Rethinking humans...

[Xeriar]

Yes, but even if it's true (and articles I've read don't seem convinced) that pale skin conserves a significant amount of heat, the very body plan of your typical Northern European is designed to radiate it -- tall and relatively thin is completely maladaptive to cold climates. As for the amount of time the populations have been in the area, all I can say is punctuated equilibrium, baby! Especially since Inuit are, in all other respects, about as perfectly adapted to their habitat as they can be.

For a species that builds its own (potentially heated) shelters and walks upright though, being tall and thin isn't as much of a drawback as it could be. We have hair on our heads and where thick enough clothing

Such a rapid change in what amounts to two thousand generations would not seem (to me) to be punctuated equilibrium

Gives elves a free level of sorcerer or wizard, depending on which you feel they are more associated with. Make it a level that doesn't stack with other spellcasting levels or its horribly broken. So you could be an elven wizard who essentially has a few extra fitrst level spells. Elves are magic, so give them more magic. Perhaps even a bonus to one of the mental stats.

A level would be a bit clunky. Spell-like abilities that actually mean something - that would be talking a pick of 1st-3rd level ones, say feather fall, haste, etc.

Maybe add the ability to constantly see into the ethereal.

dwarves'd need something too. something big.

Well, I've generally moved all bonuses to +4 rather then +2 (so it means something) - but I have also extended dwarven darkvision out to the extent of their normal vision.

I was thinking about giving them a penalty in sunlight, but, if they work the forge - that's pretty bright too. Maybe just say they can't distinguish color at all.

 

[Norfleet]

Yes, but even if it's true (and articles I've read don't seem convinced) that pale skin conserves a significant amount of heat, the very body plan of your typical Northern European is designed to radiate it -- tall and relatively thin is completely maladaptive to cold climates. As for the amount of time the populations have been in the area, all I can say is punctuated equilibrium, baby! Especially since Inuit are, in all other respects, about as perfectly adapted to their habitat as they can be.

I think that the tall aspect of northern European stock is not so much derived from living in cold climates, so much as it is derived from our tendency to kill each other in violent local conflicts. Being taller gave one an impressive muscular advantage when trying to smash, stab, and skewer one's opponent, something which undoubtedly also aided in the acquisition of a mate. Given that Europeans possess the most violently destructive culture, as evidenced by our tendency to expand outwards to attack and destroy other people's cultures, that's probably closer to the truth.

 

[Desdichado]

I don't believe in cultures that are violently destructive for tens of thousands of years. Sorry!

 

[Xeriar]

I don't believe in cultures that are violently destructive for tens of thousands of years. Sorry!

I think you are being a little narrow here.

Evolution happens due to selective pressure. In a harsh climate, you have food shortages, and food shortages require that, through some means, population be kept down.

Selective pressure due to climate is easy for humans to work around. If trees can grow there, or at least nearby, humans will do fine. But it's difficult to make the same patch of land make more food when breeding programs are not in place (like now).

So, there is a competition for resources (land, food, and fuel) that drives violence.

This does not make them 'violently destructive'.

 

[snarfoogle]

Whoops, double post.

 

[snarfoogle]

I hate every ape I see, from chimpanA to chimpanZ

I like FoxWander's idea of +2 racial bonus to any mental stat, because if humans weren't as smart and chimpanzees were smarter, then chimpanzees would rule the world and humans would be their banana mine slaves like some sort of Planet of the Apes SFRP.

 

[ciaran00]

Xeriar. I think you have hit the nail on the head as far as dominance goes. The aspects presented in the first post as well as the definitions by numbers that follow in a later post do explain (better) which humans are mysteriously better off than everyone else. I always thought that racial acceptability (humans aren't racist like other races) was a crock... I have made human characters who are human supremacists, and for good reason.

I particularly like the swapping out idea... it explains why humans just "pick things up" as they go.

Do you mind if I use this for my own game?

ciaran

 

[Xeriar]

Feel free! If I was going to be all posessive and clustered about it I wouldn't have posted it here

I was hoping for any information anyone had regarding other abilities of humans that could be taken away from other races and still make them playable in the same context... But, I think I've run the gamut on that one at RPG.net...

 

[Winternight]

Fifth: Humans are hard-wired for addition, subtraction, and counting. A species that could not would have to memorize addition and subtraction tables like most do multiplication.

Can`t say much about the others, but this is plain wrong.
Adding and subtracing was by memorizing up to 1700. (At least in Europe).
The invention of zero is dated about 500BC. Pretty late for humankind.

Even animals can count - add and subtract. Some raven can count up to five.
Maybe other points are as wrong as this,
But it doens`t matter beause:
it is your game. have fun. If you want to give humans an extra feat every odd level, do it.

And you can't compare real world to fantasy world. In real world gods don't create new races ( the humans) after losing the fun on the old races (Dwarfs). In real world no human subrace has some speciality what others don`t have.
Heck you can`t even compare dwarfs with humans.
You say humans are the the only mammals who can swim (more or less).
What about elves? Can elves swim? Can dwarfs swim? If yes why? Pigs don`t swim why should dwarfs?

@fire:
In most fantasy settings the dwarfs and elves had an high culture long, long before human kind was created by some gods. Heck they even had wars aggainst each other. Racial Wars. It is the dwarfs and elves which should get the additional skill point.

I think this fictional description of the races is more or less balanced. Bolstering the humans is fine, it is your game, but it would be the same (more or less) if you give the wizard one extra metamagic feat each 3rd level and martial weapon profiency "Gandalf rocked, so every Wizard must rock must rock"

 

[Xeriar]

Can`t say much about the others, but this is plain wrong.
Adding and subtracing was by memorizing up to 1700. (At least in Europe).

What does this have to do with the fact that it's hardwired? Seriously, there is a part of your brain geared to addition, subtraction, and counting. It can get damaged and you can lose it.

The invention of zero is dated about 500BC. Pretty late for humankind.

The Chinese used the symbol for 'void' in its place, don't know about other cultures. Don't see why this is a point...

Even animals can count - add and subtract. Some raven can count up to five.

The point was that a race might not necessarily need the ability to be considered sentient.