... and you wanted them to feel somewhat more French that the usual suspects. What would you go with?
My first thought was to create an aquatic humanoid race, base them off the myriad of French folk-tales about river spirits/fey and use them as thematic replacements for elves. Call them melusines perhaps.
I've debated using lutins, but I'm not fond of how close they are to gnomes and (sometimes) dwarves.
I'd really rather avoid using straight-up elves because I just don't find them interesting to create as NPCs/societies anymore, and dwarves feel a little too Germanic.
I really liked the way Ravenloft 3e used Half-Orcs as calibans, unfortunately deformed children of men who grow up into persecuted pariahs. This would fit nicely with touchstone stories like the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Phantom of the Opera.
Further thoughts?
I'd try something gnomish despite your concerns.
The French were notorious for their beautiful, but ridiculously complicated (and unreliable) early firearms, and something about a gnome dressed in colorful silks, sniffing high quality wines and cheese with his huge nose, does seem to resonate.
I'd also consider something cave-man like. There's some evidence that neanderthals bred with humans in that area, and it does line up with your "hunchback"--a subrace of second class, monstrous citizens, struggling to be accepted as "normal" humans.
I'm reaching here, but perhaps some version of French Leprechauns, again going with the "pot of golden cheese."
I would say these guys are a must
(http://www.movpins.com/big/MV5BMjA3MTAyNzYzNF5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTYwNTIzOTA3._V1_/still-of-kevin-pollak-and-rick-overton-in-willow-(1988)-large-picture.jpg)
Dwarves and Elves are Norse. And Lutins ARE Dwarves, the French took them from the Scandinavians.
The issue is that Elves and Dwarves from 'traditional' Fantasy gaming IS as French as it is Germanic, English/Saxon or Norse, because there was a lot of crossbreeding of myths during the early centuries.
The Melusines is a nice twist for Fantasy Elves, though. I'm stealing that. :D
Well, frog-men and snail-folk, obviously ;)
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;857317... and you wanted them to feel somewhat more French that the usual suspects. What would you go with?
My first thought was to create an aquatic humanoid race, base them off the myriad of French folk-tales about river spirits/fey and use them as thematic replacements for elves. Call them melusines perhaps.
I've debated using lutins, but I'm not fond of how close they are to gnomes and (sometimes) dwarves.
I'd really rather avoid using straight-up elves because I just don't find them interesting to create as NPCs/societies anymore, and dwarves feel a little too Germanic.
I really liked the way Ravenloft 3e used Half-Orcs as calibans, unfortunately deformed children of men who grow up into persecuted pariahs. This would fit nicely with touchstone stories like the Hunchback of Notre-Dame and Phantom of the Opera.
Further thoughts?
Troubadours are very popular in French mythology (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Troubadour). What if the troubadours were plane-hopping faerie musicians, who exist to pass on omens of the future through satire whilst impregnating erstwhile maidens with their faerie seed? Thus, you have birth of half-faerie children who're burdened by their birthright. Or, perhaps they embrace it for their own nefarious ends to please their fairie progenitors as clerics would to gods? Think Oberon, on a mission to sow his wild oats while Titania sends her emissaries to return him to her courts and kill his bastard children.
Many of Disney's movies are based on Charles Perrault's work. Despite their appeal to children, there is a bevy of folklore with it that could easily be used to create new races of player characters.
Quote from: Doom;857320I'd try something gnomish despite your concerns.
Yeah, I'm starting to feel that way too. Basically make the lutin a subrace of gnome with invisibility powers and a strong sense of loyalty to people and places to reflect their frequent portrayal as "house spirits" in French folklore.
Quote from: Doom;857320I'm reaching here, but perhaps some version of French Leprechauns, again going with the "pot of golden cheese."
It's not much of a stretch, the lutins frequently brush against that archetype.
Quote from: Christopher BradyAnd Lutins ARE Dwarves, the French took them from the Scandinavians.
Well kind of, but the lutins aren't associated with crafts to the same extent as dwarves. Instead they are frequently linked to stables and kitchens. They're much closer to D&D gnomes.
Quote from: Christopher BradyThe issue is that Elves and Dwarves from 'traditional' Fantasy gaming IS as French as it is Germanic, English/Saxon or Norse, because there was a lot of crossbreeding of myths during the early centuries.
Yes, and the result has been the generification of these races to the point that they don't really resonate much when you are aiming for a 'distinct' French vibe. I'm aiming to dig a little deeper in search of fresher, more regional sources.
Quote from: ZWEIHÄNDERMany of Disney's movies are based on Charles Perrault's work. Despite their appeal to children, there is a bevy of folklore with it that could easily be used to create new races of player characters.
Yes, fairy tales and novels should work. Something I'm toying with is a race that can provide the talking animal shtick that is so common in old French works (Roman de Renart, Puss in Boots) without being too stupid or cringy. Maybe that's best reserved for NPCs and familiars though.
The obvious ones.
(http://application.denofgeek.com/pics/tv/dogt03.jpg)
Folk lore and fairy tales from Brittany seem similar to the stories from their the other Celtic peoples: Welsh, Scottish, and Irish (maybe Gallaecian too, but I'm not familiar with those stories). So creatures from those stories would work.
I'd include werewolves. Stories of loup garou and killer wolves and wolf packs are well attested in France even into the 18th century and the number of humans killed by some of the most infamous wolves is shocking to our modern sensibilities.
Quote from: Doom;857320The French were notorious for their beautiful, but ridiculously complicated (and unreliable) early firearms...
Do you have examples? The overly complicated guns I've seen have been German or Austrian or Italian (http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-lorenzoni-repeater.html).
I really like the idea of loup garou and melusine!
Beyond that... maybe woodwose / homme sauvage for a sort of primitive humanoid option. Or, to move away from actual French folklore, a former-human-turned-demihuman race based on long-lost Roman legionaries in the Alps or something?
Quote from: Bren;857366Do you have examples? The overly complicated guns I've seen have been German or Austrian or Italian (http://firearmshistory.blogspot.com/2014/02/the-lorenzoni-repeater.html).
I'm not expert in such things, but something like this:
(man, forgot what a drag it was putting pics in posts...kinda why I stopped uploading pics of dungeons. Button after button, none of them doing what I want....)
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Hey, think that's it. Anyhow, that's more or less how the old French wheellocks look. My father had alot of antique firearms. On "Ultimate Warrior" they had a French Musketeer demonstrate the weapon....took him several swings to get the thing to actuall fire.
It's been 2 pages and nobody's suggested one of the PC races be a Cheese Eating Surrender Monkey???
What's this world coming to? :)
Quote from: Moracai;857328Well, frog-men and snail-folk, obviously ;)
Dont forget the poodle people and the cats. Poor poor cats. Start the revolution!
Quote from: Moracai;857328Well, frog-men and snail-folk, obviously ;)
And mimes.
Quote from: Doom;857320a subrace of second class, monstrous citizens, struggling to be accepted as "normal" humans.
Like mimes.
Use this for ideas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
About a strange untouchable caste in western France.
Quote from: Daztur;857395Use this for ideas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
About a strange untouchable caste in western France.
I forgot the Cagots. That is one of the more bizarre customs. I haven't yet figured out when or how that will come up in our game.
Of course the low doors and some descriptions do make them sound like gnomes...
Spoiler
(https://betaalbaareten.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/amelie-gnome.jpg)
Quote from: Shipyard Locked;857359Well kind of, but the lutins aren't associated with crafts to the same extent as dwarves. Instead they are frequently linked to stables and kitchens. They're much closer to D&D gnomes.
Actually, they would be Brownies. Because the Brownie is a house spirit, typically associated to shoes, but also house work and keeping things tidy.
I stand corrected.
Quote from: jadrax;857360The obvious ones.
I recognize your reference sir, and the awful French theme song is yapping through my head as I type.
Quote from: BrenI'd include werewolves. Stories of loup garou and killer wolves and wolf packs are well attested in France even into the 18th century and the number of humans killed by some of the most infamous wolves is shocking to our modern sensibilities.
It could work, but I'd be concerned about how many outcast races can vie for thematic space in one setting. PC werewolves would overlap extensively with PC 'quasimodos/opera phantoms'. Perhaps werewolves should remain monsters, although there is the coolness factor of offering what is normally a monster as a PC race... *ponders*
Quote from: DazturUse this for ideas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cagot
About a strange untouchable caste in western France.
Good stuff, didn't know about it. Might not even need to be a distinct race, that would make it all the more striking.
Quote from: PremierBeyond that... maybe woodwose / homme sauvage for a sort of primitive humanoid option.
Well, I've long wanted to include a 'plant people' race in a game, ideally one that had special power over regular plants, but alas I don't think it would quite fit here. I'm open to justifications though.