Questions of Race Anyone?

[Lunavati]

Just looking through avatars and forum postings, I am seeing a trend.... Many of us seem to be leaning toward the Miqo'te Moon-loving kitties. My gaming partner, Dranmarth, will be, we think, Roegadyn. I see a few other races, but lots of Miqo'te.

 

So, I wanted to ask a question to the community and explore our reasons for the race we choose. A little something to do besides troll for lore and try to develop my character's story having never been in the Hydaelyn world, or any FF world.

 

What is attracting us about the race we choose? Looks? Ability? Lore? Story?

 

Why did you choose your race? I know the answers will be different if you are a big FF fan and know the world. That knowledge gives you insight us rank beginners won't have. So, um tell us why you choose your race!

 

My short answer:

 

For me, fantasy rpg has a lot to do with going outside my own experience. A reason that I would steer away from Hyur, too human. And that may be the very reason another player chooses them. I love Elves, but geesh I been a LOT of them, wanted something different. The Roegadyn are fierce, but not until we get female models, not for me.

 

I don't play cross-gender, so I always play female (but that is so a personal thing! Play the gender of your choice, I say. But if you want to share, why do you choose to play male/female?) And I SO wish a game would give me a third choice: a real androgynous race! I dig wearing my rough boots with my long robes and mixing up the stereotypical gender clothes and attitudes. But I digress...

 

I chose Miqo'te because I do cat rescue, and love the cats who keep me company. I love the other critters on my farm, but feline grace wins, and ok, the tail....having a tail, and ears....I also like their lithe athleticism and aloofness. And I am into dualities, so the Sun/Moon thing works for me.

 

Enough said: others chime in. Want to hear from you!

Mia

[UnbeknownstGhost]

Cat people are hot.

 

 

EDIT: That is the reason I think people pick them anyway.

[Tadir]

I usually don't play humans. I was torn between all the non elf races for this one. (I don't like elves) I ended up going with hyur because the character in the cutscenes looks exactly like me. /shrug.

[Lunavati]

Yeah, I saw in the cut scenes that the Hyur seem to have the most expressive faces too. Can't wait to see all the variations in game.

[UnbeknownstGhost]

Personally I chose Hyur cuz I enjoy playing as a 'human' in a strange world. Sure, I'll play other races but I still prefer playing as a human, (In an RP perspective it is a bit easier to think as a human.) I suppose you could say it is closer to home then anything else. Although, if there is a minotaurlike race, screw the humans. I'm going to be a friggin' MINOTAUR!!!

 

 

*coughs*

[Keir]

Honestly, I chose a Hyur male because he is an alternate version of my Hume male from XI. In XI, I chose Hume, because he was actually a character in the back of my mind that I wanted to play but didn't have a place for.

 

For ten years, he's grown from a thief and vagabond of Celtic origin to a knight and leader of a secret guard. I'm kind of proud of the way his story has metamorphosed.

 

Anyway, I've had yearnings of playing a cute Miqo'te or graceful Elezen, but in the end, I like him perfectly fine as an Ishgardian Hyur.

[Lunavati]

Kier,

 

That sig of yours rocks--so much that I am breaking my rule and using an emoticon-thingie :approve:

 

Mia

[Nbokkri]

I chose to be a female Taru PLD in FFXI because it messed with people's heads. No one really expected it, so it was really fun : ) Nupopo in FFXIV is an extension of that with an actual background and such to make her suitable for RP.

 

When it comes to RP though I almost always pick female characters to play and when I have to choose a race, I try to pick one that isn't geared for fan service or one that has a background that I enjoy. I'm also picky about looks... one of the reasons I rarely pick guys in MMOs is because they often look so screwed up in comparison to females (though even female models can be ick if the developers decide all women are >< and have giant breasts -.-. I'm still trying to decide on a race for my second toon, but I'm pretty sure I won't make her/him a lalafell.

 

Edit:

Ex. of "ick" female avatars see TERA -.-

[Keir]

Kier,

 

That sig of yours rocks--so much that I am breaking my rule and using an emoticon-thingie :approve:

 

Mia

 

Thanks!

[Koti Nexus]

I have always played a mix creed of many races, though I am mostly known for playing male characters over females (Though RL I am female).

 

I chose males over females, because I came to learn, if most players believe you are a guy, they will allow you to cut up and joke with them easier, they will tend to listen to your orders, and give you more respect. If you on a female, sure they will give you free items, but they tend to buck your orders, treat you like you don't know what your doing, and tend to try and do everything for you---

Which drives me nuts at times.

 

I love playing Miqo'te and Mithra back in FFXI. Mostly cause I am a big cat person and my favorite big cat was the Tiger, followed by the Panther. This is perhaps the only female race I will play, and because of its following on FFXI, most people figured if you were a Mithra, you were 80% chance of being a male. Most of the time, I was thought to be a male cause I was "To good of a tactical person." or "Your to logical."

 

Love stereotypes...

 

The next race I played are elves, mostly cause I am a large mythology nut. Though the only game I break the rule of playing a 'elf' is with istaria, cause it has dragons as playable races. Can't go wrong with Dragons!

Then if not dragons, lizards, if no lizards, then elves. You can start to follow the logic.

If its mythological based, I will most likely play it at some point.

 

I just recently started to play anything that is "Human", but mostly I dislike playing what I am. My thoughts are: "If I really wanted to stare at a human, I go outside, go sit on the street side, and watch cars and people go by."

But when I have played a human race, it is always male, as the females always come across to me as.. well.. to be frank.. sluts.

 

I guess I'm just strange person, or maybe I am removed from reality as my Dad likes to bark about, or perhaps I just hate humanity at times and use video games to just ignore the world for a bit in order to recollect myself.

Maybe its even an artist thing? I really don't know.

 

I just know I love mythological creatures, fantasy, and aliens.

[Asyria]

There are a LOT of reason why I'm going Keeper of the Moon Miqo'te.

 

I almost went with Hyur but didn't feel like playing Human (which is of course what Hyurs are) this time

.

I'm tired of Elves, which is pretty much what Elezens are, because they are in every mmo I played, except Fallen Earth ("if you see an Elf, kill it. There are no Elves in Fallen Earth" was actually a Tip Of The Day in that game).

 

Lalafells don't particularly appeal to me.

 

Roegadyn don't particularly appeal to me.

 

I kinda like catgirls but this is the first game I ever played (never played FF XI) where they actually exist, and I never ever RPed a "catgirl" in a mmo that didn't actually have them. So... kinda had to.

 

Why Keeper of the Moon?

Frankly, I don't think there's a majority of Keepers, I see a lot of Seekers around, too.

I picked Keepers because I love the moon and the night more than the sun and the day. I'm just that kinda person.

[Kashemia]

I'm gonna go ahead and say that I didn't chose Miqo'te because they're hot. Huyr and Elezen females can be just as hot in my opinion, as well as male from various races... (Sorry, Lalafells might be cute, but not hot in my book).

I chose Miqo'te because it seemed to fit the personality I had in mind and because I thought their design and lore seemed interesting.

 

I was originally going Keeper of the Moon, but realized that Seeker of the Sun fits Seraj SO much better, so I changed that.

I usually stay away from playing catgirls, but seeing as they're actually in the lore, I figured it should be possible to play a relatively reasonable one this time around, so I guess it was also a bit of a challenge to myself, to overcome some of my own prejudices

[Aveline]

What is attracting us about the race we choose? Looks? Ability? Lore? Story?

 

Why did you choose your race? I know the answers will be different if you are a big FF fan and know the world. That knowledge gives you insight us rank beginners won't have. So, um tell us why you choose your race!

 

I'm playing a Seeker of the Sun Miqo'te. They are characterized by S-E as being more lively, outgoing, and playful than their Moon Keeper counterparts, which to me seem far too serious. My Mithra in FFXI was also quite playful, and I enjoyed that part of the game.

 

I also like the backstory of the Miqo'te, what little of it we know. Their dual natured worshiping of the sun & moon, their reputation as hunters, their occultism, is all something I'd like to explore more of in my character.

 

I admit though, this time around what with their 10 year old voices and their overly cutesy looks, I was tempted to scrap my Miqo'te idea and make an Elezen or Hyur instead.

[Nbokkri]

I admit though, this time around what with their 10 year old voices and their overly cutesy looks, I was tempted to scrap my Miqo'te idea and make an Elezen or Hyur instead.

 

QFT

 

The original lalafell models made me feel the same way about the smaller-folk. Who knows? Maybe if people complain enough they'll change them a bit : )

[Lunavati]

I admit though' date=' this time around what with their 10 year old voices and their overly cutesy looks, I was tempted to scrap my Miqo'te idea and make an Elezen or Hyur instead.[/quote']

 

This is actually what worries me about the race, since I have not seen them live, in-world yet. They have high-pitched girlie-girl voices? That may do my choice in for sure. And like I said, what is up with no really interesting, odd facial/body choices? Do we all have to look like thirteen-year-olds? The Miqo'te seem like a people who would rever age and wisdom. Gives usss more options, I say.

[Kashemia]

 

I admit though, this time around what with their 10 year old voices and their overly cutesy looks, I was tempted to scrap my Miqo'te idea and make an Elezen or Hyur instead.

 

Just to join the choir, you are SO right about this. The voices was pretty close to making me roll another race as well.

I'm also slightly disappointed by the fact that almost all Miqo'te seems overly cutesy, but that might also be a choice from the creators side, at least I got relatively happy with Seraj, even though a bit more feral look could have been nice ^^

[Mycroft]

Let's see here..

 

I loathe playing humans in fantasy games, too.. Normal is guess, especially if I want to RP.

I rarely choose the Elven races because they're almost always the "pretty" race, which usually means that there's too many of them.

The bulky races (Galka/Roegadyn) sometimes have some interesting lore behind them.. Which in turn makes me want to play them.. In FFXIV I don't find that the case though.

The token small-guy.. I almost loathe this one as much as the human races. Often just as popular as the "pretty" races, this one is just.. It doesn't speak to me, whether it be, dwarf, halfling, gnome, tarutaru, lolafail etc.

 

I usually go for:

1. The race which I think has the most fascinating lore.

2. The most unique race, design-wise.

3. If all else fails.. I go with the Human race.

 

In FFXIV I've decided on Elezen, not sure on the clan yet.. But them being the original inhabitants of Eorzea and being split in two factions that basically accept and deny their new neighbours intrigues me, despite being used often.

[Magnus]

The token small-guy.. I almost loathe this one as much as the human races. Often just as popular as the "pretty" races, this one is just.. It doesn't speak to me, whether it be, dwarf, halfling, gnome, tarutaru, lolafail etc.

 

lol at lolafail.

 

I choose the lolifelon for this reason. I like playing the mini-tank.

 

This time however the lore behind it was interesting I've never playing the desert nomad type before, so this will be new for me.

[Shamadconde]

I chose Lalafell (hate the name though) because in XI, I loved magic and the Tarutaru were the most powerful. I just got used to being short and cute. People let cute things near them and that makes it easier to hamstring them.

[Seraphine Felstar]

First off, I'm a human and as a human I'm all in favor of humanity.

 

For a few years in FFXI I played a Mithra and I don't think anyone really understood me when I said I didn't feel like a cat. >.> It was always weird to me when people started playing with her tail or licking me everywhere. In role-play I ended up seeing her as more of a comic relief type character and when I tried to fit her into a serious role it just didn't come together for me. So when she was level 63 with 80 alchemy I ditched her for my Hume character.

 

I like the versatility Hyurs give and I don't feel so locked into having to act a particular way (or having people treat me a certain way). My only complaint about FFXIV is that there is not enough diversity with Hyur females. I don't want to be a hulking Highlander Hyur chick but I don't think "big nose or small nose" and "big lips or small lips" is enough to convince me that everyone is really unique.

[Satisiun]

Because Satisiun was an Elvaan in XI.

 

... what? Were you expecting some deep, thought out answer on the positives of the Elezen race, and why it is superior to all the others? No, no. Not happening. Satisiun is an Elezen purely because of strict, sentimental attachment. He was an Elvaan in XI. He was an Elvaan-looking Daeva in Aion. I've had him, both as just a character played in a game, and an RP/writing character since 2003, and I'm simply too attached to either make something new in the appearance department, or change him to some other race.

 

(Although I've dabbled making a Snidely Whiplash-type evil twin with an anagram version of his name, but ... still Elezen.)

 

While on the subject of race voices, since that seems to be what some people are focusing on the last few posts ... to all the beta testers, who else nearly did a spittake when they were browsing voices for Lalafel males, and after going from whiny doughboy, to mirthful child, you suddenly got this deep, smooth baritone voice reserved for Elezen and Roegadyn?

 

I know I did. Spent the next 30 seconds just laughing. :lol:

 

(And for those non-beta folk curious about what I am babbling about ... Click. Specifically about the 2:50 mark.)

[Nikolai]

I've elected to play a hyur mostly because male miqo'te aren't available. I played a mithra in XI and really loved it. As foxfirestorm mentioned, playing a mithra gave you a sort of ambiguity where you were eligible to get free stuff and twist people's arms into doing favors for you, all while still having your voice heard and respected. I also dig their "lithe athleticism and aloofness" as Lunavati put it.

 

As far as gender goes... I'll play a male if there's an option that isn't overly bulky. In WoW, my friends played alliance, and no such option was available. At first I played a male night elf balance druid anyway, and I did my best to always remain shapeshifted. Later, I played a human discipline priestess and never looked back.

 

This time around, I decided to play a male hyur midlander because it fits my spoiled brat of a character Nikolai best, and isn't too bulky. That said, if at any point male miqo'te become available as a playable race, I will drop everything to play one instead. >_>

[UnbeknownstGhost]

What is it with the cat people?

 

...

[Vareal]

Here is why I chose a female character:

 

In an original story line I created, Nedral was one of the characters. He lived some 1,000 years before the main story line takes place. He was, considered by most, the father of Necromancy and the first to develop the use of Necromancy an an offensive art. He was killed in battle by a man named Fehl Nyx. During the main story line, the main bad guy, Damascus, finds an artifact that Nedral had created, the Necromancer's Clarion, and Nedral's remains. He searched the world for the only Necromancer that could use the art offensively and happened to come across a young necromancer by the name of Aixa Zyllel. After subduing her, Damascus proceeded to resurrect Nedral into Aixa's body. Although in that story, Aixa was not aware and could not commune with Nedral, he had complete control over her body and mind. Later, Nedral would replace Damascus as the main bad guy/chick.

 

Why I chose Miqo'te:

 

Because I love cats.

[Lunavati]

See? I just knew this topic would give us insight into why some of us like our chosen races. I keep hearing that song about short people when I read the "lalafail" post

 

I almost chose the Lalafell just because to be little and deadly can be intriguing. They don't see you coming, and if they do, they don't take you seriously, until you take them down.

 

And yes, the exact look I think is missing for the Miqo'te was described above : feral.

 

If they give us Roegadyn females? Nice. Just hope they do better than WoW did with female Orcs.... Big tough women can want some nice hair too, come on. And female trolls with those two big toes...geesh at least let me wear some kicking boots.

 

And names in FFxiv? Interesting to see how players come up with their character names and bios too.

 

Mia