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Monster races as PC's

Started by Arkansan, August 27, 2013, 11:17:19 AM

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Arkansan

August 27, 2013, 11:17:19 AM
So I was pondering up a setting I had an idea for, one of the things I wanted to include was a large number of humanoid monsters as potential playable races. I am sure someone around here has done this before, any advice? System wise I was thinking Labyrinth Lord or Sword and Wizardry, I figured race as class kinda makes sense here but I also like the idea of having more options for those players.

Another thing I would be interested in hearing is how do you think having monstrous humanoids as part of society would change things? I already have some ideas on this but I would be curious to hear what others think.

Blackhand

#1
August 27, 2013, 11:31:02 AM
AD&D 2e with Humanoids Handbook.

D&D 3e with Savage Species.

Most of the work is already done for you, and I've played an all orc campaign that was fantastically brutal and fun.

Different vibe, to be sure, but just as much potential for fun around the table.
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J Arcane

#2
August 27, 2013, 11:36:00 AM
Arcana Rising's rule is just to cap non-human levels based on how many HD they have.

So playing a 2HD sidhe means you can only level it to 10, but you get to keep the benefits of being a sidhe.

Something similar should be an easy drop in rule for most any similar B/X or OD&D type game.
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RunningLaser

#3
August 27, 2013, 11:37:01 AM
I remember reading a post by Old Geezer where he (if my memory is correct) said monstrous races all started at the bottom in terms of power, and slowly worked their way up.  This was in regards to a player wanting to play a balrog- think he just started off as a 1hd Balrog.

Exploderwizard

#4
August 27, 2013, 11:40:43 AM
Just about any monster can serve as a playable race/class especially in a simple system like LL or S&W without template baggage.

Many humanoids have shaman and witchdoctor types so there is room to accomodate more than one class for players.

The main thing to consider that will make the situation unique is what kind of cultures and social structure do you want to give to the humanoids?
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noisms

#5
August 27, 2013, 11:56:40 AM
Try to get your hands on The Orcs of Thar. Playable humanoid monster races for BECMI D&D - orcs, goblins, trolls, etc.
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Bill

#6
August 27, 2013, 01:36:19 PM
Lots of racial rivalries. Probably violent ones.

Look at how humans in our world act, and all humans are the same race.

Arkansan

#7
August 27, 2013, 03:40:38 PM
Quote from: Bill;686146Lots of racial rivalries. Probably violent ones.

Look at how humans in our world act, and all humans are the same race.

Thanks for all the input guys. Yeah I kinda pictured a lot of conflict with a few spots of tense of cohabitation caused by special circumstances.

Bill

#8
August 27, 2013, 03:48:36 PM
Quote from: Arkansan;686177Thanks for all the input guys. Yeah I kinda pictured a lot of conflict with a few spots of tense of cohabitation caused by special circumstances.

Tense cohabitation....Slavery.


Not trying to paint a doom and gloom picture; perhaps in one world out there the Minotaurs don't find Gnomes to be delicious.

Arkansan

#9
August 27, 2013, 03:54:00 PM
Yeah, I can't see slavery not existing in a world like that. I also pictured areas where groups lived side by side in bubbling cauldrons of tension. The setting I am envisioning is post apocolyptic so doom and gloom is fine.

Bilharzia

#10
August 27, 2013, 04:54:12 PM


RuneQuest handles this pretty well as there's no distinction between "monsters" and players from a system mechanics point of view.

http://rpggeek.com/rpgitem/57795/trollpak

Monkey Boy

#11
August 27, 2013, 05:29:50 PM
Quote from: noisms;686101Try to get your hands on The Orcs of Thar. Playable humanoid monster races for BECMI D&D - orcs, goblins, trolls, etc.

This was my first thought. The presentation is often comical/light hearted but the book is excellent at presenting levelled humanoids. Level 1 parties can be a mix of bugbears, kobolds and trolls and the game works just fine with everyone contributing.
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noisms

#12
August 27, 2013, 05:31:53 PM
Quote from: Monkey Boy;686209This was my first thought. The presentation is often comical/light hearted but the book is excellent at presenting levelled humanoids. Level 1 parties can be a mix of bugbears, kobolds and trolls and the game works just fine with everyone contributing.

Yeah, you have to have a lot of tolerance for gags about places called Trollhattan and latinate names like Bugberia Bugbera Vulgaris.... But the actual rules are good, and it helps to remember BECMI was really written for 12 year olds. ;)
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soltakss

#13
August 28, 2013, 08:13:59 AM
RuneQuest does it really well. Each race has a set of backgrounds/professions, a number of usual cults, special abilities and so on. Then they are treated just like any other adventurer when rolling up.
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Ravenswing

#14
August 28, 2013, 07:51:10 PM
What Bilharzia said -- remove the distinction of "monster" race from your mind. There are "races," and sentient goblins, orcs or minotaurs are no more or less a "race" as elves, dwarves or the like.
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