D&D General [+] More Robust 'Fantasy Race' Mechanics for D&D-alikes / Redeeming 'Race as Class' for Modern D&D [+]

[Mannahnin]

TBF when WotC started giving humans actual benefits instead of class-limiting and level-capping everyone else, Humans got a lot more attractive to play, IME.

I've played SO MANY MORE humans since picking up 3.0 in 2002 or 2003 than I ever did in the TSR days.

 

[Micah Sweet]

TBF when WotC started giving humans actual benefits instead of class-limiting and level-capping everyone else, Humans got a lot more attractive to play, IME.

I've played SO MANY MORE humans since picking up 3.0 in 2002 or 2003 than I ever did in the TSR days.

To be honest, I'm never completely comfortable with any party that doesn't include at least one human. I feel it adds necessary (to me) perspective. There's a reason nearly all fantasy or science fiction stories have at least one human, and often they are the majority.

 

[Mannahnin]

To be honest, I'm never completely comfortable with any party that doesn't include at least one human. I feel it adds necessary (to me) perspective. There's a reason nearly all fantasy or science fiction stories have at least one human, and often they are the majority.

Sure. I expect because they're easier to relate to, and if they're centered, demihumans can be more easily defined/understood by the ways they contrast with the humans.

This is one place I'm sympathetic to Gary's desire to incentivize people to play humans. I just prefer to make them an attractive choice rather than putting disadvantages (which may never even come into play, looking at you level caps!) on other choices.

Last night we did character gen for a new Shadowdark game and I was gratified when 2/4 of the players selected human (with that sweet bonus Talent roll) alongside the elf and the goblin.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Sure. I expect because they're easier to relate to, and if they're centered, demihumans can be more easily defined/understood by the ways they contrast with the humans.

This is one place I'm sympathetic to Gary's desire to incentivize people to play humans. I just prefer to make them an attractive choice rather than putting disadvantages (which may never even come into play, looking at you level caps!) on other choices.

Last night we did character gen for a new Shadowdark game and I was gratified when 2/4 of the players selected human (with that sweet bonus Talent roll) alongside the elf and the goblin.

I hear you. I had a session zero for my new Level Up campaign last week. I had no particular restrictions on character build, but I am so happy I got a Human PC (the others are a Changeling and a Goliath).

 

[Tesral]

Does the game really need yet more power creep?

That depend entirely on who you talk to. I say no. I find the Pathfinder power creep too much. But I do not have to have Humans as the golden child. I'm good with balanced races no one ahead, and no one crippled to put someone ahead. D&D/AD&D has a strong thread of racism in it. Something I do not like. You are welcome to see how I do it. http://www.oldephoenixinn.net/fantasy/fantpdf/03_Manual_Races.pdf

 

[Lanefan]

That depend entirely on who you talk to. I say no. I find the Pathfinder power creep too much. But I do not have to have Humans as the golden child. I'm good with balanced races no one ahead, and no one crippled to put someone ahead. D&D/AD&D has a strong thread of racism in it. Something I do not like. You are welcome to see how I do it. http://www.oldephoenixinn.net/fantasy/fantpdf/03_Manual_Races.pdf

Love that you still call them Hobbits!

FYI there's a typo in the first line of your Elf height-weight table, a couple of digits seem to be missing in the far-right column.