The Definitive Race Poll

[HansKrSG]

I like the classic races, but in some worlds they seem out of place. A fourth option could be a mix, traditional races and a bunch of new races.

I think the developers should go by what they feel fits their world, if they are made well, new races can be more interresting than the traditional ones.

[Amentep]

I think too often using the Tolkein races either results in just a retread of those racial dynamics OR in trying to subvert those dynamics that the creators know the fans are familiar with.

 

Going for something new might give more leeway to build from the ground up without having a need to address the traditional relationships, but on the other hand might take a lot more time to plan.

 

I trust Obsidan's crew to come up with something I can live with though.

[limaxophobiacq]

Troll is gonna troll when he doesn't get it. lol

 

Forgotten Realms is the opposite of originality in fantasy RPG settings. (For originality see things like Planescape and the creation of Exalted, possibly Talislanta though I never really got into it). The dozen different flavours of elf in Fearun are not original; there were several different types of elves in tolkien to: Noldor, Sindar etc., and with the exception of the Drow they are pretty much completely unnecessary.

 

Like I said, you don't get it.

 

FR took the mythological creatures that we know and love and spiced them up very originally. Of course, FR also has other completely original creatures.

 

Do you even know what originality means?

 

Splitting elves up into different sub-groups and slapping some different attribute modifiers on them is not original; Tolkien already did it, and did it much better with a good history as to how they ended up different like the split between the elves who traveled to Valinor and lived near the light of the two trees and those who did not. Fearun might in places be well-executed, but originality was never a strong point for the setting.

 

Edit: Also, the ways Fearuns elves are different from tolkien elves are the ways DnD elves in general are different from tolkien elves, which comes from Greyhawk.

 

Fearunian elves are at most a new slab of paint on the same old thing.

Edited September 17, 2012 by limaxophobiacq

[Sordel]

I think that there are ways to work with the stereotypical fantasy races, but I think that it would be problem if we ended up with hearty dwarves who love beer, etherial elves who live in trees and specialise in bows or humans living in a boring, medieval world who wear heavy armour. There needs to be enough variation on those templates for the player really to 'own' their character and get invested in a new IP. (I voted new races, fwiw.)

[KennethTopp]

I am really curious to this Either/or business of choosing races. What about a little bit of both?

[Badmojo]

I choosed 2, sick to death of traditional races and want something new. I would give a grudging acceptance of 3 if they were REALLY original. However, most "original" ideas are not that original. take the witcher, elves and dwarves just seemed like reskinned humans to me. I want the races to feel really different, I want them to look and ACT different, to be alienish and not just tall pointed eared humans who live in trees and short humans who live in mountains.

[dlux]

Do you even know what originality means?

I dunno, I guess so. lol

 

Splitting elves up into different sub-groups and slapping some different attribute modifiers on them is not original

Oh, so you consider only having something other than elves be original? Ok fine.

 

But that is not what I was talking about. ^^

[FreezingShock]

I definitely don't hate the traditional races; quite the opposite, I like them all quite a bit. But in my opinion, this is an absolutely marvellous occasion to do something new and intriguing. This is Obsidian's own game, finally! Their chance to shine and create something truly spectacular. It'd be a shame to waste that opportunity and just fill the game with the same Elves and Dwarves we always get.

[KennethTopp]

I'd vote for a mix.

[godsend1989]

Heres my idea, non-alcoholic dwarf race.

[Tauron]

Traditional with a twist i guess. For all I care this just might be pararell universe of Abeir-Toril. Although with more mature setting.

 

Generally rich and interesting lore about species and you cant go wrong.

[limaxophobiacq]

Honestly hate is probably to strong a word. Seeing as how we're probably getting humans +4 other races total I'd be thrilled for humans + dwarves & elves + two original and weirder/less human races.

Edited September 17, 2012 by limaxophobiacq

[Ashram]

OK so I don't really hate traditional races, but I do long to play something new. I like unique races. Something different. I mean Warforged, Goliath's, Thri-Kreen, Arakora, Dragonborn, Draconians, Irda, MInotaurs....etc. Don't get me started with the umpteen races that Star Wars brings to the table(just noting this due to their KOTOR background)....I love different. Sure it is ok to have something that is familiar (human), but it would be great to play something unique. Same thing for races that are large or races that are small. I would like to see at least one or two large races, one or two small races, and the rest inbetween.

[ET3D]

Any good RPG must have dragonborn.

 

Frankly, I'd be okay with only humans. Other than this, I only care if the race makes a significant difference to the story. Just as a stats differentiator, meh.

[Yaskaleh]

I've talked with a few I know who is backing it and most of them would probably want their money back if there would be cannibal elves or something else silly.

[TedFaster]

I've talked with a few I know who is backing it and most of them would probably want their money back if there would be cannibal elves or something else silly.

 

In my humble opinion a silly sounding concept like "cannibalistic elf's" can become something really awesome if you give it to a smart and creativity person.

 

That said I would personalty prefer if they started anew with fresh new races, while they are at it they could think abut ditching the humans as well.

Edited September 17, 2012 by TedFaster

[Balduras]

They should deffinetly have some races like Drow and Elves (simmilar to Witcher 2, those elves were awesome).

Edited September 17, 2012 by Balduras

[godsend1989]

They said it will be a funny world, i really liked Larian Divinity 2 world.

[Treantsin]

If we have Arcanum levels of Backstory generation, then we really don't need sub-races so much as skin tones and portraits.

 

I would like to see some non-humanoid races, if only as an NPC, or Companion.

Something able to wear parts of the common armor get up, but require special parts.

Say, Half Slug people. Elephant Handed Halidonians.

Bat Winged, armless humanoids.

 

But less terrestrial and mish-mashed?

And less drawn from a hat at random?

 

Trusting you lot, and your godliness, either way.

[Qumi]

Old races with a twist.

 

No matter what they make, the races will always reassemble the archetypes like elves, dwarves, gnomes, humans, etc. Just look at e.g. Guild Wars 2. New races? Unique? Sylvari are pretty much the elves, asura gnomes, charr have an orkish feel to them, while norns are well... shapeshifting viking humans.

 

What is originality is not making things look different, but feel different.

[ExtraLarge]

I like dwarves & elves & all other traditional D&D races that take some human virtues & flaws to the extreme.

And yes I'd like to see these familiar races in a new setting, be they twisted or not.

 

But in the end the races are part of the content, and content is created by the developers so that they can show US, THEIR vision.

 

People, just let them make a setting they want, we'll grumble later while we're laughing at a new giant space hamster animal companion. Ish.

[TedFaster]

People, just let them make a setting they want, we'll grumble later while we're laughing at a new giant space hamster animal companion. Ish.

 

I'm sure that they will make a great game. IHO this is just fun to talk about and if it give the Obsidian People something to think about then great, right?

[morhilane]

I voted for traditional with a twist, but in my mind that is "something new" as well. It's not easy to define "traditional". Most settings put twists in them, some with more success than others.

 

Also, I wish stand for humans too. I'm really tired of Humanity being the "young upstart race" in all RPGs I played.