(02-28-2015, 11:35 AM)Unnamed Mercenary Wrote:(02-28-2015, 07:37 AM)Graeham Ridgefield Wrote: I'm wary about this sort of thing since more often then not it seems to be embraced as a means of evading any real drawbacks to a character's more controversial traits. As far as I'm concerned being a Garlean is something that can bring a lot of depth to role-play but so far it seems like a lot of people simply make their character into a Garlean to gain the perk of advanced technological prowess/knowledge and then conveniently write off the downsides of being a Garlean by using fantasia or glamours to hide it.
As I've said in other threads, it's just so bizarre to me. There's so little racial lore in this game to begin with when compared to the likes of WoW and ESO so it's a real shame when what little of it exists is discarded in favour of convenient IC race changes/disguises.
At least on the Garlean front, there are many, many different ways to "qualify" as being a Garlean. And only the racially pure-blooded ones have issues with aether manipulation and the third eye. I personally do not accept fantasia potions as something that exist within my interpretation of the lore, but I do accept glamours because while they might be able to hide something, it is still always there.Â
And with the rampant amount of IC racism that is supposed to exist, I would assume most Garleans would be doing something to hide any major distinguishing features away.
Right. All you have to do is have lived in Garlemald/been born there to be a Garlean. That does not necessarily mean you have all their perks. Garlemald is a country and its people Garleans. While there is a specific race of Garleans you do not have to be that race to be good with technology. There is a lot more problems that come with Role playing a pure blooded garlean beyond what you can glamor. But Glamors ease the burden that Garleans have to bear because they are a race often absolutely hated by Eorzeans. If you were to walk around without trying to hide the fact you were a pure blood? You would be attacked, antagonized, and arrested. You simply would not be able to do ANYTHING. That is not a downside. That is you can not role play.
I personally don't use glamors often. Opting to wear a mask because I am too lazy to write facial emotions. But my character is a full blooded garlean and if he is in a situation where he can't wear a mask he has to decline or wear a glamor of his face on his mask. It looks totally normal. But if you try to flick him on the forehead or something you would be able to tell. Glamors are not fools proof. The main drawback of my character as a Garlean is the fact he has this complex over all the other races and knows nothing of their culture. He can also be needlessly harsh. It is more of a personality thing. And it is perfectly possible to remove his glamor or catch him as a garlean if someone ripped off his mask. Just most people are not so bold as to do so.
