One of the best things you can do when you write for a tabletop game is establish your gameworld. It was something that I lovingly and painstakingly did when I first started using homebrew materials in a serious way--which was even slightly before I started running serious games. That's the thing: to run the game you want, you need the world that matches. That's why I spend so much time here on the site addressing worldbuilding.
I openly acknowledge that much of my worldbuilding is cultural. That's partially because I am very interested in cultural affairs in real life. But it's also because in any campaign that includes serious storytelling or open space for roleplaying is going to address culture quite often. I think that portrayals of culture make the world seem distinct from ours, and they can be exciting to learn about for players. So with that in mind, I want to build a guide to stereotypes. By this, I mean that I want to explain what people generally assume about various groups within the gameworld. As in our world, stereotypes are not necessarily true, though, so don't take a stereotype that a particular race is dishonest as an actual statement from the GM that it's true. In fact, my belief in real life is that most stereotypes are false and that most people are pretty similar in the ways that matter most. So these stereotypes are simply beliefs that are held about fictional people by fictional people.
The following is a guide to stereotypes by D&D race, class, and religion.
Racial Stereotypes
Elf: Elves are regarded by many as aloof and cold. It is also commonly held that elves act superior to those around them. A common joke about elves exaggerates their love of nature in obscene ways.
Orc: Orcs are seen as violent and often as stupid. Many say that orcs are impossible to negotiate with because they don't compromise. Jokes about orcs often portray them as more animal than humanoid.
Dwarf: Dwarves are believed by many to only care about dwarven affairs. It is often said that dwarves are better with metal and stone work than with people. People make jokes about how similar dwarven men and women are, including their beards.
Halfling: Halflings are regarded by many as sneaky. The role of the halfling in history as a diplomat has also earned then a reputation for meddling in others' business. A common joke holds that halflings made a bargain with the gods for smaller bodies so they could sneak around better.
Gnome: Gnomes are seen by many as eccentric and greedy. It is often said that gnomes are a threat because of their massively organized capital city. Jokes about gnomes often contend that gnomish inventors create nonhuman romantic partners.
Daltoner: Daltoners have a reputation as villains due to their military incursion on the continent in recent history. It is often said that Daltoners are both cruel and aggressive. People make jokes about how Daltoners would level towns over incredibly minor inconveniences.
Faninite: Faninites are regarded by many as simple and childish. It is commonly held that Faninites are at least as nature-obsessed as the elves. A common joke says that Faninites only landed on Evanoch's shores because they were so stupid that they were actually trying to go back to their home island.
Half-Elf: Half-elves are seen as misfits or objects of interest more than being people. Many say that half-elves serve either elves or their Faninite sides, depending on their parents. Jokes about half-elves tend to involve them being half elf, half human, and half something else depending on the punchline.
Class Stereotypes
Barbarian: People view barbarians as temperamental hulking brutes. It is common for people to find a new seat in a tavern when a Barbarian sits nearby. A common joke about barbarians revolves around entering a rage at comical times.
Bard: Bards are seen by many as frivolous parts of society, purposeless in most situations. It is commonly held that bards will tell any story if someone will listen. People make jokes about how bards prize their instruments more than life itself.
Cleric: The reputation of clerics varies widely due to the differences between faiths. See the entries below for religious stereotypes. In general, people view clerics as frighteningly powerful, zealous, and/or public servants.
Druid: People view druids as animalistic and emotionless about humanoids. It is common for people to spread word when a druid enters a town. Jokes about druids often involve the Druid transforming into animals for various obscene hijinks.
Fighter: Fighters have a reputation for being intimidating whether they intend to be or not. It is commonly said that fighters are too stupid to solve problems with words and instead resort to power. A common joke about fighters depicts them using weapons to do things which the weapons make impossible.
Monk: Monks are seen as quiet and aloof. Many people regard the time, energy, and sacrifice that it takes to be a monk as evidence of madness in anyone who would undertake it. Jokes about monks often make lewd suggestions about the monk's thoughts in a meditative state.
Paladin: People view paladins as self-righteous and overbearing. Most people would choose to be dishonest with a paladin out of the belief that paladins would never compromise if they learned anything. People make jokes about paladins doing crude things under the guise of "lay on hands."
Ranger: Rangers tend to be viewed as mysterious and distant. Many people resent rangers for lording their power over average people. Jokes about rangers usually involve having comical names and species for an animal companion.
Rogue: People tend to see rogues as untrustworthy, though most rogues do at least attempt to conceal their class. When people know a person is a rogue, they assume that person is always looking for an angle. Jokes about rogues range from humorous stories about greedy rogues to shock factor jokes about harming rogues who have stolen for people.
Sorcerer, Warlock, and Wizard: All spellcasters to a certain extent, but certainly these three are viewed by people as loose cannons who are dabbling in something more powerful than themselves. People often say that these three classes are illogical in some way, either from being addled by magic or insane enough to approach magic to begin with. Most people don't make a meaningful distinction between sorcerer, warlock, and wizard, but there are stereotypes within the world of magic itself. These folks see sorcerers as dishonest charmers, warlocks as desperate fools, and wizards as feeble and stuffy. A common joke about spellcasters portrays them performing magic for incredibly trivial tasks, such as lifting a loaded fork to one's mouth.
Religious Stereotypes
Racial Deities (Corellon Larethian, Gruumsh, Moradin, Yondalla, Garl Glittergold): The same ideas as the associated racial stereotype is true, assuming that the follower is the same race as their god. If a person follows a god of a different races, they are generally seen as strange and better avoided.
Pelor: Worshippers of Pelor tend to be seen as social workers, almost; people who identify themselves as followers of the sun god are implicitly offering to help anyone who asks. As a result, people tend to either view them as truly virtuous or totally naïve. Pelor worshippers are suspected to be so committed to their faith more out of fear than dedication, but this is partially influenced by people confusing it with the Dalton Church of Pelor. A common joke about Pelor worshippers depicts them giving away everything they have until the point of starvation.
Dalton Church of Pelor: Worshippers of the Dalton Church of Pelor are almost entirely Daltoner, but then, most Daltoners in Evanoch worship the Dalton Church of Pelor. People tend to view worshippers of this church negatively, holding that they are more a business than a church and that they teach people to be violent. Those in the know in Evanoch say, "If the sun is gold, they do as told; if the sun is red, you'll end up dead"--a mnemonic device for identifying either the Pelorite's golden sun and the Dalton Church of Pelor's red sun. People joke that worshippers of the Dalton Church of Pelor would sacrifice their own family to get better seats in the temple.
Ehlonna: Worshippers of Ehlonna tend to be viewed as enemies of spreading civilization, and many say they are resistant to change. It is commonly said that Ehlonna worshippers would sooner live amongst the animals in the forests than be a part of society. Jokes about Ehlonna worshippers tend to mock the goddess herself.
St. Cuthbert: People say that those who follow St. Cuthbert are overly practical people and close-minded. Many say that these followers are more interested in revenge than true justice. A common joke about followers of St. Cuthbert argues that they would hate their ascended humanoid deity if they met him.
Obad-Hai: Worshippers of Obad-Hai are seen by many as unfeeling and cynical for their commitment to the natural cycle of life. They have a reputation for being bad at dealing with interpersonal problems. People joke that followers of Obad-Hai live entirely on a diet of moss and downed tree branches.
Kord: Those who worship Kord are said to be inclined to strong-arm people into what they want. They have a reputation for challenging people to wrestling matches during disagreements at the tavern. Jokes about Kord followers portray them as somewhat unintelligent, and for some reason, bent on partying.
Fharlanghn: Followers of Fharlanghn are seen as unserious people, people who cannot deal with life's problems, and so they leave them behind. However, it is considered good luck to meet a follower of Fharlanghn on the road, and so people are usually kind to them when traveling. A common joke about Fharlanghn followers contends that his worshippers could not spell his name given a thousand tries.
Note: The Common Worship Charter of 3869 ruled that any religious practice that does not harm others is legally protected, so there is a general sense that even worshippers of explicitly evil gods are not completely condemned by the public. This does not preclude, however, known worshippers of evil gods from being social excluded or given extra challenges by their neighbors. Many believe that worshippers of gods such as Hextor, Nerull, Vecna, or Erythnul are themselves predators who are unfortunately protected by law.
There you have it! A guide to stereotypes that exist in my gameworld along multiple lines of identity. I look forward to complicating some of my social and political interactions with information from this. The dynamics between characters just gained a lot more depth.
That's all for now. Coming soon: how to balance plot and exploration, how to use dreams and hallucinations in your story, and a profile on famous people in my homebrew setting. Until next time, happy gaming!
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