I've been playing for several years, so this may seem like a stupid question. But I've been reading some material lately, and the word "demihuman" keeps popping up.
But I do not know what this word means in the Pathfinder?
I am pretty sure it means any creature that is half human, such as half elves or half orcs.
As far as I am aware, it is an archaic term used in early 1E DnD to describe the nonhuman playable/friendly races (dwarves, elves, halflings). You know...the ones whose class was 'dwarf' 'elf' and 'halfling'. Yeah, it is a term from THAT long ago.
For a sense of context, the term humanoid was used to describe the human like enemies- orcs, goblins, etc. It is now a term that includes the former humanoids, humans, and demihumans.
The influence of 1E, however, does mean that the term demihuman may have been adopted for different systems, setttings, and contexts. My gut reaction is that it would be used now for the races that may be pejoratively called the 'furry' races. Alternatively, it might be used for the various half breed races.
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in old D&D you calssified the "good" non humans as demi-humans whille the "bad" non human races were the goblinoids. this all pretty much changed when people started playing goblins and drow showed thier ugly faces.
The term was used in AD&D as well.
As others have said, it basically referred to the non-human (but humanoid) playable races. Particularly elves, dwarves, gnomes, and halfling.
It was common term in the past, but it sounds a bit offensive now. :)
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True, any of the common races that kinda looked like humans were called demihumans, while everything else were called Mobile Predeceased Loot Containers.
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It was common term in the past, but it sounds a bit offensive now. :)
So...yeah, that seems like a good place for it in the setting.
A racist term used by imperialist humans. The fact that it is defined in terms of how you 'aren't human' both implies human superiority, and it also adds an element of depersonalization.
I played a warforged who was extremely offended by the terms "tin can" and "bucket head".
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Back in the early days, there were actual mechanical differences for playing a demihuman instead of a human, so the distinction made at least a little sense.
In BX, BECMI, and the like, demihumans were classes unto themselves, and they were the only ones to have ability score minimums. You could play a 3 Str fighter, but all dwarves had to have a 9 Con, for example.
In 1e AD&D, only demihumans could multiclass, and only demihumans had level limits. Conversely, only demihumans had racial abilities. Humans (only) could dual class, which was different than multiclassing. (Dual classing meant starting over at level 1, and being unable to freely use your old abilities until you passed your previous class in level. It was stupendously powerful if you could pull it off well.)
The distinction is fairly meaningless in the modern era, but older gamers like myself may sometimes use the term without thinking about it. It's like calling adventures "modules."
I played a warforged who was extremely offended by the terms "tin can" and "bucket head".
I would go for tin soldier personally. Besides the fact that it references their metal bodies and original purpose, and implies that warforged are mere toys to be disposed of on a whim.
...and now I realize that I am going into the benefits of particuarly racial slurs, even if they are towards fictional races.
N'Tel'Quessair.
Not a Person.
Meaning a sentient who was Not an Elf. FR Realms elvish language.
The racial slur thing goes both ways.
The game was written from the human standpoint.
Demi-humans were other races that looked 'mostly human', ala demi-human, and were generally our allies and friendly. Mutual appearance smooths a lot of roads. The fact they were largely Good alignment as a racial trait also helped loads.
Humanoids were bipeds that didn't look human. Orcs looked like humanoid boars. Goblins were noseless, fanged, and had strange skin colors, blood, and fur, for bugbears. Ogres, giants, kobolds, lizard-men...it went on and on. The fact they were usually Evil as a racial trait, or didn't mind eating us, didn't help.
Humanoids was short hand for 'non-human appearing sentient bipedal lifeform, who generally hate us and would like to eat humans and demi-humans...and each other, often enough.'
I still like the terminology. The one thing I didn't like was 'half-elves' and 'half-orcs.' We don't call mules 'half-donkeys'. Hybrids get their own names quickly enough, and so half-breeds should have their own names.
I call half-elves halvyr. The majority in the campaign come from other halvyr...they are a self-procreating hybrid race. One born of human and elf is called 'the first of their line.'
half-orcs are called urukhar. Unlike most worlds, they tend to get along with halvyr, who tell them to stand up for themselves and be proud of their own race, and not let the prejudices of their parents races define them.
half-dwarves are called dhatun, and half-ogres ogryn. Takes care of the racial slur, even though racial names are themselves often slurs (i.e. calling someone an ogre or a troll as an insult continues today)
=Aelryinth
Aelryinth, Thats really cool. I'm definitely changing that in my next campaign. Thanks for posting it.
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Welcome!
Halvyr translates as 'The Children of Unity' or 'Children of Harmony'.
Urukhar translates as 'The Children of Battle.'
Dhatun translates as 'The Children of the Heartforge.'
Ogryn translates as 'The Children of the Mighty.' (and they aren't PF half-ogres with the hillbilly cannibal bent.)
The god of the Halvyr is my campaign god of Liberty, Music, and Freedom, Tiirith...who is halvyr, the son of the LG paladin god and the NG elven queen of stars and silver magic.
The god of the Urukhar is his companion and sword captain, Gagrik Bloodfang.
The God of the Dhatun is his smith and hammerman, Dorm the Maker.
The God of the Ogryn is his wise companion Mug the Runeaxe.
Halvyr are THE master bards in my campaign. Elves might win on technical merits, but nobody does the heartsong like halvyr do. They try to live with a song, preserve the lore of their brother races, and accept no opinions of others on how to lead their lives. They tend to be affected by wanderlust and travel between the many settlements of the people if not settled down and raising families. They are also the most famous rangers of the setting. They bias NG and CG.
THe urukhar consider themselves the defenders of the other Children and are the quickest to stand up for themselves and others. Anything which threatens the Children must deal with the Urukhar before all others. They bias LN and N, and can rage even when Lawful.
The dhatun consider themselves the keepers and steadfast rock which builds the communities of the Four, and which all can retire and return to when in need. They tend to be master crafters, organizers, teachers and awesomely disciplined soldiers when riled. They bias LG.
The Ogryn consider themselves the towers of strength and champions the other races can depend on to achieve great things in times of need, lifting up and carrying the others to greater heights by showing the way to greatness. They tend to enjoy building Big THings, doing mighty labors, facing great and monstrous foes, and going into apocalyptic fury when their friends are endangered. They bias N and NG. "We are in need of your strength" is the sweetest compliment among the Ogryn.
:)
==Aelryinth
