Well, this is partly rant,partly question.
Since the 4E mystery race was revealed I read a lot of complains about that race which say that they are too exotic and doesn't fit into the PHB or PoL setting in general.
When I read those posts, especially some examples people bring, I get the impression that a majority of people think that humans could only get along with other human looking races. That most 3E PHB races are just humans of different sizes and/or pointy ears probably reinforced this impression.
But while the looks does play a part in being exotic or not, isn't it the culture which in the end defines how exotic a race is? Many people who argue against this mystery race seem to assume that this race simply appeared out of thin air a few days ago and no one has a a clue who those guys are. But most of the time this would not be the case but instead the PHB races would have known each other for hundereds, maybe even thousands of years. They might not live together and some humans might not seen one in their whole life but it can be expected that most humans would know that they exist, are civilized and that you can talk and trade with them.
And imo this is more important for an PC race than looking like a human. If the people know that a race is peaceful and civilized (and that race is balanced) it can be a PHB race no matter if it looks like lizards, insects, etc. So there is no PHB race which does not fit, only campaigns where certain PHB races don't fit. And that doesn't even have to be "non human looking" PHB race. If this race is all over the place trading and otherwise getting along with everyone they will be easily playable. And when a human looking PHB race is secretive and hides in small hidden areas where no one of teh other PHb races manages to come out alive it is awfully hard, probably even impossible to make them playable in that setting as that simply doesn't fit.
So my conclusion is that not the look determines if a race is "too exotic" to be a PHB race but the culture. And thats why I can't understand all those "The mystery race are too exotic for a PHB race, they don't fit!" complains. You are teh DM, you can make them fit if you want.
Since the 4E mystery race was revealed I read a lot of complains about that race which say that they are too exotic and doesn't fit into the PHB or PoL setting in general.
When I read those posts, especially some examples people bring, I get the impression that a majority of people think that humans could only get along with other human looking races. That most 3E PHB races are just humans of different sizes and/or pointy ears probably reinforced this impression.
But while the looks does play a part in being exotic or not, isn't it the culture which in the end defines how exotic a race is? Many people who argue against this mystery race seem to assume that this race simply appeared out of thin air a few days ago and no one has a a clue who those guys are. But most of the time this would not be the case but instead the PHB races would have known each other for hundereds, maybe even thousands of years. They might not live together and some humans might not seen one in their whole life but it can be expected that most humans would know that they exist, are civilized and that you can talk and trade with them.
And imo this is more important for an PC race than looking like a human. If the people know that a race is peaceful and civilized (and that race is balanced) it can be a PHB race no matter if it looks like lizards, insects, etc. So there is no PHB race which does not fit, only campaigns where certain PHB races don't fit. And that doesn't even have to be "non human looking" PHB race. If this race is all over the place trading and otherwise getting along with everyone they will be easily playable. And when a human looking PHB race is secretive and hides in small hidden areas where no one of teh other PHb races manages to come out alive it is awfully hard, probably even impossible to make them playable in that setting as that simply doesn't fit.
So my conclusion is that not the look determines if a race is "too exotic" to be a PHB race but the culture. And thats why I can't understand all those "The mystery race are too exotic for a PHB race, they don't fit!" complains. You are teh DM, you can make them fit if you want.