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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Not a Decepticon" data-source="post: 9467133" data-attributes="member: 7020527">So you challenged an argument by setting up two assumptions that, honestly, are assinine.First of all, you draw arbitrary distinction between races you are nostalgic for - Dwarves, Elves, Haflings and Gnomes - and other races. Despite the fact that Goblins and Orcs are as old staple of Fantasy literature, you arbitrairly deny them inclusion based on your own preference. Which nicely proves the problem with Half-Orc this thread was partially about, as it did exist solely as an excuse TO arbitraily deny orcs inclusion among core playable races. You also draw an arbitrary line between these four races you like and all others. What exactly makes Elf less silly than a Kobold? What makes Dwarf "more relatable" than a Goliath? None of the criteria for whatever gets a pass have been established beyond "trust me bro".With this arbitrary difference it is no wonder you got the Fellowship of the Ring. A party sent by council of Elves, Humans and Dwarves being composed of single Elf & Dwarf, two humans, four Hobbits and an Angel isn't any less ridiculous than a party composed entierly of Kobolds and Tortles, aside from arbitrary lines. Yes, that party had two humans BUT you are ignoring the fact that both Aragorn and Boromir were far from relatable. One was ridiculously long-lived heir to an ancient kingdom and a mysterious forest ranger, the other was presented as shady and outright antagonsitic even early on - even when they're guests of Galadriel Boromir is constantly the one to be mistrustful and throwing shade, clearly undermining the kinship other were formign with the Elves. Tolkien was laying it thick Boromir will betray the group, it was a plot twist he redeemed himself, honestly. In fact, it was the Hobbits Tolkiein intended as point of view characters and the ones readers will relate to. The hwole asusmption about the adventuring parties needing a human fall apart when you realize other races are as relatable.Moreover, you make some weird assumptions about the settings. First of all, marking Spelljammer and Planescape as exceptions, excluding them from the mainstream line of D&D settings, is again, arbitrary. Planescape was always more influential and popular than Birthright, main reason Brithright flopped was that it had to compete with Planescape. Planescape and Spelljammer were main influences on the D&D from 3rd edition onward, as WotC always was trying to make them part of the core of what D&D is. The things you excluded had more to say about what the game is for the last 24 years than what you did include.Also, these assumptions about D&D settings are in themselves arbitrary. One of the most beloved Forgotten Realms series is about Drizzt, a Drow. It was supposed to be about barbarian hero he is friends with, but he proved more interesting to readers. In fact, the way majority of fans seem to get into the series is t obegin with Drizzt's origin trilogy, not the Icewind Dale Trilogy that came later. And that one is entierly Drows all the way down.You mention Mystara as if Mystara didn't have Lupins and Rakasta, multiple unique forms of Elves and ALIENS. Hell, the most famous novel series set in Mystara is from perspective of a Dragon. You mention Dragonlance as if one of the most popular POW characters wasn't a Kender, who are designed to be way different from standard races, be it humans or otrher Haflings, and the series didn't have several books from perspective of Elves, Draconians or Goblins.  Again, you make arbitrary assumptions and then get mad when people don't adhere to them, despite giving no good reason to.Why are the they supposed to be relatable or grounded again? The obsession with making protagonsits relatable is and always was misguided and stupid. I could as a kid love Spider-man, despite, as a kid growing up in post-Iron Courtain Eastern Europe, his life was so alien to me he would be more relatable if he was a green slime from Mars who has to walk his Gazonkadonk across the Six Moons every morning and find his bulgubub withg a whistle or he'll be fired from ant dressing service. one of my favorite movies is John Q despite the fact that "rptoagonsit must be relatable" dogma dictates the protagonist's experience should be incomprehensible to a person raised in a country with free healthcare. Millions of impoverished people love Batman, who is the least grounded, least relatable, most made up and impossible character ever, being a good billionaire who is omniscient, omnipotent and invincible. People don't pick up Hellboy and then find Liz Sherman only relatable character, they do it for Hellboy, despite him being a demon with six-tons brick for a hand.Hoenstly, to hell with groudned and relatable. Give me characters who are interesting.</blockquote>

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