History Main / HumansAreAverage

Since MostWritersAreHuman, as are most of the audience, it's likely for them to make humans something like a standard to compare other races to ([[MightyGlacier These guys are like humans, but short and tough!]] [[CantArgueWithElves These guys are like what I wish humans were like.]] [[PettingZooPeople These guys are like humans mixed with animals!]]). Thus it's pretty easy to imagine them.

** To be precise, the Eternals are PhysicalGods that have the ImmortalProcreationClause, while the Deviants breed like rabbits, but have much more primitive tech along with shorter life spans, and [[{{Mook}} drop like flies]] when facing even one Eternal.

[[AC:MMORPGs]]
* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' is kinda like this, taking its page from ''{{Warcraft}}''. Humans, instead of getting a few huge bonuses, get a lot of little bonuses like slightly increased stealth-detection, a little extra expertise with swords, and a small spirit boost. (Which meant nothing, until Cataclysm, however.) Of course, [[UnpleasableFanbase some people]] complain that they're GameBreakers. Then again, every race could be considered game-breaky in a way, but that's not for here.

--> -- '''Robert A. Heinlein'''

* in the 1989 film Arena, there is an intergalactic fighting championship. the film states that there has been no human champion in over 50 years, as well as featuring many creatures nastier than humans, along with many who were wimpier

* In Alan Dean Foster's "The Damned" trilogy, this is subverted in the fact that humans are both average in ability-- they can run, AND swim, AND climb, AND can adapt to climates wet and dry, hot and cold, etc.... yet this all forms a synergy with their psychology to make humans the deadliest damn warriors in the galaxy (of all the species in the universe, humans are the only ones who THRIVE in combat. To the other sentient races of the universe we are the equivalent of a Bengal tiger with tools.)

* In the MarvelUniverse, humans are the average between two [[HiddenElfVillage secret sister races]], the immortal Eternals and the monstrous Deviants. Despite their powers and technology, we came to dominate Earth simply because of our much higher birth rates, along with the fact that we've developed technology and powers of our own that allow us to keep up with them both.

* ''WorldOfWarcraft'' is kinda like this, taking its page from ''{{Warcraft}}''. Humans, instead of getting a few huge bonuses, get a lot of little bonuses like slightly increased stealth-detection, a little extra expertise with swords, and a small spirit boost. (Which meant nothing, until Cataclysm, however.) Of course, [[UnpleasableFanbase some people]] complain that they're GameBreakers. Then again, every race could be considered game-breaky in a way, but that's not for hear.

* Very common in most Tabletop games.

** On the other hand, almost all the aliens [[HumanAliens are themselves humans taken from Earth]]. Even the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Jaffa]] are genetically-modified humans, and the Ancients are supposedly "the first evolution of our race." So, in other words, ''we'' built the stargates. Except not. It's confusing.

* Very common in most Tabletop games.

** ''DungeonsAndDragons'' borrows it from Tolkien.
*** Humans don't get any stat bonuses or penalties. On the non-average side, they get a bonus feat at first level, an extra skill point at every level (four at first level), and their favored class is "what I've leveled up most".
**** Which in third edition is enough to bump them into HumanityIsSuperior territory.
** ''{{Warcraft}}'' does the same.
** As does ''{{Warhammer}}''.
** Ditto for ''DragonAge''.
** And ''{{Arcanum}}''.
** And ''NetHack''.
** Screw it. Rule of thumb: when you see dwarves, humans and elves, humans are average.
** Subverted in TheElderScrolls, all human races (Imperials, Bretons, Nords, Redguards) are specialized in something (Diplomacy, Magic, Combat, More Combat, respectively), whereas the Dark Elves (Dunmer) have the true average stats.
*** And even then, ''human'' is a loose term in TheElderScrolls as all the non-beast races are, technically speaking, the same species.
* ''MassEffect'' has peaceful and wary races, short-living and long-living, highly [[ClarkesThirdLaw biotic]]-prone and unable to use it... Humans are average and adaptive, and they become highly respected thanks to it. While physically, they are normally average, they are lauded for there flexibility and perseverance, and are generally regarded as more creative than others.
* ''Warhammer40K'' either averts it because Imperial Guard are human and [[PunyEarthlings more depend on numbers and/or support to beat their enemies in all situations (though they generally fare better utilizing these things at range)]], or plays it straight if you count Space Marines as human (who are SuperSoldiers to the extreme).
** According to the fluff this is because any race weaker than humans gets annihilated by them.
* In ''{{GURPS}}'' humans are the template that everything else is based on. By definition all other races (even ones functionally identical to humans) have some advantages and/or disadvantages relative to humans.
** a zero-point cost human in GURPS would have average-level basic stats and nothing else, not even skills. A PlayerCharacter, even one without special powers, costs much more.

* ''StarCraft'' has the Terrans, which rely more on numbers than the Protoss, but less than [[ZergRush the Zerg]].
** Slightly subverted in that humans are specialized in ranged attacks, while the protoss and zerg are dependant on melee.
* ''{{Starflight}}'' Humans are pretty much the most average species you can select for a crew member.
* ''{{Stargate SG-1}}'''s humans pretty much count. They use this to become a major power in the universe, more or less, after the Asgard begin to trust them.
** On the other hand, almost all the aliens [[HumanAliens are themselves humans taken from Earth]]. Even the [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Jaffa]] are genetically-modified humans, and the Ancients are supposedly "the first evolution of our race." So, in other words, ''we'' built the stargates. Except not. It's confusing.

* Played completely straight in EverQuest. Humans are "The race by which all others are judged by." They have completely average stats, excelling in nothing, but lacking in nothing either. Their strong sense of adaptability is the reason why the Gods chose the Human cities of Qeynos and Freeport to be [[DivineIntervention spared from being destroyed by war, tectonic and geographical cataclysms, and even a Lunar Armageddon]] in EverQuest 2. All the other races had to abandon their home cities for one reason or another over the last 500 years and flock to those two Human cities just to survive.
* [[JustifiedTrope Justified]] in [[FallFromHeaven Fall from Heaven]], where humanity is the original race in which all of the [[FantasyPantheon Angels]] had an equal hand in creating. The other races are simply humans whose ancestors who spent a lot of time with a particular Angel, whose presence caused them to become more like that Angel. For example, elves hung out with the Angel of Nature, Sucellus.
* SaGa games (particularly the early ones) use this as part of their ClassAndLevelSystem. Humans can equip anything they want, but have meh stats and are totally at the mercy of the RNG for getting stronger. All other races get awesome abilities at the sacrifice of something else equally useful.
* Sort of straight and sort of not in the ''Fuzzy Knights'' roleplaying game. Human type fuzzies are stated to be the baseline, [[LampshadeHanging like in most games]], but they also are a tiny minority. Making up only 1% of the Fuzzy population.
* ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' mostly gives humans access to classes that at least one other species can access. Not counting slight variations like our Fighter and the [[LizardFolk Bangaa]] Gladiator, only unique classes are [[MegaManning Blue Mage]], {{Ninja}}, and Hunter, and we can't take any of the classes that require exceptional speed, magical skill, or technological aptitude (though interestingly, our Paladin is a slightly-faster variant of the Bangaa [[MightyGlacier Defender]].) The sequel differentiates us a bit more with the [[GlassCannon Parivir]] and Seer classes, but we're still noticeably non-unique compared to, Bangaas or [[FragileSpeedster Vieras]], the [[UselessUsefulSpell Moogles]], potentially lethal Seeqs[[hottip:*:The Ranger class can make items act in ''reverse''.]] or even the powerful Gria who can ''fly''. (Note that unlike most examples, this does ''not'' make us useless, since a): we're better at multiclassing, and b): Ninjas can [[DualWielding dual-wield]].)
** There are also human-unique classes, of course, which are good enough reasons for using them. Some classes do have similarities with others and are basically just the same class with different names.
* WorldOfWarcraft is kinda like this, taking its page from {{Warcraft}}. Humans, instead of getting a few huge bonuses, get a lot of little bonuses like slightly increased stealth-detection, a little extra expertise with swords, and a small spirit boost. (Which meant nothing, until Cataclysm, however.) Of course, [[UnpleasableFanbase some people]] complain that they're GameBreakers. Then again, every race could be considered game-breaky in a way, but that's not for hear.
** Probably the 'main' complaint surrounding humans that leads to the 'game breaker' complaint is the reputation bonus: Humans, besides starting off under the 'best' Alliance major city and its related faction, gain a 10% bonus to every reputation bonus. Since 'rep grinding' is needed to get many great bonuses later on, that 10% adds up. Fits in with the theme, though, since the Humans are supposed to be adaptive and flexible, which leads to easily pleasing other races.
*** The racial bonuses are being updated, though.
** The Horde Version of the humans is typically either the undead (Former humans) or Darkspear Trolls (life-long rivals of humans), mostly due to the similar class-availability before Cataclysm. Instead, the "average" horde race is more Orcs.

* In the MarvelUniverse, humans are the average between two [[HiddenElfVillage secret sister races]], the immortal Eternals and the monstrous Deviants. Despite their powers and technology, we came to dominate Earth simply because of our much higher birth rates, along with the fact that we've developed technology and powers of our own that allow us to keep up with them both.
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* In the MarvelUniverse, humans are the average between two [[HiddenElfVillage secret sister races]], the immortal Eternals and the monstrous Deviants. Despite their powers and technology, we came to dominate Earth simply because of our much higher birth rates.

** Subverted in ''The Elder Scrolls'', all human races (Imperials, Bretons, Nords, Redguards) are specialized in something (Diplomacy, Magic, Combat, More Combat, respectively), whereas the Dark Elves (Dunmer) have the true average stats.

As it often happens with TheMario, humans are often {{Skill Gate}}s, but aren't good targets for {{Minmaxing}}. Or they may get a few bonuses to [[HumansAreDiplomats charisma or negotiation skills]] rather that huge perks or flaws. Naturally, this trope ignores that good old Homo Sapiens has quite a few skills we excel at that most creatures cannot match as well as vice versa. Often, humans may make up a majority of the population.

* ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' mostly gives humans access to classes that at least one other species can access. Not counting slight variations like our Fighter and the [[LizardFolk Bangaa]] Gladiator, only unique classes are [[MegaManning Blue Mage]], {{Ninja}}, and Hunter, and we can't take any of the classes that require exceptional speed, magical skill, or technological aptitude (though interestingly, our Paladin is a slightly-faster variant of the Bangaa [[MightyGlacier Defender]].) The sequel differentiates us a bit more with the [[GlassCannon Parivir]] and Seer classes, but we're still noticeably non-unique compared to, Bangaas or [[FragileSpeedster Vieras]], or even the powerful Gria who can ''fly''. (Note that unlike most examples, this does ''not'' make us useless, since a): we're better at multiclassing, and b): Ninjas can [[DualWielding dual-wield]].)

Since MostWritersAreHuman, as are most of the audience, it's likely for them to make humans something like a standard to compare other races to ([[MightyGlacier These guys are like humans, but short and tough!]] [[CantArgueWithElves These guys are like what I wish humans were like.]] [[PettingZooPeople These guys are like humans mixed with animals!]]).

-> ''A human being should be able to change a nappy, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, co-operate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialisation is for insects.''

Since MostWritersAreHuman, it's likely for them to make humans something like a standard to compare other races to ([[MightyGlacier These guys are like humans, but short and tough!]] [[CantArgueWithElves These guys are like what I wish humans were like.]] [[PettingZooPeople These guys are like humans mixed with animals!]]).
As it often happens with TheMario, humans are often {{Skill Gate}}s, but aren't good targets for {{Minmaxing}}. Or they may get a few bonuses to [[HumansAreDiplomats charisma or negotiation skills]] rather that huge perks or flaws. Naturally, this trope ignores that good old Homo Sapiens has quite a few skills we excel at that most creatures cannot match as well as vice versa.

* ''FinalFantasyTacticsAdvance'' mostly gives humans access to classes that at least one other species can access. Not counting slight variations like our Fighter and the [[LizardFolk Bangaa]] Gladiator, only unique classes are [[MegaManning Blue Mage]], {{Ninja}}, and Hunter, and we can't take any of the classes that require exceptional speed, magical skill, or technological aptitude (though interestingly, our Paladin is a slightly-faster variant of the Bangaa [[MightyGlacier Defender]].) The sequel differentiates us a bit more with the [[GlassCannon Parivir]] and Seer classes, but we're still noticeably non-unique compared to, Bangaas or [[FragileSpeedster Vieras]]. (Note that unlike most examples, this does ''not'' make us useless, since a): we're better at multiclassing, and b): Ninjas can [[DualWielding dual-wield]].)
* WorldOfWarcraft is kinda like this. Humans, instead of getting a few huge bonuses, get a lot of little bonuses like slightly increased stealth-detection, a little extra expertise with swords, and a small spirit boost. Of course, [[UnpleasableFanbase some people]] complain that they're GameBreakers. Then again, every race could be considered game-breaky in a way. I'm not going to say anymore lest I accidentally start a flame war.

Common contrasts with humanity include [[ElvesVersusDwarves spiritual Elves and phlegmatic Dwarves]] in {{Fantasy}}, [[BugWar mindless Bugs]] and [[RobotWar soulless Robots]] in SciFi, and [[OurAngelsAreDifferent purely good Angels]] and ]]OurDemonsAreDifferent purely evil Demons]] in {{Mythology}}.