Random questions to black people

[Lord_Mord]

Some questions that came to my mind while reading a thread about class and race choices in PoE. There was that black guy who said, that he always plays black guys. As my current character in that game is ocean folk (which are black, in case you didn't play that game) I wondered why he never plays white guys. So instead of asking him, I thought I could ask everybody.

What kinds of characters do you play? What backstories do they have?

Do you ever play white people and if yes, what kinds of characters? If not why?

What do you think of the kind of representation of black people in video games or fantasy? In my opinion ocean folk are pretty badass, but basically they are just black Italians.

What would a black country in your fantasy setting be like?

If you are from some other underrepresented country, skin color or whatever I would be interested in an answer too.

Sorry if my childish curiosity should offend anyone. I mean no harm.

[Gfted1]

Maybe that poster just plays what he identifies with. Every game Ive ever played I choose the default white guy. Ive always preferred the ideal "knight in shining armor" so I choose the appropriate class, usually Paladin.

[Chilloutman]

I got friend who plays female only if possible because and I quote ''I am not gonna look for hours on guys butt''

[Hurlshort]

I always play a character that is appropriate to the setting and faithful to the rules of the represented world.

I always despised RPG players that wanted to play "unique" or "unorthodox" characters in the way of: "male member of female only order or "different race of a single race cast".

 

Ah yes, how dare someone fantasize inappropriately in fantasy roleplaying games. 

[smjjames]

I always play a character that is appropriate to the setting and faithful to the rules of the represented world.

I always despised RPG players that wanted to play "unique" or "unorthodox" characters in the way of: "male member of female only order or "different race of a single race cast".

 

Does that mean you don't like Pallegina? Though she's the opposite of the points you give, and godlikes are supposed to be really rare.

[Gromnir]

what is it 'bout asking for input from blacks or women or minorities which inspires so many white guys to respond with their perspective on the topic?  is not a bad thing to respond, but seeming need for input is still kinda weird.

 

"could any astronauts share their thoughts on what it is like to... "

 

have plumbers and cpa respond to such ain't bad, but is nevertheless weird.

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Hurlshort]

White guys need a voice in this world Grommie. This is one of the few places we can be heard. Since I'm posting, I might as well give my input...

 

Personally I prefer when games give as much choice as possible on character creation. I tend to play a character I can identify with, and it rubs me wrong when I'm forced to play someone I don't like. It isn't like watching a movie, I'm actually controlling that person. For example I can't stand Geralt. I'd probably love playing in The Witcher universe, but I can't get into playing that pale SOB. I think it is actually easier for a developer to give more choice, because you are going to appeal to a broader group.

 

If you are developing a game with a very specific narrator, it is a bigger challenge because you need to make the character appealing in a very general sense.

[Gfted1]

So instead of asking him, I thought I could ask everybody.

[Gromnir]

 

So instead of asking him, I thought I could ask everybody.

 

again with the wacky reading skills.

 

"Random questions to black people"

 

weird.

 

HA! Good Fun!

[Gfted1]

[Chilloutman]

How do you know who is black or white on internet brotha? 

Edited March 8, 2018 by Chilloutman

[Malcador]

 

 

So instead of asking him, I thought I could ask everybody.

 

again with the wacky reading skills.

 

"Random questions to black people"

 

weird.

 

HA! Good Fun!

 

 

Hm, nah, he does want to ask people in general, he just chose a stupid topic for it.  You are right though, in a way, had the thread been meant to be on point with the title, you'd still end up with non-black people chiming in

[Gromnir]

 

 

 

So instead of asking him, I thought I could ask everybody.

 

again with the wacky reading skills.

 

"Random questions to black people"

 

weird.

 

HA! Good Fun!

 

 

Hm, nah, he does want to ask people in general, he just chose a stupid topic for it.  You are right though, in a way, had the thread been meant to be on point with the title, you'd still end up with non-black people chiming in

 

serious, what is with the reading skillz?

 

if he wanted everybody input, then the following would make no sense and be utter unnecessary:

 

"If you are from some other underrepresented country, skin color or whatever I would be interested in an answer too."

 

asking "everybody" to get black input? sure.  read again the questions asked.  simple inclusion o' "everybody" didn't change what a normal person would/should read. "Random questions to black people." 'stead of reading "everybody" in context o' the post's entirety, some folks is doing the reverse and trying to complete change the meaning o' the post to fit how they is reading a single word.  is complete bass ackwards. read 4-corners as a whole to find meaning is essential to any kinda reading comprehension. 

 

*shrug*

 

gonna ruin the genesis poster's thread with such nonsense, and as such am apologizing, but really folks.

 

HA! Good Fun!

Edited March 8, 2018 by Gromnir

[Gfted1]

[Lord_Mord]

I'm gone for a few hours and you guys start a fight

My question was mainly directed towards black people and other underrepresented people. I wanted to know, if such a background influences your roleplaying and how. And I wanted to know how black people would like to see black people inside fantasy worlds. I have nothing against white guys posting, but please don't let this thread become a flame war about racism or something. And it would be nice, if some actual black people would answer. I really just wanna know, how people feel about it.

What's funny is, that I still don't know, who of the posters is black and who is white. My first reaction was "What? Gifted is black?" (I always imagined him as a white metal guy or something like that). Now I'm not shure anymore. The internet is a funny place.

[Gfted1]

Every game Ive ever played I choose the default white guy.

[Volourn]

Are blacks truly 'underreprsented'?   Unde rminority groups are. I wonder how latinos, asians, and others feel knowing that when people talk about 'diveristy' or 'minoritiers' it is 99.9% about blacks. Blacks  actually get a good number of representation. People forget that blacks at eonl;y about 13% of the US population and they aren't even the largest minority in the US. How many latinos, asians, or arabs have won a Best Actor or Actress Oscar over the years?

 

As for the questions, first off, it is racist to start a thread banning all but one race from answering. Second, as for myself, since dwarves at emy favored race  I clearly don't need my characters to be me. Afterall, I'm a 6' dude who is comfortable playing 4' dudes. LMAO Also, I have no issue roleplaying women,  non whities, or even evil dudes. 8shrug* It is called ROLEPLAYING for a reason.

[Guard Dog]

Well... after all these years I find out Volo is not a short, hairy, long bearded guy that swills ale and solves his problems with an axe while shouting a war cry in a thick Scottish accent.

 

I don't know what to do with that information. All of my illusions are shattered! 

[Hurlshort]

I always hear Volo with a Newfie accent., but the rest is shattered for me.

[Gromnir]

 All of my illusions are shattered! 

volo didn't mention nazis once in a post 'bout race.

 

*mind blown*

 

HA! Good Fun!

[ShadySands]

I usually like to play characters that look somewhat like me* because RPGs for me are usually insert myself into this situation/world/whatever rather than trying to play the role of someone else. It's why I usually skip games with a set in stone protaganist like the Witcher series. 

 

*In SWTOR all my characters are blue... da ba dee da ba daa 

[Guard Dog]

I usually have a concept of what the character in the story might be. Especially single protagonist games like ES, FO, KOTOR, etc. For example Fallout 3 the whole drive of the plot was to find "Dad". and follow Dad. That and some of the other aspects of the story game me the impression the Lone Wanderer was more likely to be female than male. So I played that with a female character. Fallout New Vegas as the opposite for a few reasons. So the part of the Courier felt more suited to a male protagonist to me. As far as their races, I have little patience for making a good looking character using the tools in game. So I go one the Nexus page and look for ones other folks uploaded. Then use the ones I like the best. I pay no attention to the race.

 

Elder Scrolls handled that a little differently. If you wanted to play a black character there was always the Redguards but no one race was suited to every style of play. So the racial choice was more driven by the skills that matched the style of play you favored or what you thought fit the story. For my part there is no way the Nevareine was not going to be a Dunmer, the "Hero of Cyrodill" was not an Imperial, or the Dragonborn was not a Nord.From a story point of view. If ES VI is in Hammerfell I'll play it as a Redguard. 

 

The kind of PC you play is a pretty personal choice I guess. Shady puts himself into the story so the story becomes his. That is one way to go. I go the opposite way, I become the story's rather than the story becoming mine.

 

Just my $.02

[Lord_Mord]

 

Are blacks truly 'underreprsented'?

 

I don't really know as I don't play lots of "modern" games. I mainly play oldschool fantasy stuff, RPGs only, never shooters or other 3D-cinema-like games. In fantasy RPG type of games the presence of black characters is often reduced to the choice of skin color. There are some NPCs in the game that have different shades of brown or black and maybe there is a country like Vailia that is inhabited by black people, but mostly the culture of that country is just a reflection of some existing country. The people there are black, but it is just cosmetic. Western or asian countries definitely get more love. (Don't know, why you mentioned asians. The magical asian ninja country is a must have in every fantasy setting that goes beyond medieval europe)

 

 

 

As for the questions, first off, it is racist to start a thread banning all but one race from answering. Second, as for myself, since dwarves at emy favored race  I clearly don't need my characters to be me. Afterall, I'm a 6' dude who is comfortable playing 4' dudes. LMAO Also, I have no issue roleplaying women,  non whities, or even evil dudes. 8shrug* It is called ROLEPLAYING for a reason.

I banned no one. You just have to read the whole post. But I'm especially interested in the opinion of black people as that post from the black guy was what started me thinking. I never could imagine playing white, male characters only, but as I read that post I realized, that over the years I read a few posts from black people where they said, that they wanted to play black characters. I especially remember that one, where someone described the feeling of playing Baldurs Gate for the first time as a kid. It was the first game, where he was able to choose a black MC and he was very happy to play "someone like him". So I asked myself, if that kind of exclusion leads to a different roleplaying behaviour. But to be honest, I don't even know, if that is still a problem. Apart from PoE I didn't buy games for the last 15 years.

 

I have one question: Why dwarves?

 

Please excuse my bad english and confused writing, I'm a little drunk. My wife and I are celebrating womens day

Edited March 12, 2018 by Lord_Mord

[Malcador]

Luckily I'm an ethnic mutt so I can pretty much go with any colour protagonist.

[Guard Dog]

Women's day is a drinking holiday? Huh. And here I thought it was stupid. How wrong I was. I think I'll pour a drink and raise a toast to chicks!