D&D General Which published TTRPG settings do each D&D ancestry best?

[Mind of tempest]

My criticisms of the Dragonborn lore in the Forgotten Realms is 1) it’s tied to the Spellplague and whole Abeir-Toril continent switching shenanigans and 2) they’re just boring. They’re a stoic, proud, righteous warrior race. Basically Paladins, the species. And there should be more to them than just another stoic warrior race, we have two others of those in the Tritions and Goliaths, and they’re boring too. There are interesting concepts in their backstory, like having formerly being enslaved by dragons and since breaking free, and the whole “stranger in a strange land” trope is nice too. However, they come from an alternate universe without gods where they violently rebelled against their former masters that had ruled over them for thousands of years. They should be a bit more culturally alien and probably more anti-theistic and anti-authoritarian, instead of mainly anti-dragon. The Faerunian Dragonborn should have a culture of “no gods, no masters,” and see the Monarchs in Faerun in a similar view to their old tyrannical Dragonlords. Like, why is Tymanthar a monarchy? Why does it have secret police? Why do the Dragonborn have clans? Why are they tolerant of Tieflings and other marginalized races when their tyrannical government is a controlled by an authoritarian warlord? It just doesn’t make sense to me. I guess that’s criticism #3. Their culture doesn’t make sense given their history.

There should be lore on how Dragonborn of different ancestries are treated and used by Dragonborn society. Gold and Red Dragonborn are more likely to be bakers and blacksmiths, White and Silver Dragonborn invented ice cream, Blue and Bronze Dragonborn discovered artifice and electricity, and so on. Maybe as a way of distancing themselves from their former masters or as a symbol of rebellion, the Dragonborn of certain ancestries reject the stereotypes tied to their scale color. Red Dragonborn try to be charitable and cool-headed, Green Dragonborn try to be honest and forthcoming, Copper Dragonborn despise humor of all kinds, especially pranks. They still define themselves in relation to the Dragons, but now with opposition to the Dragons having a major effect on their culture. If a Dragonborn laughs a lot, another Dragonborn might say something along the lines of “feeling a bit copper, are you?”

Additionally, new Dragonborn lore should have some connection to the First World. Maybe Dragonborn were the first humanoid race to be created and also have echoes in different worlds of the Material Plane. Dragonborn might have superstitions related to this (DID is seen as the personalities of the Dragonborn’s echoes temporarily taking over their body, schizophrenia is viewed as seeing/hearing things from different worlds through the eyes and ears of your echoes, etc). Echo Knights might form a prestigious ancient Dragonborn order of knights, possibly in their rebellions against their Dragonlords. Maybe Eberron Dragonborn of the Blood of Vol believe that unlocking the Divinity Within requires gaining Dragonsight, possibly also thinking only Dragonborn can accomplish this. Dragonborn Warlocks might enter into pacts with Greatwyrm Dragons as a way of learning how to get Echo magic.

I would make dragon born the second-made race with humans being first neatly explaining how humans are damn near everywhere.

 

[Corinnguard]

I would make dragon born the second-made race with humans being first neatly explaining how humans are damn near everywhere.

You know that the Dragonborn would dispute this. They would claim that they were the first to come into existence. "The Age of Dragons came well before the Age of Man!"

 

[Mind of tempest]

You know that the Dragonborn would dispute this. They would claim that they were the first to come into existence. "The Age of Dragons came well before the Age of Man!"

or they just say humans a shoddy work as on most world humanity is in comparison to many peoples younger to this whole civilisation deal, even in fr wear we are what on our seventh attempt or something.
also humans lack a known creator god or gods I assume religious slurs leveled at humans might be that we are spiritual orphans or adopted

 

[toucanbuzz]

Aasimar, Tiefling. Golarian (Pathfinder). They actually have culture and a reason to exist other than just looking emo and cool.

Dragonborn, Goliath. No one.

Dwarf. Dragonlance. About as rich as it gets for variety and complex interplay, ranging from the betrayal of the Dwarfgate War to the treacherous politics of Thorbardin. Close second for Dragon Age with dwarves as masters of political machinations, chained to caste tradition, and hanging on by a thread as they protect the surface against endless darkspawn.

Elf. Dark Sun. Reinventing the elf into a "run to be free or die" con-man culture that has no longevity gets them away from every other world's haughty bow-slinging immortals. Another close second for Dragon Age with elves broken up into those seeking their original roots (not having an actual clue about their true history) and elves who've "domesticated" by merging with human cities (and becoming a third-class servant society).

Gnome. Golarian (Pathfinder). Having to find something new-ish and creative or fade away makes them more than just some short guys with beards.

Halfling. Dark Sun. Cannibals. Badasses. Original master race. When did anyone ever fear a halfling?

Human. Dragon Age. The tabletop sourcebook as well as the video game just provide a super-rich plethora of detail on the life and culture of humans, including the influence of the Chantry (religion), dogs, the Tower (magic), and the complex interplay of races, er ancestries. You actually feel special playing a human.

Orc. Golarian. Many different types of orcs have a bigger role than bad guys waiting to be the hook for the next low-level adventurer.

 

[AK81]

Dragonborn: I love the implied setting in A5e for the Dragonborn. That they are hatched or created by true dragons, and their clans are bound to serve their creator dragon. The different dragons personality and type inform the Dragonborn clan's culture.

 

[Neonchameleon]

Is Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay a legitimate answer for halflings, dwarves, and high, dark, and wood elves? (Old school WFRP at that in many cases - especially for humans)

If not, and counting the Nentir Vale/PoLand as not detailed enough it's going to be Eberron or Exandria in almost every case.

 

[Mind of tempest]

Dragonborn: I love the implied setting in A5e for the Dragonborn. That they are hatched or created by true dragons, and their clans are bound to serve their creator dragon. The different dragons personality and type inform the Dragonborn clan's culture.

I heard 4e lore for them was good just so scattered as to be unusable