Races of Destiny: First Look

[JoeGKushner]

One of the authors, I think it was Sean, went into this elaborate story about how the 'masters' wanted to know why the book with all the crunch (Magic of Fearun) was selling so much better than Lords of Daknress and that if the new book, Silver Marches, didn't prove that fluff was important, that the focus would be on providing the tools and letting people create the fluff.

Pretty old about now and no community support on my side so anyone help here?

 

[Silveras]

I'm sorry, but this is just beautiful. After so many crunch vs. fluff debates, we finally get fluff. And what happens? Its usless in people's games because it isn't the fluff they wanted. Ahh, beautiful. Not picking on anyone in particular, just finding it kind of interesting to actually see this coming true. (Its not a bad thing, either, I prefer to create my own fluff and don't like being told how races should act. Give me the stats and I'll go from there)

Well, that is partially why I mentioned it. I make my own flavor for my homebrew. Mechanics I can adapt; flavor text is just wasted space for me 90% of the time. On rare occasions, the flavor text happens to mesh with what I have and I can use it; otherwise, it just adds something else to cut out before I can use the mechanics.

Strong flavor belongs in setting-specific supplements, not in ones that are for use across settings.

 

[Turjan]

One of the authors, I think it was Sean, went into this elaborate story about how the 'masters' wanted to know why the book with all the crunch (Magic of Fearun) was selling so much better than Lords of Daknress and that if the new book, Silver Marches, didn't prove that fluff was important, that the focus would be on providing the tools and letting people create the fluff.

Pretty old about now and no community support on my side so anyone help here?

You mean this nice story here ? Well, as they are still producing FR supplements, there must have been enough beans earned with Silver Marches to keep the bean-counters happy .

 

[TerraDave]

Silver Munches

One of the authors, I think it was Sean, went into this elaborate story about how the 'masters' wanted to know why the book with all the crunch (Magic of Fearun) was selling so much better than Lords of Daknress and that if the new book, Silver Marches, didn't prove that fluff was important, that the focus would be on providing the tools and letting people create the fluff.

Pretty old about now and no community support on my side so anyone help here?

http://www.seankreynolds.com/rpgfiles/gaming/forgottenrumsstory.html

EDIT: Oops, a story so nice, it has been posted twice

 

[TheEvil]

Races of Destiny does finally give the official answer to 'Half-Ogres: ECL+1 or +2' debate...

 

[Dark Psion]

And when they tell me there is a new book about humans and part humans, I'm looking for a book about the humans and part humans I use.

Bingo! That is my bigest problem. I bought this book because looking back over all my favorite characters, they are 90% Human, Half Elf and Half-Humans. That is what I thought I was buying, but Races of Faerun has more info on Aasimar & Tieflings. Give me ways to customize the half races, half elves by elven race, feats that grant Outsider traits to the planetouched (yes I already have the Races of Renown book from Green Ronin) and ways to maximise the human trait of multitasking. (imagine feats designed for multiclasses characters; a Bard/ Ranger feat that allows them to use Bardic Knowledge while Tracking or a Bard/ Sorcerer feat that combines their Caster level)

As to Fluff, there are two types of fluff.

Styofoam packing peanuts that just go everywhere and Bubble Wrap *PoP*

With this book, I also got the new L5R Way of the Thief. This book is 90% fluff, but I am not putting it down till every bubble has been poped.

*Pop*

 

[Psion]

Bingo! That is my bigest problem. I bought this book because looking back over all my favorite characters, they are 90% Human, Half Elf and Half-Humans. That is what I thought I was buying, but Races of Faerun has more info on Aasimar & Tieflings. Give me ways to customize the half races, half elves by elven race, feats that grant Outsider traits to the planetouched (yes I already have the Races of Renown book from Green Ronin) and ways to maximise the human trait of multitasking.

The Illumians are the part of the book I founnd most worthwhile. Why is simple... I really already have enough rules to play humans. It's the focus of the core rules, really.

 

[JoeGKushner]

So Psion, will the Illumians be making an appearance in your River of World campaign? They look like an easy fit. Perhaps the PC's take holiday in the city on the plane of shadow?

 

[Queen Petite]

I really already have enough rules to play humans. It's the focus of the core rules, really.

Rules yes, some fantasy-like background no. Take all the Middle Earth lore on humans for example. Nothing even trying to attempt that for D&D.

That would have been nice coverage for WoTC to do a book on IMO.

 

[JoeGKushner]

Rules yes, some fantasy-like background no. Take all the Middle Earth lore on humans for example. Nothing even trying to attempt that for D&D.

That would have been nice coverage for WoTC to do a book on IMO.

The intricate problem here is your example. "Take all the Middle Earth..." Yea, that's Middle Earth. I've already seen people demand fluff for Oerth, for Forgotten Realms, for Ravenloft, etc... anytime that it goes beyond the simple, I believe that as Psion notes, it's overall utility goes way down to the general public.

And anything too focused on historical versions of humans wouldn't compare against the massive amoutn of histroical data out there anyway.