Look man, I get that you are weirdly determined to defend this at all costs. But you are starting to include actual mis-quotes in your responses.
I said "inter-breeeding" not "in-breeding" refering explicitly to the terms used by people against inter-racial marriage and multi-racial people. Which is why I found the "half-elf" disease to be offensively named. Because it is an explicit reference.
And I am not assuming "racial ill intent" I'm assuming that the other meant to make a joke list full of funny things. However, they titled it as something to be taken seriously, presented it as something to be taken seriously, and then there are multiple problematic and offensive things. The racial stuff is just a part of it. There are things labeled diseases that are just normal parts of people's lives, aspects being called disabilities that are anything but (unless you can explain why having a deep voice is a disability) and a whole host of serious medical conditions or symptoms being treated as haha funny.
But I think at this point with your references to cancel culture, you simply don't care what I have to say. But, I do hope the author of this content sees this and reconsiders whether this is the type of humor they want to promote. Because I don't.
Describing it as a list of disabilities when many aren't disabilities (burping after eating too quickly ? How is that a disability, it's a normal thing for everyone?). This is more of a 'Traits and Quirks' table.
Why are these named after races when it has nothing to do with those races? Confusing and weird. It's like when Trump calls COVID-19 as "China Virus". It's baffling and derogatory.
"When creating a (Player) Character, roll 2d6 and take the highest. If both results are the same, add 1d4 to that number. Roll a d100 an equal amount as the previous result and your (Player) Character obtains said trait. These effects are not considered a disease, even when the name implies so. Whatever the effect may be, they are not intended to impact the gameplay."
This is confusing and a lot of rolling.
I'd recommend cutting the list down to 100 and just have them roll 1d100.
Personally I wouldn't use this. The whole thing is pure cringe to me. But, that's my feel for it.
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Describing it as a list of disabilities when many aren't disabilities (burping after eating too quickly ? How is that a disability, it's a normal thing for everyone?). This is more of a 'Traits and Quirks' table.
Why are these named after races when it has nothing to do with those races? Confusing and weird. It's like when Trump calls COVID-19 as "China Virus". It's baffling and derogatory.
"When creating a (Player) Character, roll 2d6 and take the highest. If both results are the same, add 1d4 to that number. Roll a d100 an equal amount as the previous result and your (Player) Character obtains said trait. These effects are not considered a disease, even when the name implies so. Whatever the effect may be, they are not intended to impact the gameplay."
This is confusing and a lot of rolling.
I'd recommend cutting the list down to 100 and just have them roll 1d100.
Personally I wouldn't use this. The whole thing is pure cringe to me. But, that's my feel for it.
The common names for diseases can be named after the location from where they might originate, and not necessarily a technical name. Such as Ebola near the Ebola River. This doesn't mean the disease comes from there necessarily, for example Spanish Flu may not have come from Spain after further research but that's what it was given at the time. However, for a fantasy/primitive setting I think it would be more immersive if it used more visual names for their diseases like, The Black Death and not Yersinia pestis (bacterium name). The names provided here simply break immersion at times, e.g. "Virgin's Disease."
I agree that the system for this implementation has clunky dice rolls: the first 2d6 and the conditional 1d4 set how many times you roll the 1d100. So, why not roll just the 1d100, and decide among the group if it gets rolled more instead? Also these do technically "impact gameplay" assuming a group does Social Interaction within their game, but that's a minor nitpick.
Look man, I get that you are weirdly determined to defend this at all costs. But you are starting to include actual mis-quotes in your responses.
I said "inter-breeeding" not "in-breeding" refering explicitly to the terms used by people against inter-racial marriage and multi-racial people. Which is why I found the "half-elf" disease to be offensively named. Because it is an explicit reference.
And I am not assuming "racial ill intent" I'm assuming that the other meant to make a joke list full of funny things. However, they titled it as something to be taken seriously, presented it as something to be taken seriously, and then there are multiple problematic and offensive things. The racial stuff is just a part of it. There are things labeled diseases that are just normal parts of people's lives, aspects being called disabilities that are anything but (unless you can explain why having a deep voice is a disability) and a whole host of serious medical conditions or symptoms being treated as haha funny.
But I think at this point with your references to cancel culture, you simply don't care what I have to say. But, I do hope the author of this content sees this and reconsiders whether this is the type of humor they want to promote. Because I don't.
I'm just not of fan of someones idea being called trash and insinuated as being horrible over assumptions that could be completely false especially if there are multiple reasons to assume other wise.
Yea, in the conversation of why this post is bad over assumed discrimination, I did misread that one. I take the L on that misread. I just honestly wouldn't be surprised if the topic when off into that area since this authors idea is being attacked from multiple angles. With that said, I still don't think there is an issue unless someone specifically interprets it that way, which they don't have to and it may not be designed that way.
Maybe your right, but you could be wrong since there are other examples not so linear in explanation.
Now I will agree that talking in a deep voice isn't a disability, and I would even add hair growing out of your ear isn't as well. But without reading through the list again, which I don't want to take the time to do right now, these are the only two that has been mentioned that don't seem to be a disability according to the English language. The reason I say that is because the law of different lands, culture, or medical organizations can disagree when trying to apply it into practice or laws; but the English language definition of disability can be interpreted for the others mentioned to paint this author's list in a negative light. And again, the haha funny thing is an assumed interpretation that could be 100% false.
I do care about not only what you say, but what you think as well. Beyond this game is real people living in a real world with real issues. That is more important than this game, but this game can be a creative outlet or expression of someone. I like these forums as well for the very same reason and all those involved.
If the author was using this as a type of humor, then I see your point clearly. I am only trying to provide another possibility that could be at play and ignored for another narrative. If this is the case, because either could be true.
Describing it as a list of disabilities when many aren't disabilities (burping after eating too quickly ? How is that a disability, it's a normal thing for everyone?). This is more of a 'Traits and Quirks' table.
Why are these named after races when it has nothing to do with those races? Confusing and weird. It's like when Trump calls COVID-19 as "China Virus". It's baffling and derogatory.
"When creating a (Player) Character, roll 2d6 and take the highest. If both results are the same, add 1d4 to that number. Roll a d100 an equal amount as the previous result and your (Player) Character obtains said trait. These effects are not considered a disease, even when the name implies so. Whatever the effect may be, they are not intended to impact the gameplay."
This is confusing and a lot of rolling.
I'd recommend cutting the list down to 100 and just have them roll 1d100.
Personally I wouldn't use this. The whole thing is pure cringe to me. But, that's my feel for it.
Disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
Technically, especially in DnD terms, this could be a weirdly unusual disability with verbal spells after eating too fast. But I agree that in real world and in most of the fictional world even, this wouldn't really be much of a disability. I do agree with you that Quirks would be a better classification for this list.
So the races could be linked to the group that exhibited the condition first or the race of the individual that named the condition. As far as the real world political remark, it's slightly different since Trump mentions a country instead of a racial group of people. In other words, Trump isn't labelling it as all Chinese people which would include all of them all over the world, but the Country and their involvment.
I agree that the rolling is a skip. I would just pick from it what fits my character. Also I wouldn't want everyone in the party to be force to have a disease, so I agree with your relabelling of Quirks if a roll was to be done. Maybe add a reroll on some quirks to gain multiple instead of the confusing reroll rules.
Burping after a meal isn't a disability. Nor is it a trait you should pick. It happens to everyone. It's because the method of eating your food too quickly causes you to take in more air, so when you let the system relax, out comes that air. It's a normal aspect of our physiology. It's not a disability.
Also not disabilities:
01. Drow Syndrome When you are exposed to the sun, you tan quickly. When out of the sun you become pale very quickly again.
Tanning isn't the same as burning (in fact, tanning protects against sunburn) and so this isn't a disability. If anything it's helpful: you tan because your body is realising a protective pigment that reduces the damaging effects of the sun on your skin. The quicker you tan, the less damage your skin takes. Whereas people like me who don't tan well - because of too little pigment being produced or not being produced fast enough - end up getting more sunburnt. This isn't a disability, literally the opposite.
04. Dragon's tongue Your tongue is forked
Not a disability. The tongue still functions the same, it just looks different. People actually get surgery to get this in real life, with no adverse side-effects (if surgery was done well) other than the social stigma.
05. Rogue's Nose Your character misses a nose bone
Not a disability. Has no effect on anything. The nose still functions. Most of the nose shape is from cartiledge, too, so the visual effect will be minor, if anything.
06. Elf Ear Your ears are extra pointy, even for Elves!
Not a disability, has no effect on anything.
07. Barbarian Disease Your wounds tend to heal in scars.
Not a disability, most wounds heal in scars. Only the most minor of injuries heal without scarring. Even injuries without external scarring can still have internal scarring on the bone or in muscles. In D&D we like to forget about this for sake of convenience but healing, with 1 exception, doesn't remove scarring. Regenerate can, the rest don't. We skip it as a description but technically healing in D&D isn't super-regeneration. Your characters will still get scars. So not only is this not a disability, it's utterly redundant.
08. Orc's Appetite Whenever you consume something quickly, you burp. Especially annoying when chugging Health Potions.
This is the one talked about before. Not a disability - it's just a fact of physiology. Happens to everyone, so again, this is utterly redundant.
10. Small Bard Whenever you pronounce an either an a, i, e, o, u, you go up a few pitches.
Not a disability. A vocal trait, not a disability.
11. Bendy Your right arm can bend a bit more than it should.
Not a disability, might even be helpful in arm wrestling matches.
13. Everbarder You mumble in your sleep, audible to anyone 5ft. from you.
Not a disability. Inconvenient perhaps depending on what you mumble, and probably for others, but not a disability.
17. Cat Eye You have two different colored eyes. (Heterochromia)
Not a disability. An unusual trait but it has no affect and doesn't make you incapable of something.
19. Giant's Toes You have 11 toes.
Not a disability. It doesn't stop you doing anything. Might make shoes a little uncomfortable but that can be very easily remedied.
22. Human's Endurance You get a runny nose when drinking alcohol
Not a disability, an annoying quirk to be sure for those who like alcohol but by no means a disability.
24. Bard's Grin You... have the most disturbing of smiles
Not a disability. Might be a hinderance at times, might be beneficial. But technically not a disability.
25. Paladin's Thumb You have a most flexible thumb
I have this in real-life (I'm double-jointed in my thumbs). It's not a disability. In some (few) cases it's useful.
26. Warforged's Voice You speak in a monotonous voice
Not a disability. Could be an inconvenience if you're wanting to be a singer, but doesn't stop you being one (especially in rap, there's a lot of rappers out there who "rap" in a very monotone way, relying on the music to carry the rhythm instead and yet they still sell albums). Can be an asset for certain things like reading a creepy poem or such as. Useful for teachers giving short and simple instructions as monotone speech is easier to understand in short bursts compared to more accented, rhythmic speech.
27. Noble's Veins Your veins pop up from your skin in a vibrant color
Just varicose veins with a colour change? Not a disability. In some cases an asset. People have been known to get tattoos to resemble this.
--
And I just can't be bothered to keep going (it's gone 4:36 AM here). So many things that aren't even close to being disabilities.
Some are normal things so it can be viewed (by intention or not) that the list is making fun of people by taking something common and normal and labelling it a disability.
So all in all, I'm standing by what I said. The Racial Naming still doesn't make sense to me. If you (used generally) want to make a list like this it should be something easily adopted. The choice in name should be obvious by what the trait/disease/disability/whatever does without trying to invent lore for it. The list shouldn't be saying "this race is where the disease came from or who first had it", because what if in my game that race isn't even existing or wasn't the origin of the disease? So, now I would have to re-name it or invent lore. This should be avoided when possible - your supplemental 'shared for public' stuff should be as plug 'n' play as possible. There is no need for racial names.
I'm not attacking the OP or the idea. I'm just offering constructive criticism: the names do not make the most sense and probably better to change them, this should be a quirks/traits table not Disability table because too many aren't disabilities at all (and some actually come across as offensive when labelled such) and the list needs to be shorted so they can make a simple d100 roll. These are my observations, and I've given my reasoning. I'm not going to bother defending them. The OP can agree and consider the changes or disagree and leave as is. I'm mentioning this only because you seem very intent on "defending" it. I know you agree with me on some points but your post still came across as rather defensive. That may be me misreading it, it's possible and if so I apologise.
I think I've waffled on enough. Hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.
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Also, seems like a large discussion is going on in the thread. So I'll summarize it at this. I don't have any intentions of altering the content of said table, if you don't feel like this belongs in your group then I respect your freedom to play without. After all, this is just Homebrew and not a mandate. I am, however, looking into the rolling of said table and how I can make that easier and less obnoxious. I am also looking back at this whole thing and thinking to myself that although time consuming, it was actually lots of fun so maybe in the future I'll make a part 2 after all.
I don't have any intentions of altering the content of said table, if you don't feel like this belongs in your group then I respect your freedom to play without. After all, this is just Homebrew and not a mandate.
We might not use this table but you did ask for our opinion in the form of a poll and if we had responses outside the scope of the poll, you asked that we respond in the thread. We have done so. If you are interested in constructive feedback, I would recommend at the very very least, renaming racialized disabilities. As a setting agnostic designers, we should not be engaging in implying, assuming, and assigning traits to established races that can change from setting to setting, from world to world. We gain nothing from it.
Something I saw in the thread that I can not let go of is the connection between flaws and disabilities. Being diversely abled is not a flaw. A D&D and real world flaw is being distracted by the promise of new information or a (metaphorical) sharp tongue that lands you in trouble. Being diversely abled is a challenge but in no sense of the word is it a flaw. A diversely abled person or character is just as capable of living a full life as abled people and characters are. What is limiting them is not themselves but our ableist society.
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I did indeed ask for feedback, but based on specifics. Some lack in the quality other traits and quirks have received. But in the end what I do with the feedback it up to me. In all regards, rolling the dice and renaming the table to "Traits, Quirks and Disabilities" seems like the most common ones. And maybe adding backstory to each one of them. Can be lots of fun to do.
I did indeed ask for feedback, but based on specifics. Some lack in the quality other traits and quirks have received. But in the end what I do with the feedback it up to me. In all regards, rolling the dice and renaming the table to "Traits, Quirks and Disabilities" seems like the most common ones. And maybe adding backstory to each one of them. Can be lots of fun to do.
Sounds like a good idea! Hopefully I will see the second one when you post it, because the creativity was great!
Well handled on your response also by the way. Thanks again for the list!
Wow... just... unbelievable the amount of willful ignorance you are displaying. People are pointing out SERIOUSLY problematic things with this, and the most you will take away is "Oh, I need to change the dice rolling".
You've named things after races in ways that are utterly nonsensical to many.
You've accidentally made light of serious conditions
Part of being a creative is listening to all people and criticism and genuinely reflecting on it.
You have two choices at this point: really re-read your list from an outside perspective and accept that there are some issues
Or stand your edge-core ground, put your fingers in your ears and just sing "wubba-lubba-dub-dub" to yourself all day long.
Oh, and as someone with "Fighter's Eye", you're take on it is horse-crap. It does affect depth perception if you don't have corrective lenses, and doing things like reading without those lenses causes painful headaches. Not that you care what life with the actual conditions you make fun of is like, but whatever.
Except gnomes are not know for beings smelly or bucked teeth
Half-elves are not known for multiple skin colors.
accept criticism. this comment isn't even about the offensiveness of what you made, this was "These names don't make sense". I know you probably expected nothing but praise for your "totally original idea" and "The Edgy funny concept". but people are giving you real notes.
Also, some of us are telling you they find it offensive. which, yes is subjective, but consider: Do you want to offend people? if not, consider if you could re-work some of this to be less offensive. Because whether you intended it or not, you have offended people.
From your latest comment I've noticed now that you've made it, or at least tried to make it personal. I am sorry, but I am not your Dungeon Master nor your co-player.
This is Homebrew, it's something I spend time on and something I will only tweak, not alter. I do not mandate anyone to use it nor really to return here if they don't find said content appealing. This could be due to excess rolling, or finding some trait, disability, or quirk lacking in quality compared to others.
On the contrary of what you're trying to imply, I do read your criticism and I am not here for a quick laugh; save for my last comment because reasons.
But I do have a solution based on observations I've made. If you're actually interested in using the table, but don't like the names, then don't use the names or even alter it to incorporate it better into the world of your character(s).
The other solution is actually one that's a bit more personal, so I do apologize on that in advance. But you seem to be coming back to the thread, even after stating "you're offended". Whatever weight that has to anything considering we're stranger-and-stranger, I do not know. But you do so out of your own accord. It gives me the feeling you're actually not interested in the concept, but rather making sure I affirm to your way of thinking. Because, after all, if you really didn't like the whole thing you wouldn't return here and let it catch dust at page 100 or further.
On the latter note of "the names don't fit", that's in the alley of making a backstory for each one. 120 backstories is quite the task, not something I will do now since I am already on my way with the 120 of part 2. Hope everyone interested looks forward to it.
From your latest comment I've noticed now that you've made it, or at least tried to make it personal. I am sorry, but I am not your Dungeon Master nor your co-player.
This is Homebrew, it's something I spend time on and something I will only tweak, not alter. I do not mandate anyone to use it nor really to return here if they don't find said content appealing. This could be due to excess rolling, or finding some trait, disability, or quirk lacking in quality compared to others.
On the contrary of what you're trying to imply, I do read your criticism and I am not here for a quick laugh; save for my last comment because reasons.
But I do have a solution based on observations I've made. If you're actually interested in using the table, but don't like the names, then don't use the names or even alter it to incorporate it better into the world of your character(s).
The other solution is actually one that's a bit more personal, so I do apologize on that in advance. But you seem to be coming back to the thread, even after stating "you're offended". Whatever weight that has to anything considering we're stranger-and-stranger, I do not know. But you do so out of your own accord. It gives me the feeling you're actually not interested in the concept, but rather making sure I affirm to your way of thinking. Because, after all, if you really didn't like the whole thing you wouldn't return here and let it catch dust at page 100 or further.
On the latter note of "the names don't fit", that's in the alley of making a backstory for each one. 120 backstories is quite the task, not something I will do now since I am already on my way with the 120 of part 2. Hope everyone interested looks forward to it.
FYI - creating a reason why the "disease," which burping after eating is NOT a disease or disability, is called whatever is NOT going to make it better. Coming up with some out of Lore reason that having buck teeth or being smelly is attributed to a whole race will not make your names good. Frankly, the biggest issue most of us have is you should be not taking such trivial things and writing them out a RP "flaws." You want PCs to have disabilities? Why? You are the the character designer, the PC is. If they want their characters to have disabilities, and I mean real one not some "haha this is a disease" type stuff then you can make actual HB, that would address things like crone's disease, MS, amputations, autism, etc. But to sit here and say "Well don't use it" is wrong when you asked us for feedback.
To some up our feedback:
Don't use ridiculous names for things that have 0 connects, and making a background for it will not help. Don't Sit there calling buck teeth and other small stuff disabilities while having ACTUAL disabilities on this list. This trivializes these real issues that players face in the real world. Creating HB and putting out for the public means it needs to be adaptable by them. In it's current state there is too much to change for (as per the responses) many people to use this - hence our feed back.
The last thing I want to address is this notion that anything that is a "flaw" is therefore a disability. And that is just wrong, and not at all the approach anyone should be bringing when trying to incorporate disabilities into PCs characters. Frankly I still don't even think some mechanic is needed either, PCs should be choosing what their character has, not the game. In my group I have a tabaxi with an amputated tail, she chose to have it, but it is not going to harm her character either mechanically or RP wise. why? because from my experience, most people with disabilities don't make it a defining feature of their person, so it doesn't need to be approached that way. Yeah, I'm not going to be using your thing. But that does not mean I have no right to make my opinion heard or comment on how you could morph this thing you created into something more widely usable.
Thanks for the feedback. If you take a moment to go back to the title of the thread, it has been renamed to "Disabilities, Traits and little Quirks". I have taken into account that not everything I wrote down turned out to be a disability. This table got its name due to the last 20 points where my idea sprung up from. An oversight on my part and I have taken responsibility to alter the table to reflect its content.
I am, however, confused as to where it comes up that these 120 points would be quote "defining feature", if you direct yourself to the first paragraph it states no more than a flavoring. As for backstories, they do matter. Just look up the Spanish flu and you'll understand why (loosely told; Spain wasn't the origin nor the hardest hit). To finalize this comment, it almost feel like you're saying I have this control over you and your characters. Directing back to the first paragraph also stating no more than you should not feel pressured about either using this table, or the rule implemented (which will change).
And with that I think everything that needed to be said, has been said and laid down. So in the meantime I hope everyone will be excited for the sequel.
Thanks for the feedback. If you take a moment to go back to the title of the thread, it has been renamed to "Disabilities, Traits and little Quirks". I have taken into account that not everything I wrote down turned out to be a disability. This table got its name due to the last 20 points where my idea sprung up from. An oversight on my part and I have taken responsibility to alter the table to reflect its content.
I am, however, confused as to where it comes up that these 120 points would be quote "defining feature", if you direct yourself to the first paragraph it states no more than a flavoring. As for backstories, they do matter. Just look up the Spanish flu and you'll understand why (loosely told; Spain wasn't the origin nor the hardest hit). To finalize this comment, it almost feel like you're saying I have this control over you and your characters. Directing back to the first paragraph also stating no more than you should not feel pressured about either using this table, or the rule implemented (which will change).
And with that I think everything that needed to be said, has been said and laid down. So in the meantime I hope everyone will be excited for the sequel.
I'm ready for the sequel! Also the way you respond in a calm focused way is very well done. I think the quirk addition was a smart move as well. Nicely done again, all around applause from me.
I like the idea in principle, but if you're looking for alternative terms that are a bit less charged than "disability", I might suggest "Maladies and Malaises"; both aren't commonly used terms these days so they evoke a bit more of an olden/fantasy feel, they're both kind of funny terms in their own right, and I think together they set a lighter tone to the list from the outset.
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Look man, I get that you are weirdly determined to defend this at all costs. But you are starting to include actual mis-quotes in your responses.
I said "inter-breeeding" not "in-breeding" refering explicitly to the terms used by people against inter-racial marriage and multi-racial people. Which is why I found the "half-elf" disease to be offensively named. Because it is an explicit reference.
And I am not assuming "racial ill intent" I'm assuming that the other meant to make a joke list full of funny things. However, they titled it as something to be taken seriously, presented it as something to be taken seriously, and then there are multiple problematic and offensive things. The racial stuff is just a part of it. There are things labeled diseases that are just normal parts of people's lives, aspects being called disabilities that are anything but (unless you can explain why having a deep voice is a disability) and a whole host of serious medical conditions or symptoms being treated as haha funny.
But I think at this point with your references to cancel culture, you simply don't care what I have to say. But, I do hope the author of this content sees this and reconsiders whether this is the type of humor they want to promote. Because I don't.
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
Describing it as a list of disabilities when many aren't disabilities (burping after eating too quickly ? How is that a disability, it's a normal thing for everyone?). This is more of a 'Traits and Quirks' table.
Why are these named after races when it has nothing to do with those races? Confusing and weird. It's like when Trump calls COVID-19 as "China Virus". It's baffling and derogatory.
"When creating a (Player) Character, roll 2d6 and take the highest. If both results are the same, add 1d4 to that number. Roll a d100 an equal amount as the previous result and your (Player) Character obtains said trait. These effects are not considered a disease, even when the name implies so. Whatever the effect may be, they are not intended to impact the gameplay."
This is confusing and a lot of rolling.
I'd recommend cutting the list down to 100 and just have them roll 1d100.
Personally I wouldn't use this. The whole thing is pure cringe to me. But, that's my feel for it.
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The common names for diseases can be named after the location from where they might originate, and not necessarily a technical name. Such as Ebola near the Ebola River. This doesn't mean the disease comes from there necessarily, for example Spanish Flu may not have come from Spain after further research but that's what it was given at the time. However, for a fantasy/primitive setting I think it would be more immersive if it used more visual names for their diseases like, The Black Death and not Yersinia pestis (bacterium name). The names provided here simply break immersion at times, e.g. "Virgin's Disease."
I agree that the system for this implementation has clunky dice rolls: the first 2d6 and the conditional 1d4 set how many times you roll the 1d100. So, why not roll just the 1d100, and decide among the group if it gets rolled more instead? Also these do technically "impact gameplay" assuming a group does Social Interaction within their game, but that's a minor nitpick.
I'm just not of fan of someones idea being called trash and insinuated as being horrible over assumptions that could be completely false especially if there are multiple reasons to assume other wise.
Yea, in the conversation of why this post is bad over assumed discrimination, I did misread that one. I take the L on that misread. I just honestly wouldn't be surprised if the topic when off into that area since this authors idea is being attacked from multiple angles. With that said, I still don't think there is an issue unless someone specifically interprets it that way, which they don't have to and it may not be designed that way.
Maybe your right, but you could be wrong since there are other examples not so linear in explanation.
Now I will agree that talking in a deep voice isn't a disability, and I would even add hair growing out of your ear isn't as well. But without reading through the list again, which I don't want to take the time to do right now, these are the only two that has been mentioned that don't seem to be a disability according to the English language. The reason I say that is because the law of different lands, culture, or medical organizations can disagree when trying to apply it into practice or laws; but the English language definition of disability can be interpreted for the others mentioned to paint this author's list in a negative light. And again, the haha funny thing is an assumed interpretation that could be 100% false.
I do care about not only what you say, but what you think as well. Beyond this game is real people living in a real world with real issues. That is more important than this game, but this game can be a creative outlet or expression of someone. I like these forums as well for the very same reason and all those involved.
If the author was using this as a type of humor, then I see your point clearly. I am only trying to provide another possibility that could be at play and ignored for another narrative. If this is the case, because either could be true.
Disability is a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities.
Technically, especially in DnD terms, this could be a weirdly unusual disability with verbal spells after eating too fast. But I agree that in real world and in most of the fictional world even, this wouldn't really be much of a disability. I do agree with you that Quirks would be a better classification for this list.
So the races could be linked to the group that exhibited the condition first or the race of the individual that named the condition. As far as the real world political remark, it's slightly different since Trump mentions a country instead of a racial group of people. In other words, Trump isn't labelling it as all Chinese people which would include all of them all over the world, but the Country and their involvment.
I agree that the rolling is a skip. I would just pick from it what fits my character. Also I wouldn't want everyone in the party to be force to have a disease, so I agree with your relabelling of Quirks if a roll was to be done. Maybe add a reroll on some quirks to gain multiple instead of the confusing reroll rules.
Burping after a meal isn't a disability. Nor is it a trait you should pick. It happens to everyone. It's because the method of eating your food too quickly causes you to take in more air, so when you let the system relax, out comes that air. It's a normal aspect of our physiology. It's not a disability.
Also not disabilities:
01. Drow Syndrome
When you are exposed to the sun, you tan quickly. When out of the sun you become pale very quickly again.
Tanning isn't the same as burning (in fact, tanning protects against sunburn) and so this isn't a disability. If anything it's helpful: you tan because your body is realising a protective pigment that reduces the damaging effects of the sun on your skin. The quicker you tan, the less damage your skin takes. Whereas people like me who don't tan well - because of too little pigment being produced or not being produced fast enough - end up getting more sunburnt. This isn't a disability, literally the opposite.
04. Dragon's tongue
Your tongue is forked
Not a disability. The tongue still functions the same, it just looks different. People actually get surgery to get this in real life, with no adverse side-effects (if surgery was done well) other than the social stigma.
05. Rogue's Nose
Your character misses a nose bone
Not a disability. Has no effect on anything. The nose still functions. Most of the nose shape is from cartiledge, too, so the visual effect will be minor, if anything.
06. Elf Ear
Your ears are extra pointy, even for Elves!
Not a disability, has no effect on anything.
07. Barbarian Disease
Your wounds tend to heal in scars.
Not a disability, most wounds heal in scars. Only the most minor of injuries heal without scarring. Even injuries without external scarring can still have internal scarring on the bone or in muscles. In D&D we like to forget about this for sake of convenience but healing, with 1 exception, doesn't remove scarring. Regenerate can, the rest don't. We skip it as a description but technically healing in D&D isn't super-regeneration. Your characters will still get scars. So not only is this not a disability, it's utterly redundant.
08. Orc's Appetite
Whenever you consume something quickly, you burp. Especially annoying when chugging Health Potions.
This is the one talked about before. Not a disability - it's just a fact of physiology. Happens to everyone, so again, this is utterly redundant.
10. Small Bard
Whenever you pronounce an either an a, i, e, o, u, you go up a few pitches.
Not a disability. A vocal trait, not a disability.
11. Bendy
Your right arm can bend a bit more than it should.
Not a disability, might even be helpful in arm wrestling matches.
13. Everbarder
You mumble in your sleep, audible to anyone 5ft. from you.
Not a disability. Inconvenient perhaps depending on what you mumble, and probably for others, but not a disability.
17. Cat Eye
You have two different colored eyes. (Heterochromia)
Not a disability. An unusual trait but it has no affect and doesn't make you incapable of something.
19. Giant's Toes
You have 11 toes.
Not a disability. It doesn't stop you doing anything. Might make shoes a little uncomfortable but that can be very easily remedied.
22. Human's Endurance
You get a runny nose when drinking alcohol
Not a disability, an annoying quirk to be sure for those who like alcohol but by no means a disability.
24. Bard's Grin
You... have the most disturbing of smiles
Not a disability. Might be a hinderance at times, might be beneficial. But technically not a disability.
25. Paladin's Thumb
You have a most flexible thumb
I have this in real-life (I'm double-jointed in my thumbs). It's not a disability. In some (few) cases it's useful.
26. Warforged's Voice
You speak in a monotonous voice
Not a disability. Could be an inconvenience if you're wanting to be a singer, but doesn't stop you being one (especially in rap, there's a lot of rappers out there who "rap" in a very monotone way, relying on the music to carry the rhythm instead and yet they still sell albums). Can be an asset for certain things like reading a creepy poem or such as. Useful for teachers giving short and simple instructions as monotone speech is easier to understand in short bursts compared to more accented, rhythmic speech.
27. Noble's Veins
Your veins pop up from your skin in a vibrant color
Just varicose veins with a colour change? Not a disability. In some cases an asset. People have been known to get tattoos to resemble this.
--
And I just can't be bothered to keep going (it's gone 4:36 AM here). So many things that aren't even close to being disabilities.
Some are normal things so it can be viewed (by intention or not) that the list is making fun of people by taking something common and normal and labelling it a disability.
So all in all, I'm standing by what I said. The Racial Naming still doesn't make sense to me. If you (used generally) want to make a list like this it should be something easily adopted. The choice in name should be obvious by what the trait/disease/disability/whatever does without trying to invent lore for it. The list shouldn't be saying "this race is where the disease came from or who first had it", because what if in my game that race isn't even existing or wasn't the origin of the disease? So, now I would have to re-name it or invent lore. This should be avoided when possible - your supplemental 'shared for public' stuff should be as plug 'n' play as possible. There is no need for racial names.
I'm not attacking the OP or the idea. I'm just offering constructive criticism: the names do not make the most sense and probably better to change them, this should be a quirks/traits table not Disability table because too many aren't disabilities at all (and some actually come across as offensive when labelled such) and the list needs to be shorted so they can make a simple d100 roll. These are my observations, and I've given my reasoning. I'm not going to bother defending them. The OP can agree and consider the changes or disagree and leave as is. I'm mentioning this only because you seem very intent on "defending" it. I know you agree with me on some points but your post still came across as rather defensive. That may be me misreading it, it's possible and if so I apologise.
I think I've waffled on enough. Hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.
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Yeah, you don't need to feel restricted through the rolling mechanic. It's up to you how to use it.
Thanks man, those are some kind words.
Also, seems like a large discussion is going on in the thread. So I'll summarize it at this.
I don't have any intentions of altering the content of said table, if you don't feel like this belongs in your group then I respect your freedom to play without. After all, this is just Homebrew and not a mandate.
I am, however, looking into the rolling of said table and how I can make that easier and less obnoxious. I am also looking back at this whole thing and thinking to myself that although time consuming, it was actually lots of fun so maybe in the future I'll make a part 2 after all.
We might not use this table but you did ask for our opinion in the form of a poll and if we had responses outside the scope of the poll, you asked that we respond in the thread. We have done so. If you are interested in constructive feedback, I would recommend at the very very least, renaming racialized disabilities. As a setting agnostic designers, we should not be engaging in implying, assuming, and assigning traits to established races that can change from setting to setting, from world to world. We gain nothing from it.
Something I saw in the thread that I can not let go of is the connection between flaws and disabilities. Being diversely abled is not a flaw. A D&D and real world flaw is being distracted by the promise of new information or a (metaphorical) sharp tongue that lands you in trouble. Being diversely abled is a challenge but in no sense of the word is it a flaw. A diversely abled person or character is just as capable of living a full life as abled people and characters are. What is limiting them is not themselves but our ableist society.
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I did indeed ask for feedback, but based on specifics. Some lack in the quality other traits and quirks have received. But in the end what I do with the feedback it up to me. In all regards, rolling the dice and renaming the table to "Traits, Quirks and Disabilities" seems like the most common ones. And maybe adding backstory to each one of them. Can be lots of fun to do.
Sounds like a good idea! Hopefully I will see the second one when you post it, because the creativity was great!
Well handled on your response also by the way. Thanks again for the list!
Wow... just... unbelievable the amount of willful ignorance you are displaying. People are pointing out SERIOUSLY problematic things with this, and the most you will take away is "Oh, I need to change the dice rolling".
You've named things after races in ways that are utterly nonsensical to many.
You've accidentally made light of serious conditions
Part of being a creative is listening to all people and criticism and genuinely reflecting on it.
You have two choices at this point: really re-read your list from an outside perspective and accept that there are some issues
Or stand your edge-core ground, put your fingers in your ears and just sing "wubba-lubba-dub-dub" to yourself all day long.
Oh, and as someone with "Fighter's Eye", you're take on it is horse-crap. It does affect depth perception if you don't have corrective lenses, and doing things like reading without those lenses causes painful headaches. Not that you care what life with the actual conditions you make fun of is like, but whatever.
So you would be in favor in renaming Boots of Elvenkind, Cloak of Elvenkind and Belt of Dwarvenkind?
Except this is deflection from the actual conversation
Second, those items give you abilities related to and associated with those race. But yeah Buck teeth are definitely something gnomes are known for.
Except gnomes are not know for beings smelly or bucked teeth
Half-elves are not known for multiple skin colors.
accept criticism. this comment isn't even about the offensiveness of what you made, this was "These names don't make sense". I know you probably expected nothing but praise for your "totally original idea" and "The Edgy funny concept". but people are giving you real notes.
Also, some of us are telling you they find it offensive. which, yes is subjective, but consider: Do you want to offend people? if not, consider if you could re-work some of this to be less offensive. Because whether you intended it or not, you have offended people.
From your latest comment I've noticed now that you've made it, or at least tried to make it personal. I am sorry, but I am not your Dungeon Master nor your co-player.
This is Homebrew, it's something I spend time on and something I will only tweak, not alter. I do not mandate anyone to use it nor really to return here if they don't find said content appealing. This could be due to excess rolling, or finding some trait, disability, or quirk lacking in quality compared to others.
On the contrary of what you're trying to imply, I do read your criticism and I am not here for a quick laugh; save for my last comment because reasons.
But I do have a solution based on observations I've made. If you're actually interested in using the table, but don't like the names, then don't use the names or even alter it to incorporate it better into the world of your character(s).
The other solution is actually one that's a bit more personal, so I do apologize on that in advance. But you seem to be coming back to the thread, even after stating "you're offended". Whatever weight that has to anything considering we're stranger-and-stranger, I do not know. But you do so out of your own accord. It gives me the feeling you're actually not interested in the concept, but rather making sure I affirm to your way of thinking. Because, after all, if you really didn't like the whole thing you wouldn't return here and let it catch dust at page 100 or further.
On the latter note of "the names don't fit", that's in the alley of making a backstory for each one. 120 backstories is quite the task, not something I will do now since I am already on my way with the 120 of part 2. Hope everyone interested looks forward to it.
FYI - creating a reason why the "disease," which burping after eating is NOT a disease or disability, is called whatever is NOT going to make it better. Coming up with some out of Lore reason that having buck teeth or being smelly is attributed to a whole race will not make your names good. Frankly, the biggest issue most of us have is you should be not taking such trivial things and writing them out a RP "flaws." You want PCs to have disabilities? Why? You are the the character designer, the PC is. If they want their characters to have disabilities, and I mean real one not some "haha this is a disease" type stuff then you can make actual HB, that would address things like crone's disease, MS, amputations, autism, etc. But to sit here and say "Well don't use it" is wrong when you asked us for feedback.
To some up our feedback:
Don't use ridiculous names for things that have 0 connects, and making a background for it will not help.
Don't Sit there calling buck teeth and other small stuff disabilities while having ACTUAL disabilities on this list. This trivializes these real issues that players face in the real world.
Creating HB and putting out for the public means it needs to be adaptable by them. In it's current state there is too much to change for (as per the responses) many people to use this - hence our feed back.
The last thing I want to address is this notion that anything that is a "flaw" is therefore a disability. And that is just wrong, and not at all the approach anyone should be bringing when trying to incorporate disabilities into PCs characters. Frankly I still don't even think some mechanic is needed either, PCs should be choosing what their character has, not the game. In my group I have a tabaxi with an amputated tail, she chose to have it, but it is not going to harm her character either mechanically or RP wise. why? because from my experience, most people with disabilities don't make it a defining feature of their person, so it doesn't need to be approached that way. Yeah, I'm not going to be using your thing. But that does not mean I have no right to make my opinion heard or comment on how you could morph this thing you created into something more widely usable.
Thanks for the feedback. If you take a moment to go back to the title of the thread, it has been renamed to "Disabilities, Traits and little Quirks". I have taken into account that not everything I wrote down turned out to be a disability. This table got its name due to the last 20 points where my idea sprung up from. An oversight on my part and I have taken responsibility to alter the table to reflect its content.
I am, however, confused as to where it comes up that these 120 points would be quote "defining feature", if you direct yourself to the first paragraph it states no more than a flavoring. As for backstories, they do matter. Just look up the Spanish flu and you'll understand why (loosely told; Spain wasn't the origin nor the hardest hit). To finalize this comment, it almost feel like you're saying I have this control over you and your characters. Directing back to the first paragraph also stating no more than you should not feel pressured about either using this table, or the rule implemented (which will change).
And with that I think everything that needed to be said, has been said and laid down. So in the meantime I hope everyone will be excited for the sequel.
I'm ready for the sequel! Also the way you respond in a calm focused way is very well done. I think the quirk addition was a smart move as well. Nicely done again, all around applause from me.
I like the idea in principle, but if you're looking for alternative terms that are a bit less charged than "disability", I might suggest "Maladies and Malaises"; both aren't commonly used terms these days so they evoke a bit more of an olden/fantasy feel, they're both kind of funny terms in their own right, and I think together they set a lighter tone to the list from the outset.
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