History TabletopGame / VictorianaRPG

* OurAngelsAreDifferent: Half-averted. While classical white-winged angels are around, they're in the minority; most angels look nothing like them. [[spoiler:In fact, most angels of the Aluminat look more like a ClockworkCreature than a servant of goodness and light due to having become [[KnightTemplar tarnished by dogma]].]]

* {{Oni}}: A mysterious race from the Pacific Rim, oni are similar to ogres in enough ways that they can easily pass for them, but they are far smarter than any ogre will ever be, and lack their distinctive gullibility. The relationship between the races is unclear; some believe oni to be ogres who evolved through sustained interbreeding with a now-unknown race, others believe that ogres are a naturally or magically degenerated strain of oni. And others think they're completely seperate races. This race appeared in the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders".

* HumanSubspecies: In 3rd edition, it was retconned in that the different fantasy "races" are now called "subspecies", with the change being explained as one part Darwin's theories being accepted (which, logically, means that all humanoids must be part of the Homo Sapiens family, since they can all interbreed), and one part to avoid confusion, since real-world races are an acknowledged thing in this world. The 3e corebook races even have distinct latin names; Beastfolk are ''Homo Sapiens Bestius'', Dwarfs are ''Homo Sapiens Montis'', Eldren are ''Homo Sapiens Aetheris'', Gnomes are ''Homo Sapiens Noctis'', Huldufolk are ''Homo Sapiens Furpes'', Ogres are ''Homo Sapiens Magnus'' and Orcs are ''Homo Sapiens Agrestis''. The fact they share a world with multiple civilized humanoids has led to humans being named ''Homo Sapiens Communis'' in response.

* OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Steppegoblins are the Victoriana equivalent of ''D&D'' hobgoblins... but are close relatives of the eldren to the extent that, aside from their different magical affinities and the steppegoblin's explosive temperaments, a steppegoblin can easily pass for an eldren with minimal difficulty.%%This race appears in the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders".%%Which is important because...?

* WhatMeasureIsANonCutE: The lowest of the low among the Beastmen in England are those who resemble rats and weasels; the highest-ranked resemble lions, with dogs close behind (no pun intended). [[LampshadeHanging Lampshaded]] by the rulebook, which points out that the descriptions of the animal races have little to do with what the animals are ''actually'' like and everything to do with how they're ''perceived''.

* {{Cyclops}}: These single-eyed giant-kin from Patagonia in South America are renowned for their minds over their bodies, being smarter even than oni and with a natural knack for engineering of both the mundane and {{magitek}} varities.%%This race appears in the 2e sourcebook "Marvels of Science & Sorcery".

* FantasticRacism

* HalfHumanHybrid
** Zigzagged, although the precise mechanics depend on edition. For the most part, though, it's subverted. Whilst all of the humanoid races can interbreed, with fertility being impaired the more greatly divergent the races are, the child will only belong to one subspecies -- usually the mother's.

* LoadsAndLoadsOfRaces: There are quite a diverse array of races in the world of Victoriana.
** HumansAreSpecial: Humanity dominates the world of Victoriana; they make up the largest percentage of the population and in general the upper classes are drawn exclusively by rank. However, mechanically, HumansAreAverage, and humans are also found amongst the middle and lower classes as well.
** OurElvesAreDifferent: The Eldren, who are revered and respected by humanity for their magical talents, artistic skills and beauty. They're the only race aside from humans to be found in the upper classes, and the only race ''not'' found in the lower classes. They hate the term "elf", and consider it an insult... [[ElvesVersusDwarves so, of course, the dwarves love to throw the word around at will]].
** OurDwarvesAreAllTheSame: The industriousness of the dwarfs means they often rise to become wealthy, but still, they are unable to climb higher than the middle classes. Hardworking and with a talent for skilled labor, dwarfs dislike eldren for their reluctance to get their hands dirty (and extend that disdain to anyone with similar views).
** OurGnomesAreWeirder: Smallest of all the "little people" races in Victoriana, gnomes are characterized by their physical frailty, their nocturnal natures, and their keen minds. They reputedly were once masters of magic, but have lost that power at some point in the ancient past.
** "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders" for 2e features the Karakon (plural "Karaka"), a gnomish subrace from Central Asia that ''does'' retain an innate affinity for magic.
** {{Hobbits}}:
*** Huldufolk, called Halflings prior to 3rd edition, are a short, hyperactive and inquisitive people; a portly frame is considered evidence of good luck, as it's a sign that a member of this traditionally nomadic and active race was able to stay in one place for a considerable length of time. Unlike in your typical TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons settings, Victoriana huldufolk balance out their fertility with short lifespans, averaging about 50 years of age.
*** The 2e sourcebook "Marvels of Science & Steampunk" features the Naacal, which sit somewhere between Polynesian halflings and frogfolk. They're an oceanic and island-dwelling people native to the South Pacific Ocean, industrious and with a knack for salvage and recycling -- and an unfortunate reputation as thieves.
** OurOrcsAreDifferent: Vilified and shunned for no real reason, the orcs are denizens of the margins, forced to dwell in the wilderness or in the worst ghettos and slums. First debuting in "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders" for 2e, then fleshed out in "Marvels of Science & Sorcery" for the same edition, they were upgraded to a core race in 3rd edition. Orcs are strong and tough, but also have a knack for machinery, and a deep spiritual side. Unlike the typical orc of a fantasy world, the orcs of Victoriana are a [[GentleGiant civilized and peaceful people.]]
** OurOgresAreHungrier: The Ogre race is the veritable backbone of the European empires; 8ft tall slabs of pure muscle, the ogres are unfortunately cursed with a combination of extreme gullibility and intense loyalty. Because of this, they are a slave race in everything but name, but aside from the occasional rabble-rouser, [[HappinessInSlavery not even ogres tend to care about how they're treated]].
** BeastMan: The titular Beastfolk (or even more titular Beastmen, prior to 3rd edition), who are most characterized by the symbolism of the animal they resemble; strong and noble lions, devious and quick rats, and so forth. They're most notorious for the fact only 1 in 4 beastfolk are female. They tend to cop some of the worst FantasticRacism, although the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue: Beastmen of Britain" notes that there are more than a few brothels that keep beastwomen working girls for "select" clientele. Some scientists have speculated that beastfolk were created by magic. The beastfolk suffer the most extreme racism in Victoriana after the orcs, and as such have become increasingly involved in movements such as anarchy and communism.
** SnakePeople: The Naga, a race of serpentine beastfolk native to South Asia. Unique amongst the living races, they cannot interbreed with the humanoid races. They debuted in the 2e sourcebook "Jewel of the Empire".
** OurGiantsAreBigger: Rarely seen in the modern era, Giants are perceived of as simply bigger ogres; 20ft tall and hugely strong, with a natural resistance to magic, giants are unfortunately slow-witted and clumsy, and suffer the expected drawbacks of being so big in a world dominated by creatures roughly a quarter of their size. This race appeared in the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders".
** {{Oni}}: A mysterious race from the Pacific Rim, oni are similar to ogres in enough ways that they can easily pass for them, but they are far smarter than any ogre will ever be, and lack their distinctive gullibility. The relationship between the races is unclear; some believe oni to be ogres who evolved through sustained interbreeding with a now-unknown race, others believe that ogres are a naturally or magically degenerated strain of oni. And others think they're completely seperate races. This race appeared in the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders".
** OurGoblinsAreDifferent: Steppegoblins are the Victoriana equivalent of D&D hobgoblins... but are close relatives of the eldren. To the extent that, aside from their different magical affinities and the steppegoblin's explosive temperaments, a steppegoblin can easily pass for an eldren with minimal difficulty. This race appeared in the 2e sourcebook "Darwin's Catalogue of Outsiders".
** {{Cyclops}}: These single-eyed giant-kin from Patagonia in South America are renowned for their minds over their bodies, being smarter even than oni and with a natural knack for engineering of both the mundane and {{magitek}} varities. This race appeared in the 2e sourcebook "Marvels of Science & Sorcery".
** {{Golem}}: The Mechanical Men "race", which debut in 2nd edition's "Marvels of Science & Steampunk", are a collection of clockwork or steam-powered automata granted true sentience by the presence of a "spark of life", which could be an elemental, a captured mortal soul, or even a bound fiend.