This is a quick brainstorming game for races hidden among humanity that easily generate game conflict. The idea is to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:

"This is a secret species of humanoids who _____ and are persecuted by humans because _____."

So for example, the classic vampire secret society would come out like this:

"This is a secret species of humanoids who live forever and are persecuted by humans because they use sinister supernatural powers to feed on the blood of humans."

Another example could be derived from the old X-Files episodes 'Tooms' (http://x-files.wikia.com/wiki/Eugene_Victor_Tooms)

"This is a secret species of humanoids who can distort and stretch their bodies at will and are persecuted by humans because they eat five human livers before going into hibernation for years."

And here's a personal attempt.

"This is a secret species of humanoids who can turn into bizarre metallic guardian beasts and are persecuted by humans because they feel an instinctive drive to murder humans who meddle with the secret gates to the afterlife or use magic to delay natural death."

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;895763This is a quick brainstorming game for races hidden among humanity that easily generate game conflict. The idea is to fill in the blanks in the following sentence

If I have nothing important, useful or at least entertaining to add, I usually prefer to stay silent, but here be an exception.

Indulge my curiosity, sir, and tell me, are you working about some project? You tend to ask question that seem like parts of worldb/setting building process. Is that so?

"This is a secret species of humanoids who live in forests and are persecuted by humans because they have pointy ears."

"This is a secret species of humanoids who look like humanoid rats and are persecuted by humans because they look like humanoid rats." (Used this one before.)

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;895763This is a quick brainstorming game for races hidden among humanity that easily generate game conflict. The idea is to fill in the blanks in the following sentence:

"This is a secret species of humanoids who _____ and are persecuted by humans because _____."

Problem:  Define "Secret."  The second blank is hard because "They aren't.  They are a secret race that nobody knows about."

For Ex (Highlander):  "This is a secret species of humanoids who are immortal and are persecuted by humans because ..." Well, nobody knows about them.  I guess hunters - renegade watchers - count, but their only real enemies are each other.

Quote from: JesterRaiin;895767If I have nothing important, useful or at least entertaining to add, I usually prefer to stay silent, but here be an exception.

Indulge my curiosity, sir, and tell me, are you working about some project? You tend to ask question that seem like parts of worldb/setting building process. Is that so?

In a general sense I'm always looking for ideas for one-shots, encounters, sessions, characters and campaign settings. It's true I'm trying to settle on what my next RPG project will be after my current 5e Eberron campaigns, but I would start threads like this even if I was locked into something because I just love watching people sharing ideas and springboarding off each others' knowledge. I hope no one minds, as I assume these sorts of discussion are a pleasure in and of themselves.

Quote from: Crawford TillinghastProblem: Define "Secret."

Sure. Secret in the sense that they can hide among or near humans without being immediately found out. This can also mean a large portion of the human populace is not aware of their existence, but those that do know about them persecute them.

Quote from: Shipyard Locked;895828I assume these sorts of discussion are a pleasure in and of themselves.

That'd be correct, as far as I'm concerned.

Ok, let's see...
Hmmm...

This is a secret species of humanoids who lead simple,cheerful life and treat sex like "that funny thing you do to stress out, or for fun, or because of boredom, or just because you like the other guy & such" and are persecuted by humans because the Mankind evolved highly strict, sad and grim religion that's 80% of time mourning and 20% feeling guilty for no apparent reason and treat everyone who disagrees or - God forbids - seeks some pleasure in life, as evil incarnate.

Ever read The Borribles books? English fantasy set in modern day. The Borribles aren't a secret, everyone knows about them, but they still try to stay hidden as humans do hunt them. I forget the detail but I think the Borribles resembled young children except they had pointy ears and lived a long time. If their ears were cut then they would turn into normal humans. Why they were so hated by humans wasn't explained well, or I simply forgot.

This is a secret species of humanoids who are kind and wonderful and loving and oh so smart and not dysfunctional at all and are persecuted by humans because we're tired of everything being a goddamned metaphor for being gay or a socially awkward geek with adolescent power fantasies, or both.

Fans are Slans is not a new idea.

"This is a secret species of humanoids who sexually lusts for humans and are persecuted by humans because they mentally enslave humans who copulate with them." (Doesn’t sound that different from vampires…damn)

Edit: Well, it's actually closer to the concept of being pussywhipped or to "The Power Of The Dick" (hilarious youtube link)

(totally random ones)

"This is a secret species of humanoids who can talk to trees and are persecuted by humans because their blood (or make that a vital organ) has enhancing properties on humans."

"This is a secret species of humanoids who are working on a secret project to migrate from this world, and are persecuted by humans because they think the humanoids are spiritually unclean."

"This is a secret species of humanoids who are able to telepathically judge a person’s deeds and are persecuted by humans because humans who know about them fear their worst secrets being exposed."

This is a secret species of humanoids who are better endowed than humans and are persecuted by humans because of it.

A secret species of humanoids who have positively rank halitosis and are persecuted by humans because, like, eww!

"This is a secret species of humanoids who are semi-aquatic cave reptiles and are persecuted by humans because they devoutly claim to be their ancestors. This bothers humanity a lot."

This is a secret species of humanoids who are identical to humans and are persecuted by humans because humans believe they are different.

"gestate their young inside unwilling human hosts" and "gestate their young inside unwilling human hosts"

Quote from: Doughdee222;895841Ever read The Borribles books? English fantasy set in modern day. The Borribles aren't a secret, everyone knows about them, but they still try to stay hidden as humans do hunt them. I forget the detail but I think the Borribles resembled young children except they had pointy ears and lived a long time. If their ears were cut then they would turn into normal humans. Why they were so hated by humans wasn't explained well, or I simply forgot.

Correct.
They were children that for reasons unexplained transform into borribles and stop aging. Hard to say if the general populace is aware of them. But the police are and determined to wipe them out by clipping them. Dont recall if they fought amongst themselves. But they definitely had violent lives. Weird series.

Also the Dragon issue 100 module "The City Beyond the Gate" was originally intended to feature the Borribles. But the writer could not secure permission and so retooled the kids.