Discussion: Races

Xathan · March 29, 2006, 06:43:30 PM

I know it's a bit preemptive, but the vote for/against the current Core Ethos is 12:1, so I think it's safe to say we are going to have that as our core ethos. I decided I wanted to start talking about races.

A few questions we need answered, no matter what ethos we go with:

Quote from: Big Empire EthosWhat races rule the empire?
What races rule city states?
What races live in the wilds?
What races live in what climates?
What view do humans take towards other races? Visa-versa?
Do humanoids grant other humanoids equal right?
Are any humanoids treated as slaves?
Are any races regarded as superior?

That's all I got for now. Feel free to add on if you have any questions, and please answer the ones I have that you think are worth answering.

Xathan · March 29, 2006, 06:52:18 PM

Guess I'll answer my own questions, or at least the first set:

As for what races/Homebrew/Core, I think we should have a mix of them. Some homebrew, to give our world a unique feel, but some classic, to give it a sense of familarity. Oh, and humans are definatly in.

I think we should change the existing races culturally, and I think they should have cultures that vary depending on their Totem and/or status in the Empire. Slave Elves in the Empire will be different than those that rever the Terrasque on the plains.

I'm going to say we should have cultural subraces, but only mechanical ones if there is a Very Good Reason(TM).

I'm not sure on non-humanoids, but I think they should play a large role - their great physical and magical power would mean they would, assuming they exist, unless their is a logical reason why they don't. (low birth rates, lack of Totems to protect them, strenght of Imperial Army, etc.)

brainface · March 29, 2006, 07:16:43 PM

i think we should be eberronish, and include all core pc races, and THEN add on a couple homebrew.

i think players tend assume to be able to do at least core when they get into a game, and finding out 'oh yeah there's no gnomes here' after they've come up with a concept is kinda frustrating. i know thats how i act, at least ;)

QuoteI think we should change the existing races culturally, and I think they should have cultures that vary depending on their Totem and/or status in the Empire.

yo[/i]

Numinous · March 29, 2006, 07:18:55 PM

I think core should definitely be included. Even if it isn't the most original, at least it will be functional and player friendly.

daggerhart · March 29, 2006, 07:27:10 PM

i like the idea of using core w/ a few extra & sub-cultural races that are not statistically different (slave elves see as far in the dark as high elves, etc).

Ishmayl-Retired · March 29, 2006, 07:51:58 PM

Yeah, I think that's the best idea too. Changing the cultures of the races is a good way to make them stand out without having to create 10 new races. And no, I don't this thread is too early; it's time to discuss lots of things.

Túrin · March 30, 2006, 08:30:49 AM

I personally favour either completely original races (which of course will still have to fill some of the roles that are currently played by the core races: the "fighter race", the "wizard race", the "rogue race", etc.) or core-only races which have a few twists each that make them unique in our setting.

Wix of Bel-Air · March 30, 2006, 03:42:33 PM

We should focus on the core races when it pertains to the empire and also some more original races that are made to live in the empire and help it flourish. As for the city states, we could have a massive variety of races and monsters controlling them. We could also make some new race mechanics of some of the more prominent city states.

I suppose that we'd have to make a more wild version of the core-races or simply just make their culture a bit different. As for what is to be living in the climates, that is an easy thing to do. I've already made a list of every creature that lives within every region and realm within my world.

I'd love to step on the design train for the races once everyone has got their two cents in. Keep postin'!

Soup Nazi · March 30, 2006, 04:20:18 PM

I like the Eberronian concept. Keep the core races with a cultural twist, and maybe add a couple homebrews that fill a specific role within the setting.

The closer to the core we stick the better, but if some fantastic idea comes along (who doesn't think changeling are cool) we shouldn't completely dismiss it.

-Nasty-

Xathan · March 30, 2006, 05:02:13 PM

Eberron concept does seem to be the way to go. I would like to see a couple homebrew races, as races can really help showcase the flavor of the settings, much as Warforged and Changelings did for Eberron (Shifters and Kalashtar did showcase the flavor, but it was a particular aspect of the flavor, (the wildness of the untamed parts and the psionics, respectively) not the flavor as a whole.

Ishmayl-Retired · March 30, 2006, 05:33:22 PM

Quote from: WixmanWe should focus on the core races when it pertains to the empire and also some more original races that are made to live in the empire and help it flourish. As for the city states, we could have a massive variety of races and monsters controlling them. We could also make some new race mechanics of some of the more prominent city states.

I'm kinda liking this idea. I see it as basically giving two different campaign setting options in our one setting. On the one hand, in the BTG, a traditional panetheonic system is used, and a traditional race list is used, giving people who play it a bit of familiar ground. In the outskirts and the city-states, we have our totem religion, and also have some new, homebrew races, which give some flavor and uniqueness to those who want something a little different.

Xeviat · March 30, 2006, 07:40:06 PM

Eh ... I'd rather see the Empire being predominantly human ... here's my idea:

The Empire is made of mostly humans, as they descended from the survivors of the lost empire. Likewise, the city states are mostly human.

As for other races, which I think should remain relatively core, I'd prefer to see a more mythological take on them. Halflings can be part of the city states, but maybe they're opressed by the empire (their original settlements may be gone now). Gnomes, Dwarves, and Elves are more closely tied to their "terrain type"; Gnomes can be found in the foothills and hills, Dwarves are underground, and Elves live in the forest. These races will be flavored to be a little more unique, a little more mythological and fantastic than their PHB interpretations. These races were once allied with the Lost Empire, but when it fell they decided it would be best to associate less with humans.

In the present, the new Empire may be trying to reforge relations with dwarves, elves, and gnomes. They would be separated into their own clans, settlements, and kingdoms, and may be treated similarly to the city-states by the Empire.

Orcs and goblins should remain "merely" monsters.

I just think this would would benefit from being a little more wild, a little more primal, and a little more mythological.

brainface · March 30, 2006, 07:54:11 PM

i've personally never the default campaign set up where 97% of everybody! is human. i'd like to see the BFG at least a little mixed. maybe not composed of every race, but at least an alliance between 2 or 3. maybe it's absorbed a few dwarven cities, maybe also it has a few elven settlements it's barely hanging onto, while it also has a group of elves that are really gungho about the BFG, cuz they like the stability. i jus think pure human is kinda bland.

brainface · March 30, 2006, 07:58:41 PM

QuoteWhat view do humans take towards other races? Visa-versa?
Do humanoids grant other humanoids equal right?
Are any humanoids treated as slaves?
Are any races regarded as superior?

i think i'd like the idea of culturally very different peoples of the same race being in different city states. 'Thrakledom', for instance, might consider pretty much everybody, even weird stuff like nagas, as a-ok. 'Snortmelt' might be a horrible tyranny of orcs and hobgoblins that periodically raids neighboring settlements. 'Gigglebit' might be a very martial city of mostly orcs that are well prepared for a war but typically get along fine with their neighbors, and have open trade with everyone who will sell them weapons.

Numinous · March 30, 2006, 08:00:27 PM

I second brainface on this. Variety is the spice of life!

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Discussion: Races

Xathan

Xathan

brainface

Numinous

daggerhart

Ishmayl-Retired

Túrin

Wix of Bel-Air

Soup Nazi

Xathan

Ishmayl-Retired

Xeviat

brainface

brainface

Numinous