If racial traits are anything other than aesthetic, then I firmly oppose the idea. Currently, your character is not restricted by any choices you make before. You can buy any skill you want and choose which ones you wish to activate. You can respec as long as you have the cash to, which isn't much. There isn't any restrictions on the equipments you may use. Adding statistical racial traits breaks this.

Maybe, but it wouldn't have to. They wouldn't have to make it a overweening element of the game.

Let's say the impact is just the starting stats. It would give noobs an early boost in a particular stat, but 25 levels later, that initial boost would be insignificant to the additional point placement/re-specing.

But even if they made it with a long term impact, re-specing could also include re-racing.

It doesn't have to ruin the game -- it just means you may want to think a little harder about how to get the best of both worlds.

No, it will not be a very significant aspect as you level up. However, it is still a restriction. Also, if racial traits lose significant at higher levels... what on Earth is the point of having them at all?

As for re-racing, I have thought of that, and I think it just makes the idea of races even more excessive. If racial traits are insignificant at higher levels AND can be changed, that makes them mean next to nothing: it doesn't impact gameplay much at all. It's just another passive you can slap on and off at will, so why have it at all? And, if racial traits are powerful enough so that making it unrestricted does not make it meaningless, then we will see things like all Mages belonging to one race, all Fighters to another, and all Rangers to still another: something I do not wish to see. If racial traits do not lean towards any particular gameplay style... that's impossible. And if it is, then why bother having them if all of them are basically equal?

Personally, if races must be implemented, they should be aesthetic only. Racial traits will either restrict DR's open gameplay, or just be excessive.

I really dont like different races, they always seemed rather [censored] to me.

Though I guess they could be okay if they were actually original. As in never done before.

Edited by tappa (03/01/08 08:07 AM)

If the only benefit was a passive skill that could be purchased for other races (similar to how each class has their own starting skills, but can purchase any skill for any class) I'd be on board with "beginner" racial traits.

Personally, I'd rather be able to select four starting skills (five if there's a racial passive) during character creation instead of having them slotted for me automatically, though, which is a different, yet related suggestion.

I personally think it would be pretty sweet to have different aesthetic races (donkeymen, fishfolk, just go bonkers and try and have some really off the wall combos) it would be fun and fit the game in my opinion.

As for racial traits I disagree. we already have passives that accomplish this we don't need a bunch of fishy fighters and donkey mages running around to make everyone as similiar in apperance as they are now.

Alright, after all this boloney and pointless abstract arguing about races (since they don't even exist yet) I'm just going to have to say a general "no". I can't even begin to imagine all the in-game and "how to build the best...build" arguing this would begin, and taint the overtone and community of DR. After looking at the forums of 3 other games about races/classes, there are separate forums just arguing about THAT in those games. Bleh, no thank you - we obviously argue enough.

Customizable skills/choice of passive/active skills from a pool or list when you first make a character to stay with DR being classless and open while still giving a new option to the game and it's new players to come - "yes". We've discussed this before about a "custom" class when you begin a character and the only differences being your passives and active skills along with a little bit of equipment. I don't think it would be a stretch to implement/change to this (gaming and content-wise, I'm not sure of the programming requirements - but the devs need as little extra-work as we can push/demand upon them).

inyukun, you ripped on LegendRunner for his comment about not being able to see different races due to them being hidden by armor. You then suggested several very funny and unique races that would require new art and character models.

Now, because nobody agrees with you in regards to the racial characteristics, you're backpedaling and saying

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The aesthetics idea is fine, but so inconsequential -- you pick a race that no one will ever see -- as to be unworthy of the effort to program.

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You can't have it both ways. If new art and character models were created, based on the races you've suggested, for example, I would hardly call that inconsequential. Players would love it, regardless of having the benefit of innate racial traits. Why? Because they'd be fun!

As I stated before, inherent racial traits are contradictory to the overall design and implementation of today's game. I would support a swappable passive skill that could be purchased by any class and race (just like the starting "class" skills today), but not a permanent racial trait that would implicitly or explicitly force characters into playing certain classes for certain races. A starter racial passive would be an excellent compromise, should any innate racial traits ever be considered by the devs.

DR is different than other MMOs and I, for one, greatly appreciate it! I like not having skill trees, but instead being able to wield any skill and equip any piece of gear I want! I like not having standard fantasy races like Elves and Orcs that can only play (or should only play, due to racial traits) certain classes! I like your very funny and creative race ideas, but dislike how your suggestion for implementation would make DR more like other games.

In regards to this asinine comment of yours:

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Dang... for a community of wannabe warriors, we sure are afraid of a little change.

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Resorting in childish insults when nobody agrees with you shows both your level of immaturity and intelligence. It's the "Well, um, SHUT UP!!!" argument. Your comment is also blatantly untrue. I actively campaign for changes to the game on a regular basis. Perhaps if you actually read some of our posts instead of throwing barbs, you understand that.

Edited by Ripper_McGee (03/01/08 07:18 PM)