Aside that, let's talk about what you really want. It seems to me that you want a fantasy world which reflects today's US demography? Like 50% Whites, 35% Hispanics, 10% Blacks, 5% Asian or something like that? Along with LGBTQ characters here and there? With stories of mistreated minorities by villain racist white males (we got that already with Tieflings in Druid cave)?
If you think arbitrary quotas are what I want, you've missed the whole point of my argument. It's not about replicating real world demographics (which makes no sense in a fantasy setting). It's about providing options to allow the creation of characters that look like the broad spectrum of players. If you want to create and play characters who appear European, that's your right. Just as I should have the option to create and play characters that look more african, asian, or whatever ethnicity I desire.
Why do you expect fantasy races to have human diversity represented in them? They are not human therefore do not necessarily reflect the same level of diversity present in humanity. In D&D lore there are elves with dark skin, copper skin, etc. likewise with pretty much every there fantasy race so why the desire for them to somehow reflect human diversity? They are already diverse in their own way.
I'm all for more representation while making a human character but please keep the game world consistent. Elves, Dwarves, Halflings, Gnomes are the product of Northern European folklore/mythology and literature...why do you expect they should suddenly reflect human diversity when they are supposed to appear distinct from humans? They might share similarities but they are fundamentally different. I thought the whole appeal of playing a non-human race was that you get to roleplay someone who looks nothing like you?
That tired trope of saying Elves look European is based on what....skin tone? Because if you're going on facial characteristics I would argue that the fine features of Elves have more in common with some people from parts of Asia and Eastern Africa. But I don't go there because I prefer my fantasy games to be free of current real world issues. Fantasy roleplay is an escape.
That's an easy question to ask when fantasy races have always been portrayed as European in appearance. I agree, they're not human and perhaps if the facial features reflected that non-human appearance, then it wouldn't be an issue. Skin tone alone does not equal diversity or representation. Why do I expect non-human races to offer a degree of customization to reflect non-European features? Because at the end of the day, this is a fantasy setting, not a historical setting. If the appeal of playing a non-human race is to play someone that doesn't look like you, then why the resistance to allowing a more diverse set of facial features?
Obviously I'm not going to change any of your minds and you're not going to change mine so let's just agree to disagree. You run your campaigns the way you want and I'll run mine the way I want. By extension, play BG3 the way you want but don't deny me the opportunity to play BG3 the way I would like.
