Ruin Explorer
Legend
Because it's a role-playing game, and the whole cool thing is that you can be anyone, so why would you possibly, ever, not play something cool and interesting? Doesn't have to be wild but it's quite likely to not be human when there are tons of non-humans. Literally the only reason I can see to play a human in D&D is that you have a strong character concept that requires them to be or benefits from being a human, which certainly can happen. Or I guess because the rules require it, which doesn't apply to 3E-5E.
D&D also has a particularly wide selection of cool and interesting races, which lowers the odds of picking humans a great deal. Mechanics factor in here too as so many races have really strong bonuses in D&D (where in many games they're kind of minor.)
If the only races are say, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Human (no Half-Elf etc.), I am quite likely to go with human. But as soon as Half-Elf gets into the picture, well to me that's like a human but probably more interesting and almost certainly mechanically more beneficial.
We did see plenty in 2E, but this was for the very straightforward reason that some classes (Specialty Priests, for example), required you to be human.
I note that I don't feel that way about the races in every game. In Star Wars, I usually play a human or near-human because few of the non-humans really speak to me, whereas in Star Trek, good luck getting me NOT to play a Bajoran or Vulcan.
I will admit I am definitely biased towards races that are either pretty (hello Half-Elves), or look cool (I love Lizardfolk, for example, even the scary ones).
D&D also has a particularly wide selection of cool and interesting races, which lowers the odds of picking humans a great deal. Mechanics factor in here too as so many races have really strong bonuses in D&D (where in many games they're kind of minor.)
If the only races are say, Elf, Dwarf, Halfling, Human (no Half-Elf etc.), I am quite likely to go with human. But as soon as Half-Elf gets into the picture, well to me that's like a human but probably more interesting and almost certainly mechanically more beneficial.
We did see plenty in 2E, but this was for the very straightforward reason that some classes (Specialty Priests, for example), required you to be human.
I note that I don't feel that way about the races in every game. In Star Wars, I usually play a human or near-human because few of the non-humans really speak to me, whereas in Star Trek, good luck getting me NOT to play a Bajoran or Vulcan.
I will admit I am definitely biased towards races that are either pretty (hello Half-Elves), or look cool (I love Lizardfolk, for example, even the scary ones).