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Message: <blockquote data-quote="SHARK" data-source="post: 213239" data-attributes="member: 1131">Greetings!Hmmm...interesting thread, my dear Limper! Very interesting indeed!<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> I personally like lots of different and strange races--the more animal-like, wierd, or multi-colored, the better! (Yes, I think Talislanta, while long overlooked, will go down in RPG history as quite simply the most original and interesting game-world ever created.<img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)"  data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" /> ) However, I am also a fan of humans. I think there is simply a desire to have characters that are interesting and different, in that they don't look like humans, nor do they have the same set of typical human problems and issues. They can approach life in wildly different ways--ways that are at least rare, if not impossible for humans to ascertain.Having said that, in my own campaigns, despite many of my non-human races having powerful advantages over humans in a number of areas, or even most areas, it is interesting how many players decide to play humans, particularly Vallorean Humans. There are of course different tribes and provinces within the Vallorean Empire, but there seems to be a powerful draw to playing a human from the Vallorean Empire.In my campaigns, many races have greater stats, extra powers, or longer lifespans than humans. Still, humans in general, and Valloreans in particular, have several advantages that I realise some seem to believe aren't *balancing* factors for superior or inferior stats, but I would have to disagree. Humans in general are still more pervasive, and more adaptable--in all ways--than other races. Humans are more flexible in alignments, religion, and in philosophy. Humans also breed faster, and ultimately outnumber most any foe that they face. Humans have very open and adaptive cultures, embracing virtually any class, magic, spell, or form of technology.Thus, wherever the characters go, humans are everywhere. Humans are, per capita, richer than any other race. Humans have greater political organization, political and religious unity, as well as the largest and most adaptable armies, that even if defeated, are more easily and quickly replaced than the armies of other, non-human races. Humans are arrogant and powerful, and they know it. Even if they die, they have the smug satisfaction of knowing--and letting others know about it--that a hundred years from now, or five hundred years from now, the non-humans will still have to face the humans. The might of the humans is unstoppable. All of the non0humans should just see the light, and bow down! Humanity will eventually conquer everyone and everything in its path. That is the belief, and whether or not it is ultiamtely true doesn't stop humans from believing it passionately, nor does it stop any non-humans from, deep down, wondering in fear if it is really true. The non-humans, even in their contempt and hatred, fear and admire the humans for constantly marching and struggling--the humans never quit, they never surrender, they never give up. In my campaigns, whether it is the Celtic barbarians of the isles and highlands, or the viking raiders, or ferocious barbarians of the northern forests, or the Vallorean Empire, or of the Egyptian-like empire that exists, or of the Greek-like city states, or the powerful Babylonian-like empire, humans are always interesting to play, and the players seem to always enjoy playing them, even in the face of *superior* non-human races. I suppose I am spoiled, because in my own experience, I have seen so many players seem to gravitate towards more character-driven and story-driven play, as opposed to *this race has a +2 higher strength, and two more skill points* approach, that I thus don't always think that a slavish concern for *balance* is always necessary or appropriate. Semper Fidelis,SHARK</blockquote>

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