I allow or disallow races based essentially on my campaign setting - though I don't like things getting to extreme. So no vampires or undead but I allow Lizard Folk, no elves as I use them as an extinct elder race that left a lot of ruins in need of exploring by extension I don't allow half elves (I also happen to loath elves - which is really why they got nominated to be extinct).
The only "banning" I really have done is said all sub-races are gone. If you are halfling, then you are halfling. Elves have three subraces in my game: elves, half-elves, and aquatic elves. Drow are regular elves with special paint jobs (live in deep forests not underground). I never really got the whole 1001 different subraces of elves.
Half dragons.
I swear to the powers that be, if I get stuck with one more party with 3 half dragons in it I QUIT!
Though in general, I've found that banning all LA races is a VERY good thing. If one IS allowed, it requires one full page of background and description to accompany it.
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The only "banning" I really have done is said all sub-races are gone. If you are halfling, then you are halfling. Elves have three subraces in my game: elves, half-elves, and aquatic elves. Drow are regular elves with special paint jobs (live in deep forests not underground). I never really got the whole 1001 different subraces of elves.
This is how I do it in my games as well. It always bugged the hell out of me that there was an elf for almost any class.
And Raptorans. For some reason I just can't stand that race.
I'm going to have to go with the "No LA" group. I usually end up playing with new players most of the time, and I like all characters to be on the same page when the game starts.
Perhaps, after the campaign has progressed, I might be willing to allow a more experienced player try something different. But even then he should try to keep the needs of the group in mind if he does this.
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I have banned all races that have a Level Adjustment.
I have not so much banned the as restrictred them as a starting option. If we have reached a level where you could role one up with the level adjustment and your character dies, they are generally okay. I have allowed a couple of players to role up catfolk with no LA and it hasn't unbalanced my game any, which makes me wonder why the have one.
I dont ban anything from play; but if you other pc's kill you on sight; well; not my fault; best to think real hard about how you will fit into the group; after all; it is group/party play not bunch of soloes.
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I've made the mistake in the past of allowing my players to play some of the more exotic races (drow, orcs, tiefling, etc.). I found that the inclusion of these races really did unbalance my game in ways i didn't think were possible, and created a whole slew of headaches for me as GM. Oh well, live and learn.
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With the Savage Species rules, I think just about any race can be played. I have had particularly good luck with the flavor added by centaurs to a regular party, the various humanoids/aberrations for an evil party, and even dragons when played by an experienced player.
As I reflected on my experience playing/DMing it seems that the harm in exotic races boils down to player inexperience and mechanics that are too complicated for a PCs regular use. In the latter category, the lycanthrope/vampire group appear to sit--fun flavor in an encounter but a tremendous pain in an ongoing game (what phase is the moon, where is your casket, etc.). In the former category, I think I can safely put all the 'fanboy' players of drow ginsu knife masters and tiefling Hellboys.
As a result, my rule is that any race is playable...upon application. The application has to include the RP background, the leveling progression (for anything with a LA + > 1), and a pre-game discussion of the character's personality in the party.
As an aside, I do think that most folks use half-orcs as Klingon substitutes and halflings as kender. That is a shame, both are capable of much more compelling stories. Of course, if Legolas and Gimli didn't define 90% of all elf and dwarf characters we would have a bounty of better stories too, so I suppose I can't gripe too much.
For me it's never been a question of banning. I simply have a short list of what I allow depending on the campaign.
That is kind of how I play it. ie for the STAP it was standard +bullywug, phanaton, lizardfolk and aventi-all races the NPCs had access too (Yuan ti have too high an LA).
I have banned my players from playing the same race in back to back characters though--just because they tend to stagnate.
Catfolk. +4 dex no LA? wtf? Why does everyone of my players want to play a catfolk?--I blame that sexy Miri card of MtG.
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If I am doing a one-shot, anything goes within the level bounds.
For campaigns, I stick to what is identified as existing in the world setting. For example, no Raptorans in FR. In my homebrews this is much easier as I clearly define all available races in my campaign docs.
That said, I do warn players who are playing monstrous or evil races that there will be consequences. For example, any orc caught within dwarven lands in my homebrew is executed on sight, no trial. His friends will be tried for conspiring with orcs - possible death penalty as a result.