Been checking out some of the Lesser known DnD races...

[Wohendum]

So, I don't play DnD, but man I love combing through the wiki's for the many different races and species of monsters/wildlife. Like the one I just found a few days ago and am already plotting on how I'll introduce them into something of my own...

Gnoll

Gnolls were a humanoid race that most closely resembled human-hyena hybrids within Faerûn. They were carnivorous humanoids, known for their savage culture and warlike ways.[4] Gnolls were extremely tall, with the average member of the race standing on average between 7′0″‒7′6″ (2.1‒2.3 m)...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

Meet the Gnolls.

Pretty damn awesome race.

 

[Echimera]

Just be aware that everyone that plays a male Gnoll is probably a bottom.

 

[PancakesWitch]

so the furry race?

 

[Wohendum]

Just be aware that everyone that plays a male Gnoll is probably a bottom.

Huh?

so the furry race?

Lol! Nah, not me.

 

[DarkeReises]

so the furry race?

Wouldn't be the only one.

 

[BenJepheneT]

Just be aware that everyone that plays a male Gnoll is probably a bottom.

 

[Jemini]

So, I don't play DnD, but man I love combing through the wiki's for the many different races and species of monsters/wildlife. Like the one I just found a few days ago and am already plotting on how I'll introduce them into something of my own...

Gnoll

Gnolls were a humanoid race that most closely resembled human-hyena hybrids within Faerûn. They were carnivorous humanoids, known for their savage culture and warlike ways.[4] Gnolls were extremely tall, with the average member of the race standing on average between 7′0″‒7′6″ (2.1‒2.3 m)...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

Pretty damn awesome race.

Err... well, I suppose if you mean "lesser known" in relative terms, then yeah, I suppose you could consider the Gnoll to be "lesser known" compared to orcs and goblins, maybe even kobolds. But, really, Gnolls are actually considered to be pretty well known among frequent D&D players. I suppose it's really just a matter of perspective, considering they're one of the less frequently adapted races.

When you said "lesser known," I thought you might come out with something REALLY obscure like the Aranea.

Aranea

The araneas (sometimes called "werespiders"; pl: araneas[2] or: aranea[3]) were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing spider-like creatures[5] inhabiting the Spider Swamp in Calimshan.[4] While they were not true lycanthropes,[4] aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

(You can tell I've been reading way too much "Mother of Learning" if that's the first race to jump into my head.)

 

[DarkeReises]

Err... well, I suppose if you mean "lesser known" in relative terms, then yeah, I suppose you could consider the Gnoll to be "lesser known" compared to orcs and goblins, maybe even kobolds. But, really, Gnolls are actually considered to be pretty well known among frequent D&D players. I suppose it's really just a matter of perspective, considering they're one of the less frequently adapted races.

When you said "lesser known," I thought you might come out with something REALLY obscure like the Aranea.

Aranea

The araneas (sometimes called "werespiders"; pl: araneas[2] or: aranea[3]) were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing spider-like creatures[5] inhabiting the Spider Swamp in Calimshan.[4] While they were not true lycanthropes,[4] aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

(You can tell I've been reading way too much "Mother of Learning" if that's the first race to jump into my head.)

Yeah, I was also expecting something obscure. When I saw Gnoll, I thought "...those are lesser known?" But Aranea in D&D huh...

On another note, I don't hear much about Shardminds. Gith are pretty cool tho.

 

[Jemini]

Yeah, I was also expecting something obscure. When I saw Gnoll, I thought "...those are lesser known?" But Aranea in D&D huh...

Oh yeah. I think the version in Mother of Learning are a lot more interesting than their D&D counterparts. Mind-magic spiders with their own in-depth culture and cultural practices as a sentient race fairly on-par with human society is far more interesting than just some shape-shifting spiders.

In fact, the mere ability to take human form automatically makes them far less interesting.

 

[Amok]

 

[RepresentingSilence]

Warforged

Warforged were a rare race of humanoid constructs created through powerful rituals.[3] Warforged averaged 6′‒6′6″ (1.8‒2 m) and were made up of bulky (albeit resilient) metallic or stone bodies that weighed roughly 270‒300 lb (120‒140 kg).[6] Extremely powerful and durable, warforged were able...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

 

[expentio]

Err... well, I suppose if you mean "lesser known" in relative terms, then yeah, I suppose you could consider the Gnoll to be "lesser known" compared to orcs and goblins, maybe even kobolds. But, really, Gnolls are actually considered to be pretty well known among frequent D&D players. I suppose it's really just a matter of perspective, considering they're one of the less frequently adapted races.

When you said "lesser known," I thought you might come out with something REALLY obscure like the Aranea.

Aranea

The araneas (sometimes called "werespiders"; pl: araneas[2] or: aranea[3]) were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing spider-like creatures[5] inhabiting the Spider Swamp in Calimshan.[4] While they were not true lycanthropes,[4] aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

(You can tell I've been reading way too much "Mother of Learning" if that's the first race to jump into my head.)

Okay, those are cool. If I ever get the chance to play pen and paper I now know my race. (That or a slime or water elemental)
Though that the giant spider monsters shunned and hated by the world are pacifistic...

 

[Deleted member 80680]

I mean this in the nicest way possible as I am a weeb myself. ALL YALL NERDS

 

[Wohendum]

Err... well, I suppose if you mean "lesser known" in relative terms, then yeah, I suppose you could consider the Gnoll to be "lesser known" compared to orcs and goblins, maybe even kobolds. But, really, Gnolls are actually considered to be pretty well known among frequent D&D players. I suppose it's really just a matter of perspective, considering they're one of the less frequently adapted races.

When you said "lesser known," I thought you might come out with something REALLY obscure like the Aranea.

Aranea

The araneas (sometimes called "werespiders"; pl: araneas[2] or: aranea[3]) were a magical race of sentient, shape-changing spider-like creatures[5] inhabiting the Spider Swamp in Calimshan.[4] While they were not true lycanthropes,[4] aranea could transform between the appearance of a humanoid...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

(You can tell I've been reading way too much "Mother of Learning" if that's the first race to jump into my head.)

Never played DnD so maybe I should've said lesser known to me. Didn't know they were as popular as they were. Just started reading up on them one time and was pleased with what I saw. Can't imagine anyone playing as a Gnoll though in a game since they seem to lack quite a bit of variety in actions unless some kind of campaign was made to center around them.


@Jemini @DarkeReises

So then, are Aasimar commonly adapted too? The Rakshasha seem interesting too, especially since they are an Indian-type demon in real life.

Aasimar

Aasimar were human-based planetouched, native outsiders that had in their blood some good, otherworldly characteristics. They were often, but not always, descended from celestials and other creatures of pure good alignment, but while predisposed to good alignments, aasimar were by no means...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

Rakshasa

Rakshasas (pronounced: /rɑːkˈʃɑːsɑːz/ rak-SHA-saz[8]) were a dignified race of duplicitous outsiders that mostly dwelt on the Material Plane. They were reviled as devious sorcerers, political puppeteers and thought to be an embodiment of evil.[7] The true form of a rakshasa was almost never seen...

forgottenrealms.fandom.com

 

[Echimera]

Huh?

Gnolls are humanoid hyenas.
Female hyenas have ... equipment ... that surpasses that of males, are typically larger and more dominant.
I would assume that almost everyone that would play a Gnoll is either a furry or at least familiar with the culture and has absorbed this bit of tangential knowledge.
They know what they are signing up for when playing a male Gnoll.

I mean this in the nicest way possible as I am a weeb myself. ALL YALL NERDS

Refer to panel 4, 3 as context if needed.

 

[Wohendum]

Female hyenas have ... equipment ... that surpasses that of males, are typically larger and more dominant.

According to all of the online articles I've read about Gnolls, none of them have said this. It just said that the 2 genders are hard to distinguish and that the only noticeable way to tell normally is if the female is pregnant. Otherwise, either one could be the chieftain, with the chief always having a harem, though the harem would usually be comprised of the best fighters from the opposite gender due to the Gnoll desire to have the strongest possible descendants. They seem rather egalitarian to me in this instance.

Most of the Gnoll pack leaders from DnD novelizations have been male from what I've looked up, though I've read a handful of females. One of the females had a thing for spiked flail's.

 

[Deleted member 80680]

Gnolls are humanoid hyenas.
Female hyenas have ... equipment ... that surpasses that of males, are typically larger and more dominant.
I would assume that almost everyone that would play a Gnoll is either a furry or at least familiar with the culture and has absorbed this bit of tangential knowledge.
They know what they are signing up for when playing a male Gnoll.

Refer to panel 4, 3 as context if needed.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Appearances only, Rakshashas are the same as Khajiits from The Elder Scrolls or Tigrans from the Age of Wonders.

 

[DarkeReises]

Oh yeah. I think the version in Mother of Learning are a lot more interesting than their D&D counterparts. Mind-magic spiders with their own in-depth culture and cultural practices as a sentient race fairly on-par with human society is far more interesting than just some shape-shifting spiders.

In fact, the mere ability to take human form automatically makes them far less interesting.

I agree. I'd rather see Aranea as another culturally developed race in D&D rather than something thats probably from a curse. They don't have to be a player race, since playing as one would be difficult due to many limiting factors, and thus would have to be balanced appropriately which is a pain for even normal humanoid player races, so I think as another kind of faction and attribute of depth to the world would be cool.