Here, play a freaky bird-man instead. I do like them though.

The kyrie in Dragonlance are a much cooler bird-man race, IMO. There's just something about the whole footbow thing and the art that went with it that turned me off.

I'm really surprised that they didn't use avariel instead.

 

[Sejs]

I'm not too familiar with the obsidimen from Earthdawn. How do they contrast and compare with the goliaths?

They're pretty similar. Pseudo-earth elemental guys with rocky skin.

Obsidimen are more patient and introspective than barbaric and rage-prone like their Goliath counterparts, however.

 

[WayneLigon]

Don't have a problem with the races or their names as given. In my campaigns, most races tend to have several different names anyway, as different races or ethnic groups will call them something different.

 

[IcyCool]

They're pretty similar. Pseudo-earth elemental guys with rocky skin.

Obsidimen are more patient and introspective than barbaric and rage-prone like their Goliath counterparts, however.

Pseduo-earth elemental, nature-worshipping, massive-compared-to-men humanoids.

And the resemblance between the art for the two is ... uncanny.

For the Goliaths, the peaceful mentality and liferock are gone, and the angry barbarian rage is in. At least it's not just a cosmetic change. The Goliath chapter in Races of Stone is well written, and interesting.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Raptorians seem extra lame.

Goliaths are a decent half-giant alternative and compliment. An earth-worshiping rock-race is pretty cool, though I don't wish they were designed so transparantely to fill a mechanical niche (Potential WotC meeting notes: "We need a Barbarian-focused race with Powerful Build! Make it in the next supplement!")

Illumians have cool potential, but end up being overly convoluted. Far too many minor choices to make to have creating one be expedient and clear. Which, admittedly, fits in the tone of the book, but doesn't simplify things by making use of a pre-existing system like humans.

Psionic races are generally pretty sweet. Incarnum races are generally pretty lame.

Yay, pure subjective opinion!

 

[Kiair]

I think the Golliths is the only creatures that I can see a use for. The rest the author could have left them uncreated. I do think that new races should be created as long as they can be easily used in stories,campaigns, and would clearly make an interesting addition.