races-new CS [Archive] - Wizards Community

races-new CS [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ewancummins
06-13-07, 11:45 PM I'm working up a new campaign setting. It'll be using a lot of classic/core material, but with some twists. That means getting rid of a few sacred cows and building a consistent world. I'll release more about the world when I have more down on paper. For right now, I'm playing aound with races.

races from the PHB, as appearing in the setting

humans- as per PHB. Well, ignore the references to humans frequently having piercings and tatoos. Not sure what all that was about.:confused: .

dwarves-similiar to PHB, with some minor modifications. Dwarves are a major race, dominating at least one continent. They are not a fading or declining race at all, but are fairly numerous.

The primary dwarf civilization is much more technologially advanced than most other races; especially in the areas of stoneworking, smithing, metallurgy, mining, and engineering. The dwarves have reached a proto industrial level of civilization, by combining technology with practical magic.

Backward tribes of so called hill dwarves exist, racially similiar but culturally distinct from the main dwarf civilization.

elves- Elves are statistically similiar to their portrayal in the PHB, but culturally quite different.

I should note that I hate the way elves are usually portrayed in D&D. I really dislike elves as the very powerful and wise race of good guys, or elves as tree hugging hippies with bows. Consequently, my elves are going to be rather different than the norm- a bit darker, more inclined to be amoral, with ties to both fey and fiendish powers. Not precisely evil, but certainly not what most people would call good.

changelings[half elves] - Humans and elves are different species, and have difficulty interbreeding without magical aid. Instead of half-elves, this CS has changelings: elves raised among humans. Use the ''half human'' racial variant from the DMG.

half orcs-There aren't any half orcs, or any orcs, for that matter.

halflings- Not part of the setting.

gnomes- Gnomes once possessed a powerful civilization built on their mastery of alchemy. A terrible catastrophe destroyed their homeland and the survivors scattered across the world. Scraps of the ancient alchemical lore are kept by gnome scholars.

note about subraces; I am emphasizing cultures rather than subraces. There are no drow, grey elves, grugach, etc.

need more races?

I am cutting two races :the halfling and the half orc. I'd like to add a couple of races in as replacements. I want LA0 , if possible. LA+1 might work.

I am asking for suggestions about what to include.
Vanigo
06-14-07, 09:06 PM Did you know that the half-humans in the DMG are actually strictly inferior to normal elves? Well, unless you count the ability to take any language as a bonus language, anyway.
Johnny_Angel
06-14-07, 09:41 PM If you want to make elves a bit darker and more amoral and/or distant from others, you could consider using Grey Elves instead of the PHB elves as your default elves. They're already snobby and aloof; it wouldn't be hard to imagine them conducting crazy rituals in their far off citadels; far away from the prying eyes of what they consider to be "lesser" races.

I'm not sure what other books you have, but some of my favorite races and race ideas include:

Bhuka - tribal goblins from Sandstorm; have a somewhat Native American feel to them. In Sandstorm they live in the desert, but it would be pretty easy to modify them and make them into forest or jungle dwelling people if you don't have a lot of large deserts in your world. (could possibly replace the typical nature loving elves)

Hadozee - large hairy ape-like people; while not really one of my favorite races, I could see them having a more prominent role in a world without Orcs or Half-Orcs. [Stormwrack]

Kobold - I'm not sure why, but I could imagine Kobolds coming from a society based upon the flavor Three Kingoms Period of China mixed with a little bit of fuedal Japan...regal orders of Kobold Samurai defending the emperor whose power is dwindling as discontent fuedal lords battle for prestigue and power - fighting bloody wars, sending deadly kobold ninja assasins against rivals, and engaging in political intrigue. I could even see there being various clans of Kobolds which are colored similarly to dragons, but without the color indicating alignment.

Neanderthals - Seafaring Barbarians who have a history of razing, raping, and pillaging without mercy. Think stereotypical Viking mixed with stereotypical Mongol; however, over time a few small and more peaceful settlements have cropped up as some of these raiders have settled in the lands they conquered. They enjoy excitement, adventure, and the simple pleasures of life such as strong ale, hearty women, and merry song.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ewancummins 06-13-07, 11:45 PM	I'm working up a new campaign setting. It'll be using a lot of classic/core material, but with some twists. That means getting rid of a few sacred cows and building a consistent world. I'll release more about the world when I have more down on paper. For right now, I'm playing aound with races. races from the PHB, as appearing in the setting humans- as per PHB. Well, ignore the references to humans frequently having piercings and tatoos. Not sure what all that was about.:confused: . dwarves-similiar to PHB, with some minor modifications. Dwarves are a major race, dominating at least one continent. They are not a fading or declining race at all, but are fairly numerous. The primary dwarf civilization is much more technologially advanced than most other races; especially in the areas of stoneworking, smithing, metallurgy, mining, and engineering. The dwarves have reached a proto industrial level of civilization, by combining technology with practical magic. Backward tribes of so called hill dwarves exist, racially similiar but culturally distinct from the main dwarf civilization. elves- Elves are statistically similiar to their portrayal in the PHB, but culturally quite different. I should note that I hate the way elves are usually portrayed in D&D. I really dislike elves as the very powerful and wise race of good guys, or elves as tree hugging hippies with bows. Consequently, my elves are going to be rather different than the norm- a bit darker, more inclined to be amoral, with ties to both fey and fiendish powers. Not precisely evil, but certainly not what most people would call good. changelings[half elves] - Humans and elves are different species, and have difficulty interbreeding without magical aid. Instead of half-elves, this CS has changelings: elves raised among humans. Use the ''half human'' racial variant from the DMG. half orcs-There aren't any half orcs, or any orcs, for that matter. halflings- Not part of the setting. gnomes- Gnomes once possessed a powerful civilization built on their mastery of alchemy. A terrible catastrophe destroyed their homeland and the survivors scattered across the world. Scraps of the ancient alchemical lore are kept by gnome scholars. note about subraces; I am emphasizing cultures rather than subraces. There are no drow, grey elves, grugach, etc. need more races? I am cutting two races :the halfling and the half orc. I'd like to add a couple of races in as replacements. I want LA0 , if possible. LA+1 might work. I am asking for suggestions about what to include.
Vanigo 06-14-07, 09:06 PM	Did you know that the half-humans in the DMG are actually strictly inferior to normal elves? Well, unless you count the ability to take any language as a bonus language, anyway.
Johnny_Angel 06-14-07, 09:41 PM	If you want to make elves a bit darker and more amoral and/or distant from others, you could consider using Grey Elves instead of the PHB elves as your default elves. They're already snobby and aloof; it wouldn't be hard to imagine them conducting crazy rituals in their far off citadels; far away from the prying eyes of what they consider to be "lesser" races. I'm not sure what other books you have, but some of my favorite races and race ideas include: Bhuka - tribal goblins from Sandstorm; have a somewhat Native American feel to them. In Sandstorm they live in the desert, but it would be pretty easy to modify them and make them into forest or jungle dwelling people if you don't have a lot of large deserts in your world. (could possibly replace the typical nature loving elves) Hadozee - large hairy ape-like people; while not really one of my favorite races, I could see them having a more prominent role in a world without Orcs or Half-Orcs. [Stormwrack] Kobold - I'm not sure why, but I could imagine Kobolds coming from a society based upon the flavor Three Kingoms Period of China mixed with a little bit of fuedal Japan...regal orders of Kobold Samurai defending the emperor whose power is dwindling as discontent fuedal lords battle for prestigue and power - fighting bloody wars, sending deadly kobold ninja assasins against rivals, and engaging in political intrigue. I could even see there being various clans of Kobolds which are colored similarly to dragons, but without the color indicating alignment. Neanderthals - Seafaring Barbarians who have a history of razing, raping, and pillaging without mercy. Think stereotypical Viking mixed with stereotypical Mongol; however, over time a few small and more peaceful settlements have cropped up as some of these raiders have settled in the lands they conquered. They enjoy excitement, adventure, and the simple pleasures of life such as strong ale, hearty women, and merry song.