"You're a half elf? Really?" From the P.A. Podcasts

[SSquirrel]

I have black friends who live up to the stereotypes in some ways . . . and I have black friends who, if you closed your eyes, you would never know their "race".

I grew up on the Ohio/Kentucky border and one of the guys in my D&D group was black. It was commonly noted that William was (speaking in stereotypical terms) was one of the "whitest" guys in school, while one of the "blackest" was a white guy. I know exactly what you mean

 

[Leatherhead]

Penguins.

I did not know of that.

 

[Nightson]

I did not know of that.

Ring species - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ring Species are the technical name and they are very cool.

 

[Gentlegamer]

I've found that many people that "play up" a "racial" role in D&D end up being like the fantasy equivalent of Carlos Mencia.

 

[Kwalish Kid]

I've found that many people that "play up" a "racial" role in D&D end up being like the fantasy equivalent of Carlos Mencia.

They say dialogue from other players?

 

[Gentlegamer]

They say dialogue from other players?

In a "racial" accent.

 

[Hussar]

Well, bringing this back to 4e for a second. I'll quote from the half-elf section of the PHB:

Half-elves usually adopt the dress and hairstyles of the society they spend the most time with... However, it would not be unusual for half-elves raised among humans to seek out articles of elven clthing or jewelry so that they can proudly display signs of their dual heritage.

Now, again, I'm not saying that there is only one way to do this. But the PBH actually gives you a way, right in the racial description, of defining your character's race at the game table. I mentioned, even before I read this passage, looking for a proper tailor. That sort of thing.

Yes, Gentlegamer, you're entirely right. There certainly are bad ways to portray a given race. Fine. But, that doens't mean that there aren't good ways as well. To me, even a bad "racial accent" is better than nothing. Again, at least you are letting the other players at the table know what you are. If you do nothing, give no indication of the particulars of your character, that's a poor portrayal of a character IME.

 

[MarkB]

Well, bringing this back to 4e for a second. I'll quote from the half-elf section of the PHB:



Now, again, I'm not saying that there is only one way to do this. But the PBH actually gives you a way, right in the racial description, of defining your character's race at the game table.

And right there, in the same quote, it tells you that you don't have to - that many typical half-elves will talk, dress and act exactly like their adoptive culture. Why are you against people playing one of those half-elves?

 

[Hussar]

And right there, in the same quote, it tells you that you don't have to - that many typical half-elves will talk, dress and act exactly like their adoptive culture. Why are you against people playing one of those half-elves?

Because, what's the point? Why be a half-elf if no one actually knows it? Why not just play a human if that's what you're going to play anyway?

If your character acts human (or I suppose Elven, although that's generally not the problem), dresses human, and is in every way human, why doesn't it say "human" on the character sheet.

Oh right, number bonuses. Go go powergaming. Can't be a human if I want to multiclass, so, guess I'll just act human, no one will know the difference and I'll just write half elf on the old character sheet.

It's the worst kind of role playing. You're not actually PLAYING the role you have. The player is giving no indication, no information to anyone at the table that allows the other players to have an accurate image of his character. Everyone else thinks that PC is human. They are caught completely by surprise by the revelation that he isn't human, when the characters should know this information. It shouldn't EVER be a surprise.

((Unless, of course, it's deliberate - that's a whole 'nother ball of wax, but, we're not talking about that))

The character is being played so poorly, portrayed in such a manner that lacks any indication of what the character actually is, not because of some deeper plot involvement, but because the player is too lazy to bother putting the thirty seconds of effort it takes to differentiate himself from the guy standing next to him.

And you guys are applauding this. That's what totally blows my mind. That this isn't seen as a bad thing.

 

[malraux]

The character is being played so poorly, portrayed in such a manner that lacks any indication of what the character actually is, not because of some deeper plot involvement, but because the player is too lazy to bother putting the thirty seconds of effort it takes to differentiate himself from the guy standing next to him.

Omin is quite different from jim darkmagic, aoefel, and binwin. Everyone knows he is a cleric, and leader of AI. His personality is pretty well developed. And you are upset because he hasn't taken a few minutes to take time from the adventure to go shopping for hairclips?

I'm astounded that you think that a near human would act that much different from a human, or that you think the default for the game should be human. Moreover that you see playing a half-elf as powergaming.