What moves you to choose a specific race?

[Kobold Stew]

I like playing other races, I'll admit. It helps cement the "fantasy" in the fantasy world for me in trying to present an alien psychology credibly during a game. Always humanoid, nothing more exotic than a lizard folk or goblinoid.

The choice of race comes from a desire to play a certain race/class combination -- sometimes a pairing just speaks to me as offering opportunities in play. I have no interest in a half-orc barbarian, but a half-orc paladin or cleric does appeal. I like the thought of a mechanically unoptimized pairing, and then doing what I can to make it work in play, both mechanically and narratively.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Ditto that.

 

[Olgar Shiverstone]

Now, the question is, what is the reason for you choosing a specific race? The stats/abilities it provides? The concept of a dwarf or elf due to some affinity? Pure lore based on the campaign setting? Something else?

All of the above.

It flows from the character concept. Sometimes, the race is inherent in the concept ("Picard, the elven ranger"). Sometimes it just seems to fit a particular race better (envisioning a scrubby low-Cha druid whose best friends are badgers, it seemed fun to make him a dwarf). Sometime, because I haven't played that race in a while.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Ummm...ditto that, too.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

First and foremost, the stats and abilities it provides. I usually make a character intending to go with a specific class, and race is a secondary choice for me. Therefore, I pick a race which will enhance my class choice.

After I have a subset of races (there usually isn't Just One (possibly-)Good Choice), I'll look at the setting lore and see what "clicks" better with the class I'm going for- as well as providing interesting RP hooks from which to design character background and such.

Yup, same here. Mostly, my concepts are about class, not race.

If it weren't for stat boosts, 90% of my characters would be human because honestly, humanoids are essentially just human sub-races that magnify a particular aspect or two of humanity. And I can't be arsed to remember those little '+1 to this' and '+4 against purple-skinned monsters' frills that come with so many races.

 

[Nytmare]

Character first, then tricks and special abilities a far second.

 

[Libertad]

It's usually a factor of "Would this sound cool?" "Would this be appropriate for the current group/campaign?" and "Would this choice not gimp my character concept?"

 

[Shemeska]

I couldn't usually care less about the mechanics the race provides. I want the race whose background lore fits the overall character concept best, whose nature provides me the most in-game hooks to play with, and whose appearance I find interesting.

Lots of tieflings (2e/3e/PF style with the crazy awesome variety, not the homogenous 4e style), various other planetouched, a kobold once, and at some point I yearn to play a crazy-technicolor-haired Pathfinder gnome rogue or a PF goblin alchemist or summoner.

 

[Tequila Sunrise]

Lots of tieflings (2e/3e/PF style with the crazy awesome variety, not the homogenous 4e style), various other planetouched, a kobold once, and at some point I yearn to play a crazy-technicolor-haired Pathfinder gnome rogue or a PF goblin alchemist or summoner.

Yeah, same here. I like how 4e handles a lot of things, but tiefling artwork isn't one of them. Whenever they appear in my games, they're bizarre badass DiTerlizzi tieflings. In my mind, at least, 'cause it's all in the mind.

I could usually care less about the mechanics the race provides. I want the race whose background lore fits the overall character concept best, whose nature provides me the most in-game hooks to play with, and whose appearance I find interesting.

I don't think that means what you think it means.

/grammar nazi

 

[Giltonio_Santos]

It's all about stereotypes. Every character starts as a human in my head, then if I'm going for a specific stereotype, I may choose a different race, like an elf for a nature guardian or a gnome for a crazy tinkerer. While I don't judge does who do that, I'll never play a race off-type to benefit from its mechanical advantages. Diversity is the realm of humans, in my vision; other races exist to enforce classic fantasy stereotypes.

Cheers,