If I were GMing that theoretical d20 game, I'd need a damned good explanation as to why a Troll who most likely spent his or her formative years believing in voodoo and practicing cannibalism became a believer in the Light to the point of Paladinhood before I'd allow it.

But I hate Drizzt-esque special snowflakeism in my tabletop games, particularly when there's been no thought behind it, and try to squash it when I can.

Take a look at Zabra Hexx, please.

And I think creative thought should be encouraged, as long as it's well informed and believable plausible. I'm sick of people beating down on anyone who feels the need to break out of the mundane norm.

@Kylenne: I agree completely. I've seen too many games run away with "I'm totally special" characters and devolve on the table itself. One of these days I'll manage to join up with a group that actually weds character concepts to a sense of group cohesion and with an eye towards what works together. Not one that builds for maximum effectiveness only (Three Battlefield Control mages, one Bow Cleric and a Natural Spell Druid?) but at least something where the stated purpose is "Build a group of elite Necromancer killing Black Ops squad" rather than "Here is my idea of a plucky underdog with great narrative potential."

Plucky underdogs work in fiction. Where dice and randomness come into play, plucky underdogs get their asses handed to them by Dusk Giants.

@ninjasuperspy:

So a punch from a Titan is like a falcon punch then?

Falcon PAAAAAAUUUUUUNCH!

@Siona (from the article):

I'm pretty sure there have been cases of the Forsaken worshipping the light to the point of Paladinhood. Isn't there one in Light's Hope Chapel? Bartholomew the Revered, or some such.

@skeeran
When everyone is special, no one is special. Everyone in RP and tabletops and the like wants to be the unique little star, the center of attention. It's insulting to your fellow gamers, for one thing--if you and your crew are strolling through Stormwind, no one's going to notice anyone but the troll, and their experience and contribution is devalued. For another thing, contrived crap like that is exactly why a lot of people who would otherwise be interested in RP shy away from it, and exactly why a lot of people who aren't interested in RP ceaselessly mock those who are.

People can't be happy creating characters within the universe that has been painstakingly detailed around them... they have to be special little vampire spy cross-faction cross-class divas. It's not creativity, it's Mary Sue at its worst.

I'd allow the troll paladin, but I'd make sure they understood the cost when they did it.

It means they'll be reviled by their own kind. It means they'll never be welcome in Sen'Jin Village again. They've betrayed the loa and the spirits. They are outcast.

And I'd construct plots around that, too.

Rampant Mary-Sueism is a potential problem here, but it's also got the potential for an excellent, dramatic plot, and I wouldn't want to stifle that in worry.

@AyaJulia

Hence my saying that it should be well thought out and plausible. We've seen trolls who follow the light, and shaman who wear plate. We've also seen entire groups of humans who entered into alliances with the Horde and Draenei who worship evil powers. Why can't we play them?

I agree that when actively roleplaying, it is polite to play a character of minimal outlandishness, but is it fair to tell someone that they are not allowed to create such a character? I find the term Mary-sue to be an incredibly elitist term, honestly. One could say that Aragorn is mary-sue. Or Captain Kirk. Or King Arthur. Or Forrest Gump. They are great stories nonetheless.

Yes, there needs to be actual work put into the story, rather than just spitting out ideas and calling it art, but it's not fair to insult anyone who wants their character to be more than a simple footsoldier/farmer/peasant.

@AyaJulia

"When everyone is special, no one is special. "

An Impossibles reference? Really?

We may not agree on everything, but I can respect you just for that. =)