Should all elves be the same body type? No, of course not. Should some elves be fat? Yes. But What is fat for an elf? It isn't the same as what is fat for a human or a dwarf. An Obese elf may well have a similar body type to a plump human. Just look at real world animals... I'll use different breeds of dogs for examples. A fat greyhound isn't very fat compared to a bulldog. .. it is still fat for its breed but the "natural" body shape of a greyhound is so thin to begin with that...
View full commentShould all elves be the same body type? No, of course not. Should some elves be fat? Yes. But What is fat for an elf? It isn't the same as what is fat for a human or a dwarf. An Obese elf may well have a similar body type to a plump human.
Just look at real world animals... I'll use different breeds of dogs for examples. A fat greyhound isn't very fat compared to a bulldog. .. it is still fat for its breed but the "natural" body shape of a greyhound is so thin to begin with that the scale is very different.
So Elves should have a range of body types from thin (which would appear dangerously anorexic for a human... apart from the bones not poking out so much) to fat (which would look slightly overweight for a human). If you really want to display dangerous weight catagories then you could go further... but I don't think those kinds of weights should be commonly depicted.
I would love to see variations in bodytypes among all non-humans, not just the standards like dwarve and elf. I think the tendency to label any somewhat significant variation a subtype to be kinda ridiculous. Races should be allowed some realistic variation while still being consider part of the same group of elves or lizardmen. consideration should always be taken to what their specific race ideal is though, lest they lose the uniqueness that makes them an identifiably non-human race. ...
View full commentI would love to see variations in bodytypes among all non-humans, not just the standards like dwarve and elf. I think the tendency to label any somewhat significant variation a subtype to be kinda ridiculous. Races should be allowed some realistic variation while still being consider part of the same group of elves or lizardmen. consideration should always be taken to what their specific race ideal is though, lest they lose the uniqueness that makes them an identifiably non-human race.
As for monster variation, I would adore seeing more of that. I'd actually like the regional owlbear thing. I like the feeling of a worldwide setting with all manner of creatures adapted to all manner of biomes.
Just look at real world animals... I'll use different breeds of dogs for examples. A fat greyhound isn't very fat compared to a bulldog. .. it is still fat for its breed but the "natural" body shape of a greyhound is so thin to begin with that...
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