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View Full Version : Racial Thought Paradigms (A deep look into RP, beware!)



imp_fireball
2008-11-16, 09:53 PM
This thread is meant to explore, from fantasy literature (and perhaps some examples of reality, since fiction often dirives from reality), the psychology of different sentient races.

Why? Because personally I'm interested, since being sentient doesn't necessarily mean they all have to reason in the same way. Different races are genetically far reaching and vast. Beyond base beliefs, there's also racial view that influences psychological nature. To ingrain the point further, one might say that gnolls and humans are apart from one another, both physically and mentally. Why? Because, the template for a gnoll states that it has -2 int in comparison to a human (average int). Not all gnolls are stupid (of course, 16 int is about the maximum a gnoll can achieve, which is pretty darn smart by human standards). Most humans are relatively mundane in their reasoning, though we know from real life that some are capable of phenomenal bouts of thought (18 int being near genius), though not necessarily thought collection and organization (which could probably effect the int score for simplification purposes).

Additionally, there are those races with less of a naturally discovered sense of direction or awareness. These are usually of the templates with -2 wis or more.

These faults pass across certain races, but how do some sentient races end up being less intelligent then humans no matter how well bred (by the mathematical odds, in which mathematically a well bred human would be more intelligent then another creature within the exact same breeding program)? This is where racial nature comes in, and perhaps the way different races look at things right from when they are babies (or if they develop by not knowing how to even think as babies, then perhaps later on in life).

The purpose of the thread is to make RP a more enjoyable experience. And also for speculation purposes, since that's fun too.

NOTE: Mod can move this thread, to another forum if it doesn't really fit in homebrew.

First, I'll take a look at human beings:

Human Thought

http://www.comicartlinks.com/images_kalman/MISC_04_c.jpg
The two clear sides of human thought: curiosity as well as a naturally judgemental view of the world tends to conflict with one another. As such, man can be guided on nearly any path, a fact aided perhaps by their own conscious inferiority.

- It is healthy for man to ignore, lest they lose their reasoning. If man can't ignore (whether it be that which bothers them, or that which is boring, illogical, unenjoyable, etc.) then man is weak. Say, you can't ignore your own boredom, or you find yourself returning to watch a clown, or you just can't tune out your mother nagging you (even though what she is saying isn't really relevant to your actual life and that she is stricken with delusion... okay, say she actually was), chances are you will be left a bit of a nervous wreck.

- Mankind must actually believe before they can learn, and this applies to everything learned less they take on stress and become depressive.

Say, you don't believe in math and that math is stupid and you'll never use it later on in life (you hate it ALOT), yet you are shut away in a metal room and told to continue studying until you can ace a written test without an answer sheet but instead a textbook. You could be locked in forever, but to avoid it, chances are that you might be rewiring your brain for several hours in order to believe that you like it so that you can finally be released from the hell hole that is the metal room.

- Man who is in charge or in complete control will naturally be inclined to impart their beliefs on others who they feel they have control over.

Now this applies more to if you had the legal responsibility to watch over someone. Say you were a father/mother. Say you were told that it was you who had to be the upbringing for someone. Unless you had will of iron that stayed strong for two dozen years, then chances are you might feel like leaving the smallest mark on your child or work of art, whichever. It's not arrogance. And then the child would say (or would avoid saying, whichever) that he got his morals from you. Or that your work of art exhibited your style, because you worked so darn hard on it. Usually the ultimate deeds that man achieves leaves them wanton to leave their mark on said deeds. If they are menial tasks, then a man might simply do said task and be done with it, without any indication that they were the ones who did it (unless said person is arrogant and perhaps wishes to shift reputation to themselves in the eyes of their boss).

- A day in the life of man has man judging objects he/she comes across... whether or not they like or hate, they eventually learn to ignore

- As such religion and the life of human warriors has been known to revolve around suppression of 'urges', though some of it is more expressive or artistically pursuant (hindu meditation to better oneself for anything rather then a specific doctrine ie.) though this relies on the expressive interest of man (how much of an artist, he/she is)

- Man quickly learns, as they mature, that they cannot hate or like and make dissappear or enlargen (unless said person had a WIS of 3... this belief isn't necessarily a result of WIS, as much as WIS effects when you will mature; rather more HOW you will mature). In most cases, man's own conscious inferiority enforces this belief though it can also augment depression.
Man is naturally inclined to thus leave their mark in order to distinguish themselves, while conscious of their own inferiority to other races and nature itself. Depressive man seeks to self-destroy (sometimes involuntarily), while satisfied man learns to leave his/her mark, or perhaps simply contribute (it doesn't matter how significant said mark is, though in social circumstances man might boast on the significance of his/her mark to the rest of the world, whether objectively or as simply a statement of fact to refute others)
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That's pretty much how all humans are, don't you agree? Feel free to suggest changes.

Also, I wanna create grounds from this for how other races might look at things.

So let's go to it!

imp_fireball
2008-11-18, 09:22 PM
Elven Thought

http://images.mmosite.com/photo/2007/09/18/l2_elf0015PriqT08a3.jpg
Elves are naturally inclined to seek the purpose of another's existance though this does not necessarily define their daily behavior. In fact, most elves have learned at a very early age that such an issue is a fault in social circumstances (except those with very low wis/cha scores). Elves aren't as naturally curious as species such as humans nor are they as inquisitive; they are less inclined to question in order to do... instead they will often question the necessity behind such objections and perhaps even disregard all contact from others in order to avoid such tasks for 'undue suffering'. Elves, by nature as such, often after seeing the tasks of the most importance by belief (rather then laziness... where a human might do only the most essential tasks for their own survival), will put all effort into it; and while capable of working efficiently, elves can spend long periods determining what necessitates which tasks to further an accomplishment. Many elves, culturally, and in part to their own long lifespans, can take decades attempting to discern their goals, but not through a belief in fate.

In summary, the way most think are rather objective and they regard their own presence as matter of fact. As such, some elven sects have a wide reputation for arrogance. Something that's hard to help considering that's how they matured.

- Much of elven art involves expression of their own personality, even the sciences could be classified by personality distinction; some cultures perhaps, would reflect writing in a personality oriented way (for each point the author intended to make, choose a new paragraph, or choose a new tone with a paragraph representing each tone... literary authorities might be amazed to discover poetry in otherwise non-poetic works from completely different famed high elves who have never met each other) and while humans might find such a system of grammar as this confuddling, elves who (living so long) intend to find a playful nature even in the grit of their works of art/science. These sorts of things are easily learned by those elves who, by nature, have the time to study into the understanding of such endeavours. This corresponds to the more technical grammar oriented nature of most human languages in sophisticated civilisations (who do it often for convenience rather than playful fulfillment). Elves do not worry about progress, rather they worry only about fulfillment in every enjoyable endeavor. Regard for each voluntary piece of work that they have completed (if not, they lose face). Even in human civilizations, these unwritten customs that have grown from their own natural reasoning may remain rigid for generations

- Elves are often not content to leave small marks on their own works... though of course this depends on the circumstances and can vary from small menial tasks (which are regarded similar to how humans regard their own small tasks) to works that require years or decades of dedication

- Elves are encouraged to equally regard the technicalities of workmanship as well as their own distinction, not because other elves crave distinction (so much as humans do) but simply due to custom

- Elves can spend long years on pieces equipped for a multitude of tasks but of the same effectiveness as an ordinary tool, perhaps less of one that was intended to complete only one task... elves view the quality of things in mysterious ways, regarding quantity and quality in similar circumstances. Elves also might spend much longer on a tool that would require much less time if given enough free time, but not necessarily working at a slower pace on said object (rather making the object more intricate, but nonetheless performing the same function... humans and other races have often viewed elven pieces of work as rather fascinating, although they naturally become accustomed to it whereas an elf in that position might not)

- Elves do not adapt so much as humans... elves do not grow bored of certain duties or games that they deem necessary or beautiful although they can easily deem a menial game as boring after a regular amount of time spent playing it (whereas some humans might become addicts or others would disregard said game the same as an elf would)

- Elves morn over the deaths of others that they have grown close to as much as humans would

- They aren't so much for representation in works, however they may express interest in philosophy

- The youngest among them barely regard life with any amount of seriousness whatsoever; their higher sensitivities forces them to adapt to simple things more quickly just after birth
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Again, anyone can suggest changes.

Don't forget that this isn't my own version of elves that I'm creating: I'm attempting to combine all other elements of elvish personality from other popular fantasy into one conjunction of their psychology in any setting. It's kinda like GURPS except it involves behavior.

And no, this isn't creating a limit on character personalities for certain races that players wish to play. The idea is to make it very broad, perhaps aid in RPing with different characters of different species. If you feel that any limits are being imposed, then feel free to post.

Sereg
2008-11-18, 10:38 PM
Interesting, I'd like to see what you have to say about the other races.

imp_fireball
2008-11-19, 01:13 AM
Would you agree with the points made?

Next is either dwarves, gnomes or orcs.

Except according to d&d, gnomes are pretty much smaller dwarves since they don't have the +2 int. Originally, I would've thought they had if they were all obliged to tinker and more so then dwarves (dwarves are more along the lines of dutiful craftsmen and stalwart defenders; or maybe that's just mountain dwarves).

This is probably why I need help. It'd be useful if we could discern how races are mentally different from humans aside from physical characteristics. Differences in the nature of reasoning, even though mental stats are mostly similar (-2 Cha for dwarves). Dwarves are also size medium, with the same Str score as humans even though they might look discernably different (stockier, beard, etc.).