Why no new races? - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Fox Reeveheart

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Michigan

none q.q

D/

16 Feb 2006 at 02:24 - 1

I remember when I first came onto GwG here, what I mostly was seeing was all these threads about "Whats going to be the next race for the expansion?"

And there were all these ideas buzzing about. Dwarves, Charr, etc. Or something completely new?

Heck even Anet talked about new races for expansions.

Infact, I didnt even see a question about new races in their FAQ, has nobody been asking about this or something?

This is one thing I am disappointed about

I for one hate humans, HATE THEM. except cute girls >.>

But the point is in every game I ever play, I play EVERYTHING ELSE except humans. I am a human in real life! The point of doing pretend is to be something I am not

like a human!

Its an asian themed expansion this time.. How about some sort of cool-ass half dragon race or something? I mean jeez.

Has anet said anything about this recently or what?

Vilaptca

Pre-Searing Vanquisher

Join Date: Jun 2005

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

16 Feb 2006 at 02:26 - 2

Pretty sure they said no new playable races. But there will always be new races to kill and visit, etc...

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

16 Feb 2006 at 02:32 - 3

Quote:

I remember when I first came onto GwG here, what I mostly was seeing was all these threads about "Whats going to be the next race for the expansion?"

And there were all these ideas buzzing about. Dwarves, Charr, etc. Or something completely new?

Heck even Anet talked about new races for expansions.

Infact, I didnt even see a question about new races in their FAQ, has nobody been asking about this or something?

This is one thing I am disappointed about

I for one hate humans, HATE THEM. except cute girls >.>

But the point is in every game I ever play, I play EVERYTHING ELSE except humans. I am a human in real life! The point of doing pretend is to be something I am not like a human!

Its an asian themed expansion this time.. How about some sort of cool-ass half dragon race or something? I mean jeez.

Has anet said anything about this recently or what?

This has been answered, Guild Wars is realistic to its not fantasy. Not a fantasy game.

Quote:

cool-ass half dragon race

Got to love sterotypes.

EDIT- Blah mixed up Races with Playable Professions.

Ubernoob

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

Look behind you...

Pronteria Knights

E/N

16 Feb 2006 at 03:06 - 4

Awww whats wrong with being humans? I always love being humans because they are always seen as the inferiour race (No magical abilites etc...) It just feels good when you beat the crap out of some girly Elves "Yeah!!! Wheres your magic now HUH!?"

m30wc0w

Academy Page

Join Date: Nov 2005

FERRET LAND

R/Me

16 Feb 2006 at 03:18 - 5

You are absolutely right! Anet should lose a bunch of customers to please a small portion of the Guild Wars population!

LaserLight

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2005

La La Land

[NOVA]

A/

16 Feb 2006 at 03:30 - 6

Quote:

You are absolutely right! Anet should lose a bunch of customers to please a small portion of the Guild Wars population!

Why would this happen?

Really, I see no reason why being able to play as a different-looking race would be bad. Anet obviously has no policy against nonhuman sentient races (Dwarves, Charr, Mursaat, ...weird floaty guys who Infuse...), so if they were to drive off players who dislike dealing with nonhumans, they've already done so.

Really, it would just be another choice, like character gender. Probably wouldn't eve impact balance any, just be cosmetic. And if it wasn't we know Anet would work its collective balls off to make sure the balance remained. There's no real negative here...

Ultimate_Gaara

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jun 2005

BC, Canada.. how aboot that eh?

16 Feb 2006 at 03:47 - 7

I never really remeber anything about Anet saying there will be new races to play as, however I do remember a great deal of chat about it on guru and in the game. Personaly I would like to see new races some time down the line, only one race makes everyone look too much alike. For example I was playing as my ranger today and warped in to town, then I got up to get a drink and when I came back I thought I was playing as my warrior because some guy had warped right on top of me with the same armor and colour as my warrior.

Now I don't understand why some people don't want to have new races because I can not see it doing any harm. Of course this is coming from a huge fan of the Zerg and Protoss, so others could think diffrent.

Thom

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jan 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 03:48 - 8

It would be hard for race to be done well in a game like guild wars. I see three options:
1)Cosmetic Races that make no difference in the game and play all professions.
2)Classes with other races. Would be the best chioce from a feasibity stand point.
3)Races that augment the existing classes. That is to say, you'd get extra skills/abilities/bar levels depending on race. This is typical for rpgs, but not easy to balance. We really don't want all warriors to be dwarves and all rangers to be elves.

Not a fun choice really.

twicky_kid

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

Quite Vulgar [FUN]

16 Feb 2006 at 04:18 - 9

So they can keep EoE overpowered

Ristaron

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Mar 2005

Canada, eh?

Legion Of Valhalla

E/

16 Feb 2006 at 04:55 - 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by twicky_kid

So they can keep EoE overpowered

lule

I for one have to give a big fat

at Anet for not including new races. I mean, seriously... you have dwarves and humans in Tyria, and in Cantha you're definately meeting new races... why can you not play other races? Even dwarves would be an expansion... being able to play them since YOU'RE coming from Tyria, and they're also from Tyria...
NOT A BIG STRETCH!

Then you could have race-based classes... dwarves can't be (for example: ) mesmers, but nor can humans be a Dwarven Berserker, a class unique to the dwarves (among perhaps another few).

Then, next chapter, you can have another few professions that can only be accessed by ANOTHER new race.
This human-only thing does set Guild Wars apart from some other mainstream games... but it's silly.
At least give us the means to give our characters radically different looks in the mean time (eg. pointed ears, four arms, etc).

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 06:35 - 11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ristaron

I for one have to give a big fat

at Anet for not including new races. I mean, seriously... you have dwarves and humans in Tyria, and in Cantha you're definately meeting new races... why can you not play other races? Even dwarves would be an expansion... being able to play them since YOU'RE coming from Tyria, and they're also from Tyria...
NOT A BIG STRETCH!

8 professions. Say, 10 armour sets per profession, per gender, give or take a few. Thats around 160 different armoursets. For humans. You going to help them create the art for the new armoursets for current classes, new classes, and new races? Game art isn't something they snap their fingers for and it appears.

Fox Reeveheart

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Michigan

none q.q

D/

16 Feb 2006 at 07:20 - 12

I swear on my life when I saw I remember reading up on one of those interviews with guild wars before it released, one question they asked was about new races.

I do remember the answer was NOT a no. I don't forget what it was exactly. I mean why make all the chat about it if they already said they wouldnt?

I could swear they said something about other races in other expansions.

GAILE! WE NEED YOU TO CLEAR THIS UP FOR US!

Are there any plans for races in the future?

I agree that dwarves would not be a big stretch, heck, from what it seemed, they are just as strong as ANY human character. I guess it would just be kinda odd making dwarven females.

How can you say its NOT fantasy when they have DWARVES! I mean seriously! Realistic my butt! This is a fantasy MMORPG and you know it!

And I only said half-dragon because factions is asian themed....

Maybe next expansion will be.... gothic themed? (dunnO) and maybe we will have half-demon races (like tieflings, NOT like inuyasha)

*kills all the inuyasha fans out there*

tieflings = DnD race of basically humans with 1/8 demon in them

but enough to make them look cool and the girls are extra sexy <3

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 07:32 - 13

They said it would happen, but not in the first expansion, and unlikely in the second. But we would get new races. I wouldn't expect more classes in those expansions. Creating the art for a new race is going to be enough.

Soul Shaker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Soul Crusaders

16 Feb 2006 at 08:36 - 14

It's not a fantasy because strangely enough, there's no goblins. WHERE ARE THE GOBLINS?!?!! YOU FORGOT THE DAMN WELL GOBLINS!!!!

We do have dwarves...you know...really short people...like one of the teachers at school...short and angry. Very angry.

On suggestions for new races can i PLEASE be a nightwalker (the 20ft tall, 12 000 pound DnD kind)

Or a naga...

Or...i'll just take a seer...or glint.

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 08:44 - 15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soul Shaker

It's not a fantasy because strangely enough, there's no goblins. WHERE ARE THE GOBLINS?!?!! YOU FORGOT THE DAMN WELL GOBLINS!!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fantasy Definition

Fantasy is fiction that features elements of magic, wizardry, supernatural feats, and entities that suspend conventions of realism in the literary arts. Fantasy can resemble prose versions of epics and rhymes, may be informed by mythic cycles or folkloric material derived from cultures worldwide. Fantasy fiction may be guided primarily by the author's own distinctive imagery and personalized archetypes. ...

GG...

Kaguya

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jan 2006

Moon

Mo/

16 Feb 2006 at 08:44 - 16

The moment they introduce elves as playable race, I'm quitting the game.

Adding in new races would prolly introduce a new balancing aspect, a new skillset, as in my opinion, adding a new race without anything else than visual differences is pretty pointless. May it be faster running/attacks/breed specific skills/whatever, but still.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Reeveheart

This is a fantasy MMORPG and you know it!

It's not a MMO

Soul Shaker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Aug 2005

Sunshine Coast, Australia

Soul Crusaders

16 Feb 2006 at 08:45 - 17

sarcasm intended.

Mentalmdc

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Aug 2005

Vile Of Faith [NOVA]

Mo/Me

16 Feb 2006 at 08:56 - 18

One day Anet will run out of ideas for new classes so that will probably be the day when a new race comes out, prebuilt classes just got to make the armour and such.

Fantus

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 09:20 - 19

I wouldn't mind new playable races, but I don't overly care for them either. I am perfectly happy playing humans at this time. Currently I'd rather see more content and more armor and other customization for humans. With a later expansion, other races would be nice, though. Maybe dwarves and elves for a start. But as I said, no biggie right now.

Tur713

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Feb 2005

Pink Animal Clan

E/Me

16 Feb 2006 at 09:50 - 20

I'm on the boat with the idea of purely cosmetic races. If they can have the Ogre-Slaying Knife, Wintersday and Halloween headgear, 15k and FoW armor, they can certainly add cosmetic races. (given due time for the creative process of course)

calamitykell

Banned

Join Date: Aug 2005

N.Y.C.

16 Feb 2006 at 10:26 - 21

Because to play as a new race, they'd need to develop an entire separate storyline for them, and you know what? That's a bit too much damned work just for an aesthetic purpose.

I say keep it human, keep it simple, and just improve on it, ArenaNet. Kudos to you for staying with your goal and not trying to suddenly be everything that EVERY OTHER ONLINE RPG is. I much prefer it this way.

-Loki-

Forge Runner

Join Date: Oct 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 10:34 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kaguya

The moment they introduce elves as playable race, I'm quitting the game.

They won't be, so don't fear.

Symbol

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Aug 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 12:12 - 23

Adding races is a waste of time. I'd much rather A.net spend their time on:
1) Balancing skills for existing professions
2) Adding new skills
3) Adding new professions

in that order.

Snowman

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Apr 2005

Wales, UK

Devils Scorpions

W/E

16 Feb 2006 at 13:30 - 24

This doesnt bother me personally, but I can see how people would want a different race.

As for why GW hasnt gone for it, well I dont know.. Guildwars is a very unique game maybe they didnt actually want to jump on the d&d / wow band wagon.

Also, race's tend to benefit from some natural ability and the sacrifice of another natural ability..

for example, stronger but less intelligent, more intelligent but not as strong..

so you would need more than just one race, you would need another race to balance it out.. but rather than being basically exact opposites you would have four races.. who can then intermix.

This, for the moment would be WAY to complex, just from a statistical point of view.

Then comes the matter of the modeling, animation, clothing plus male and female varients... as it stands we Humans are very good at reproducing a life like (sexy and handsome) looking human!

We can make humans realistically, that walks, talks and reactes very human-like.. but its very difficult to make a fictional character look as realistic (or even sexy) simply because there are SO many different people with vastley differing opinions on what such fictional races would look like.

remember though, I dont think ANET are completly ruling it out.. Factions is only the first expansion... if they do one a year (as opposed to the one every 3 months they originaly said) then they would need to have new idea's for new content in the future.

If they did introduce a new race(s) I would much prefer to see a radically different type of race as opposed to Dwarf / elf d&d look-alikes.

Alotia Slipfeet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Iowa

R/E

16 Feb 2006 at 13:43 - 25

screw half dragons give me dragons to play! i was blown away when i first saw the dragons in the dragons lair.

Poison Ivy

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jan 2006

Toronto

Hopping

Mo/A

16 Feb 2006 at 13:50 - 26

Screw dragons, I want a turtle to play!

LightningHell

(????????????)???

Join Date: Aug 2005

Hong Kong

Guildless

Mo/

16 Feb 2006 at 14:19 - 27

Screw turtles, I want my sheep!

fiery

Banned

Join Date: Oct 2005

maryland

InYurFace Gaming [IYF]

R/

16 Feb 2006 at 14:32 - 28

Screw Sheep, I want my Green Bunny!

o gawd this gunna be closed for relentless nonsense

Alotia Slipfeet

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2006

Iowa

R/E

16 Feb 2006 at 15:07 - 29

ok i was thinking if any new races were going to be added, anet has already had some idea of what dragons look, sound and fight like. also if they did a good job they would have a race that very few games have been able to master because of the diffuculties involved in it.

Nevin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 15:09 - 30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Reeveheart

I remember when I first came onto GwG here, what I mostly was seeing was all these threads about "Whats going to be the next race for the expansion?"

And there were all these ideas buzzing about. Dwarves, Charr, etc. Or something completely new?

Heck even Anet talked about new races for expansions.

Infact, I didnt even see a question about new races in their FAQ, has nobody been asking about this or something?

This is one thing I am disappointed about

I for one hate humans, HATE THEM. except cute girls >.>

But the point is in every game I ever play, I play EVERYTHING ELSE except humans. I am a human in real life! The point of doing pretend is to be something I am not

like a human!

Its an asian themed expansion this time.. How about some sort of cool-ass half dragon race or something? I mean jeez.

Has anet said anything about this recently or what?

I've seen a lot of "why not this why not that" posts from you, and its lead me to wonder.. If you dislike so many things about GW why do you play it? If you want races with almost no difference play EQ2 or something, jeez.

Anyways, I like how they concentrate on one race.. The way I look at it, is the human race itself is a bunch of "races" in one, and guild wars offers that in the customability. And please no "half dragon", "half pig", "Half elf" races... I'm fine with humans.

Akathrielah

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Jul 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 16:09 - 31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fox Reeveheart

I remember when I first came onto GwG here, what I mostly was seeing was all these threads about "Whats going to be the next race for the expansion?"

And there were all these ideas buzzing about. Dwarves, Charr, etc. Or something completely new?

Heck even Anet talked about new races for expansions.

Infact, I didnt even see a question about new races in their FAQ, has nobody been asking about this or something?

This is one thing I am disappointed about

I for one hate humans, HATE THEM. except cute girls >.>

But the point is in every game I ever play, I play EVERYTHING ELSE except humans. I am a human in real life! The point of doing pretend is to be something I am not

like a human!

Its an asian themed expansion this time.. How about some sort of cool-ass half dragon race or something? I mean jeez.

Has anet said anything about this recently or what?

www.worldofwarcraft.com

Same goes for any other carebear that wants to turn this game into another WoW/D2.

Go play WoW, leave GW alone.

Fox Reeveheart

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Jul 2005

Michigan

none q.q

D/

16 Feb 2006 at 16:21 - 32

As said, I'm a human in real life, i DONT want to be one in a computer game.

If GW had gone the way of WoW and D&D and kept it free instead of this new road, i GUARANTEE you they would still have the fanbase they have now, maybe not the same people, but the population would be the same.

No pay to play = gg

Besides I know they said other ones were being considered at least, if not this expansion then my guess is next expansion..... guild wars: Deception? just a guess.

I would like new races, but agreed they shouldnt go with cookie cutter races.... EXCEPT DWARF! PLEASE THEY ALREADY MADE THEM NPCS! WHY NOT PCS?!?

Make something original i suppose.... something like a tiny yipping dog lizard race like kobolds... so cute

Lex Talionis

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Sep 2005

in the real world away from virtual idiots

Wtf Is Guildwars [Duno]

16 Feb 2006 at 16:39 - 33

Quote:

Originally Posted by calamitykell

Because to play as a new race, they'd need to develop an entire separate storyline for them, and you know what? That's a bit too much damned work just for an aesthetic purpose.

I say keep it human, keep it simple, and just improve on it, ArenaNet. Kudos to you for staying with your goal and not trying to suddenly be everything that EVERY OTHER ONLINE RPG is. I much prefer it this way.

I totally agree with this

The Mighty Toe

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

Dolus Of Amicitia

E/R

16 Feb 2006 at 16:43 - 34

Ummmm.. as much as this may sound stupid, you can technically already make a dwarf or elf, if you use the height slider in character creation. Just a thought. Just so I know: can someone tell me where in Guild Wars elves appear?

And really; this game has a storyline (albeit a very confused one) centred around humans and their attempts to survive in an everchanging world. Dwarves or even, yuck... elves wouldn't really have a place in it (other than that which thay already have; if any).

living too die

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Aug 2005

usa

A/

16 Feb 2006 at 17:14 - 35

well.. you do realize that IF a-net did impart some new races.. that 50% of the people that are b*tching to get them now are just going to start b*tching that they dont like the hair styles... the faces... the armors... you just can't please the people.

personally, i think a-net has done a great job with the game so far. i think they are playing it smart instead of rushing into new classes and making a new sh*tstorm for themselves to play in, just because some people don't like to play humans anymore

CKaz

Jungle Guide

Join Date: Feb 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 17:38 - 36

Ok back to the OP's question, I know I was one of the players thinking we were going to get dwarves or something different to play as. Not much was known but coulda sworn it was hinted at by their team/Gaile.

Whether you love/like/dis-like the idea I know that seemed to be the buzz but has since disappeared (maybe as they looked at it and decided not too, or maybe that train of thought was de-railed), either way I think it's something valid to bring up. A lot of time early buzz about a product and what it might do changes - heck if I can dig it up I think I could even find a statement that suggests they were still open to race ideas.

And again at least a train of that thought was playable race(s).

Me? I don't care so much.
I just want more than two new character slots, working on a linked account, and not being being milked at the point of purchase to get them.

Ifmiren

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2005

Legion of Souls (LoS)

16 Feb 2006 at 18:23 - 37

Here's are some thoughts; first maybe the management, in their infinite wisdom, does not wish to flood the early chapters of GW (i.e. Ascalon City) with tons of dwarves or charr or whatever other races that might come later. Thus far, the storyline is centered in human kingdoms. While the dwarven kingdoms do exist, there is no reason for dwarves to be fighting anywhere but in the Shiverpeaks. I figure, if future chapters do include new races, the storyline will be centered on those races as well, both to give a feel of how the races should act and behave and a reason for them to be mingling and fighting with humans.

Secondly, maybe ANet wishes to have a substantial human population before introducing new races. I know in my own PnP games, that once I give players the option of being nonhuman that 4 in 5 characters will choose something nonhuman, even when the gameworld says that nonhumans are relatively rare. If, for example, they allow dragonkind or half-dragons, you will suddenly see dragonkind everywhere as at least every account will have one. Hence, there will be no novelty to it and no wonder. The only way to counterbalance this is to give the character substantial penalties to make it so that only a rare person would want to play them. But then, what would be the point? Likely, you will see about half of the population switching to non-human in the chapter that it is introduced. And hopefully the story will be centered around that.

So, that being said, I look forward for the chapters in the future where humans and another race intermingle in plot and culture, but think that ANet should definitely not rush the transition. It will be fun when the time comes.

Network

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jul 2005

16 Feb 2006 at 19:06 - 38

If you want new races head over to World Of Warcraft. Guildwars has become very boring since they announced the new expansion.

Neriandal Freit

Forge Runner

Join Date: Nov 2005

Spiral of The Red Rose, Kryta (Columbus, IN)

Heros of Titans Realm [HotR]

E/

16 Feb 2006 at 19:11 - 39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Network

If you want new races head over to World Of Warcraft. Guildwars has become very boring since they announced the new expansion.

I wouldn't say Guildwars has became very boring. What has happend is that 90% of plays have already done everything they want to in the game, and now (like my self) we're all just bouncy around on it basically. Factions isn't an exansipn tho, it's a PvP Branching, which I find rather spiffy. Chapter 2 is the expansion and will be wonderful.

But, I agree, there should be no new playable races. I don't want to see that, even tho I'm convinced those Bandits in pre-sear are Halfbreeds (one Human Grawl, the other Human Dwarf

)

Glasswalker

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2005

Northwest Ascalon

Freedom

N/R

16 Feb 2006 at 19:27 - 40

Gaile hasn't said flat out no this time, but as of late December she said she has not seen other playable races in Factions, and didn't expect it to be a feature. She also said that it is still in the plan for later expansions.

I too get into games to play something different. I've played human for most of my life, so if other things come up in a good game, I always go for them. I have faith in ANet. I think that they can come up with other races that are a wee bit different, and maintain balance. I don't think there would be much joy in playing a Rukkha if the differences were mearly cosmetic. That would mean they would have to come up with all the different art assets, and in the end deliver no different experience.

That being said, I'm comfortable waiting. Let that be in an expansion that is centered around them so that they don't have to worry about racial balance and tons of other stuff as well. They can do the back story, etc. Whether that is the third or eighth expansion, I will probably be here, and Necromancer will probably still be a favorite of mine.

Give me a Rukkha (yes, I made that up) with Enchantments always 10% longer, but enemy hexes also last 10% longer on me. I won't play him because he's uber, but I will play him because he's different (not sexy) and I will try to make him survivable. It will also be fun watching people searching the desert for their Collector's Monk Sandals for their Forgotten Mo/Me. :P

People complain about the current faces/armors/weapon skins/dances already, so I see no difference there.

Oh, and Factions is the name of Chapter 2. The two are interchangable.