Staple Fantasy Races

[Aeric]

While it's true that some fantasy worlds don't have elves, dwarves, orcs, and/or halflings, I often find that they have some parallel to them.

Elves=elegant and wise race with mysterious and spiritual/magical abilities

Dwarves=strong and sturdy combative-types with a love for craftsmanship

Halflings=diminuitive humanoids who tend to be roguish in outlook

Orks=savage, primal, and violent beast-men from the fringes of civilization

 

[Voadam]

Humans

Elves (Eragon, D&D, Palladium, Everquest, Tolkien, WoW, EarthDawn, MtG, etc.)

Dwarves (Eragon, Paladium, WoW, Everquest, Tolkien, Earthdawn, MtG, etc.)

Goblins (WoW, Everquest, Palladium, Tolkien, MtG, etc.)

Reptilemen types (Conan's Serpent Folk, Everquest has one, WFRP has one, Earthdawn, Star Wars and Star trek have them, etc.)

Ratmen types (WFRP, Scarred Lands, Ptolus, wererats in Anita Blake story)

Catmen types (In Star Wars, Kzinn, Everquest, Arcana Unearthed, werelepards in Anita Blake, etc.)

Dog men types (sometimes werewolves fill this niche) (Werewolf, Palladium)

Fey of some sort (Earthdawn, Arcana Unearthed)

Ogres (Palladium, WoW, Wheel of Time)

Orcs (Palladium, Everquest, Tolkien, WoW, EarthDawn, MtG, etc.)

Trolls (Palladium, Everquest, Tolkien, WoW, EarthDawn, etc.)

 

[Roman]

Some people pointed out that there are fantasy genres that do not have any non-human races, which is certainly true. I have certainly run fantasy games without races other than the humans and I at least think that they can make for compelling settings. However, out of the fantasy fiction and games that do have non-humanoid races, do you think any of the fantasy races other than humans exceed the 50% threshold, which I in the end did not apply, because I did not think they would?

 

[BiggusGeekus]

Some people pointed out that there are fantasy genres that do not have any non-human races, which is certainly true. I have certainly run fantasy games without races other than the humans and I at least think that they can make for compelling settings. However, out of the fantasy fiction and games that do have non-humanoid races, do you think any of the fantasy races other than humans exceed the 50% threshold, which I in the end did not apply, because I did not think they would?

As an aside: when Jim Henson was drafting out the Dark Crystal movie, the gelflings were supposed to look less human than they did. But some research showed that people tend to want to have their heroes be attractive folks they can relate to. This may or may not be something to consider.

As for non-humans exceeding the 50% mark or becoming dominant, that depends mostly on your game's history. In the real world, humans pretty much kicked the snot out of Cro-Magnons, so it is hard to make a strong case for orcs. Everything else depends on birthrate and infant survival. Going by the core rules, gnomes would have a pretty strong showing with innate magic use. Though, I have to say, some creatures like dragons and beholders would wipe the floor with any of the humaniods. And mind flayers eat brains. Can't forget that.

 

[Roman]

As an aside: when Jim Henson was drafting out the Dark Crystal movie, the gelflings were supposed to look less human than they did. But some research showed that people tend to want to have their heroes be attractive folks they can relate to. This may or may not be something to consider.

I generally agree with this. I think by far the majority of fantasy settings have humans or at least a race that is essentially human, but has a different name.

As for non-humans exceeding the 50% mark or becoming dominant, that depends mostly on your game's history.

I think you misinterpreted the 50% threshold I was talking about. By 50% threshold I meant that the race appears in 50% or more of fantasy fiction or games that have non-human races, not that the race makes up more than 50% of the population nor that it otherwise dominates. In any case, I have abandoned the threshold before I implemented it, due to doubts that any fantasy race other than humans would make it past the 50% mark.

In the real world, humans pretty much kicked the snot out of Cro-Magnons, so it is hard to make a strong case for orcs.

Not to be pedantic, but Cro-Magnons are Homo Sapiens Sapiens humans. It was the Neantherthals that were displaced, but it is not clear whether this displacement was so complete. There is an anthropological debate going on regarding the question of whether Neantherthals interbred with the newly ariving humas, or simply died out without trace.

 

[Particle_Man]

Gods, big or small.

 

[Voadam]

I don't think anything gets into over 50%.

Ars Magica as fantasy game is humans only. As was Mage the Ascension. Vampire the Masquerade, etc.

Saberhagen's Sword series and Zelazny's Amber series, don't have standard non humans that I recall. Wheel of Time has only Ogier, Conan only has serpent folk, Lankhmar has only wererats, invisible fleshed ghouls, and I think stardock gnomes, etc.

 

[Huw]

In the real world, humans pretty much kicked the snot out of Cro-Magnons, so it is hard to make a strong case for orcs.

You mean neanderthals, surely? Cro magnons were homo sapiens.

Another archetype: Big hairy humanoid. Think wookie, wood-wose, sasquatch, Earthdawn style troll or Tarzan's apes.

 

[Malhost Zormaeril]

I don't think anything gets into over 50%.

Ars Magica as fantasy game is humans only. As was Mage the Ascension. Vampire the Masquerade, etc.

Saberhagen's Sword series and Zelazny's Amber series, don't have standard non humans that I recall. Wheel of Time has only Ogier, Conan only has serpent folk, Lankhmar has only wererats, invisible fleshed ghouls, and I think stardock gnomes, etc.

Mage: the Ascension and Vampire: the Masquerade have fairies. They're called Changelings, though. Of course, there, the elves are called Sidhe, the gnomes are called Boggans, the Dwarves have been split in twain and half joined with giants to form Trolls and half became Nockers. Oh, and Orcs are called Redcaps.