Why would you want to play *that*??

[Hairfoot]

I've skipped several pages - so I might be repeating - but what irks me about outlandish characters is that some players will substitute an exotic combo for interesting roleplay. Making a PHB half-orc interesting to play (and play with) is a challenge, but a half-tiefling golem-touched hexblade psionic monk is...novel just by existing.

 

[Raven Crowking]

I can easily imagine a great campaign where all of the PCs are human. To those who say "But humans are boring" I reply "And whiny humans moreso!"

(Of course, nothing wrong with lots of nonhuman types either. Take my own game for example!)

 

[Aus_Snow]

Ho-hum. It's become another one of those.

Oh well, taking the original post (if little else here) at face value, I suppose I'd opine that there is *no* problem with "outlandish" character setups, combos, builds, call-them-what-you-wills. At all.

And that's that.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Ho-hum. It's become another one of those.

Oh well, taking the original post (if little else here) at face value, I suppose I'd opine that there is *no* problem with "outlandish" character setups, combos, builds, call-them-what-you-wills. At all.

And that's that.

I would agree with you if you add only "for the majority of gamers". Clearly, the OP does have a problem with outlandish character setups and whatnot. I myself have a problem with any character setup that is designed to bust the setting. Or that bust the setting incidentally.

 

[The_Gneech]

"Flumphtouched" would be a great name for a rock band.

For that matter, "Touched By a Flumph" would be a great name for a TV show.

-The Gneech

 

[Andor]

For that matter, "Touched By a Flumph" would be a great name for a TV show.

-The Gneech

Probably an animated one involving lots of japanese schoolgirls...

 

[fusangite]

I would agree with you if you add only "for the majority of gamers". Clearly, the OP does have a problem with outlandish character setups and whatnot. I myself have a problem with any character setup that is designed to bust the setting. Or that bust the setting incidentally.

Am I missing something or don't the RAW basically say that characters are subject to GM approval?

 

[Tsillanabor]

Probably an animated one involving lots of japanese schoolgirls...

Maybe 'preferably' is the word.

 

[Raven Crowking]

Am I missing something or don't the RAW basically say that characters are subject to GM approval?

It does. What is being discussed is a social problem, not a rules problem.

When I say I have a problem with certain types of characters, I do not mean to imply that it is a problem that is not easily solved. It can be solved with one simple two-letter word.

It can be solved proactively by a campaign document that clearly defines what races and classes are allowed.

The problem, I think, for some DMs is either that they do not want to continually be forced to reinforce the campaign document, or that they don't want to (or don't feel that they can) say No all of the time. For others, I think, it is a dissatisfaction with the direction that fantasy role-playing games are moving in (further from the classics, more toward animation). Again, this is a social trend, and one that isn't going to be resolved any time soon.

 

[fusangite]

It can be solved proactively by a campaign document that clearly defines what races and classes are allowed.

Agreed. I guess these are rarer than I thought. I've never played in a campaign without one.

The problem, I think, for some DMs is either that they do not want to continually be forced to reinforce the campaign document, or that they don't want to (or don't feel that they can) say No all of the time.

This sounds to me like a problem of player buy-in to one's setting. When I encounter this, my tendency is to suggest the player might be happy socially interacting with me in a setting other than my game. I understand that this solution doesn't work for a lot of people so I trhink I see your point.

For others, I think, it is a dissatisfaction with the direction that fantasy role-playing games are moving in (further from the classics, more toward animation). Again, this is a social trend, and one that isn't going to be resolved any time soon.

The thing is: not all FRPs are moving that way. The mainstream may be heading that way. But for God's sake, we're gamers; when has the mainstream of anything mattered to us?