How cat-like is your Miqo'te?

[Kismet]

Rp'ing them cat-like would turn the character into something very comedic I think since they have very few attributes that make the such. All I do is describe my character's ear and tail movements which has little to do with the fact they are cat attributes but actually because they are simply a part of her. Other than that I gave her a respectable level or perception across all of her senses.

 

^This. Worded exactly how I handle it with Y'raja and Lhei. *nods*

[C'kayah Polaali]

I don't really play C'kayah as cat-like at all. I do try to use his ears and tail in emotes, because hey, he's got ears and a tail! He's pretty well urbanized at this point in his life, though, so he doesn't roll R's or anything like that.

 

Purring is a bit of an interesting thing for me. C'kayah tends to be a very smooth talker, and I bring it out in emotes by having him murmur, purr, or speak silkily, but the purring is intended to emphasize a particular style of speaking.

[raindrops]

I don't see why RPing miqo'te as catlike has to be comedic/cutesy, really. Cats do more than purr and 'nyaaaa~'. There's a lot of genuine character and drama to be got out it.

 

I'd also be careful with playing out enhanced senses to make sure you're not accidentally godmoding, depending on the people you're with. The only sense miqo'te have, in lore, that is inherently sharper than those of the other races is smell. While I can see them having sharp eyesight and hearing (especially directional hearing, as someone mentioned in this thread), they're not going to see something a wildwood can't or out-hear a duskwight (assuming identical circumstances for both characters. obviously they'd see better than a blind wildwood) since those races are, in lore, the ones with the sharpest eyesight and hearing respectively.

 

Sarja, my keeper, is deliberately beastlike - her family have been victims of Gridanians being Gridanians for generations and have chosen to respond with 'if they're going to treat us like beastmen then we're damn well going to act like them'. While she's very intelligent and capable of doing the respectable person act (and often does when it seems advantageous), Sarja has been raised to think of herself as a beast and will act appropriately when left to her own devices. This does include some of the standard cutesy fare - emoting with ears and tail, purring and rolling her rs specifically - but also things like happily eating meat raw, biting and scratching when threatened, using demands and allowances for personal space to establish control, giving gifts of food as a statement of 'look you're a shit hunter and obviously can't take care of yourself' and so on. Frankly if people had laptops in Eorzea she's probably sit on them and refuse to budge until petted.

[Rinh Hallani]

Rinh growls, snarls, pins her ears back or flicks them towards a point of interest, her tail bristles or twitches when irritated, she sometimes hisses when caught off guard...that sort of thing. T'yareth also sniffs the air and is a bit more responsive with her ears, as I see her as being more feral and in touch with her instincts. But otherwise, they're pretty human I suppose.

[synaesthetic]

Miqo'te are cats? Huh. I always thought they were miqo'te.

 

The tail and ears are used in emotes to convey expressions and emotions, so I do the same with Aeriyn. Outside of that she acts like any other sentient being. She does not purr, she does not hiss (except perhaps the same way a person might hiss when angry), but if she becomes nervous the fur on her tail will fluff out, the movements of her tail can signify her mood, and her ears will move based on emotion or when tracking sounds.

 

I also try to take into account these differences when roleplaying. A tail is a counterbalance and as such, miqo'te should be far more agile and balanced than their tailless neighbors in Eorzea. Tripping over ones' own feet should be a rarity as a miqo'te. I also tend to write roleplay where scent of smell and hearing take special mental precedence over vision. My character can and does identify people based on smell, and will actively avoid crowded, noisy places because her hearing is sensitive and it would give her listening fatigue and a headache. Additionally, Keepers of the Moon have good low-light vision and are nocturnal, thus most mentally and physically sharp at night.

 

These are all things, physiological differences that I take into account when roleplaying my character. Miqo'te are not cats. They are miqo'te. They have vaguely pseudo-feline features, but they are not nonsentient felines, nor are they anime catgirls.

[Dat Oni]

I also try to take into account these differences when roleplaying. A tail is a counterbalance and as such, miqo'te should be far more agile and balanced than their tailless neighbors in Eorzea. Tripping over ones' own feet should be a rarity as a miqo'te.

 

This is why I think Miqo'te make good Lancers/Dragoons.

 

And as demonstrated twice by two new Miqo'te NPCs, they seem to make incredible Archers.

[Kendha'to]

I also try to take into account these differences when roleplaying. A tail is a counterbalance and as such, miqo'te should be far more agile and balanced than their tailless neighbors in Eorzea. Tripping over ones' own feet should be a rarity as a miqo'te.

 

This is why I think Miqo'te make good Lancers/Dragoons.

 

And as demonstrated twice by two new Miqo'te NPCs, they seem to make incredible Archers.

*buffs nails on his jerkin* Well, I don't mean to brag, but..

 

Edit: Just to add something to the discussion, there's a short blurb on the origins of Eorzean archery on the official website.

 

"With a bow in hand and a quiver on his back, the archer strikes at the enemy from afar. In Eorzea, two schools of archery have risen to prominence: that of the longbow sentries of the Elezen military, and that of the shortbow hunters among the Miqo'te."

[Kendha'to]

Miqo'te are cats? Huh. I always thought they were miqo'te.

 

The tail and ears are used in emotes to convey expressions and emotions, so I do the same with Aeriyn. Outside of that she acts like any other sentient being. She does not purr, she does not hiss (except perhaps the same way a person might hiss when angry), but if she becomes nervous the fur on her tail will fluff out, the movements of her tail can signify her mood, and her ears will move based on emotion or when tracking sounds.

 

I also try to take into account these differences when roleplaying. A tail is a counterbalance and as such, miqo'te should be far more agile and balanced than their tailless neighbors in Eorzea. Tripping over ones' own feet should be a rarity as a miqo'te. I also tend to write roleplay where scent of smell and hearing take special mental precedence over vision. My character can and does identify people based on smell, and will actively avoid crowded, noisy places because her hearing is sensitive and it would give her listening fatigue and a headache. Additionally, Keepers of the Moon have good low-light vision and are nocturnal, thus most mentally and physically sharp at night.

 

These are all things, physiological differences that I take into account when roleplaying my character. Miqo'te are not cats. They are miqo'te. They have vaguely pseudo-feline features, but they are not nonsentient felines, nor are they anime catgirls.

I'm sorry, but I feel compelled to address that first sentence. Respectfully, the OP NEVER said that Miqo'te are cats. The intent was to foster discussion among fellow players of the race - because, let's not try to deny it, the design intent was clear; Miqo'te have a few feline features. Cat-like ears, cat-like tails, pronounced canines (in the case of Keepers) - it's more than enough material for such a discussion to take place. I understand and appreciate concerns that there are players who don't respect the lore behind the race, but Kiht isn't one of them and is far - FAR - from an anime catgirl.

[T'shina]

As for my Miqo'te she has a fairly normal speech pattern but she does growl and isn't afraid to snarl at you if she's really pissed off. She tries not to purr but there are times when she is caught off guard. However, I will play purring off in both her being pleased and if she is in pain. (Yes, cats do do this.) Miqo'te are known to have a different way of vocalizing because they have hisses and spitting in their speech pattern and so she knows there is a hiss to her name but she is fine with how others pronounce it.

 

Her ears and tail are very expressive and I usually watch my own cats and their own expressions to figure out what it is that I should use. I am mostly active with the ears. I figure fingernails are just fingernails but perhaps a little stronger.

 

As for catnip... my FC made a connection of mint to catnip and so she does react to it when it is nearby despite trying her best to act like it isn't doing anything. I can't remember what connection we made with mint and catnip but I think that it is in the same family?

[Naunet]

Cat-like ears, cat-like tails, pronounced canines (in the case of Keepers)

 

I just wanna say that the first one is pretty arguable, while the third is not exclusive to cats. The ears look more like fennec foxes than cats to me. Cat ears are generally triangular (though sometimes are more rounded) and are set forward facing, while miqo'te ears are very elongated and are both angled and set more sideways.

 

The tails, though, are certainly cat-like, though not exclusive in form to cats.

[Kendha'to]

Cat-like ears, cat-like tails, pronounced canines (in the case of Keepers)

 

I just wanna say that the first one is pretty arguable, while the third is not exclusive to cats. The ears look more like fennec foxes than cats to me. Cat ears are generally triangular (though sometimes are more rounded) and are set forward facing, while miqo'te ears are very elongated and are both angled and set more sideways.

 

The tails, though, are certainly cat-like, though not exclusive in form to cats.

I don't intend to argue semantics. I rather purposely made Ken more wolf-like in appearance, myself. What I took issue with was the unwarranted snark.

[Naunet]

I wasn't really arguing per se, just bringing up an interpretation of features that doesn't necessarily lead them towards being "cat"-like (though at least one of their emotes certainly implies it... *shudder*). ^^; I do agree your character has a very wolfish look to him! I like it.

[ArmachiA]

I don't play one, but my fiance and a friend of mine both do and both of them play them feline-like but very different.

 

My Fiance plays his Miqote more like a Lion than a housecat. He plays him up as more wild, feral, and sometimes I've even seen him roar when angry. His ears don't perk and his tail doesn't wag like a housecat's does, and he usually doesn't convey much emotion with them - though he emote that they swivel toward the person he's listening to or turn on his head when he's listening to the whole room. Also, of course, his ears will go back when angry. Ellion also has a more regal and commanding presence like a lion and he is extremely ruthless in his actions.

 

My Friend on the other hand, total housecat. His ears and tail are full of expression, he's endlessly curious, and he plays with a kind of cat-like aloofness and charm. He doesn't meow or play up the feline thing overtly, its subtle, but it's there and I think he does a very good job with it.

 

It's really funny watching the two have completely different takes on the nature of the feline part of the Miqote. They both work really well, too.

[Aysun]

I don't see why they should have a better smell then humans though, since the nose/face conformation is exactly the same. I guess Seekers also have nightvision like cats, seen how their eyes are?

 

Probably due to how cats have much more powerful noses than humans - not nearly as powerful as dogs though. It was stated a few times in 1.0 and again in ARR, though I neglected to take screenshots.

 

I'm not sure about night-vision for Seekers, maybe better than humans but not as good as Keepers. It's possible that Seekers have more acute vision as long as there's adequate light due to the vertical slit pupil shape that they share with real life cats, a trait that Keepers don't share. Keeper eyes are just super wide all the time.

OT: My own interpretation on the subject of their vision is a bit different. Seekers are diurnal and have slit pupils like cats we see IRL. But cats have night vision due to an extra reflective membrane in their eyes that allows the light to pass through the retna essentially twice. IRL cats use this and their ability to have monster-pupils (like Keepers) to see in the dark. To me, it would not make much sense that a diurnal race would have the evolutionary trait that nocturnals have. I assume that Seeker pupils don't dialate much, limiting their night vision,  whereas Keepers, who's eyes are always dialated see very well if not better in the dark than in the light. Just my opinion though!

[allgivenover]

I do sometimes RP Rakka'li as seeing better in dusk than in daylight. He also wears hats when in the La Noscean or Thanalan sun, because I feel like it would be outright uncomfortable to have that much dilation going on during the day.

[Kendha'to]

I do sometimes RP Rakka'li as seeing better in dusk than in daylight. He also wears hats when in the La Noscean or Thanalan sun, because I feel like it would be outright uncomfortable to have that much dilation going on during the day.

I do this, too. On a Seeker friend's advice, Ken almost always wears a turban when he's in Thanalan during the day. Too damned bright, too damned hot, and too damned dusty.

[Lost River]

For me, my Miqo'te isn't generally cat-like other than her tail and ears reaction; more so than that, she is more of a book worm type dorky girl. An Arcanist's/Scholar's job is never done! 

 

She has meowed once. More like mrowrl but it was out of a complete excitement moment like "WTF?!" type moment.

[Clover]

I don't think I have given any cat-like trait to my Miqo'te, other than the obvious movement of her ears and tail.

 

Things like purring and meowing are cute, though, so I wouldn't be against any other Miqo'te doing that. They're cat-like, after all, and it's up to everyone to decide just how much they do resemble real cats.

[Lost River]

I don't think I have given any cat-like trait to my Miqo'te, other than the obvious movement of her ears and tail.

 

Things like purring and meowing are cute, though, so I wouldn't be against any other Miqo'te doing that. They're cat-like, after all, and it's up to everyone to decide just how much they do resemble real cats.

Just glad my Miqo'te doesn't resemble my cat, if she did, she'd be destroying furniture, knocking over pots/vases (purposely), and eating people's in home topiary.

[ArmachiA]

I don't see why they should have a better smell then humans though, since the nose/face conformation is exactly the same. I guess Seekers also have nightvision like cats, seen how their eyes are?

 

Probably due to how cats have much more powerful noses than humans - not nearly as powerful as dogs though. It was stated a few times in 1.0 and again in ARR, though I neglected to take screenshots.

 

I'm not sure about night-vision for Seekers, maybe better than humans but not as good as Keepers. It's possible that Seekers have more acute vision as long as there's adequate light due to the vertical slit pupil shape that they share with real life cats, a trait that Keepers don't share. Keeper eyes are just super wide all the time.

OT: My own interpretation on the subject of their vision is a bit different. Seekers are diurnal and have slit pupils like cats we see IRL. But cats have night vision due to an extra reflective membrane in their eyes that allows the light to pass through the retna essentially twice. IRL cats use this and their ability to have monster-pupils (like Keepers) to see in the dark. To me, it would not make much sense that a diurnal race would have the evolutionary trait that nocturnals have. I assume that Seeker pupils don't dialate much, limiting their night vision,  whereas Keepers, who's eyes are always dialated see very well if not better in the dark than in the light. Just my opinion though!

 

My fiance decided to play with up too, since he's a Keeper. He says Ellion's eyes are sensitive to bright light since his pupils are always dilated and when in the sun or a brightly lit room he has Ellion wear sunglasses.

[CalebAgron]

I haven't made my Miqo'te Characters RP yet so I'm not 100% certain how I will Roleplay them. I do know I would certainly make use of their ears/tails in my RP, having his/her ear scratched or nudging her head against someone in a cat-like manner to show affection certainly. The only cat-like quality I most likely could not use is purring, not that I have anything against people who do, just my characters will most likely not. Personally I think the cat aspect of the race should be played out, otherwise why should I RP a miqo'te at all? Why wouldn't I just stick with Hyur if I didn't want to give any cat like aspect to the character. Just my opinion on the matter.

[Naunet]

Personally I think the cat aspect of the race should be played out, otherwise why should I RP a miqo'te at all? Why wouldn't I just stick with Hyur if I didn't want to give any cat like aspect to the character. Just my opinion on the matter.

 

Cause they have the best [hair/faces/animations/cultural lore/etc]. There are a number of reasons one might use to decide to roll a miqo'te over another race. >_>

[Tefh]

Hello!  First time posting on these forums.  First thread I've looked at here too, come to think of it.  I normally don't do much forum-ing, you see, but a friend of mine linked me this.  I'm actually a daisy and it's very hard to type with roots and leaves.  Sometimes I just smash my petals on the keyboard.

 

How cat-like is my Miqo'te?  Not at all.  She is, however, alarmingly wolfish.

 

I RP my character in a way that, if I sum it up here, I'm sure many people will cringe.  And scoff.  And wrinkle their noses.  "What a scrub!" You may say.  "Noob.  I'll never RP with her."  BUT WAIT, WHAT'S THIIIIIIS IN MY HAT?

 

Haha, kidding, daisies don't wear hats.  I did, however, pull up a slip of paper from my sleeve with a reminder written on it.  Daisies have bad memories, you see.  I left myself a note to remind myself before finishing this post that not ONCE in all the months I've been playing this game as Tefh has anyone OOCly given me a bit of flack for how I RP my character.  I RP with strangers a lot, often I approach them myself.  One of the benefits of being a daisy and not a violet; they never approach people.  Not that I'm racist or anything against violets.

 

Tefh wags her tail when happy.  She barks when alarmed sometimes, yips when in extreme physical pain.  Her ears often show more of what's going on in her head than her facial expressions, which are were often blank.  Now, she's been getting better over time at showing her emotions the way most people do, but she still has so very, very many habits that a person ought not to probably have.  Does it make the character silly?  Only when I want it to.  In a time where I'm with my friends and feel like lightening the mood, I may describe what she's doing in a manner that earns some chuckles OOCly.

 

But it's entirely possible to have a character be "feral" in this manner and quite serious.  The trick is this: putting a lot of thought into why the character is how they are.  Tefh's upbringing is what made her who she is, and it is through her interactions with the community that she's begun to change and lessen the severity of her wolfish habits.  Body language, facial expressions, these are things we pick up on like any spoken language.  It's a means of communicating.  As she socializes more with normal people, she is replacing her habits and adapting to the 'new' body language so that others can better understand her.

 

Despite how sensitive I am to negative feedback (daisies are not known for being sturdy), I have a strange obsession with RPing characters who embody aspects that others tend to automatically hate, with the intention of showing others that not all ideas are as bad as they seem.  'Feral' Miqo'te, for example.  I've met a lot of people who dislike it heavily OOCly, but not once have I heard them complain about -my- character's habits, and they even continue to seek RP with me.  I guess it's a 'how you do it' thing.  I'm told I pull it off thoughtfully.

 

Wrapping up this longer-than-I-planned-on post, if you do happen to come across someone who is ICly a bit more...animalistic than you think is reasonable, consider this: what backstory could they have that might have given this result?  Not every RPer stepping out of the box is doing so blindly, and perhaps they're not actually passing the barrier of lore at all.  It's up to each person who they'd like to RP with and who they'd rather not, of course, but maybe withhold judgement on someone until you get a better eye for why they're doing what they do.

 

(re-stating, I am not racist against violets. sorry to any violets reading this but you guys are so shy omg)

[Berrod Armstrong]

Well put.

[Nebbs]

I kept meaning to post to this but people kept dangling RP string in front of me.. *pounce*

 

So I'll just leave this here, which I used to get some of the cat mannerisms.

 

Cat Speak