Which Race Are You?

Atelier · Tue 27/04/2010 19:51:57

In my game, Text Quest, the player gets to decide which type of beast they are. Depending on which you choose the plot will be slightly changed, you'll be able to access exclusive areas, talk to different people, etc - but which creatures should make it onto the list? I'm posting this because I wanted to steer away from the hackneyed choices of human, elf, goblin; but while being different they still need to retain some of the traditional RPGness, and also offer a wide choice for players.

So, which class would you be?

Chicky · Tue 27/04/2010 19:55:46

Skateboarder?

Calin Leafshade · Tue 27/04/2010 19:57:46

Generally in RPGs there is a distinction between class and race.

human, elf, goblin etc are races
classes are things like warrior, druid, mage etc

so what are we talking about? race or class?

Atelier · Tue 27/04/2010 20:02:36

Sharp observation. Seeing as it's not a MMORPG I'm not having two classifications, just a species.

So let me rephrase: Which race are you?

Sslaxx · Tue 27/04/2010 20:18:45

Quote from: AtelierGames on Tue 27/04/2010 20:02:36
Sharp observation. Seeing as it's not a MMORPG I'm not having two classifications, just a species.

So let me rephrase: Which race are you?

Dalek?

Calin Leafshade · Tue 27/04/2010 20:22:35

I'm a damn err Valunarian!!

The mythical Dragon-Born shall forever rule the skies!

Atelier · Tue 27/04/2010 20:26:36

Ahem, awesome!

ThreeOhFour · Tue 27/04/2010 20:27:14

Malkavian!

No wait! Modron!

NO! I got it! A Mimir!

Gah! Too many to choose from.

Dualnames · Tue 27/04/2010 20:43:12

Betelguesian?

Radiant · Tue 27/04/2010 20:44:49

S'Sirthe?
Theria?

Cirius · Tue 27/04/2010 21:14:40

Cirius would be a hoopy frood who really knows where his towel is.

Ponch · Tue 27/04/2010 21:15:05

Texan?

Khris · Tue 27/04/2010 21:17:15

I guess it would help to have some background info...
What's the setting? Age? etc.

Atelier · Tue 27/04/2010 21:26:31

Medieval Fantasy, with a Scandinavian terrain - forests, mountains, tundras, castles... in an age where man has just begun to emerge on top but life is still humble.

I really like the idea of lesser sprites from folklore

Khris · Tue 27/04/2010 21:36:10

Hm, how about Viking (warrior), Celt (dwarf), Wulfman (elf), Bearsomething (barbarian), Pirate (thief/rogue)?

Edit: that's combinations of race and class. Oh well.

Anian · Tue 27/04/2010 22:00:18

...have you actually checked out "norse mythology" in wikipedia? Because many "races" are actually pretty close to elf (alfar, humans could become them after death), dwarfs (those are just called Dvergar but are basically the same as main stream dwarfs), humans etc. But maybe try to use the mixed up stuff (who says there must be some famous/major races in that world, right?), like forest spirits, ice giants, humans with deer heads...

But races could have some impact on the story, I mean some histories could be motivation for certain events, maybe humans have emerged cause they were cast out of heaven/Asgard like place, or rather lost their immortality etc.

It also depends if your going for high fantasy or sword and sorcery, cause it depends how unhuman the not-human races will be as well. In S&S you might only have races of men and some demons/rare species (see Conan for example), while in high fantasy you'd get much bigger populations (like Lord of the rings etc. where you have whole nations of certain species).

As an inspiration for mixed up stuff, I suggest list of gods from the book American Gods, which within the story shows gods from "old world" modified by american history and immigrants (the actual story is not about that, but still a lot of work was devouted to that):
http://www.frowl.org/gods/gods.html

Saberteeth · Tue 27/04/2010 22:12:38

I'm white.

kaputtnik · Tue 27/04/2010 22:20:17

King!

Oh, that's neither a race nor a class, right?

Mr Flibble · Tue 27/04/2010 22:27:51

Can I just ask; don't use made up ridiculous things.

If the player has to compare your classes/races to other existing types, then you've failed.
A good example I think are the FF13 classes, I've yet to see a review of this game which doesn't qualify the classes by an explanation of what they REALLY are. Something similar applies to races; calling your elves "N'y'rwold Treefolke" and your goblins "horklings" isn't the same as being original, and it's arguably worse than just using the standard tropes.

Captain Ricco · Tue 27/04/2010 22:50:48

how about going anthro?

Like, wolf people, then you could base their culture around the way real wolf packs work
Lion people, with huntresses and the king
tiger people, the badass loners
and so on