Some people have stated that they do not play other races or genders other than thier own, because they would not be able role play them well enough. That got me thinking about different races I have played in the game. I am not talking about fantasy races such as orcs and elves, but real world races i.e. afro-american, asian, polynesian etc.
Currently I am playing an afro-american space marine , Almond Joy. No special reason on why he is afro-american other than that is the way I visualized the character when he was created. I have played an asian women ninja and a 25th century Japanese Samurai in the past. Being Polynesian I have played a number of polynesian bad assess in the past.
But, the majority of my characters have been white guys, which is funny because I am definitly brown. Why? I think because most movies, comic books and art for high adventure fiction(such as featured in RPGs) feature white guys. I think I have a very visual imagination, so I tend to visuallize my PCs, as I probably remember from TV, movies or comic books.
Anyway, DO you roleplay other races, ethnicities outside of your own? WHy or why not?
I'm white in real life. I have played an african wizard before, mainly because that is how I visualized him. He walked around in simple white robes and he was all zen and powerful like Morpheus in the matrix.
I've also played a number of asian PCs. I don't feel wierd about it at all, not when there are Elves and Orcs and stuff running around. Some heroes just seem to be of a partuclar ethnicity and I don't think it's wrong to step outside of your own real life colour. I don't want to sound cheesy, but we're all humans after all.
Not that much, no...at least if we are talking about more-or-less modern day games (I have played eg. darkskinned characters in fantasy settings but they are hardly relevant in terms of ethnicity). One Arab wizard in Mage (I rather liked Ahl-i-Batin so I wanted to play one), one Japanese diplomat in space opera setting (it fit the idea of the character), Chinese netrunner in Cyberpunk (that one came from nice-looking picture I wanted to use). Those are the ones I remember who have lasted at least some sessions.
Not counting some oneshot games like that blaxploitation one where everyone was playing Shaft/Cleopatra Jones lookalikes and in other ways happily exploited cliches of the genre.
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To be honest, I've not done the transvirtual thing much and I haven't done the transracial (?) thing either. Only one exception is the short-lived Dr Charisma, a somewhat overweight sorcerer who was visualised as an arcane Barry White. Sadly, he cashed in his chips in the Moathouse in Return to the Temple of Elemental Evil.
I think Sir K is right - most of the iconic figures in fantasy tend to be white, so the visualisation tends to follow those trends. There are exceptions of course - settings which mimic specific non-European settings, like Japanese or Arabian, tends to lead to characters of the relevant ethnicity, but given a free hand I would almost unthinkingly go for a white male (which I am, by the way) if I am creating a human character.
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I've never had trouble playing other (human) races before. I've had an Arab fighter/sorcerer (from FR's Calimshan), a few black characters (mostly Vampire), a Native American (Werewolf), and several Asian characters (Kindred of the East, L5R, Oriental Adventuers). In fact, I think a Pacific Islander is probably one of the few ethnicities I *HAVEN'T* done yet! Hehe. And yes, I am white myself.
(Does playing white people from other cultural backgrounds count? I've played English people, Scottish people, Russian people, and French people... but I'm very much American.)
... In fact, I think a Pacific Islander is probably one of the few ethnicities I *HAVEN'T* done yet! Hehe. And yes, I am white myself.
What would be your idea of a pacific islander character? (YO thats me pacific islander!)
(Does playing white people from other cultural backgrounds count? I've played English people, Scottish people, Russian people, and French people... but I'm very much American.)
That would count. People have different ethnic and cultural values despite sharing skin color and even language.
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All depends on the locale in the game. If, for instance, the game was played in Nyambe, then of course i would be of that race. Deserts would be the Persian appearance. Again, it all depends on the locale. When it comes to races like elves, dwarves, halflings, gnomes, etc; i have played them all.
Thoth-Amon
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... In fact, I think a Pacific Islander is probably one of the few ethnicities I *HAVEN'T* done yet! Hehe. And yes, I am white myself.What would be your idea of a pacific islander character? (YO thats me pacific islander!)
I consider 'Pacific Islander' to be Indonesian, Hawaiian, etc. I'm admittedly fairly ignorant when it comes to the cultures of those areas which is probably why I haven't played one yet. If I were to do a Pacific Islander character, he would either be a very broad, muscular figure like a sumo wrestler (monk) or a flashy spear fighter who favored lighter armors.
I'm aware that sumo is not something that comes from the Pacific islands, but that LOOK would be something that popped into mind. Probably from seeing very broad, portly fellows of that ethnic group represented in movies.
I play anything anywhere. I'm an equal opportunity monster slayer.
I've many times played characters of other races and/or cultures. I can't imagine why someone would be averse to doing so.
That attitude isn't universal. One member of our group will play only white males, and will choose a culture within the game that best approximates western culture, preferably American.
He literally finds anything else to be distasteful -- yes, he's quite the bigot :/
I consider 'Pacific Islander' to be Indonesian, Hawaiian, etc. I'm admittedly fairly ignorant when it comes to the cultures of those areas which is probably why I haven't played one yet. If I were to do a Pacific Islander character, he would either be a very broad, muscular figure like a sumo wrestler (monk) or a flashy spear fighter who favored lighter armors.
THis is why I have a problem being labeled "Pacific Islander or other" (which when filling out forms I am ussually other), Physically Hawaiian and Indonesians are very different the very broad muscular figure would be more Hawaiian, indonesians are small, slight of built. Culturally I won't go there because I don't know indonesian culture.
I'm aware that sumo is not something that comes from the Pacific islands, but that LOOK would be something that popped into mind. Probably from seeing very broad, portly fellows of that ethnic group represented in movies.
I understand what you mean. Did you know two of the top sumo wrestlers in the world over the past ten years were Samoan or Polynesian. To be honest your character concepts for Pacific islander would match mine.
Although Hawaii has a hero named Maui who used his witts over braun to accomplish many of his heroic deeds. Maui was known as a trickster or dare I say rogue.
Anyway, DO you roleplay other races, ethnicities outside of your own? WHy or why not?
As a GM/Ref/Keeper, I have played many different races, ethnicities, etc.
I have done a series of seminars over the years on world building for role-playing and for fiction. One of the points I make is that there is a balance between creative situations that are unlike the situation on Earth and playing along with more familiar settings.
For example, Planet of the Apes (playing a female ape is way outside of my normal experience) is not so different from Earth. The apes are in charge, but they basically have a human society. Substitute viking or mongol for ape, and it is about the same thing.
On the other hand, playing a group of one-celled creatures in a water world might be a wild experience, but the players would have a hard time relating.
In the first case, there is enough difference between the real world and the gaming experience that the players would be interested, but enough simularities that they could relate.
In the second case, the players might be interested, but they would probably have a hard time trying to empathize with their characters.
It is a balance.
In service,
Rich
Go to www.drgames.org.
I played a 'bad-ass' Black Farmer in a Call of Cthullu campaign. Since the setting was in the 1920's in the deep south of the USA he couldn't carry a firearm. He did okay with an axe handle and lived through 2 adventure arcs.
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I tend to not really 'visualize' the ethnicity of a human character unless it is specifically tied to the campaign setting. As far as other races go, I've played the gamut. I mean, I tend not to play halflings, gnomes, or dwarves because I think they got short-changed in 3.5, but it's not due to any aesthetic prejudice.
I actually tend not to play within my own ethnicity. If I do, the white guy is European, not American. My non-D&D characters are either Asian or British, for some reason. If given the chance, I'd also love to play a native american (although, I am part NA, so I'm not sure how much that would count.)
Edit: My normal D&D characters tend to be white, but are usually elven or half-elven so "fair" would be a better description. My current D&D character (where I'm playing a human for once), is a sorcerer from the "Egyptian" continent (fit the conception, also: nice plot hooks later on), so is a big exception to my normal D&D rule (read: white elf).
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I actually tend not to play within my own ethnicity. If I do, the white guy is European, not American. My non-D&D characters are either ?Asian or British, for some reason. If given the chance, I'd also love to play a native american (although, I am part NA, so I'm not sure how much that would count.)
... and sometimes, he plays cat people. ;}
I tend to play almost any ethnicity but my own. I've played a dark-skinned nomadic desert dweller, a half-asian, essentially an eskimo, a blonde russian primadonna, etc, etc. It has to be a really complelling character concept for me to want to play a human with a similar cultural background to mine. If I want to be a pale-skinned, blue-eyed girl with a little more Irish temper than is good for me I don't really need to game for that. I prefer my escapism to well, be escapist.
I never play guys, though. I have a very high pitched voice, and there's no way I could pull off playing a man. Well, maybe a really effeminate man... :)
I play various ethnicities: I have two current characters
1) Savage Tide - I play a thug from Sasserine modeled after Tiny "Zues" Lister's character D-Bo from Friday.
2) Shackled City - I play a dancer/rogue modeled after Kevin Bacon from the movie Footloose (with the twist that he lives an alternative lifestyle)
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This thread makes me realize that I'm playing too many damn elves:
1) Grimcleaver's Shandura Campaign - Dwarven fighter
2) Aubrey's Eberron - Valenar elven barbarian
3) Saern's Homebrew Campaign - High elven ranger
4) Pen and Paper - Gold Elf Conjurer
In fact, the last human I played was about 6 months ago in a gestalt game. He was a warlock/swashbuckler. He was, um, a white guy. So am I.
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Pen and paper - Daniel Lovoth, human paladin (white)
Pen and paper - Edmond Violet, human cleric (albino)
Pen and paper - Nemak Arrow-Breaker, goliath ranger
Pen and paper - Aleric the Cowardly, human fighter (white)
PbP (Grimmbold Manor) - Corvin Killgannon, human fighter (white, but hard to tell because of all the dirt)
PbP (the Long Trek)(dropped out) - Valin MacLeod, Hellbred corrupt avenger / Free User 9, Keeper assassin
PbP (In the Eye of Stormreach) - Brick, warforged cleric
PbP (Amahra) - Lucien Naiilo, half-elf gestalt mage (Native American-esque)
PbP (the Lands Above the Mist) - Jedediah Sparks, human fighter (white. Suthun old money white.)
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Pen and paper - Daniel Lovoth, human paladin (white)
Pen and paper - Edmond Violet, human cleric (albino)
Pen and paper - Nemak Arrow-Breaker, goliath ranger
Pen and paper - Aleric the Cowardly, human fighter (white)PbP (Grimmbold Manor) - Corvin Killgannon, human fighter (white, but hard to tell because of all the dirt)
PbP (the Long Trek)(dropped out) - Valin MacLeod, Hellbred corrupt avenger / Free User 9, Keeper assassin
PbP (In the Eye of Stormreach) - Brick, warforged cleric
PbP (Amahra) - Lucien Naiilo, half-elf gestalt mage (Native American-esque)
PbP (the Lands Above the Mist) - Jedediah Sparks, human fighter (white. Suthun old money white.)
I wish I had the free time necessary to play in 4 PnP games at the same time. I'm struggling to manage the two I've got now, and one of them is a Vampire game (in which I am playing an Italian).
Director of Sales
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What would be your idea of a pacific islander character? (YO thats me pacific islander!)
Ooooohhhh man... This just gave me an idea. Next character I'm making is totally going to be a Maori-themed fighter/barbarian.
I mean... how badass is this guy?!?
What would be your idea of a pacific islander character? (YO thats me pacific islander!)
Ooooohhhh man... This just gave me an idea. Next character I'm making is totally going to be a Maori-themed fighter/barbarian.
I mean... how badass is this guy?!?
Thats bad ass. His performance is seen at sporting eve3nts arround the Pacific.
That makes me think of something: Sir Kaikillah, how would you roleplay having a bad sunburn?Thats bad ass. His performance is seen at sporting eve3nts arround the Pacific.My character would cry a lot about how itchy his skin was. He would cry everytime the cleric touched him with a heal spell.
I really dark for compared to a white guy. Because i am in the Sun and Surf a lot I am dark compared to a lot of Hawaiians. But even I get sun burned. Usually I can tell because me skin stays warm during the night and the next day I start to peel, usually my nose.Rad...
If I weren't such a heliophobe, I'd totally be on the wrong side of the Rim.