Only one demi-human race: which one?

[Sigurd]

seems like restriction for the sake of restriction

I'd set a goal and fulfill the goal

 

[Tonguez]

In my homebrew I only have humans* and gnomes

Elfs have become Fey and dwarfs didn't fit the setting. Halflings I don't see the point of (so they join the elfs)

*caveat besides standard humans there are also the O'Punga who are degenirate throwbacks (use half-orc stats) and the Urukehu (half-elffey). Other strange humans (aquatic and Winged also exist as monster races))

there are goblins, giants and sahuagin in the setting to but not as PCs (although I suaully allow goblins for those interested)

 

[Kaodi]

Gnomes, all the way. For the same reason as Sejs and Jester. As the odd race out among the demi-humans, the fact that they might be the first to be dropped from the group also contributes to them being the one to be kept in the above situation.

 

[Nyaricus]

Dwarves. I think that with the way modern fantasy portrays dwarves (having better armours, tons of gold, technologies regarding metals etc) the dwarves could be the push towards a renaissance in such a setting.

Of course, given a setting like this one, I'd have orcs/hobgoblins/giants etc being a terrible threat to humanity and dwarfkind alike, with those races holding back the progression of technology.

Just my two coppers,
--N

 

[Turanil]

I see many interesting points among these answers (thanks). To say more about why my question, I have been again working on my setting, and wanted to get rid of the core races which sound too faery/Tolkien/vanilla to me. The setting is European medieval + Celts flavored, and is intended with a more "sword& sorcery" feel (somewhat Conan like) rather than high fantasy.

I prefer dark campaigns with demon-summoning, poison, and assassination. Half-orcs fit in better with those sorts of things than do the other non-human PC races.

Good point.

 

[Desdichado]

I prefer to have no demi-human PCs at all. Given the choices, I would choose half-orcs since they seem to be the least Tolkienesque and the least fey of the standard races. I prefer dark campaigns with demon-summoning, poison, and assassination. Half-orcs fit in better with those sorts of things than do the other non-human PC races.

Where do you live and are you interested in setting up a game?

 

[Presto2112]

I'd have to submit that if you're only going to have one other humanoid race, it should be something considerably different looking from standard humans. I would recommend either reptilian or avian, to represent a similar yet different path up the evolutionary ladder (eg. dinosaurs didn't go extinct, and lizardfolk would represent the current evolutionary pinnacle), or something like goliaths, to represent something similar to the branching off in our own evolution between Cro-Magnon man and the more primitive Neanderthal co-existing at the same time.

 

[EyeontheMountain]

I went with dwarves because they are the most human like of the races in terms of attitude and interactions. Halflings are human lite, and really jsut seem too much like adolescent humans to me. Elves are... welll this is a family forum, so I guess I will self edit .... not fun. Gnomes are a mystery to me, really. Never played one, don't have a good hook on their outlook and way of looking at the world.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

In order:

Most favored: dwarf.
Second: halfling
Third: elf.

Elf might even have won, but that would mean half-elves too. Boo! Halflings are Small, which puts them just a bit below dwarves. So dwarves won. Plus, dwarves are cool and don't have their own pack of worshippers.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

All Xvart, all the time!