Racial variety

[Wolv0rine]

unfortunately, the whole idea of drawing a fantasy world as you look does have something to do with racism, bigotry and prejudice. Its not as strong or sinister as those terms have come to be connotated, but it is from the same base impulses. "I am normal, I am the default, if I'm asked to draw a person without reference to race, I will universaly make them my own race, because thats what a 'person' looks like."
The unthinking assumption that the entire universe looks like you unless there's a "good reason" for them not to is essentially a racist one, though a mostly benign form of racism.

Kahuna Burger

I'd have to mildly challenge calling this racism, even in a soft, benign form. By the very fact that we all live inside of our own selves, we cannot ever truely move past the core concept that we are baseline - because we are baseline to ourselves. It's not a matter of assuming the entire universe looks like you, it's a matter of yourself being your first, and most primal, core example what a person looks like. There's no lessening of others in this, no unthinking feeling of superiority, primarilly. It's simply a matter of yourself being the first, longest, most permanent core mental image of a human being (with the possible exception of your parents as the first - but by this same token, your parents more than likely bear at least a passing over-all resemblance to you).

Youre right, because I am an experienced player and am comfortable changing the game to fit my needs. What about those newbies, who may even be children who arent as comfortable. When I first started playing Dungeons and Dragons, at age 9, I didn't understand the rules that well. But I knew what an elf looked like and it wasn't like me.

As far as altering things on that level, I can't see how that's a matter of experience with the game at all. It's a pretty simple leap to make to come to the conclusion that since people in real life come in different ethnicities that people in Fantasy can just as easily come in just as much diversity, if not much more. I had no "more experienced players" to guide me to this conclusion when I first began playing RPGs, and it seemed fairly self-evident to me. I don't mean that to come across in a hostile manner, mind you. I'm not saying "It was obvious to me, are you an idiot?" or anything.. just saying that I don't understand why such a thing would have to be specifically stated to be presumed. My own campaign world has nearly a dozen Elf sub-races, and while the skin/hair/eye color ranges are pretty specifically set, their specific features aren't. One could just as easilly play a Frost Elf, for example (skin tones ranging from snow-white to light blue) with thick lips, a wide nose, and dreadlocks as a negroid human with the same features. I mean it doesn't say anywhere in the rules that I'm aware of what a Human looks like, but we all have a pretty good idea of the range of appearances that humans come in. It doesn't have to be stated for us, does it? If you want to play an ethnically "different" character - more power to you.

 

[Ace]

thwacks people upside the head with a wake-up stick.
remember, this is just a game. it is only a game.
if it were reality, elves would be toting the virtues of mcdonald's burgers and dragons would be in the army.
^_^
you can have as much racial vareity as you want in a game or as little. Dungeons and dragons is supposed to be versitle and flexible. bogging it down with political correctedness takes away the fun. and now you'll be saying that D&D is the work of the Tanar'ri and all works should be burned and the ashes sown with holy water.

Actually with all the rules you are supposed to follow I would say a Baatezu

 

[kirinke]

Actually with all the rules you are supposed to follow I wopuld say a Baataezu

lol. either would work. they're both big, scawwy and and not very nice. run bunnies, run! the Baataezu are comming followed by their buddies! AHHHHH

 

[nHammer]

Well in the original situation gin described, the people in question were new to the game and likely haven't had an opportunity to read the books in detail, and shouldn't be expected to have scoured the Player's Handbook for those few lines that deal with skin color. What a newbie, or any one remotely interested in the game has done however, is picked up a PHB and flipped through the pages and seen the pictures. And if these people have had little or no experience with RPGs, much less D&D, it is no way 'stupid' for them to assume that their character should (or should not) look a certain way.

haven't had an opportunity to read the books in detail, and shouldn't be expected to have scoured the Player's Handbook for those few lines that deal with skin color.

Scoured the book? I didn't realize the section of the book called RACES was so hard to find.

And if these people have had little or no experience with RPGs, much less D&D, it is no way 'stupid' for them to assume that their character should (or should not) look a certain way

Yes, it is. Making assumtions about the game with out reading it, is kinda stupid.

 

[LGodamus]

technically, making any assumption without finding a few things out first is stupid.

 

[Emiricol]

I'm going to go ahead and assume that's true ;p