1 hour ago, Maelora said:

Well, at last count the Marcy Cinematic Universe had (over 5 or 6 separate groups in a shared universe of about 15 players):

20 Humans

2 Togruta

2 droids

1 each of Chiss, Twi'lek, Arkanian, Mirialan, Zabrak

2 near-humans (Corellian and Mandalorian; they're near-humans in the MarcyVerse. Oddly enough, the Corellian Hired Gun gets easily annoyed at being mistaken for 'human')

1 hour ago, Archlyte said:

You are gonna throw off the averages with all those Humans! lol. I love that you consider Mandos and Corellians near humans, is that common? I always just assumed they were regular human stock.

Actually, Mandos don't have to be humans at all. Because of stereotypes/racism/coincidence/who knows the Mandos we see are human. But they are really more a religion than anything. Of course, Mando parents have Mando kids, but they have no genetics.

" Here's why you can't exterminate us, aruetii . We're not huddled in one place—we span the galaxy. We need no lords or leaders—so you can't destroy our command. We can live without technology—so we can fight with our bare hands. We have no species or bloodline—so we can rebuild our ranks with others who want to join us. We're more than just a people or an army, aruetii . We're a culture. We're an idea. And you can't kill ideas—but we can certainly kill you. "

―Mandalore the Destroyer

The Mandalorians —known in Mando'a as the Mando'ade , or "Children of Mandalore"—were a nomadic group of clan-based people consisting of members from multiple species and multiple genders, all bound by a common culture.

(Wookieepedia, Mandalorian)

3 minutes ago, Yaccarus said:

Actually, Mandos don't have to be humans at all. Because of stereotypes/racism/coincidence/who knows the Mandos we see are human. But they are really more a religion than anything. Of course, Mando parents have Mando kids, but they have no genetics.

More of a Culture , not a religion. Yes, there are non-humans who have been adopted into the Mando culture, though a vast majority of Mandos are Human. The big thing is that Mandalorians do tend to adopt people with certain character and genetic traits. Check out Star Wars Insider #86. It has a great article on Mandalorian culture.

5 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

More of a Culture , not a religion. Yes, there are non-humans who have been adopted into the Mando culture, though a vast majority of Mandos are Human. The big thing is that Mandalorians do tend to adopt people with certain character and genetic traits. Check out Star Wars Insider #86. It has a great article on Mandalorian culture.

Oh, I know Mandos. And they're a religion.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Manda_(religious)

Not to mention, Star Wars Insider 86 was what first described Mandalorian religion.

Just now, Yaccarus said:

Oh, I know Mandos. And they're a religion.

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Manda_(religious)

Not quite. Manda is a Religion, Being a Mando is not. Being Mandalorian is a culture, a way of life.

11 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Not quite. Manda is a Religion, Being a Mando is not. Being Mandalorian is a culture, a way of life.

Yet Mandos follow Manda.

Just now, Yaccarus said:

Yet Mandos follow Manda.

Not quite. They believe in the Manda, The follow the Resol'nare, or Six Actions.

2 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Not quite. They believe in the Manda, The follow the Resol'nare, or Six Actions.

And believing isn't a religion?

7 minutes ago, Yaccarus said:

And believing isn't a religion?

I said that being Mando'ade was not a religion. It's a culture. Manda is their religion. However, it is not the end all be all of their culture. It is but one part of it. That is the difference.

12 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Not quite. They believe in the Manda, The follow the Resol'nare, or Six Actions.

Pretty sure that's been thankfully wiped out of existence, when the terribad EU and the $2/hr authors were put out to pasture?

2 minutes ago, Endersai said:

Pretty sure that's been thankfully wiped out of existence, when the terribad EU and the $2/hr authors were put out to pasture?

Nope. It's still referenced in Rebels and Friends Like These.

They had one job; to get rid of the nonsense people like Luceno, Denning and Traviss brought to the table. ONE JOB.

9 minutes ago, Endersai said:

They had one job; to get rid of the nonsense people like Luceno, Denning and Traviss brought to the table. ONE JOB.

Not all of it was "nonsense", most of it wasn't. And Traviss'work on Mandalorian culture was. brilliant, IMO.

2 hours ago, Edgehawk said:

My favorite character that I'm currently playing is female and gay (I'm a straight guy), though her sexuality doesn't really come into play for the most part. I created her to fill a niche in an established party, which needed an Explorer-type (and also happened to be a total sausage-fest). The subject of her being gay is a non-issue in the game, just as such things should be a non-issue in life. I elected for her to be gay, because that's how I envisioned her at character creation. No biggie.

The lady adventurer is a familiar trope, and the Star Wars universe even has its own Doctor Aphra, which provided some inspiration; I try to make her my own, though. I can't vouch for my role playing.. maybe she's not feminine enough.. or gay enough? I thoroughly enjoy playing the character, though, and I like to think her presence adds something to the party. Regardless of whom she might hypothetically bed, between adventures.

I did not even notice that. Then again Durrak is kind of single minded !

30 minutes ago, Tramp Graphics said:

Not all of it was "nonsense", most of it wasn't. And Traviss'work on Mandalorian culture was. brilliant, IMO.

Seconded. The only thing that makes Canon tolerable is the fact that we haven't already seen/read it. Legends has more information and better information. Sure, not all of it is perfect, but I don't need to explain why Forces of Destiny is complete garbage as well. On the other hand, what in Canon match the Zahn trilogy? The Bane trilogy? The Republic Commando books? My personal favorite, Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina? Legacy of the Force? Fate of the Jedi? Any one of those is better than the best Canon book.

48 minutes ago, Endersai said:

Pretty sure that's been thankfully wiped out of existence, when the terribad EU and the $2/hr authors were put out to pasture?

Have you even read the Legends books? Because Canon books have nothing on them.

Also, let's jst take a moment to respect the fact that in less than 24 hours, this forum has gone from a debate about nonhumans vs. humans, wether or not Mandalorian is a religion, and Canon vs. Legends.

13 minutes ago, Yaccarus said:

Have you even read the Legends books? Because Canon books have nothing on them.

Let's have a Mofference to talk about that.

Just now, Stan Fresh said:

Let's have a Mofference to talk about that.

16 minutes ago, Yaccarus said:

Sure, not all of it is perfect, but I don't need to explain why Forces of Destiny is complete garbage as well.

10 hours ago, Archlyte said:

See, I think that humans are the main characters in every movie on purpose. They are the characters that we can most readily identify with, and therefore they are the characters that players are almost always going to identify with if the character is made with care.

I think this statement is fairly accurate to how things pan out in fiction in general, but I don't think it has to be inherent to Humans.

Your typical story that has a hero is one in which you want your audience/viewer to identify and empathize with. Being Human does not immediately accomplish this but is simply one of the pieces that can help to build this identification. You have to consider all of the other "layers" that individuals identify with. Yes its true that you're a human so boom, instant relate-ability there, and for some others race and sex, but there is so much diversity that it only goes so far. For example I can think of plenty of "human protagonists" that I completely do not identify with. A successful writer/author/director can present an alien that might be far more relate-able or possibly more empathetic, but it seems less common in fiction than perhaps I would like, and specifically with the Star Wars Movies it is unfortunate that all of the main characters are human so as you said the aliens are largely relegated to supporting roles.

Honestly it's not just Star Wars, its the majority of science fiction. Straying from Star Wars for a second; it's always somewhat disappointed me that Science fiction writers don't take a little more risk in this area. Humans can be super evil. Its fiction! Lets make the Humans the villains! (despite its other flaws I really liked this about "Dances with wolves in spa..I mean Avatar")

^Btw if anyone has suggestions of books where protagonists are aliens (meta-humans don't count) and humans are villains, hit me up^

11 hours ago, Archlyte said:

See, I think that humans are the main characters in every movie on purpose.

On a separate note I think one reason we see Live action Science Fiction dominated by humans also has a lot to do with the logistics of transforming characters with prosthesis and makeup (especially if it is a weekly TV show)

25 minutes ago, ThreeAM said:

On a separate note I think one reason we see Live action Science Fiction dominated by humans also has a lot to do with the logistics of transforming characters with prosthesis and makeup (especially if it is a weekly TV show)

Farscape, though.

Then again, the make-up did make at least one of the actors seriously ill to the point of having to quit the show.

20 minutes ago, ThreeAM said:

^Btw if anyone has suggestions of books where protagonists are aliens (meta-humans don't count) and humans are villains, hit me up^

Just a look at my bookshelf confirms that you are correct in that they are rare. Canon you've got Thrawn, but he isn't really the main character. The focus is on him, but the story is mostly told through his human aide. It does discuss some of the racism in the Empire, though.

Legends: Not as good as I thought it would be. Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina is great in terms of showing nonhuman cultures, and should really be the goal of anyone who wants to roleplay a nonhuman. Every single story that centers around a nonhuman (it's a collection of short stories) really shows how their different cultures influence them. Darth Plagueis is a Muun, and has a book of the same name. (Sidious gets more of the spotlight, but it's still a great book) The Approaching Storm mostly centers around Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee, both Mirialan Jedi. The Cestus Deception sort of splits role of main protagonist between Obi-Wan and Kit Fisto, as well as having many great nonhumans in the rest of the cast.

34 minutes ago, Yaccarus said:

Just a look at my bookshelf confirms that you are correct in that they are rare. Canon you've got Thrawn, but he isn't really the main character. The focus is on him, but the story is mostly told through his human aide. It does discuss some of the racism in the Empire, though.

Legends: Not as good as I thought it would be. Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina is great in terms of showing nonhuman cultures, and should really be the goal of anyone who wants to roleplay a nonhuman. Every single story that centers around a nonhuman (it's a collection of short stories) really shows how their different cultures influence them. Darth Plagueis is a Muun, and has a book of the same name. (Sidious gets more of the spotlight, but it's still a great book) The Approaching Storm mostly centers around Luminara Unduli and Barriss Offee, both Mirialan Jedi. The Cestus Deception sort of splits role of main protagonist between Obi-Wan and Kit Fisto, as well as having many great nonhumans in the rest of the cast.

The only thing that I have read that the protagonist is directly non-human is the "Tales of the Bounty Hunters" where you've got IG88, Bossk and Zuckuss &4Lom, but those are only short stories (and not particularly great either )

1 hour ago, ThreeAM said:

^Btw if anyone has suggestions of books where protagonists are aliens (meta-humans don't count) and humans are villains, hit me up^

Truthfully I actually meant ANY sci fi, not just star wars, Ha!

43 minutes ago, Stan Fresh said:

Farscape, though.

Then again, the make-up did make at least one of the actors seriously ill to the point of having to quit the show.

Frell yeah! And is probably the best at having a largely alien protagonist Cast. (But I think this may be primarily an exception because it had the backing of the Jim Henson Company)

Baylon 5 has several amazing aliens as well, but its still largely human and near-human.

To be fair, Farscape has 2 "human" looking main characters in the cast for the entire series run.

One of the prominent villains in the early first few seasons looks like a normal dude.

The creepy as sin villain of the series just looks like a sickly man with a leather fetish.

The crew later takes on a human looking dude with a mask on half of his face.

Technically most of these are aliens in the series, yes. They still look all or mostly human though.

I kinda wished they would just have their token male and female human protagonists/love interests and the rest of the Rogue One crew be aliens before it came out... was fairly disappointed it was all humans and even so the droid was somehow more endearing than all of them put together.