Races... useless?

[Rowgen]

Post because I want like-

*Cough* So, basically, we all agree.

[Aadora]

Fun is for Hordies!

You know... ones who go on Conquests and such.

[Lunaxy]

All draenei should fall for orcs.
Because Logar needs some love.

... Joking, of course.

[Wuvvums]

I actually couldn't get the point of your first post well, but I guess it's that people are complaining about other people's characters. This just happens a lot on coth, really, I think all of us do it sometime especially if a character is just radically different from the racial norm.

No one is saying you can't love an orc or a blood elf but you should also keep in mind that your relationship is not normal and it could in fact make other people of your race hate you, or even want to kill you. And I don't mean other players, I mean your people as a whole, including the NPCs and the city you hail from. These situations don't exist in a vacuum; there is still a world around you beyond the player characters, and you should take consideration to how the world thinks of you. Players can be unique but being radically unique comes with consequences.

This could easily be demonstrated as a real life example in many variations based off of the cultural norms. It's like if I went to everyone in real life and told them how I am not having children, in a culture that favors having children and having babies. While I do feel right in my decision I know it would give me a lot of grief, some people would try and change my mind and others would consider me defective. There would also probably be a few who'd be like "accidents can happen."

And while it's not as hostile there are other stances and positions I have that could be considered radical and so I don't go parading them around, and in fact I'm rather quiet about them. I probably shouldn't be but like other folks I sort of want to be accepted by society at some level so I would keep these things secret. I think the thing with special unique characters is that they are not self conscious to any extent, they don't really think or care about what others think, and why they may insist that it doesn't matter I think it really does have an impact on a person if others think of them poorly.


But that's my two cents. You can be defiantly proud of what you are and in some cases that's good but you should also consider the world around you and how you would be treated for it.

[Rigley]

I'm very much in agreement that while racial oddities -could- be played, they should only be done so if you are willing to play the consequences and be self-aware as well.

An example I use often yet (at least in my mind) is a good example of this is a Forsaken priest I play-- she uses the Holy Light, and thus is effectively barred from traveling around Forsaken territory, on risk of being taken down by a mob or just a few angry residents; I've even said that guards would likely look the other way as long as an action against her wasn't severe. The point is she is a pariah, and that is an actual effect upon her.

Now, you don't need to be nearly affected as much as that, but in the very least you should understand that there will be a negative connotation socially to your character-- and that your character is -not- the norm. I've seen characters with a normal perspective of races, factions, etc. essentially be shamed and outcast from groups for that, and that's really where the ultimate failing in all of this lies; we've made so many exceptions to the standards of a race that at points those playing the 'normal character' are completely ostracized from the group.

So yeah. That sums up my bit.

[Saiyuu]

I think Aadora's point isn't about how the players are playing the said characters, it is how those more "traditional" or "normal" players want to force their opinions on whoever plays differently. It's pretty much like Lox said, my opinion here is that people should just have fun around, as long as they aren't killing Lore or doing any prejudice to the community.


Hell, if having a Tauren and a Gnome being a couple is your cup of tea, good luck. I can or may not agree with the idea, but who am I to say you are wrong or that the thought of said couple is utterly ridiculous?

[Uguu]

...



"If you don't like the character, then don't roleplay with them."


...

[Rigley]

I'm of the opinion that many of these opinions being forced on people are forced on them for the reasons I've stated above.

No one person is the cause of the whole thing; both are at fault. To say that this is a completely one-sided issue is pretty insulting.

And perhaps, Uguu, but what if that starts becoming a majority for a player? It's rather sad when a 'normal' group of characters cannot be found, or a 'normal' character cannot fit in with a group.

I say normal with the marks of course because a normal character doesn't make a bland character. Adhering to a social standard only sets a tone for your character, but it does not fully encompass it. Even if a character has standard viewpoints they can have a personality, backstory, etc.

EDIT: Actually, hold up.

People from the other side of this argument do the same thing, now that I think of it. I've had numerous exchanges where people have attempted to twist over my character's motives, ICly and OOCly. I've been told before that my character should not be racist towards X for Y. I know some characters who have almost been just outright killed for following the norm.

It goes both ways.

[Wuvvums]

I can vouch for this that OOCly and ICly I've seen people try to force normal characters to not be normal. If I had a dime for every time I was told my orc should not hate humans despite being born enslaved, I'd probably have a dollar at least. And people are VERY pushy when trying to get others to accept other races.

[muhaha8]

I agree with Rigley. What's considered the racial norm by lore terms is largely being turned into the minority, which is saddening. I cannot, for the life of me, find any roleplay on my two Kaldorei any longer, because they both are among the few traditional characters left, and no matter how I justify it, they just won't interact with the new norm.

Edit: What Wuvvums said. I've been attacked personally for playing a character not accepting of other races. So when people say I'm at fault for trying to push traditional values (which I usually won't do because it's not worth the effort), I tend to get a good laugh.

[DaveM]

Indeed, the problem is not any one person doing one thing, but rather the PC population (hehe, PC, see what I did thare?) countering what the NPC population would be saying.

I for one have no issues with visualisng that the high-powered, typically inter-cultural circles that PCs usually represent actually do look down on racial preconceptions even in the World of war, but I can well see how it can and will bother those that want to play traditionalist characters. The one PC death I ever experienced came from an incident involving a troll standing up and assaulting my belf for picking on a gnome. And then a human backing up that troll. Heh. Yeah. It can get out of hand.

[Yandere]

"B-But you can't tell me how to RP.."

For heck's sake. Have reason behind your characaters. If the character in question is out of the social-norm, you will probably be shunned by bloody society or worse. I'm a player of logical characters, they all had a PATH of HOW they came to be. They just didn't decide the other day to become 'lolrandom' and suddenly mate with another race, which is a MASSIVE thing for as good as ANY race. I play racist characters, shunning other races, most likely because well, they're elves! They're not the fancy-happy-hippy troop some players treat them. It's bloody horrendous what I've seen sometimes, won't be calling names here but even IF one asks WHY they would perform such an action which is so anti for the race in question, GIVE A REASON. Give a good, proper reasoning. "Because" is probably the worst answer ever given.

...Logic, lore and reason. Follow them.

And Muhaha8, most of my Kaldorei are traditionalists, d'uh.

[Rigley]

"B-But you can't tell me how to RP.."

For heck's sake. Have reason behind your characaters. If the character in question is out of the social-norm, you will probably be shunned by bloody society or worse. I'm a player of logical characters, they all had a PATH of HOW they came to be. They just didn't decide the other day to become 'lolrandom' and suddenly mate with another race, which is a MASSIVE thing for as good as ANY race. I play racist characters, shunning other races, most likely because well, they're elves! They're not the fancy-happy-hippy troop some players treat them. It's bloody horrendous what I've seen sometimes, won't be calling names here but even IF one asks WHY they would perform such an action which is so anti for the race in question, GIVE A REASON. Give a good, proper reasoning. "Because" is probably the worst answer ever given.

...Logic, lore and reason. Follow them.

And Muhaha8, most of my Kaldorei are traditionalists, d'uh.

This is not necessary. An angered attitude will not improve a situation whatsoever.

[Yandere]

This is not necessary. An angered attitude will not improve a situation whatsoever.

I'm not angry in any form whatsoever. I type like this and express myself as such. If people take offense then well, they take offense in my opinion on a matter, which is silly.

[muhaha8]

And Muhaha8, most of my Kaldorei are traditionalists, d'uh.

Woo!