comebackshane wrote:"Mundane and average"?
Is that how we represent ourselves in a game? How about "a race of strong, intelligent, dexterous, industrious, hard-working, adaptable, ingenious, resourceful, multi-talented and flexible?"
Srsly, I rarely see anyone play humans (except one person, you know who I mean) and if you ask them why they will tell you "'cause I haven't won one yet." Rly?
Sadly there is no real reason to play us over any of the more fancy races because the "jack-of-all-trades" bonus we get in most video games doesn't rly account for much in crawl. I think that has to change! Who's with me?
A fully armoured fighter defeated by an adder? Is this how we show the world what a great race we are?
Let's stop hiding ourselves! We have a right to exist! We are just as strong as any orc and elf and ogre and dwarf and whatnot! Why belittle ourselves?
Buff humans!
Back on topic, I think people underestimate the power of being a Jack of All Trades. The sheer adaptability of having 0 in everything means you can do anything; and I have as several Hu characters. It just means that background matters alot more for Humans; and your D1 - D3 drops can determine your future gameplan alot more than some characters.
That said, humankind actually prevails as a species due to co-operation + specialisation. Are all people strong, intelligent and dexterous in equal measure? Not bloody likely... but strong man, directed by intelligent man, and tempered by dexterous man makes for an OP combo. Our species also prevails because we are the weakest, ironically. We're angry, bloodthirsty, merciless, cunning, backstabbing bastards precisely because most of us couldn't take a troll in a fist-fight; but would be willing to do anything to win.
Game mechanics wise, I'd love the idea that human could allow you pick 3 skills to have at +2 or something to show your natural interests. It would be a nice compromise and wouldn't require start-scumming.