D&D General What are humans?

[Micah Sweet]

Compared to dwarfs and elfs, we are breeding faster and in greater numbers. In time that takes elf couple to raise their kid to adulthood (say 100 years), human one already has grandkids. It's hard to kill of humans below replacement speed. Quantity has quality of it's own.

Unlike Orcs, humans are more open to cooperation and trade, at least if they see their own benefit ( we are greedy bunch). Also, while we are tribalistic, we are fast to unite against common enemy And just like stereotypical orcs and goblins, humans are capable of doing some horrific stuff. Don't underestimate hairless murder apes.

Curiosity is also one of strong suits. It's that curiosity that inspires us to innovate and progress technologically.

Other than asthetics, I'm not sure how much difference there is between humans and the modern conception of orcs that can't be explained away as cultural. It's actually be a big part of the issue of defining orcs nowadays.

 

[Micah Sweet]

No.

The weird Halflings act like humans.

The average Halfling is a homebody who does the same exact things as their neighbors.

That's a cultural thing though. Plenty of human cultures in real life have done the same thing.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Clearly in D&D terms humans are the race that shags everything.

I don't think that's just DnD...

 

[Mind of tempest]

humans are the only mortal whose soul software licence has been rendered void with the complete collapse of its creator making it the public domain option for gods on a budget.

 

[Minigiant]

That's a cultural thing though. Plenty of human cultures in real life have done the same thing.

In D&D, Halfling homebodiness is an ingrained psychological feature. It's not culture.

 

[Micah Sweet]

In D&D, Halfling homebodiness is an ingrained psychological feature. It's not culture.

I thought D&D species weren't allowed to have psychological features.

 

[Frozen_Heart]

Other than asthetics, I'm not sure how much difference there is between humans and the modern conception of orcs that can't be explained away as cultural. It's actually be a big part of the issue of defining orcs nowadays.

I mean, I picture orcs as considerably larger and stronger than humans, with more fast twitch muscle fibers allowing explosive strength.

They're often pictured with longer arms than humans and a less upright posture.

They also suggested to have a higher proportion of meat in their diets than humans.

 

[Minigiant]

I thought D&D species weren't allowed to have psychological features.

D&D species weren't allowed to have mechanical psychological weaknesses.

Gnomes still have super brains.
Humans get a feat.

 

[Remathilis]

A human is a miserable pile of secrets!

 

[Micah Sweet]

I mean, I picture orcs as considerably larger and stronger than humans, with more fast twitch muscle fibers allowing explosive strength.

They're often pictured with longer arms than humans and a less upright posture.

They also suggested to have a higher proportion of meat in their diets than humans.

How do you square that with a lack of a Strength bonus?