Or maybe the reason he looks so tough but has low prestige is because dragonborn are hated enemies in the setting? Or pitiful refugees? Or are believed to be in league with dark forces? Or are so feared that people don't like to deal with them? Or maybe they are rare and largely unheard of, and people assume the player is cursed? All it requires is starting with the assumption that the character is no more powerful than any other character of its level, and applying a little imagination.
You don't like the aesthetic of including them? That's fine. But when you try to argue there is a logical reason for your entirely subjective opinion, you are effectively saying that other opinions are wrong.
Since everyone is sharing their opinion again....If you don't use roleplaying (and in a sense, alignment) as a tool to balance out a 'candy-class' character like a paladin--like the potential examples Beoric stated above, then of course it's going to be overpowered...but complaining about how overpowered paladins are while refusing to use the tools to balance them (i.e. roleplaying) is (still) weird to me. Perhaps its not a candy-class but a candy way to play the game because it just becomes an entitled character with no responsibilities or restrictions--no wonder why some hate the class, but damn, use your tools--that's what they are there for.
Same can be applied to dragonborn or other 'monster' races. It could be a real headache trying to deal with NPCs in towns or different factions in a dungeon. If roleplay is not used, then sure, they can be 'overpowered' and get off super easy. But looking 'cool' should have a price.
This is why I still think alignment for an assassin should not just be thrown away where assassins could be of any alignment especially if they have a skill to outright slay someone. It's a tool to help with balance. If alignment is thrown away (which basically makes an assassin harder to be detectable from Detect Evil, Detect type magics, and being Chaotic Evil can be difficult to play effectively), then using the roleplaying tool would have to go in extra heavy to keep it balanced. No one should trust a Lawful Good assassin---because they murder people. It could be evil people, but still, the nefarious action is the same.
Despite what I said above, I'm actually in Squeen's camp about the 'monster' races. I'm all about having variety and being creative, but in my opinion, when everyone is a 'monster' it does take away the 'awe' of encountering monsters and sometimes less is more. Although, I think an all orc party would be an interesting campaign--fending off humans and doing missions to better your clan--in fact, maybe I'll write that up one day.
I do like and agree with Squeen's above post. I'm always ready to roll up a level 1 character when my character gets to about 7th level or so--my wishes and desires are mostly met by 7th level for me. I enjoy the low level struggle moreso than having a plethora of magic items and spells to solve problems. Although, arguably this could also be a case of where I haven't really gone on a fun high level campaign. But I can understand where he is coming from when it feels like everything is handed to you at level 1--without the struggle, Id be bored of the game. I don't necessarily agree with him that a paladin or being a dragonborn is having everything being handed to you (because again, roleplay tool can make these choices a total nightmare for a player), but I get where he is coming from and can agree to an extent.
Anyways, the point of this whole post was to get some activity on the boards....hold on to your seats as the next post topic will be: Why Dragonborn are awesome!!! (I jest...I jest...)
?
