This is kinda like another thread I started on classes but on character Races.  I never really got to try very many races in D&D, mostly Human, as AD&D 1e put sever restrictions on racial levels except humans.  I did try out a few, like the Elf and the Dwarf but my favorite had to be the Half-Elf Thief (unlimited levels in 1e).   Oh and it doesn't have to be D&D guys, just curious about what races people really like in Fantasy settings (not Sci-Fi).

Ok go;

King Arthur, Cú Chulain, Odysseus, Robin Hood, Saladin, El Cid Campeador, Miyamoto Musashi, Aragorn, Conan, Vercingetorix, Leif Erikson, Napoléon Bonaparte, Genghis Khan, Tokugawa Ieyasu, Boedica, Jeanne d'Arc. All humans. Humans.

Demihumans are for small pieces of firewood that I probably shouldn't describe with a single word here.

Doesn't matter what system or setting, I only play humans.

Another 'human only' player here.

I don't think I have a favorite. It depends on the settin I suppose. But I probably lean dwarf, human and gnome. Enjoyed the less athletic incarnation of halflings.

I too prefer humans.

in D&D any demi-human race just feels like a Charop Power build to me so meh.

In my own systems where races including humans were all built to a costed model so they work out roughly balanced my preference is for G93x8 who were a clone race I built for a Sci-fi game in 1983. Their names all ran g39x8 - / they all had identical stats but that meant you could focus on skills and upgrades.

I also quite like the French as a playable race becuase even if you are 'good' you can still get away with being rude and arrogant and stay in character.

Quote from: jibbajibba;578302I too prefer humans.

in D&D any demi-human race just feels like a Charop Power build to me so meh.

IDK, in AD&D 1E, the level limitations pretty much keep the CharOp out of the game (CharOp usually comes from items), you must be referring to 3E & 4E.  But CharOp doesn't really bother me, I can always Op an NPC to face them.

I don't know if I have a favorite race, but my favorite characters were

human fighter
human ninja/bushi
halfling fighter
dwarven cleric

I usually gravitate to elves. Though in newer iterations of Dnd that is actually disadvantageous to playing a human.

Yes, humans. I think demi-human races are only interesting if they are genuinely weird and 'inhuman' in some sense, which means they work best as NPCs.

Quote from: jibbajibba;578302I too prefer humans.

in D&D any demi-human race just feels like a Charop Power build to me so meh.

My 1e halfling fighter wasn't exactly CharOp

But with 5e, it's looking like humans are going to be the big frontrunners for CharOP with all the ability bonuses they get.

Quote from: flyingcircus;578310IDK, in AD&D 1E, the level limitations pretty much keep the CharOp out of the game (CharOp usually comes from items), you must be referring to 3E & 4E.  But CharOp doesn't really bother me, I can always Op an NPC to face them.

nah... most games never get above 7th level. Your own example of a 1/2 elf thief was beicase there was no level restriction. So you get a big bag of benefits can you can multiclass and the downside is ...... meh

Quote from: Sacrosanct;578318My 1e halfling fighter wasn't exactly CharOp

But with 5e, it's looking like humans are going to be the big frontrunners for CharOP with all the ability bonuses they get.

True . I played a Halfling Merchant once using a modded rogue build he was good fun. But he could have been a fat lazy human that liked a smoke and pinching barmaids bums and it woudl basically have been the same character...

Haven't read the 5e racial stuff will take a look.

Quote from: noisms;578316Yes, humans. I think demi-human races are only interesting if they are genuinely weird and 'inhuman' in some sense, which means they work best as NPCs.

I ended up playing a sword for a few sessions.


PC died. No real way to introduce another PC as the party were trapped on some shadowy demi plane so I played the fighter's intelligent sword. Was actually pretty good.

Also played 1/2 an Ettin in short humanoid scenario a 'what if the monsters were the PCs' idea. 1 Ettin (2PCs), 1 thing from the Fiend Folio that was like a shadowy assasin thing I can't really remmebr (maybe that was its special power!) and a dour Stone Giant with a few good one liners. goof fun for a while and nothign suprises the other half of an Ettin like Smacking him in the face with a shovel.

Quote from: jibbajibba;578321True . I played a Halfling Merchant once using a modded rogue build he was good fun. But he could have been a fat lazy human that liked a smoke and pinching barmaids bums and it woudl basically have been the same character...

Despite the strength penalty, he was a great class.  Not as sneaky as a rogue, but was small enough to find himself in advantageous positions and surprise the enemy with his weapon specialization, higher HP than a thief, and better THAC0 than a thief  Everyone assumed, "Halfing!  Must be a thief!" till they got a sword in the eye....

He was the honey badger before the honey badger became cool.

QuoteHaven't read the 5e racial stuff will take a look.

Basically, all races get big boosts.  Demi-humans get a bonus to increase a predetermined attribute (hill dwarves = Con, mountain dwarves = wis, etc) and increase the core die type by one step for favored weapons (using a d10 for damage with an axe instead of a d8 for dwarves, for instance).  They also get more standard bonuses (infravision) and one other benefit.  Hill dwarves increase HD by one step, mountain dwarves gain +1 AC when wearing medium or heavy armor, etc.  

Humans get a +2 bonus to one stat of choice, and a +1 bonus to all other stats.