Game News Bioware needs your help!

[Rina]

(Poor attempt to be funny...)

In the distant land of Intarneth there is a dark swamp, and in middle of it lies the dark citadel of R'peehgikodex. It is the last fortress of ancient beings known as rullpleyars. Only few mortals have seen these hideous creatures, that are known to have a white skin and greasy hair. They are not much unlike pygmy-ogres, but they are slightly smarter. Many of them cover their eyes with weird glass objects, and their foul odour is known to repulse even the undead.

They have very little interest in lesser races, as they spend most of their time by debating about deeper mysteries of the universe. They are known to worship a mysterious being: Fall-Uth of Black Isles, who is a sleeping deity expected to rise again when the stars align correctly.

Racial modifers:

+ 15 to speechcraft.
They are vulnerable to daylight.
They cannot approach religious symbols of Bi-ohweer, Obs'ihdaan or Biteshda.

 

[Section8]

I'd like to see race that has a vastly different culture and outlook on life, and not just "we live in teh cavez!/treez!" but say a race that finds colour more important than life or death. Let's say these fuckers stumble upon a wood elf village, with a blue sky, and lots of greenery. So what's missing? The red balance is out of kilter, so it's time to flay some fucking elves.

These things would be fragmentary parts of some hivemind, hence the indifference to the death of a single entity, and that too would be interesting, especially if you could evoke multiple personalities simultaneously during social interactions. You also have a wealth of history and knowledge within telepathic reach.

Which brings in another interesting element, the notion of temporarily detaching from the security of the hivemind (due to physical, geographical or magical obstacles) and slowly degenerating physically and mentally, but gaining a broader freedom and realisation of individuality.

There's so much to be explored beyond the physical make up of races, but if I had to nominate one...

Instead of opting for a fixed physical form, something far more malleable would be interesting. Give the fuckers a humanoid form, don't allow drastic shapeshifting, like pouring one through a keyhole, but allow them to imitate certain things they 'sample' (ie loot). So instead of wielding a sword, you contort your form to imitate weapons and armour characteristics, but only after they have been 'consumed', so you can't just touch something and then take it's form, Robert Patrick style. You could even build in some kind of character progression to item consumption, a la pets in Dungeon Siege.

But anyway, my vote goes toward lizardmen/draconians. They're so much cooler.

 

[Trash]

Well, isn't there enough in the old folklore and legends? Ever heard about "the hunt"? Fearys/elves used to hunt people every once in awhile in a parody of a human medieval hunting party. Dogs, knights on horses and drivers hunting a poor human for hours before finishing him off. Always loved this dark legend, and was thrilled to discover that the old game darklands had a hunt encouinter. Elves frilly and gay? They used to be terrible inhuman immortal creatures that hunted us like animals in legend. That's the kinda elf I like to see in a game.

Or what about the vodyanoi. River dwelling beings that resemble toads. Plenty of east european legends about them. Otherwise read mieville's books, they appear frequently in it. Personally I think they rock, there is something cool about a fat toad that becomes an adventurer. Dunno why, I must be wierd.

If you really want new races/beings.

Beings that eat the flesh of the dead. like heyenas in Africa. They are shunned and the stuff of legend, said to know the deepest secrets of those they devour. Highly intelligent, yet secretive and staying far away from the mundane bussiness of the other races..

Pack hunters on the plains. Fast running small humanoids, they hunt in groups on larger prey. Intelligent but highly territiorial and as likely to talk as to kill you and eat you.

Otter like creatures. Living in lakes and rivers. Playfull, intelligent, short living yet also with a predators nature.

 

[obediah]

I'm still waiting on that dragonlance / warhammer crossover so I can run a snotling/gully dwarf party.

 

[Dreagon]

Lizardmen!

Big scaly lizardmen with clubs!
Tall scrawnly lizarman shamens with mossy staffs!
And different breeds of "lizards". Everything to crocodile types, to gila monster types, to big friggen frogs!

 

[Twinfalls]

Minor quibble - why are these things always called 'races' when it should be species?

Anyway, how about siamese-twin creatures, or creatures evolved from some kind of symbiotic relationship so there's a duality - you get stat boosts but also unpredictable behaviour and have to argue with yourself a lot.

Or a species of depressed porno studs.

Lets face it, nothing truly unusual is going to get in if the other species are humans, dwarves and elves. It's clear that Lizard-men or Orcs is what will happen.

 

[Volourn]

LlamaGod shouldn't talk about races. He obviously has no clue about dwarves, and elves.

Anyways, the 4th race should be a Hyradic Octopus. 8 heads + 8 arms = awesome.

 

[kingcomrade]

the next race should be your mom with my testicles in her mouth volourn

 

[Sol Invictus]

Is this thread supposed to be serious? More than half of the suggestions here happen to be anthropomorphic (Lizardmen, Wolfmen) or have already been done in other settings (Dark Elves, intelligent dwarves, orcs).

I don't think Bioware is looking for a race that already exists in other games.

 

[Chefe]

Chefe's Thoughts:

1. Black People
- Bonus to marksman
- Huge bonus to speed
- Bonus to luck
- Penalty to speechcraft/personality
- Penalty to reactions with guards
- Slight magic resistance
- Unable to use magic

This race would be a mix between combat and stealth. They come from the islands to the south of Fantasy Land. They're loyal to the humans, somewhat loyal to the dwarves, and neutral towards the elves.

2. Hunks
- Bonus to strength
- Huge bonus to constitution
- Huge bonus to beauty
- Slight bonus to charisma
- Bonus to reactions with women
- Severe penalty to intelligence/wisdom
- Penalty to perception
- Severe penalty to marksman weapons

This race is a mix between combat and personality. Although they can't persuade people, they're extremely likeable, especially by women. They come from all over Fantasy Land. They are loyal to everyone.

3. Crab People
- Huge bonus to persuade
- Bonus to intelligence
- Slight bonus to magic
- Penalty to charisma
- Severe penalty to strength
- Penalty to constitution

This race is a mix between magic and personality. They come from the underworld, and not much is known about them, although they can easily disguise themselves as other races and blend in with society. Rumor has it that they're hell-bent on the destruction of everyone in Fantasy Land, so naturally they're enemies of Humans, Elves, and Dwarves unless they're disguised as one of the races.

4. Chiuas
- Bonus to speed
- Bonus to marksman
- Bonus to charisma
- Bonus to trade
- Bonus to personality
- Penalty to strength
- Penalty to charisma
- Penalty to luck
- Less chance to hit in combat

A race of anthromorphic Chihuahuas. A good personality race, an adequate stealth race, and an extremely horrible combat race. They hail from the plains to the southwest. They are fierce allies with humans, neutral towards elves, and enemies to the dwarves.

 

[LlamaGod]

LlamaGod shouldn't talk about races. He obviously has no clue about dwarves, and elves.

Anyways, the 4th race should be a Hyradic Octopus. 8 heads + 8 arms = awesome.

and you do, oh mighty volourn?

normal elves and dwarves are overplayed and lame. I want realistically designed races and monsters in an RPG for once.

You can have your NWN bullshit.

 

[Drakron]

Is this thread supposed to be serious? More than half of the suggestions here happen to be anthropomorphic (Lizardmen, Wolfmen) or have already been done in other settings (Dark Elves, intelligent dwarves, orcs).

Perhaps because Dave is not being serious either?

I don't think Bioware is looking for a race that already exists in other games.

I dont think BioWare is looking for a race period.

If they are I have little faith of a game that decides to make a playable race being decided from a forum competition (or any type of contest) since this is world building we talking about, we cannot just shove in a race without the world supporting it.

 

[Avin]

1. undead dancers
2. terry pratchet's trolls
3. robots
4. humanoid carrots

gaider, go with sentient constructs and you'll be fine.

 

[Spazmo]

I don't think Bioware is looking for a race that already exists in other games.

Which is why Dragon Age will have dwarves, elves and (presumably) dragons.

 

[Walks with the Snails]

Well, they've got humans, elves, and dwarves. I don't think the possibilities for the fourth can really get too funky or else it would add too many of those horrid options and the *gasp* exponential increase in dialogue options that must be written. So it will need to fit nicely with "Hello, noble $char_race, I have heard a lot of good things about you, would you mind taking this package and delivering it to the innkeeper?" So no giant amoebas or insectoid hivemind thingy.

For the fourth race, I see a race of small people. Thick hair on the tops of their feet. Mostly quiet and keep to themselves, only the horridly uncivlized ones would ever be caught dead adventuring. Fond of large meals and long naps.

 

[Zomg]

Just rip off the Ur-Quan.

 

[Volourn]

"the next race should be your mom with my testicles in her mouth volourn"

So... you are one of those Hyradic Octupi, huh?


"normal elves and dwarves are overplayed and lame. I want realistically designed races and monsters in an RPG for once."

1. Realism in a fantasy game? Hahahahahahahahahahahahhaha!!!

2. Dwarves car never be overplayed.

3. Your descriptions of dwarves, and elves in an earlier post is nonsense, and doens't come close tod efining the 'typical' 'fantasy' elf.


"You can have your NWN bullshit."

Damn straight I will. Though, trying to figure out what my 'NWN bullshit' has to do with you being a moron when it comes to fantasy races.

Moron.

 

[Major_Blackhart]

Techno Barbarians. That's all I'm contributing to this.

 

[Section8]

I want Volourn as a playable race.

 

[DarkSign]

Techno Barbarians. That's all I'm contributing to this.

Thats like saying non-arrogant Frenchman.

Or Sarvis PhD.

The two dont mix.

 

[kris]

I did create a couple of races for PnP before. While many have been used in some ways by others or are variations of others I did some "animal-type" creatures that looked interesting as they where quite original. But I only used them once. I even did my own concept drawings of them. Maybe I should scan my old picture...

Anyway, the one in particular didn't look like one particular animal and was humanoid. furry like a bearand with a head like you never seen. They where attuned to nature in a way Elves are sometimes described as and could telepathically commune with animals. I don't know how that would make for a good player race though as I found them as big treehuggers

One favourite race of mine that I made was some feral elves. While I called them "Rinni-elves" they where not like elves at all. Short, strong and fast and with nails that was orme like claws. No mages among them and a demeanor that could be described as feral and playful. Clearly cat inspiration.

... Another treehugger though... :D

I must mention one funny invention that was not mine. a Swedish roleplaying game had Ducks as a race, yes the Donald Duck style ones. Many of them were pirates :D

Wormpeople! or maybe not...

Otherwise I came thinking of rabbits, why did I never make a rabbit people? Rabbits are cute, I am sure the furries all want to be rabbits. But really they make cute people and I like cute.

 

[Shagnak]

Techno Barbarians. That's all I'm contributing to this.

Thats like saying non-arrogant Frenchman.

Or Sarvis PhD.

The two dont mix.

It does if they're a barbarian culture that has come across hi-tech. Or has had it for so long that their culture has blended it into it as sources of "magic" or witchcraft, wihtout any knowledge on how it really works.

Or maybe he means...barbarians in tight lycra that like to go to disco a lot.
Yeah, that's what it is.

 

[Chefe]

So no giant amoebas or insectoid hivemind thingy.

LIVE FOR THE SWARM!

 

[kris]

It does if they're a barbarian culture that has come across hi-tech. Or has had it for so long that their culture has blended it into it as sources of "magic" or witchcraft, wihtout any knowledge on how it really works.

You mean like Battlefield earth? That teached me how easy it is to fly combat aircraft

 

[MINIGUNWIELDER]

Just some ideas that relate to this i've had when it comes to races:

1.I've always wanted INTELLIGENT dwarves, not hardy/stocky ones. I figure dwarves are always inventing shit and they live in caves all day and are suppost to be great designers, why are they never intelligence based?

I figure a mage would be far more useful and common in dwarven caves, to be there as Administrators for mining and such. Also to make and operate machinery, gain knowledge of any new beasts or races they might find, make powerful wards to protect areas and such.

They could also know things about cave structure and what kinds of ore they are finding.

I also figure if they live in caves all day they probably spend more time reading than they do fighting and crap.

I know they get a 'hardy' sort of attitude from working as miners, but I think it would be cooler for them to be an Intelligence race that uses weird machinery to mine caves.


2.ANOTHER thing that has always bugged me is that Elves are almost always both Agility/Intelligence based. I never understood why.

1.your thinking about the gnomes from dragonlance and dwarven mages/psions are pretty common in some campaigns however the god of dwarves has a giant hammer as his hs which is very obvious
2.they reach adulthood at around 115 and are fairly wimpy-2 constitution