Meh, again, I was simply pointing to this as an example. An example of something I've seen over and over again from people who play elves. Apparently people seem to think that there is absolutely no differences between genders or ethnicity or race and we're all pretty much just exact carbon copies of each other.
I would point to a whole slew of media and writing that says that you're wrong. That there really are actual differences between, say, men and women. I know it might not be politically correct to say so, but, there really are differences there. Honest.
To be honest, I wasn't sure who said Omin has always been a half elf. He's certainly not drawn as one in the comics. But, again, for the umpteenth bloody time, IT WAS AN EXAMPLE.
Yes, it is an example - but one that really works against you. The main reason why? Because you called it out as an example of something 'wrong' with this approach to gaming, when the people playing in that game are
clearly having fun.
Look, after this long, people have started just arguing me instead of the point I'm trying to make, so, like I said a few pages back, it's time for me to bow out.
I leave with this final thought. Yes, it's perfectly fine for "It sounds fun" to be a reason to choose something. But, my question is, "Why? Why does it sound fun? What about that particular choice makes it appealing to you? If your character behaves in all ways EXACTLY the same regardless of what race (or whatever the choice happens to be) you choose, then how does choosing something different add to your fun? If your female character acts in all ways exactly the same as your male character, then how is writing female on your character sheet enhancing your fun?"
And, despite several pages of this thread, NOT ONE of you has answered that. Not one person has bothered to explain why ignoring this enhances enjoyment at the table. I've stated that ignoring choices actually hurts the fun at the table because it robs the rest of the players of the chance to role play as well.
So, if your choice makes zero difference to how you will play this character, why did you make the choice?
There can be many reasons to make a choice without it having to be a
major one. I've always wanted to play a dwarf. I just read a book about a cool tiefling character. The campaign starts in a human city. Elves just seem to fit a woodland character. A player could easily have some small, minor reason when they chose their character, and then have it never come up in actual game play, or never matter to them enough to bring it up or make a big deal of it.
Or sometimes choices are made for reasons of optimization - one can still roleplay that character despite the motive. Or they can make the choice, and focus on
other aspects of the character, which is also acceptable. Or, honestly, they can not worry about roleplaying at all - that doesn't inherently make them a
worse gamer, just means they might not fit in with certain groups of players.
Here is the thing, though - there is no damage done. You claim it "robs the rest of the players of the chance to role play as well" - which is absurd. There is no set amount of topics on which one can roleplay. The lack of mention of a character's race doesn't mean the party sits in absolute silence for the five minutes they would have spent RPing their feelings about that character's race - instead, they spend those five minutes
doing other roleplaying. Or cracking jokes, or rolling dice and slaying enemies, or any of the other myriad parts of D&D that people enjoy.
Not being able to comment on someone's race does not remotely deprive people of their fun - while forcing someone to roleplay exactly according to your own personal rules? Yeah, that can drain the fun out the game
instantly.
You've claimed that no one has been willing to answer your question - but you, equally, have repeatedly refused to answer mine:
Do you really feel that players focusing on their class as a defining element rather than their race makes them 'bad roleplayers'?
Do you honestly believe that people that don't put an emphasis on roleplaying, or simply don't roleplay
enough aspects of their character, are somehow worse gamers?
If you don't believe those statements... then I have no idea what this discussion is about. Everyone plays the game for different reasons and in different ways. There shouldn't be a problem with that. If you do believe those statements... then all I can say is that your outlook is one I vehemently disagree with, and the sort of attitude that represents the worst of what this hobby has to offer.
I honestly don't know if that is what you believe - your initial post seemed to represent more a lack of
understanding why other people might play differently than you, but as people have continued to answer that question (and you have continually refused to accept their explanations), you seem to much more be making a value judgement here. That there is something
wrong with how they play. That is personally offends you when someone doesn't play up their race.
I'm not sure what else to tell you. Why would someone play as a non-human race and then not mention the race? I can think of hundreds of reasons, but can't offer you one universal one - it will vary from player to player in every instance. But in the end, each player will have had a reason for making that decision - so the question is, why do
they need to justify their reason to
you, if they are having a good time playing the game in their own fashion?
) and I don't think I'm capable of pulling it off.
) doesn't make Omin's player a bad RPer.
