Posted by Tracker of the Wicked(VIP) on August 14, 2000 at 13:50:46:
In Reply to: maybe posted by Magtotgrame on August 14, 2000 at 13:25:08:
> an argument you might have is that you cant compare a giant whacking on drum to the music of the elf bard with a well crafted harp - but the effects - preparing people for battle or calming them down are probably the same. No, he's saying that playing your "instrument" is one thing, but having a magical-like effect is the result of years and years of cultural musical tradition and education. Being a bard is something entirely different from being a musician. And a fire giant culture that values banging two bones together is not the perfect spawning ground for a cultural tradition of music, rhetoric, and mannerisms. They don't value intelligence, and are racially incapable of great intelligence. The same holds true for healers and shaman and paladins. Certain cultures have the necessary traditions that would serve as breeding grounds for these professions. Certain cultures do not. Can there be one or two memorable exceptions? Sure. But they are the exception to the rule. (If I'm understanding it correctly).
> My opinion is that all races should be allowed to play shaman/healers/bards/warriors
> cos every culture has relgion (shaman + healers)
> every culture has music (bards - even if its whacking on a bone a hollow bit of wood)
> and every culture hit something with a stick or rock at some point (warrior)
I know in 21st century American academia we look at all cultures and races as though they're equal, but in Carrion Fields, some cultures are more advanced in some ways than others. The Bard class, as written, with the skills it has and the songs they sing, suggest a certain eloquence and familiarity with literature and music and tradition. Some cultures do not support these things as well as others. Yes, a fire giant native pounding on a stick of wood and singing qualifies as a crude "musician" for his fire giant culture, but his cultural musical traditions in fire giant village do not lend themselves to the level and quality of thought and creativity that the Bard class requires (Not to mention his natural intelligence). Basically, CF is the one place where you can lay down racial stereotypes, because there is a numerical system that lays out exactly how intelligent a race can be or strong a race can be, or.. and so on. (A racist's dream).