How to Limit Races Without Limiting the Players - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

How to Limit Races Without Limiting the Players

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
samuraichicken
Feb 10, 2010 20:40:00
I have seen plenty of games where the DM limits the selection of races due to the world the campaign takes place in. While this is a fine tactic (one that I’ve used before), it also limits the players severely. There is always one player who really wants to play [specific race], but the DM won’t allow it because the race doesn’t exist in the world.

I believe I have found a good way for both DMs and Players to get what they want: simply make cosmetic changes to all the races. Keep the mechanics of the race (the “crunch”), but change the appearance of it (the “fluff” or “flavor”).

A common method for changing races is to match them with already existing races. For example, in a world where there are no Dragonborn, you could cosmetically change the Dragonborn to become another type of Genasi. Goliaths can be made to be some kind of Dwarf or Half-orc, and Shifters can be wild Elves or Tieflings that express their wrath in a different way. Shadar-kai can be Drow, while Kalashtars can be Eladrin. For a sci-fi setting, the Warforged could be human cyborgs or androids. This method is great for adapting new races into already existing campaign worlds.

In the extreme case of running an all-human setting (suitable for a modern-day world using D&D rules), you can have all the races look like different types of humans, but mechanically be different races. You can take this to the point that the races are no longer “races” but rather “hero types,” such as the examples listed below.

Stalwart Hero: (dwarf) The tough guy who can hold his ground against the worst punishment.

Mysterious Hero: (eladrin) If you have watched a lot of anime (or play certain video games), this would be the guy who has the habit of mysteriously appearing behind someone, or enters / leaves a room without anyone noticing.

Daring Hero: (halfling) The risk-taker who is very, very lucky. A good example would be Captain Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean).

Dark Hero: (tiefling) The guy who has a bad temper and anger issues. Usually has a dark past, and/or is on a path of revenge. Scar (from Full Metal Alchemist) is a good example.

These are just a few examples of how you can translate non-human races into an all-human campaign. While I didn’t list every race, I believe it is possible to take any race and cosmetically turn them into a “hero type” by keeping true to the race’s themes and personality while discarding the physical features.

When it comes to races with more “special effects” (such as the dragonborn’s racial power), things can get a little tricky. If the dragonborn character has taken an arcane, divine, or primal class, this racial power can be explained as not coming from the race, but from the class instead (such as another spell the character has access to). If the character has taken a martial class, then such powers are a little harder to explain. The only thing I can think of at the moment is to pretend the power comes from a magical weapon, or perhaps the character has a sorcerer for a parent and a minor spell got inherited.

The only way this idea falls apart is when a DM bans a race not because of roleplaying issues, but because of mechanical reasons. The most frequently banned races seem to be Dragonborn (breath weapon as minor action) and Eladrin (teleport). While I don’t agree with these DMs, cosmetic changes are not going to help you convince your DM if he or she thinks the race is overpowered.
#2
strand0
Feb 11, 2010 0:06:41
I'm not sure what you're asking. But, here goes anyway.

If the GM wants nothing to do with a race or all races. The GM should just tell your players why. I mean, why this is useful for the campaign.

If a player wants to play a specific race, that the GM doesn't want in that world/campaign, there will be other games.

ALSO, I don't think a Player will be happy with the "For example, in a world where there are no Dragonborn, you could cosmetically change the Dragonborn to become another type of Genasi." He/She wanted a Dragonborn because it's a Dragonborn. If he was willing to be something-LIKE a Dragonborn he could play a hefty human with dreadlocks who wears a dragon mask all the time.

(OH! I like that idea... hum?)
#3
donatocamino
Feb 11, 2010 6:47:29 Strand0 have a point there. In most cases a player wants to play a race because of the looks not for the stats. But, nevertheless, those are really great advises for DM who wants to play a campaign with limited races.

In my case, I have never do that, I like to play in settings were everything is possible, every race can live there in some place. I'm running a forgotten realms campaign right now and one of my player is a Deva (not a realms race) and other an artificer (not a realms class).
#4
wancow
Feb 11, 2010 12:50:11 I have created a world in which there are no Dragonborn, no Devas and no Tieflings (and some others I'm forgetting).

There are no Eladrin or Elf player characters available from that world either. Half Elves JUST became available. I won't let a PC roll up a character from a race that is as yet un-encountered.

But there are still No Dragonborn or Tieflings on this world. That doesn't mean to say they do NOT exist...

So I came up with a nifty little solution:

I'll run the Kobold Hall as a Solo adventure (without the Dragon, of course) or something like it and then THIS happens:

Call Forth the Champions

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 samuraichicken Feb 10, 2010 20:40:00	I have seen plenty of games where the DM limits the selection of races due to the world the campaign takes place in. While this is a fine tactic (one that I’ve used before), it also limits the players severely. There is always one player who really wants to play [specific race], but the DM won’t allow it because the race doesn’t exist in the world. I believe I have found a good way for both DMs and Players to get what they want: simply make cosmetic changes to all the races. Keep the mechanics of the race (the “crunch”), but change the appearance of it (the “fluff” or “flavor”). A common method for changing races is to match them with already existing races. For example, in a world where there are no Dragonborn, you could cosmetically change the Dragonborn to become another type of Genasi. Goliaths can be made to be some kind of Dwarf or Half-orc, and Shifters can be wild Elves or Tieflings that express their wrath in a different way. Shadar-kai can be Drow, while Kalashtars can be Eladrin. For a sci-fi setting, the Warforged could be human cyborgs or androids. This method is great for adapting new races into already existing campaign worlds. In the extreme case of running an all-human setting (suitable for a modern-day world using D&D rules), you can have all the races look like different types of humans, but mechanically be different races. You can take this to the point that the races are no longer “races” but rather “hero types,” such as the examples listed below. Stalwart Hero: (dwarf) The tough guy who can hold his ground against the worst punishment. Mysterious Hero: (eladrin) If you have watched a lot of anime (or play certain video games), this would be the guy who has the habit of mysteriously appearing behind someone, or enters / leaves a room without anyone noticing. Daring Hero: (halfling) The risk-taker who is very, very lucky. A good example would be Captain Jack Sparrow (from Pirates of the Caribbean). Dark Hero: (tiefling) The guy who has a bad temper and anger issues. Usually has a dark past, and/or is on a path of revenge. Scar (from Full Metal Alchemist) is a good example. These are just a few examples of how you can translate non-human races into an all-human campaign. While I didn’t list every race, I believe it is possible to take any race and cosmetically turn them into a “hero type” by keeping true to the race’s themes and personality while discarding the physical features. When it comes to races with more “special effects” (such as the dragonborn’s racial power), things can get a little tricky. If the dragonborn character has taken an arcane, divine, or primal class, this racial power can be explained as not coming from the race, but from the class instead (such as another spell the character has access to). If the character has taken a martial class, then such powers are a little harder to explain. The only thing I can think of at the moment is to pretend the power comes from a magical weapon, or perhaps the character has a sorcerer for a parent and a minor spell got inherited. The only way this idea falls apart is when a DM bans a race not because of roleplaying issues, but because of mechanical reasons. The most frequently banned races seem to be Dragonborn (breath weapon as minor action) and Eladrin (teleport). While I don’t agree with these DMs, cosmetic changes are not going to help you convince your DM if he or she thinks the race is overpowered.
#2 strand0 Feb 11, 2010 0:06:41	I'm not sure what you're asking. But, here goes anyway. If the GM wants nothing to do with a race or all races. The GM should just tell your players why. I mean, why this is useful for the campaign. If a player wants to play a specific race, that the GM doesn't want in that world/campaign, there will be other games. ALSO, I don't think a Player will be happy with the "For example, in a world where there are no Dragonborn, you could cosmetically change the Dragonborn to become another type of Genasi." He/She wanted a Dragonborn because it's a Dragonborn. If he was willing to be something-LIKE a Dragonborn he could play a hefty human with dreadlocks who wears a dragon mask all the time. (OH! I like that idea... hum?)
#3 donatocamino Feb 11, 2010 6:47:29	Strand0 have a point there. In most cases a player wants to play a race because of the looks not for the stats. But, nevertheless, those are really great advises for DM who wants to play a campaign with limited races. In my case, I have never do that, I like to play in settings were everything is possible, every race can live there in some place. I'm running a forgotten realms campaign right now and one of my player is a Deva (not a realms race) and other an artificer (not a realms class).
#4 wancow Feb 11, 2010 12:50:11	I have created a world in which there are no Dragonborn, no Devas and no Tieflings (and some others I'm forgetting). There are no Eladrin or Elf player characters available from that world either. Half Elves JUST became available. I won't let a PC roll up a character from a race that is as yet un-encountered. But there are still No Dragonborn or Tieflings on this world. That doesn't mean to say they do NOT exist... So I came up with a nifty little solution: I'll run the Kobold Hall as a Solo adventure (without the Dragon, of course) or something like it and then THIS happens: Call Forth the Champions