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Huh, very nifty. I speak just enough Spanish to get by, and I lived in south Austin long enough to know most of the slang. I always get tripped up by the -a or -o at the end of words that indicate the gender of the person being spoken to. (Que pasa vs Que paso, as an example)
I can see why. English is different then Spanish in many ways. For example English has many homophones...like bass and bass. It can be a fish or a sound. Spanish not so...although they have words that one misplaced syllable turns the word for "fear" to "excrement".
I wonder if this can be true of fantasy languages? Hmmm?
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Huh, very nifty. I speak just enough Spanish to get by, and I lived in south Austin long enough to know most of the slang. I always get tripped up by the -a or -o at the end of words that indicate the gender of the person being spoken to. (Que pasa vs Que paso, as an example)I can see why. English is different then Spanish in many ways. For example English has many homophones...like bass and bass. It can be a fish or a sound. Spanish not so...although they have words that one misplaced syllable turns the word for "fear" to "excrement".
I wonder if this can be true of fantasy languages? Hmmm?
Further complicating the language are homonyms. Bass, Bass, or Base. Bass the fish, Bass the musical instrument, Base the military installation, Base the thing in baseball... and so on and so forth. Although I understand that the tonal languages are even MORE fun. The same word, same spelling with different inflection changes EVERYTHING.
1e -> elves were 100x better than all the other races -> everyone loved elves.
3e -> humans were 100x better than all the other races -> everyone loved humans.
PF -> Seems like Paizo has sure boosted the half-orc... but the human is still in the running for "bestest with the mostest."
Personally, I like humans. Most of my favorite campaigns have been human-only. If other races are allowed, I sometimes like goblins, hobgoblins, gnomes, elves, half-elves (even through they suck in 3e).
What I can't stand are whisper gnomes, kender, svirfneblin, drow, super-elves from various campaign settings, half-dragons, half-ogres, shadar-kai, catfolk, wolfmen, other furries, or smurfs.
Of the core races I'm split between humans, elves & half-elves, quite evenly.
If there is any type of feline folk available, I always play it. If there are multiple types of feline folk, I play those that are more aloof and charismatic.
One of my all time favorite races are the Illumians from Races of Destiny. I tend to multi-class like crazy, so much so that it's a running gag with my other players(they tend to gloss over my single-class characters), and the race is built perfectly for it. I also just love the flavor of the race; I like how they were once humans, but "infused" with magic energy and became what they are. The glowing halo of arcane runes just looks badass to me as well :)
I also love playing dragon-blooded of all kinds; I have a lengthy roll call of half-dragons, dargonborn, spellscales, draconics, etc. Just something iconic about a humanoid dragon to me. My current character is a game I play is a Dragonborn Knight.
...I'm curious what everyone's favorite races in tabletop gaming (or any game for that matter) are...So, what do you fine folks enjoy and why?
My top three are a bit unusual.
1. Hu-Charad Giants, from Arcana Evolved, and especially the Giants from the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant which inspired them. To me, they combine the best elements of both elves and dwarves, an elder race that is in many ways "better" than humanity, bigger, bolder, stronger, and longer lived, but crippled by a low birth-rate and bereft of their homeland. There's also a certain appeal to a large size, strong race that is not mentally deficient. Giants are skilled craftsmen, sailors, diplomats, storytellers, and engineers. Like elves and dwarves, they are essentially a skewed version of humanity, which IMHO is from the perspective of a child, looking up to his parents and hoping to be like them some day. Not surprisingly, most people I know dislike them for the very reasons I like them.
2. The Mojh, also from Arcana Evolved, and to a lesser extent, any intelligent reptilian race. I'm a big fan of reptilian races in fantasy, as they tend to be emotionally and intellectually distant from humans. Cold, calculating, even predatory in their thinking, they toe the line between man and monster. This goes double for the Mojh, who were once human but gave up their old life, their name, even the concept of gender, in their aspiration to become more like the Dragons. If a dragon is a symbol of everything humanity fears, then Mojh are those who embrace their own fear and try to be fearsome themselves. The fact that every Mojh volunteers for their transformation, and that it must be done on an individual basis is also a compelling story hook. Why would someone do this? What is humanity really worth? and other such questions make for an intriguing concept to me.
3. The Nezumi from Rokugan. Everybody hates the Nezumi. They're filthy rat-men, uncivilized and unwelcome in Rokugani society. Yet, whereas they could respond to this treatment with bitterness and anger, they are content to accept their lot in life, while striving to enjoy it to the fullest. The concept that the Nezumi are "Racing Tomorrow", living in the moment, while honoring their past and refusing to fear what tomorrow might bring, is very compelling to me. Whereas rat-men in most settings are generic monsters, the Nezumi are decent folks just trying to get by, who happen to be rats with thumbs. They're the ultimate underdogs, the guys who are easiest to judge incorrectly at first glance, and who tend to get along just fine in spite of others' predjudices.
I favor dark full bodied ales (Laughing Lab and Arrogant Bastard top my list) when I can afford them.
A dwarf after me own grog. Arrogant Bastard and Moylan's Kilt Lifter: the dwarfiest of ales.
Zo
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...I'm curious what everyone's favorite races in tabletop gaming (or any game for that matter) are...So, what do you fine folks enjoy and why?My top three are a bit unusual.
1. Hu-Charad Giants, from Arcana Evolved, and especially the Giants from the Chronicles of Thomas Covenant which inspired them.
2. The Mojh, also from Arcana Evolved, and to a lesser extent, any intelligent reptilian race.
3. The Nezumi from Rokugan.
Huh, I hadn't really thought about the Giants from Cook's universe being based on Covenant. Though it makes sense. I loved Covenant's giants and I like what I've seen of the Arcana Unearthed ones. Then again, I really just want to run an AU game and get it rolling. I might use those rules for my homebrew universe, but we'll see.
I couldn't really wrap my head around the mojh on first read-through, but they looked... interesting.
And, well, I ADORE rats. Between the Nezumi and the Kitsune, I'd be hard pressed to pick one. Hmm...
Yay, I'm not the only one who likes Illumians :D So much hate tends to go around for them, often we find ourselves the odd ones out it seems.
I actually liked most of the new stuff from "Races Of". Illumians, Raptorans, and Killoren most of all. The only ones I never really much cared for were the Goliaths, but I've had a few players use them in my games.
As far as Rokugan goes, Naga all the way. I've always had a thing for snake races, and as much as I like Yuan-Ti their LA and racial HD in 3.5 made them pretty much unplayable. Thankfully Naga didn't have that obstruction.
Yay, I'm not the only one who likes Illumians :D So much hate tends to go around for them, often we find ourselves the odd ones out it seems.
Jandrem likes 'em too. His post is 5 above yours.
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2. The Mojh, also from Arcana Evolved, [snip]who were once human but gave up their old life, their name, even the concept of gender, in their aspiration to become more like the Dragons. [snip] The fact that every Mojh volunteers for their transformation, and that it must be done on an individual basis is also a compelling story hook. Why would someone do this? What is humanity really worth? and other such questions make for an intriguing concept to me.
I never really deeply thought about the Mojh until writing one up for a PbP. It really is a neat concept, playing a character that has abandoned his/her old race (and gender, in this case) for a totally new form of existence. Granted, it's around, with the Dragonborn, Spellscales, Necropolitans, etc. all having different variations on this theme, but the Mojh seems to take it one step further.
Shekkebet, my own Mojh, who gave up his humanity for a girl.
Yay, I'm not the only one who likes Illumians :D So much hate tends to go around for them, often we find ourselves the odd ones out it seems.Jandrem likes 'em too. His post is 5 above yours.
Yeah, that's who I was referring to.
Yay, I'm not the only one who likes Illumians :D So much hate tends to go around for them, often we find ourselves the odd ones out it seems.
I actually liked most of the new stuff from "Races Of". Illumians, Raptorans, and Killoren most of all. The only ones I never really much cared for were the Goliaths, but I've had a few players use them in my games.
As far as Rokugan goes, Naga all the way. I've always had a thing for snake races, and as much as I like Yuan-Ti their LA and racial HD in 3.5 made them pretty much unplayable. Thankfully Naga didn't have that obstruction.
I'm a big fan of the "Races of..." series. I've always wanted to play a Raprotan, but haven't had the chance yet. I've played a few Goliaths; they're fun, if you're looking to be the big, visibly muscled character in the group. It's a lot like being Colossus in the X-Men.
I'm a big fan of the "Races of..." series. I've always wanted to play a Raprotan, but haven't had the chance yet. I've played a few Goliaths; they're fun, if you're looking to be the big, visibly muscled character in the group. It's a lot like being Colossus in the X-Men.Yay, I'm not the only one who likes Illumians :D So much hate tends to go around for them, often we find ourselves the odd ones out it seems.
I actually liked most of the new stuff from "Races Of". Illumians, Raptorans, and Killoren most of all. The only ones I never really much cared for were the Goliaths, but I've had a few players use them in my games.
As far as Rokugan goes, Naga all the way. I've always had a thing for snake races, and as much as I like Yuan-Ti their LA and racial HD in 3.5 made them pretty much unplayable. Thankfully Naga didn't have that obstruction.
Raptorans I actually used as one of the base races in my homebrew campaign setting. They were blended a little bit with elves (which they kinda are already) and renamed Ael-vara. The others were Humans, Dwarves (rewritten to be sailors and pirates rather than miners and smiths), Tibbits and Lupin from Dragon Compendium (renamed Freyrfolk and Fenrin respectively), Halflings (the only race besides humans really unchanged), and a Naga/Yuan-Ti cross called Ophia.
It's a lot like being Colossus in the X-Men.Fastball Special, for the win!
There's a feat out of Races of Stone(book Goliath is form) that's called "Fling Ally", which shows a Goliath launching a Gnome in just that fashion!
Well lets see my favorite character of all time was a shadow plane touched genasi.
But other than that I try not to play standard races other than when I am required to by the game.
My last 4 characters
Blood Sea Minotaur Monk
Bozak Draconian Fighter
Elf Barbarian/Ranger
Irda (high ogre) Force Mage
Why yes I do like the Dragonlance setting why do you ask?
Currently though I am GMing a game of 2nd Ed about to switch to 3.5 and in our party we have
Orge-Mage fighter
1/2 Elf ranger
Drow Bladesinger
Dwarven fighter/theif
Human Mage/Theif (who is dressed in the grab of a plague doctor)
Human fighter
I have however killed, a pixie theif, drove off a Wemic fighter (because he wouldn't go underground), Human wizard, and an Elven Necromancer (mage/cleric)