AMIA ARCHIVE • View topic

Its not what you say, its how you say it.
Its impossible to please 100% of the people 100% of the time.

First and foremost, a 10th level RDD IS NOT a 1/2 dragon. I'll repeat that again for emphasis. A 10th level RDD IS NOT a 1/2 dragon. Having the 1/2 dragon template applied to it means that the character has the resistances and vulnerabilities of a 1/2 dragon, not that they suddenly go from having a fraction of dragon blood to 1/2 dragon blood overnight.

Second.

IronAngel wrote:

are dragon traits alright in non-RDD (or Sorc, if by trait you mean spells) characters, and can your RDD be 1/4 dragon?

Quite easy to answer. I even put the relevant part in bold and underlined it just so nobody can miss it.

Mahtan Tasadur wrote:

If you are anything not posted on the Subrace page or a base race you need to request it.

Same as special classes, same as Shadow Weave users. If you are not sure, request it or ask to be sure.

]

Well, we're asking now. >_>

Why are you avoiding making an official call? Is the DM team incapable or unwilling to put it to a simple vote and have a consistent stance? This is the K.O. topic all over again.

It's like this: last time we asked, we were told it's alright. I disagreed, referred to the rules and earlier DM forum discussions, and was told to shove it. And now you've turned it around and suddenly seem to agree with me, pretending it's always been that way. You refuse to comment on the previous call and seemingly haven't made any collective decision. I have no way of knowing if I should go by the previous, collective and "officially" announced decision or your call. I don't even know if it's your private call or something you discussed as a team. Will I get a different answer if I ask, say, Tormak or Gers? You can see why I'm frustrated.

Yossarin: don't put this on the playerbase. It's you who've given us conflicting information. Last time we were explicitly told it's fine, and now we're told it's not. It's not something that takes focus from your precious work, either: you have a fairly thorough topic in the DM forums already, and all you need to get around to doing is say Yes or No and tally the votes. Deciding whether several players are breaking the rules and deserving of reprimand is not a lot to ask. Whether we agree with your call is secondary, even if it would be a nice bonus. The important part is that you make up your minds and let us know.

Edit: Don't take this as a jab at your or anything, I'm just frustrated that this old issue is still unresolved.

Called it!

I sent this as part of a pm but it is defiantly relevant to this.

Quote:

I can actually understand why the dm's don't want to touch this issue. if they say "no" it will tie there hands into reprimanding a lot of players that have been here for a very long time and had no ruling on the subject.

Mind you that i was fearful myself at first that this might destroy my only major pc here. Luckily i was reminded that the dm's gave me specific permission to play Nes. this means i can talk as an unbiased voice but i do know where both sides are coming from.

Side 1: doesn't want this to degrade into "OLD AMIA" where you had people mix-matching strange and freeky things like... "hay i am 1/4 vampire, 1/2 elf, 1/8 Gnoll and 1/8 averial"!

Side 2: Feels this wont be a problem as long as it isnt pushed any further.

I would like to suggest a middle ground here.. tweak or toss this submitted ruling as you like. (Dm's)

Possible Ruling wrote:

In order to create a fractional representation race after the date (04/10/2011) players must submit a request for its approval. Fractional representation PC's that have been created in pretense to this date will be unaffected.

Either way, this will likely be my last post on this topic. good luck!

I still don't understand what your refering to, and I didn't last time. do you need a request to take RDD levels? I was told no. does being a sorc automatically make you a 1/1000 blood being or are you still human/otherwise?

I tend to think half the playerbase see anyone with wings and assume they should have made a request, I remember a hn who was 'pretending' to be a vampire and got so much stick they gave up, it would help if the boundaries we're clear.

Quote:

"hay i am 1/4 vampire, 1/2 elf, 1/8 Gnoll and 1/8 averial"!

ew but thats not the issue, only people i've seen with a character anywhere near that jumbled we're legit requested demons who have some presence to their character.

if the option was 'choose default if your going rdd or be smited' it would make more sense than "don't mix this, that, but not if this condition, or request, but maybe not" you see where i'm going here? too confusing, make simples.

This really isn't nearly as complicated as people are making it out and if you're seeking vast blanket statements, you're barking up the wrong tree. I seriously doubt you'll see any forthcoming.

It's not just about RDD's, though they seem to be the most prevalent class where this occurs. It's also seen in tieflings and aasimars occasionally and sometimes races that aren't even included in the subraces are tossed in, like Night Hag.

If you are in doubt, make a request about the character.

If someone can't understand that simple statement, then I don't know what to tell that person.

Iron, you are not asking about a specific character, you're asking for a blanket statement and you're not going to get it. If you have any questions concerning a specific character, you're free to make a request in the proper section of the forums and we'll then discuss the validity of that specific character. Just as anyone else is able to do.

You still don't seem to get what the issue is. We've been told, categorically in blanket statements, that you are completely free to make quarter-dragons without any RDD levels who nonetheless manifest dragon appearance traits. This is not even about RDDs (that's just a side-issue), this is primarily about non-RDDs who nonetheless claim to manifest dragon traits by birth (or RDDs who manifest them naturally before their RDD career).

Every other character creation rule is a blanket statement: something is categorically allowed, or it is not allowed without a request. So is there need for a request or not? That's a blanket statement. You can't just say "if you're in doubt, request." What if I'm not in doubt, but perfectly confident that it's alright to play a god or a tarrasque? Character creation rules, the kind already quoted in this topic, are blanket statements that apply categorically unless you request otherwise. Their validity is not subject to each player's personal doubts and beliefs. This is no different. Character requests are evaluated case by case, some are approved and others denied. But that doesn't apply to character creation rules: everybody still needs to make requests equally about the same things, and they need to know whether a request is needed or not. The approval of requests is done case by case, not the decision whether you need to request at all.

For clarity's sake, relevant tidbits from the material I linked to:

TormakSaber wrote:

Kraniumbrud wrote:

is it allowed to make a 1/4 dragon without dm permission.

1: yes

TormakSaber wrote:

IronAngel wrote:

You can only make a 1/4 dragon with any features at all if you take RDD levels.

This was never decided non after you left --

IronAngel wrote:

Bobo_Underhill wrote:

1/4 Dragons currently remain open without request, iirc, though changes to this policy may change in the future (sort of petered out due to apathy), but no one will have to retcon their RP or change their builds regardless.

Edited.

Thanks. But does this also extend to them manifesting powers?

That is, is it OK to make a 1/4 dragon with scales, lizard eyes, forked tongue, nine-inch talons, superhuman strength and scent, breathing fire? Without a single RDD level? That's what the question I raised was specifically about; not about latent 1/4 dragon blood per se.

Bobo_Underhill wrote:

Looks, sure, abilities, no.

After reading this, why would anyone be in doubt and make a request? We have it right here that it's perfectly legit, so saying "you can request them if you're not sure" is rather meaningless. So I repeat my question: has the DM team voted to retract this previous decision and implement a new policy or not? Are you speaking for yourself and your own interpretation of the rules, or is this a new policy you've collectively come to? When one DM says one thing and another says something else, it's not as simple as you make it out to be.

IronAngel wrote:

Will I get a different answer if I ask, say, Tormak or Gers? You can see why I'm frustrated.

Iron, I think this might be what you'll get. From my experience at least, different DMs can give you different rulings on things.
Looking that you have quoted Tormak and Bobo, there is NO DOUBT that 1/4 dragons DO NOT need a request.
Unless some other DM comes out and says those statements are wrong, they are valid.

Second post in the thread.

Mahtan Tasadur wrote:

If you are anything not posted on the Subrace page or a base race you need to request it.

Same as special classes, same as Shadow Weave users. If you are not sure, request it or ask to be sure.

For ease of review:

Quote:

The following races can be played freely:

¤ All the races and subraces available via the Amia Subrace System, including:
¤ Tiefling, Aasimar
¤ Kobold, Goblin
¤ Genasi Races (earth, air, fire, water)
¤ Orog, Ogrillion
¤ Lightfoot Halfling, Strongheart Halfling, Ghostwise Halfling
¤ Half-drow
¤ Moon Elf, Sun Elf, Wild Elf, Wood Elf, Drow, Feytouched
¤ Shield Dwarf, Gold Dwarf, Duergar
¤ All basic NWN races

You seem bound and determined to pin someone down on an answer that you've already found and already know.

If you'd like to know my personal opinion, I'll be more than happy to PM you, Iron. However, do know that it's my personal opinion and not that of the DM team.

Quote:

Possible Ruling wrote:
In order to create a fractional representation race after the date (04/10/2011) players must submit a request for its approval. Fractional representation PC's that have been created in pretense to this date will be unaffected.

Ah, yes, the classic "make a rule that allows my character to bypass it and thus grandfather me in" rule. The worst kind.

ainjyll wrote:

Second post in the thread.

Mahtan Tasadur wrote:

If you are anything not posted on the Subrace page or a base race you need to request it.

Same as special classes, same as Shadow Weave users. If you are not sure, request it or ask to be sure.

For ease of review:

Quote:

The following races can be played freely:

¤ All the races and subraces available via the Amia Subrace System, including:
¤ Tiefling, Aasimar
¤ Kobold, Goblin
¤ Genasi Races (earth, air, fire, water)
¤ Orog, Ogrillion
¤ Lightfoot Halfling, Strongheart Halfling, Ghostwise Halfling
¤ Half-drow
¤ Moon Elf, Sun Elf, Wild Elf, Wood Elf, Drow, Feytouched
¤ Shield Dwarf, Gold Dwarf, Duergar
¤ All basic NWN races

You seem bound and determined to pin someone down on an answer that you've already found and already know.

If you'd like to know my personal opinion, I'll be more than happy to PM you, Iron. However, do know that it's my personal opinion and not that of the DM team.

That's not an answer at all. I'm starting to think you're just toying with me. Do you not understand what I'm asking, or do I not understand what you're saying? Because I honestly don't see how my questions and your replies meet. I didn't ask what the rules concerning subraces are, I asked if your character can manifest his draconic heritage (a heritage which is acceptable in any case, because it's implied by the presence of sorcerers and other potential RDDs) without the appropriate class to do so. And secondly, if 1/4 dragons are different from 1/1000 dragons, ruleswise. You're quoting something ambigiously without giving a concrete ruling on how to interpret it. Dragon heritage is not a "race" or "subrace" so the above rule doesn't even apply. Well, it might in some universe, but not here because an explicit ruling to the contrary was made and has been practiced longer, anyway.

If you're unable to tell players whether they're breaking rules or not, don't you think it's a sign that you need to consider the issue? You're being completely unfair to those who might worry about their part-dragon PCs and those who're eager to report these players. Do they need a request or not? Is the previous call lifted or not? Yes or no. Being able to answer "yes", "no" or "I'll find out" is the minimum expectation we can have of the DMs. There's not a lot we can demand of you, but as the ones enforcing the rules you need to be able to tell us what they are. If I go make a quarter dragon pureclass Fighter (mechanically human) covered in scales and sporting a forked tongue, horns and claws, right now and right here, will it be legit or not?

Am I the only one more worried about the people being eager to report others, than about someone playing a quarter-dragon?

AxlLeigh wrote:

Am I the only one more worried about the people being eager to report others, than about someone playing a quarter-dragon?

I want the server i play on to be as lore accurate as possible. But sure, let's throw in some 4;edition and planescape with elves in space?
Read iron's statement, There's a dozen players hanging in the balance with their chars, Chars they may have invested a lot of time in. They deserve to get a fair, understandable, ruling on this subject.

:shock:

AxlLeigh wrote:

Am I the only one more worried about the people being eager to report others, than about someone playing a quarter-dragon?

I am happy to know that players would eagerly report rules infractions for the benefit of everyone playing on the server. IT's already been proven that there are people here who will do whatever they feel like if they think they can get away with it.

A simple addendum such as "There is no such thing as 'Quarter-' any race, in our Forgotten Realms or our server" would make me happy.

What we've said and are still saying is more like "If you want to play a Quarter-, you have to request it", when it's just easier to say "that doesn't exist in the first place."

Dark Immolation wrote:

A simple addendum such as "There is no such thing as 'Quarter-' any race, in our Forgotten Realms or our server" would make me happy.

What we've said and are still saying is more like "If you want to play a Quarter-, you have to request it", when it's just easier to say "that doesn't exist in the first place."

...Then what about 1/5? 1/6? 1/7? 1/8?
It's just as bad imo.

Very_Svensk wrote:

Read iron's statement, There's a dozen players hanging in the balance with their chars, Chars they may have invested a lot of time in. They deserve to get a fair, understandable, ruling on this subject.

:shock:

That may be a bit of an exaggeration. Admittedly, I'm irked on a personal level that it's so difficult and takes so long to get a simple answer to this specific question. It's really not that big a deal. But that also means it shouldn't be that big a deal to get a decision, either.

Okaay Okaay, I was a bit jumpy on the gun during that post. But it's often those statements that get the gears rolling and make people understand that it's an issue, and it should be done something about.

Very_Svensk wrote:

Dark Immolation wrote:

A simple addendum such as "There is no such thing as 'Quarter-' any race, in our Forgotten Realms or our server" would make me happy.

What we've said and are still saying is more like "If you want to play a Quarter-, you have to request it", when it's just easier to say "that doesn't exist in the first place."

...Then what about 1/5? 1/6? 1/7? 1/8?
It's just as bad imo.

Those don't exist either. That's the whole damn point.

When it comes to dragons, you're whole, half, or "humanoid with dragon ancestry". Now colloquially we can still call whatever fraction you want to claim, but on a genetic level in Forgotten Realms it does not exist as anything different than a regular humanoid. That's the whole thing that irks me about this discussion is that people are referring to it like it actually exists as a race different that whatever it actually is. I don't see why this is hard to understand at all.

A "1/4" dragon is a human with dragon ancestry. A "1/64" dragon is a human with dragon ancestry. Genetically, you're both humans, and you both look exactly like humans.

Dark Immolation wrote:

A "1/4" dragon is a human with dragon ancestry. A "1/64" dragon is a human with dragon ancestry. Genetically, you're both humans, and you both look exactly like humans.

Good argument! I agree with it

Quote:

Ah, yes, the classic "make a rule that allows my character to bypass it and thus grandfather me in" rule. The worst kind.

First off tormak, I got permission to play my pc way back so i don't need "grandfathered in".

Secondly, i even asked to have his race adjusted in order to help with this issue. see link: http://www.amiaworld.net/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=57047 I admit that i had forgotten about having requested him as the post seems to no longer be on the forums, however, i am sure its still on yours and i am sure you and others remember as well.

I do however think it vastly unfair to kick what amounts to something like 9/10 of all people playing rdd's off of there pc's because. frankly, i don't know any that don't play a close fraction.

i wasn't even going to post on this topic again, until i saw what amounts to nothing more then a blunt put down. Your supposed to be helping set standards so don't troll for insults, its embarrassing.

This isnt about you

i know that! but a lot of people will be affected by this in a very bad way and i think that it is being overlooked.

Orrrr....they could simply not put in their bio that they're a certain percentage. That is, believe it or not, not an intrinsic part of most RP with RDDs.

I think some do it to save time, Axl. While I don't understand why you ever would want a 1/4 dragon PC..... I do understand wanting to save yourself a hassle. DMs probably will and are perfectly allowed to ask questions-- especially when there's a fad of dragon-like thingies on a server and most of the players who play them are confused about how to do so.

Quote:

First off tormak, I got permission to play my pc way back so i don't need "grandfathered in".

Since *I* was the DM that handed this debacle largely, I can tell you with 100% certainty that you were no more approved than any other dragon disciple in existence. You don't have our "permission" any more than Joe Blow needs to log in today and make an RDD.

Estara wrote:

I think some do it to save time, Axl. While I don't understand why you ever would want a 1/4 dragon PC..... I do understand wanting to save yourself a hassle. DMs probably will and are perfectly allowed to ask questions-- especially when there's a fad of dragon-like thingies on a server and most of the players who play them are confused about how to do so.

True, but if playing the 1/4th deal gets Absolutely Outlawed, for those that do, it would probably just be easier not to bring up the "bloodline strength". It doesn't really change what you are. It doesn't change how the char acts.

Okay, welp, does anyone have an answer to Iron's question?

IronAngel wrote:

If I go make a quarter dragon pureclass Fighter (mechanically human) covered in scales and sporting a forked tongue, horns and claws, right now and right here, will it be legit or not?

In my opinion, no.

The character you describe above is a human with many non-human characteristics. I cannot really identify any part of it which is human except that presumably it has arms and legs and other features that are common to all humanoids. The odds of a human having natural mutations that manifest all of the features of a completely different race are astronomical. It would have to come about through artificial (magical) means, which is what the RDD class is supposed to represent - the ongoing process of deliberately manifesting those characteristics.

If you want a character with all the initial outward characteristics of a non-human, even if it's with none of the mechanical advantages, I think you need to make a request.

No, if you have any special or different features to that extreme you would need to request it. Same as if you were missing an arm, or you had an extra arm. Legs don't really need a request since you can craft a peg leg.

You are taking things too far with the quarter blood crap. For me, I think its retarded and should be done away with along with any the stupid 25% drow, 12.5% demon 19.9% Donkey, 60% Ooze characters. These are stupid and do not exist in the Forgotten Realms.

But I am forced to follow whatever was decided before my time here, and that is 1/4 is allowed but you don't have anything to show for it unless requested.

If you are 1/4 dragon and you take RDD. Your features or whatever is from RDD not your 1/4 blood.

IronAngel wrote:

Yossarin: don't put this on the playerbase.

Point taken. But I'd also have to care a lot more about this issue to invest more of my time and energy into himming and hawing with the playerbase, who can't come to a consensus to save their lives, and my colleagues on the DM Team, who have a difficult time of that, as well, all to come up with some precisely worded phrase that will satisfy everyone, especially when it is far easier for me to just point-click-destroy anyone who does it wrong.

If it were up to me, I would take the simplest approach possible, eradicate the nonsensical canon references that muddy this debate, and simply say that there are three kinds of dragons: disciples, half dragons, and full dragons. Disciples are RDDs and you can play them if you want to without a request and they can be any fraction less than 1/2 because the whole blood fraction idea is about as silly as here as it is in IRL.

Then there are half-dragons and you have to request those and make us believe in.

And then there are full dragons and you have to request those and will probably never be approved, ever, but thanks for trying!

Personally, I like playing an RDD whose dragon ancestor is from probably a hundred generations ago. Zelly, when I first made her, had zero traits tied to her dragon heritage. The RP and how it built up to what she is now (an ugly freak of nature) was both compelling and deep. She is definitely not 1/4 dragon. Someone up there said they didn't know anyone who played an RDD who wasn't a 1/4 dragon. Now you do! And I think it's more fun, because it outlines the underlying obsessiveness required of the RDD class, the mental and physical changes that come over a humanoid unlocking such powerful blood. Zelly was changed forever and she still isn't as close to her ancestors as she wants to be.

Anyway, that's all I have to say about it! I would personally like to see the class RP'ed more than it is. It's not all about being a dragonblood. It's about the devotion and obsessive tendencies.

Well you're the exception that verifies the rule.

IronAngel wrote:

If I go make a quarter dragon pureclass Fighter (mechanically human) covered in scales and sporting a forked tongue, horns and claws, right now and right here, will it be legit or not?

It was decided sometime last year that you could not RP wings, tails or legs, at least, without actually having paid the DCs (which would require an approved request) or having gained the RDD levels to acquire them. Maht addresses the horns, claws & scales below, which would seem to fall under the 'if it's not on the default approved list then you need to ask for it' rule. Just as you would have to request, say, a catgirl (a few of which I've seen over the years).

Mahtan Tasadur wrote:

No, if you have any special or different features to that extreme you would need to request it.

If you are 1/4 dragon and you take RDD. Your features or whatever is from RDD not your 1/4 blood.

If you all of a sudden sprout wings at 10 RDD, it's because you are a RDD and went through the rituals to manifest that part of your dragon ancestry.

Yossarin wrote:

If it were up to me, I would [...] simply say that there are three kinds of dragons: disciples, half dragons, and full dragons. Disciples are RDDs and you can play them if you want to without a request and they can be any fraction less than 1/2 because the whole blood fraction idea is about as silly as here as it is in IRL.

Then there are half-dragons and you have to request those and make us believe in.

And then there are full dragons and you have to request those and will probably never be approved, ever, but thanks for trying!

Now this makes sense.

Heh, Xavi did the exact post i was going to do yesterday, but didn't because i thought it might be redundant.
Yer thinkin' like me now, scary.

You just are an oracle but forgot you read xavi's post and thought it was your idea

I'm in full agreement with Yossarin, Mahtan, Selmak etc. (Except when Mahtan says he's forced to follow whatever was decided before; you can always make a new call. And I wasn't aware you had to request missing arms, just the visual modification.) That's precisely the stance I was advocating. The problem is/was that there was an explicit decision which stated we could have unnatural appearance traits on "part-dragon" humans. If it's finally revoked, I rejoice!

Xavi: I know that, which is why I was especially careful not to mention wings and tails.

When I say forced to follow it I mean to even allow those mixed breeds to even exist on the server. If I had it my way there would be no 1/4 drow 3/4 Sun Elf, or 1/4 devil, 1/4 demon. While these are horrible, they sadly keep coming up because no rule has been put in plain English not to.

To clarify the missing arms, they need a request and 3-5 DCs since it requires leto. Having them missing with the RP of robotic arms is not allowed. The few that do have this were requested or had some RP that some how allowed led to them having it.

I do hope a new stance comes up from this actually. So we add that these mix breeds are clarified and exactly what is allowed with legit "mix breeding." Since the way it works, a lot are like mules, two mules never reproduce. A Dwarf and Elf will have no child ever for example.

Yup, no Elrfs allowed.

Jokes aside, on topic of 'genetics' in DnD: In compatible breeding cases, could it be safe to say/assume then that the dominant "fraction" holds the dominant genes and hence governs appearance of a child?

Even when, say, a sun elf and a moon elf breed, the child is born as either one or the other, not a mixture of both. It would make sense that it would be the same way around for all races, whether mixed or not (elflings aside...).

Woot! big up Elflings!

Eh hem. Back on topic. If I ever make a RDD I would do the same as what I did/am doing for my Palemaster, RP each and every darn ritual, I would also go ahead and make them something like a 1/600th dragon, the only way of telling they'd even be descended (prior to RDD lvls) would be their sorcerous powers.

This is also the reason why I am requesting Whit, because I love the idea of what rich RP playing a quite visibly blatant dragonkin, with serious anger issues, and enjoys making Wyrmgrafts, will bring. I just don't think he'd realy work as a Disciple.

Mahtan Tasadur wrote:

When I say forced to follow it I mean to even allow those mixed breeds to even exist on the server. If I had it my way there would be no 1/4 drow 3/4 Sun Elf, or 1/4 devil, 1/4 demon. While these are horrible, they sadly keep coming up because no rule has been put in plain English not to.

Then that right there should be the assignment of the DM team.

It's as simple as saying "Things that don't exist don't exist. 1/4's of any race are one of them."

Jes wrote:

Even when, say, a sun elf and a moon elf breed, the child is born as either one or the other, not a mixture of both. It would make sense that it would be the same way around for all races, whether mixed or not (elflings aside...).

And Half Elves. And Half Orcs. And Half-Monsters

Halves exist between races, like human, elf, orc, etc etc. Halves do not exist between "races" in the sense of Sun Elf, Moon Elf, Drow, Gold Dwarf, Shield Dwarf, and so on.

I meant more (less?) than half. >.> I used a bad example, I know.

DustSpray101 wrote:

Yup, no Elrfs allowed.

Jokes aside, on topic of 'genetics' in DnD: In compatible breeding cases, could it be safe to say/assume then that the dominant "fraction" holds the dominant genes and hence governs appearance of a child?

See Introduction to genetics and dominance. A little light reading for you there.

In brief, alleles are different versions of a particular gene.

What you actually need to think about is how similar the parents are genetically, regardless of fractions and whatnot. Recessive alleles are only likely to interact and be expressed if that allele remains common in a given population, i.e. it is passed on from one generation to the next. If you have two parents from very different populations, it's unlikely that any recessive alleles will be expressed, because they will have very few of those in common.

Appearance is not always decided just by two possible alleles anyway, or by one simple genetic interaction; several genes each with their own alleles (versions) can be involved at once. But in general what is likely is that the child will look like one of the parents, what is unlikely is that the child will look like one of their distant ancestors.

But then if you /do/ have some freakish Elf-dwarf offspring, who meets one of the other freakish offspring, even if they LOOK like a normal elf or dwarf, imagine what weird shit could happen down the road....

Selmak wrote:

DustSpray101 wrote:

Yup, no Elrfs allowed.

Jokes aside, on topic of 'genetics' in DnD: In compatible breeding cases, could it be safe to say/assume then that the dominant "fraction" holds the dominant genes and hence governs appearance of a child?

See Introduction to genetics and dominance. A little light reading for you there.

In brief, alleles are different versions of a particular gene.

What you actually need to think about is how similar the parents are genetically, regardless of fractions and whatnot. Recessive alleles are only likely to interact and be expressed if that allele remains common in a given population, i.e. it is passed on from one generation to the next. If you have two parents from very different populations, it's unlikely that any recessive alleles will be expressed, because they will have very few of those in common.

Appearance is not always decided just by two possible alleles anyway, or by one simple genetic interaction; several genes each with their own alleles (versions) can be involved at once. But in general what is likely is that the child will look like one of the parents, what is unlikely is that the child will look like one of their distant ancestors.

I won't even pretend to understand genetics, but I'd say simplify and toss out actual science in favor of a fantastic setting with flashy magic. That is what the game is meant to be, right?

In terms of simplicity and flashy magic, what's being said is basically:

Just because you're 1/4 whatever, doesn't mean that that 1/4 will present in your character. Remember you're 3/4 whatever else and that simple majority will override the 25% of whatever else you are.

1/4 blood

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