D&D General What races/species populate your DnD world?

[Stormonu]

In what game books do the Ondonti appear?

2E's Monstrous Compendium Annual #3. Not sure if they are in any other products.
<Edit> Looks like they may also be in Ruins of Zhentil Keep, and made an appearance in the 3E Realms Campaign book.

 

[Gorg]

The standard, classic races. (and variants thereof)

Possibly adding in some from the 3e FRCS, like Aasimar, and tiefling. (with THAT flavor, not the 5e kind) If we're in the Realms.

The monster races, anthropomorphic animals, warforged, odd Spelljammer races etc are excluded intentionally.

That helps foster the sort of feel I want for my campaigns. The newer players are mainly our kids, and their friends. They grew up listening to our war stories of the heady days of AD&D, so I'd like to give them an opportunity to experience that sort of game. Whatever system we actually use. Having 2 humans, a drow, a halfling, a gnome- and OCTOPUS MAN!!!(tm) Is just jarring...

I do a similar thing with classes. Limiting them to mainly the classics. 5e PHB subclasses are totally acceptable. I opt not to use multi-classing or feats. This is to encourage players to play their character- and adventure AS the game. Rather than focusing on "builds" and expoiting the rules for max gain.

Others are more than welcome to do it the they like-when it's your turn to DM, of course. (and if you do choose a totally different list/feel, so much the better! More variety is great it'll help make each campaign stand out!)

As for what all populates the world? The MM+ Volo's, plus some surprise "WHAT the %$#@ is THAT???!!!" 's I pull from my extensive collection of monster books. Just to occasionally ratchet up the pucker factor, and throw off the old, experienced hands.

 

[Accaris]

I solve the "petting zoo" problem by having my most mythical races be forbidden at the start of the campaign. To play as them, you have to encounter their kind in the world and interact with them through roleplaying. And some of them are very rare. If you manage to befriend them, then you can send your human back to town and roll a character as the new race if you want. This makes these creatures a kind of "hidden treasure" to be sought after and found, hinted at in old scrolls, songs, or tales, maybe vaguely marked on some ancient map. If the players never stumble across them, that's fine too.

 

[Gorg]

I solve the "petting zoo" problem by having my most mythical races be forbidden at the start of the campaign. To play as them, you have to encounter their kind in the world and interact with them through roleplaying. And some of them are very rare. If you manage to befriend them, then you can send your human back to town and roll a character as the new race if you want. This makes these creatures a kind of "hidden treasure" to be sought after and found, hinted at in old scrolls, songs, or tales, maybe vaguely marked on some ancient map. If the players never stumble across them, that's fine too.

I ended up with a Gully Dwarf PC, because I saw a picture in the Dragonlance Chronicles compilation (it was my book), showed it to the DM, and said "I want to meet THIS guy!"

He ended up being the guard at an out of the way intersection, outside the sunken city. STILL not certain anyone there remembered that he was out there... lol. Zero traffic, and we totally made his day, when we walked up- and actually spoke to him. He forgot all about guard duty, and began following us around- esp the Elf and Drow, trying to do as we did. Dingus is his name. The DM handed me the character sheet and said here ya go! Total comic relief character, but really fun to play. I took inspiration from the scenes describing the Dragon armies attempting to train these dwarves into some kind of force- and failing tragically. Dumb as a rock, clumsy as heck- but loyal to the end. Dangerous to be near in a melee. (some fool gave him a wicked good magic sword...) And yes, he DOES wear a horned helmet that's 3 sizes too big for him.

 

[DrJawaPhD]

Do you mix things up like having Dwarves in Fey Forests, do you keep things by the book, or a mixture of both?

I keep things 100% by the book, meaning that every race published in a WotC 5e book is included (not including third party content).

(I do put a homebrew nerf on Aarakocra, Fairy, Owlin, and variant Tiefling to change their flight similar to 2024 Aasimar Heavenly Wings ability... which is close to banning them since I haven't seen anyone ever want to play these races if they can't fly at will)

Edit: also we have all combinations of half-races, although you only get to choose one race for which game mechanic abilities you get. So half-races are allowed but entirely for roleplay purposes

 

[NN]

In what game books do the Ondonti appear?

FR65 Elminster scrapes the barrel