The other humans

[DMH]

According to the SRD humans are defined as

Humans
Medium: As Medium creatures, humans have no special bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Human base land speed is 30 feet.
1 extra feat at 1st level.
4 extra skill points at 1st level and 1 extra skill point at each additional level.
Automatic Language: Common. Bonus Languages: Any (other than secret languages, such as Druidic). See the Speak Language skill.
Favored Class: Any. When determining whether a multiclass human takes an experience point penalty, his or her highest-level class does not count.

That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Heck it doesn't even mention they have to be humanoid.

So, with the restriction that the definition is involate, what physical descriptions can we come up with for human? (ie no mechanical bonuses or penalties)

 

[Fifth Element]

According to the SRD humans are defined as

That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Heck it doesn't even mention they have to be humanoid.

So, with the restriction that the definition is involate, what physical descriptions can we come up with for human? (ie no mechanical bonuses or penalties)

Well, according to the SRD female humans are between 4'7" and 6'1" tall, and weigh between 89 and 245 pounds. Males are between 5'0" and 6'6" tall and weigh between 124 and 280 pounds. Assuming I've done my math right.

Of course, none of the races are really defined in terms of physical descriptions in the SRD. So this question could apply just as easily to elves and dwarves.

 

[DMH]

You missed the point completely. I was trying to create a thread to give the readers some ideas on how to expand upon the idea of humanity without making them new races.

 

[WayneLigon]

That leaves a lot of wiggle room. Heck it doesn't even mention they have to be humanoid.

About as much wiggle room as we have on Earth; their creature type is Humanoid, so they definately are humanoid. But that still leaves tremendous variation; Gnolls are humanoids, too, after all.

As far as pure looks, there's not really any limit; they could conceivably have any skin or eye or hair color found in an Earthly animal, which is almost all of them. 4-6 fingers and/or toes. They could be egg-layers like ERB Martians where. You could get away with a short or non-prehensile tail with no mechanical benefits, easy.

 

[dmccoy1693]

So, with the restriction that the definition is involate, what physical descriptions can we come up with for human? (ie no mechanical bonuses or penalties)

• Fur,
• Feathers,
• 6 Fingers per hand,
• 3 Fingers per hand,
• Completely Hairless,
• Dog-Shaped Snout,
• Bill,
• Head turned around backwards (President Skroob, Spaceballs),

Is this what you had inmind?

 

[DMH]

Yes. Real humans are pretty diverse and fantasy (and sci-fi) settings could make them so much more so.

But instead of a generic list, why not create whole "races". Like a group of islanders with green skin and hair, slick skin (not enough to make a difference mechanically) and the upper ability to hold one's breath. They dive for coral and pearls as well as food.

 

[Stormborn]

So basically what you are talking about is Star Trek. The vast majority of Star Trek races are humans with cosmetic differences, maybe swaping the bonus feat for a racial feat but otherwise the same. You can flavor text humans into just about anything.

 

[dmccoy1693]

But instead of a generic list, why not create whole "races". Like a group of islanders with green skin and hair, slick skin (not enough to make a difference mechanically) and the upper ability to hold one's breath. They dive for coral and pearls as well as food.

Ok, I see what you're saying. So a human sub-race known for its hunting/tracking but not for its magic could have a +2 to survival/move silently racial bonus and a -2 spellcraft/knowledge(arcana) racial penalty in addition to the standard human racial benefits. Yes? Keeping it mechanicly balanced, but still different then other types of human.

 

[Stormborn]

Ok, I see what you're saying. So a human sub-race known for its hunting/tracking but not for its magic could have a +2 to survival/move silently racial bonus and a -2 spellcraft/knowledge(arcana) racial penalty in addition to the standard human racial benefits. Yes? Keeping it mechanicly balanced, but still different then other types of human.

No, I think he wants to keep them mechanically the same, not just balanced. I think he wants flavor text that can explain the rather generic human racial traits.

 

[Pbartender]

Ok, I see what you're saying. So a human sub-race known for its hunting/tracking but not for its magic could have a +2 to survival/move silently racial bonus and a -2 spellcraft/knowledge(arcana) racial penalty in addition to the standard human racial benefits. Yes?

No, that sort of sub-race would simply have all its members take Track as their bonus feat, and sink all the bonus skill points into survival.