Centaurs and shops, etc.

[Kregor]

I've been mulling about questions about centaurs and decided I'd put my 2 cents out there for others to give theirs.

It is considered poor IC form for a humanoid to ride a mount into shops, temples, houses, etc, based on several grounds: that it would be unacceptable with shopkeepers, that the doors and openings would not be IC big enough, etc.

Now with Centaur roaming the streets of Waterdeep (Not to mention the IC-ness of a Centaur *wanting* to roam the streets of Waterdeep), we are confronted with the situation of them walking into the same shops, through the same doors, with the same shopkeepers, or quest areas with normal sized doors, stairs, etc.

Now, in Waterdeep, I would think the IC reaction of many shopkeepers, many of whom have probably never seen a centaur any more than they have seen a drow, would have an adverse reaction to one strolling into their shop, bumping their way through the shelves and etc. And I would think that a player of said centaur should handle it ICly with the same limitations that a horse and rider would have. Short of having to go and recode a bunch of indoor areas' entrances to medium size, or build in adverse reactions in code by citizens and etc.

In other areas, there should be IC consideration as to whether or not a Centaur could get through the structure, with great difficulty, or at all.

Yes, this would mean that some shopping resources, and perhaps a few quest areas could be IC inaccessible to a Centaur, but, as with other issues in other threads, shouldn't this be considered a racial limitation that goes along with the advantages?

[Caius]

Possibly should be blamed for unsolved crimes in the area too.

[Talamar]

Just to add my own thoughts.

Yes, there are limited reasons for centaurs to venture into the city. Your friend is dying and you need a priest and cannot find anyone elsewhere. You need a new weapon, and the only smith willing is in the city.

These kind of things can allow for plausible excuses for a centaur to occasionally visit a city.

The biggest issue for centaur players, should be playing out your fear and distrust of humans as well. It's not just all about everyone dropping their jaws etc when you walk in. These are the type of people that have burned and chopped your forest homes into kindling. Those forests you swore to protect by birth alone, are most threatened by Humans as a race, along with Orcs and Goblinoids.

You are born with that prejudice, and it's something you should roleplay when and as you can. Even if it's rping getting over that prejudice, and giving some humans a chance.

[Kregor]

Agreed with that, Talamar, as far as humans go, even outside the city. Playing a human ranger does not make me any more trustworthy upon initial meeting to a centaur, even in the open forest. I have had RP with two such centaur who played this through well. Even as a seasoned ranger, I should have a thing or two to learn from a creature such as this. I commend those who are putting the effort into the races. I'm glad to have shared the RP.

Good research into a race before playing makes that RP a reality, and makes it a very very rich experience. It's part of the hidden cost of one of the kismet races, aside from the kismet itself.