115 réponses à ce sujet

[Ieldra]

This is a question I'd like to put to the community because I don't understand it.

 

What is it about? Well, of course, I, too, like more choices about what kind of character I play, and yes, I, too have availed myself of the multiple-race feature in DAI. It's not that I actively dislike it, or don't understand why people like it.

 

Meanwhile, what I don't understand is why people find it important, because in my view, it is a completely superficial feature! Every character we play, human or not, is, in spite of a non-human label that was attached to them, still human in everything but name and appearance. And that means, human in everything that counts.

 

Dwarves...well, they are short and stocky humans with a somewhat interesting cultural background. Elves....somewhat skinny humans with long pointed ears and their own cultural background. Those cultural backgrounds, however, are nothing that a human culture couldn't have. Asari - lesbian human women with a specific culture. Turians - look like "horrible spiky monsters" but psychologically they're just militaristic humans.

 

I've heard people say playing humans is boring. Well, if that's so, then playing elves or dwarves, or asari or turians in Mass Effect, is just as boring because these races and species are plainly not non-human enough to make the difference to the human standard significant.

 

To add to that, since the foundation on which "non-human" races and species are built is a particular human archetype, playing those is usually much more limiting than playing a human.

 

So really, why are people so obsessed with this feature? Sure, it's nice to have, but the way it's implemented, it's superficial. Cosmetic. I can imagine any number of character templates I'd find it interesting to play in the world of Thedas, but those that would require a *really* non-human species have never had a fitting species implemented.

[Abyss108]

Dwarves...well, they are short and stocky humans with a somewhat interesting cultural background. Elves....somewhat skinny humans with long pointed ears and their own cultural background. 

 

 

You explained it yourself. It's interesting because you get to play from a different cultural viewpoint.

 

Sure, humans could be written with a similar background to what the Elves and Dwarves - but they're not. The human background is always written to be the most "normal", for the players that just want to insert themselves into the plot. There will never be anything too alien in there. 

[Bayonet Hipshot]

I play both human and non-Human characters. I play non-Human characters for variety's sake in order to get more out of the game.

 

I usually play Humans as mages, Elves as rogues and Dwarves as warriors in RPG games.

 

Having said that, I can offer an explanation of why I personally find playing as a Human in Dragon Age annoying sometimes - All the Human characters we have had are nobility in some form or another. Cousland is a noble, Hawke is related to the Amell who was a noble and Trevelyan is a noble. That can get tired or boring fast. 

 

On the other hand, as an Elf, you can play as a City Elf or a Dalish Elf or a Circle Mage Elf. As a Dwarf, you can either be a Dwarf noble or Dwarf commoner or surface Dwarf. There is a variety that covers the different social classes of non-Humans. You can't say that for Humans - Its all noble or noble related somehow.

 

All that said, my canon characters are male Human mages. My first RPG game is a D&D session and my very first character was a male Human wizard which I roleplayed the hell out of - Even had a makeshift spellbook that I would bring to the sessions. Ever since then, I have been attached to male human spellcasters - Not old men with white beards, but clean shaven, smart looking men.

[Xilizhra]

I could ask the same about humans, as I had several people say they wouldn't play the next game if it had a mandatory elven protagonist.

 

What ultimately matters is one or both of aesthetics and cultural background. Some people find some races more appealing in those areas than others.

[Gervaise]

I suppose if a psychologist was to examine the reason why I like playing elves so much, it is that I was a really skinny kid who was constantly made fun of and thought unattractive, although the term "elfin" could also have been applied to me as it is occasionally to models, etc.    So the idea of playing a race that physically was so close to how I appeared, plus was considered to be beautiful and desirable by the chunky humans, appealed to me.   Also originally the elves in D&D were always able to do magic of some sort but could also fight, which seemed more interesting than just being a regular warrior or mage.   (I still like Arcane Warrior the best).  

 

The reason I like playing elves in the Dragon Age world is that I tend to identify with the underdog, so prefer playing the downtrodden, with the hope of being able to spear head a rebellion to improve their lives or at least improve their lot through my efforts, than play one of the oppressors.   I did in fact play the noble human storyline all the way through and both the dwarf origins but the elves were still my favourite, city the most, with Dalish and elf mage a tie.   

 

If we end up playing a former slave in the next game whatever the race, I might give human a go but if given the option I probably still will go elf on my first run.   After three games I have really immersed myself in elven culture and do find it interesting.    If they could come up with a Rivani wise woman as an option or even a Rivaini mage who is a man and therefore resents their matriarchal society, I might reconsider.  

 

My family name also translates from the Anglo Saxon as either noble warrior or elf warrior, so may be me playing an elf was just fate.

[Tidus]

I'm a Shemlen  24/7 why  should I be one in a RPG?  My Elf character  Tidus and I goes back to when I played D&D in the 80s..

 

I started playing a Elf female in DA:O thus Camin was created. My female brand dwarf is Rikku(yup FF10 fame) because it close to her sister Rica's name . I'm a man 24/7 and why not be a female in a RPG  from time to time? Not to mention I never cared to watch a man's behind swivel.

[dragonsteak]

LOL. Good question.

 

To me, protagonist's attractiveness (doesn't mean they have to have a super model look) is important. So playing Dwarf and Qunari is a no-no for me because of their physical feature, except maybe male dwarf. I'm mostly fine with elf, although their anorexic body is a turn off.

[vertigomez]

Because even if something's not mentioned 24/7 in the game, as a roleplayer I know that my character's not human, that their life experiences have been different from any human, that their cultural background is not human.

Humans in Dragon Age have a very specific place in society - the top. That's not something you can get away from. The Hawke family, who for a while were nothing but filthy Ferelden refugees as far as Kirkwall was concerned, were STILL better off than an elf or casteless family would be in those same circumstances. Even if you're playing a mage, any discrimination you face from most institutions is going to be based on the fact that you can kill people with your brain, not on your race. When playing a dwarf or an elf or qunari character, I am CONSTANTLY thinking about what being a racial minority is like in a world that's not tailored to them.

[Ieldra]

You explained it yourself. It's interesting because you get to play from a different cultural viewpoint.

 

Sure, humans could be written with a similar background to what the Elves and Dwarves - but they're not. The human background is always written to be the most "normal", for the players that just want to insert themselves into the plot. There will never be anything too alien in there. 

My point was neither is there "anything too alien" in the culture of the elves and dwarves. They might as well be humans. If I want to play a member of an oppressed minority, I might as well play a slave in Tevinter. If I want to play at cutthroat politics, I think Nevarra might serve for that purpose, or again, the Magisterium.

 

For me, playing characters from different cultures is very appealing. But that some cultures are carried by people who look differerent from the human norm is still a superficial trait because they're all human in everything that counts.

[Bayonet Hipshot]

Because even if something's not mentioned 24/7 in the game, as a roleplayer I know that my character's not human, that their life experiences have been different from any human, that their cultural background is not human.

Humans in Dragon Age have a very specific place in society - the top. That's not something you can get away from. The Hawke family, who for a while were nothing but filthy Ferelden refugees as far as Kirkwall was concerned, were STILL better off than an elf or casteless family would be in those same circumstances. Even if you're playing a mage, any discrimination you face from most institutions is going to be based on the fact that you can kill people with your brain, not on your race. When playing a dwarf or an elf or qunari character, I am CONSTANTLY thinking about what being a racial minority is like in a world that's not tailored to them.

 

I would actually be interested to learn the percentage of those who play non-Human characters and what race they are in real life. I am curious to see if there is any self-inserting or self-flagellation* talking place.

 

*Self-flagellation here refers to the way some people, particularly Whites who like to engage in various forms of virtue signalling such as constantly apologizing bending over backwards, throwing their own values under the bus in the name of white guilt, even though history is chock-full of many examples of different groups and races of people othering and oppressing others, even amongst themselves.

[Medhia_Nox]

I suppose if a psychologist was to examine the reason why I like playing elves so much, it is that I was a really skinny kid who was constantly made fun of and thought unattractive, although the term "elfin" could also have been applied to me as it is occasionally to models, etc.    So the idea of playing a race that physically was so close to how I appeared, plus was considered to be beautiful and desirable by the chunky humans, appealed to me.   Also originally the elves in D&D were always able to do magic of some sort but could also fight, which seemed more interesting than just being a regular warrior or mage.   (I still like Arcane Warrior the best).  

 

The reason I like playing elves in the Dragon Age world is that I tend to identify with the underdog, so prefer playing the downtrodden, with the hope of being able to spear head a rebellion to improve their lives or at least improve their lot through my efforts, than play one of the oppressors.   I did in fact play the noble human storyline all the way through and both the dwarf origins but the elves were still my favourite, city the most, with Dalish and elf mage a tie.   

 

If we end up playing a former slave in the next game whatever the race, I might give human a go but if given the option I probably still will go elf on my first run.   After three games I have really immersed myself in elven culture and do find it interesting.    If they could come up with a Rivani wise woman as an option or even a Rivaini mage who is a man and therefore resents their matriarchal society, I might reconsider.  

 

My family name also translates from the Anglo Saxon as either noble warrior or elf warrior, so may be me playing an elf was just fate.

 

I applaud you.  I find this to be a very candid answer that applies to a lot more people than would admit.  

 

---------------

 

There are certain elves I loathe - and each are for a different reason.  D&D elves are at the top of the "loathe" list... while DA Dalish in particular rank next.  High Elves and Eldar of Warhammer and the elves of Tolkien's works... I love.  

 

Dwarves I almost universally love.  It's a similar reason, but perhaps different conclusion to your own.  I have always been stocky and dwarfish in real life - and since video games tend never to allow their humans to be anything but models... I like dwarves for a more familiar phenotype.  

 

Elves and dwarves also have built in personality types that might appeal.  Dwarves tend toward more down to earth, stoic types... while elves are more free spirited and luxurious.  I tend toward the dwarvish mindset.  

 

-----------

 

That being said... dwarves and elves and hobbits are just humans reskinned.  They have human cultures and human social values and human wants and needs. 

 

Qunari are the most alien race in DA and look how people react.  They think their way of life is an abomination because it is not recognizably human. 

 

Warhammer 40K has always done it best... you simply cannot comprehend the other races of 40K.  You cannot possibly ever think like an Ork thinks... or a Tyrannid... or a Necron... or an Eldar.  THAT is an alien race. 

 

So for me... human is preferable because I don't need a new skin for my character to be interesting.

[vertigomez]

My point was neither is there "anything too alien" in the culture of the elves and dwarves. They might as well be humans. If I want to play a member of an oppressed minority, I might as well play a slave in Tevinter. If I want to play at cutthroat politics, I think Nevarra might serve for that purpose, or again, the Magisterium.

For me, playing characters from different cultures is very appealing. But that some cultures are carried by people who look differerent from the human norm is still a superficial trait because they're all human in everything that counts.

From a gameplay perspective, this is true. But in the world of Thedas it's definitely not just a superficial trait - your race affects how people treat you, what kind of job you're expected to have, what people think of your level of intelligence, what you're "supposed" to be afraid of, whether or not you can have children, what religion people assume you are, etc.

As for the 'oppressed minority' thing, you could play a human slave in Tevinter. But that's a different experience, a different cultural milieu than growing up casteless in Dust Town or in Kirkwall's hellish Gallows.

[Andraste_Reborn]

There are a few reasons I prefer playing non-humans. For one thing, I strongly prefer playing the outsider. That's why I like my Cadash and Adaar runs more than my Trevelyan and Lavellan ones - sure, Trevelyan fits more comfortably in the role of Andrastian leader than the others, and Lavellan has more of a connection with the elfy stuff towards the end of the game and in Trespasser, but from my point of view that's actually a bad thing. I love being the person nobody expects to become Inquisitor and poking around in things that rightly should have nothing to do with me!

 

Every character we play, human or not, is, in spite of a non-human label that was attached to them, still human in everything but name and appearance. And that means, human in everything that counts.

 

While you and I know that the other races in Dragon Age are psychologically identical to humans and are only as different from each other as one human culture is from the next, people in universe do see them as different based on their race. The non-human characters I roleplay are always acutely aware of that, and react to it in various ways.

 

To add to that, since the foundation on which "non-human" races and species are built is a particular human archetype, playing those is usually much more limiting than playing a human.

 

See, I think the whole reason I usually find playing humans kind of boring is that they don't have a specific archetype for me to work with. It's actually far easier for me to come up with a character I find interesting if I have something to push against, or to embrace in an interesting way. The human backgrounds we've had access to in the series so far haven't really given me that. (Human mage in DAO sort of got there sometimes, but I still found it more fun when I was an elf as well. I would probably have  a better time with an Avvar barbarian or something.)

 

For example: one of my Inquistors was a male qunari mage. He always picked the polite and diplomatic options, because he'd spent his entire life trying to counter people's assumptions that he was some kind of terrifying monster. His crowing moment of awesome came when he got full court approval at the Winter Palace, had Florienne arrested without a fight and forced Celene, Briala and Gaspard to work together, outplaying everyone at the Game. (Popping the Belle of the Ball achievement at the same moment was the icing on the cake.)

 

My most recent run was with a dwarf who lived up to a lot of dwarf media traditions - tough, bearded warrior who carried an axe and shield into battle and like a drink. But he was also gay and in a relationship with Iron Bull, and became a devout Andrastian after Haven. All my characters are an exercise in embracing vs. rejecting stereotypes on some level, and non-humans give me more to work with there.

 

I suppose if a psychologist was to examine the reason why I like playing elves so much, it is that I was a really skinny kid who was constantly made fun of and thought unattractive, although the term "elfin" could also have been applied to me as it is occasionally to models, etc.

 

This is also a factor for me, albeit in the opposite direction from elves . There's an extra reason I like to play dwarves, even beyond my fascination with the culture and history of their Dragon Age incarnation. Outside of games with a lot of elaborate body customization, I've never seen a human woman in a video game that looked remotely like me. I probably never will. I don't blame BioWare for that - I don't expect them to overturn the conventions of the entire entertainment industry on my account. But if I can play a woman who's short, curvy and muscular via selecting 'dwarf' at character creation, that makes me happy. (I would also love to play a fat woman in an RPG some day, but I do not expect miracles. Maybe body sliders will become more of a thing in the future.)

[Ieldra]

Qunari are the most alien race in DA and look how people react.  They think their way of life is an abomination because it is not recognizably human. .

Which brings me to an interesting point: for me, the essence of being human lies in the particular balance there is between community and individual. We are are hypersocial species but still compete as individuals. It's the basis of most of our ethical principles.

 

That means you can create species which are noticeably non-human if you move away from the human norm on that scale. Qunari are significantly more community-oriented than humans. Not so much that you can't imagine such a mindset, but enough to make you feel distinctly uncomfortable about it. On the opposite side of the scale, I can imagine a community of mageborn that has existed for a long time to move on that scale towards a somewhat non-human preference for individuality, simply because there is much less dependence on others to survive if you're a mage. I think a point can be made that mageborn are potentially less human than non-mageborn elves, or dwarves. That is, btw, one reason why I like to play one. Playing an "original" qunari would also be interesting, though, for obvious reasons, I would like it less.

 

 

BTW, interesting responses from everyone, including a few really well-reflected ones! Thank you.

[Medhia_Nox]

 

This is also a factor for me, albeit in the opposite direction from elves . There's an extra reason I like to play dwarves, even beyond my fascination with the culture and history of their Dragon Age incarnation. Outside of games with a lot of elaborate body customization, I've never seen a human woman in a video game that looked remotely like me. I probably never will. I don't blame BioWare for that - I don't expect them to overturn the conventions of the entire entertainment industry on my account. But if I can play a woman who's short, curvy and muscular via selecting 'dwarf' at character creation, that makes me happy. (I would also love to play a fat woman in an RPG some day, but I do not expect miracles. Maybe body sliders will become more of a thing in the future.)

 

You seriously should get a standing ovation for writing this.  

 

People should be learning from you... no, I am not kidding.

[Heimdall]

Exotic (Not alien) culture + Exotic (Not alien) appearance.

That's pretty much why I enjoy having the option. I consider it important mostly because I'm loathe to see my options reduced without very good reason. That's not to say I didn't enjoy Dragon Age 2 or hate playing humans, neither of those things are true.

[Medhia_Nox]

Which brings me to an interesting point: for me, the essence of being human lies in the particular balance there is between community and individual. We are are hypersocial species but still compete as individuals. It's the basis of most of our ethical principles.

 

That means you can create species that are noticeably non-human if you move away from the human norm on that scale. Qunari are significantly more community-oriented than humans. Not so much that you can't imagine such a mindset, but enough to make you feel distinctly uncomfortable about it. On the opposite side of the scale, I can imagine a community of mageborn that has existed for long time to move on that scale towards a somewhat non-human preference for individuality, simply because there is much less dependence on others to survive if you're a mage. I think a point can be made that mageborn are potentially less human than non-mageborn elves, or dwarves. That is, btw, one reason why I like to play one. Playing an "original" qunari would also be interesting, though, for obvious reasons, I would like it less.

 

 

BTW, interesting responses from everyone, including a few really well-reflected one! Thank you.

 

We seem to be polar opposites in a lot of ways (to me that's not a bad thing).  

 

I cannot say that I would love to play a Qunari, but the reason would not be because it is a highly structured social group that puts the needs of the group over that of the individual.  I believe that is how all humanity "should" have chosen to be - but, therein lies the rub.  The Qun is not a choice - and that is why I would not be able to exist within it.  I would follow of my own accord because wisdom dictates to me that a successful society requires order and self-sacrifice - but the minute I saw someone who disagreed getting crushed by the Qun I would have problems with that.  

 

But individuality - I actually find rather deplorable.  Not on a basic level, but I believe on the level of autonomy you are suggesting.  I could never trust a person so intrinsically divorced of any empathy toward others that they are capable of such levels of individuality.  There must, for me, be a social consciousness and responsibility to "other" regardless of personal "want".  I believe all people who are so divorced and self-serving are destined to become people not unlike the Unibomer.  I am not being flippant and no I do not believe everyone will start sending bombs through the mail.  I mean that living in your own world as the sole master creates deviant behavior that is destructive.  I will - of course - point to Solas as the mascot for this.  

 

What I would have liked - is for the Qunari (the race we know as Qunari) - to actually thrive under the Qun.  It would be wrong - because they cannot comprehend that the other races should not be made Qunari - but I would have liked their brain chemistry to have required this near eusocial mindset to achieve a far more alien and "other" appeal.  Right now - I feel like they're simply being paraded about as ignorant humans with a violent mindset - to the detriment of the story.

[Tidus]

leldra,While I prefer City Elves I can play a Dwarf commoner female-never a male  because I can never design one that is half pleasing to look at and I loathe the Qunari looks. All of my characters have one thing in common their average  looks-no runway models male or female need to apply.

 

My current DA:I game I'm playing a human male that hates his family-he was married to a pretty Elven woman and had a son and to save the family's good name and reputation his father hired a Crow assassin to kill Wes's wife and son.

 

None  of my DA:I characters has a happy background nor do they believe they are the Herald of Andraste.

[Bayonet Hipshot]

I suppose if a psychologist was to examine the reason why I like playing elves so much, it is that I was a really skinny kid who was constantly made fun of and thought unattractive, although the term "elfin" could also have been applied to me as it is occasionally to models, etc.    So the idea of playing a race that physically was so close to how I appeared, plus was considered to be beautiful and desirable by the chunky humans, appealed to me.   Also originally the elves in D&D were always able to do magic of some sort but could also fight, which seemed more interesting than just being a regular warrior or mage.   (I still like Arcane Warrior the best).  

 

The reason I like playing elves in the Dragon Age world is that I tend to identify with the underdog, so prefer playing the downtrodden, with the hope of being able to spear head a rebellion to improve their lives or at least improve their lot through my efforts, than play one of the oppressors.   I did in fact play the noble human storyline all the way through and both the dwarf origins but the elves were still my favourite, city the most, with Dalish and elf mage a tie.   

 

If we end up playing a former slave in the next game whatever the race, I might give human a go but if given the option I probably still will go elf on my first run.   After three games I have really immersed myself in elven culture and do find it interesting.    If they could come up with a Rivani wise woman as an option or even a Rivaini mage who is a man and therefore resents their matriarchal society, I might reconsider.  

 

My family name also translates from the Anglo Saxon as either noble warrior or elf warrior, so may be me playing an elf was just fate.

 

Echoing your statements, if a psychologist were to examine the reason why I like to play as Human Mages so much, it would be because I am an average looking guy who is obsessed with reading and learning about the world.

 

I'm short (5'5" or 1.65m) but I am not lean or lithe (I'm 132 pounds or 60kg in weight so that would make me a medium framed guy), just average. Outside of running fast, my dexterity is awful (I dance as well as Commander Shepard) and my eyesight in dark or low light situations are not very good. There is also the fact that because I am an Asian Indian guy, I have facial hair and body hair.

 

Now onto the mage part. I am someone who inherently likes to learn, read and study things. I have been doing this for as long as I can remember and I do it to the point where people now tell me (I'm 25 now) - "There's no point in you studying so much. You should be working hard,saving money, get a girl and start a family." FFS, when I was in high school, my parents stopped buying books for me read in my leisure time because according to them I am reading too much and costing them too much money.

 

So yeah, I am not lean, not lithe, not that dextrous, not handsome, have facial hair, have body hair and don't have good eyesight in the dark. I am also not super strong or bulky even though I am short. So that leaves Human and since Mages are stereotypically the class that is obsessed with learning, it would go a long way to explain why I like playing as Human Mages.

[BraveVesperia]

I feel like it gives me a full range of perspectives to play each race, even if most of that perspective has to come from headcanon (like with DAI). Each race has its own unique place in DA. Whether it's history, culture, religion, social hierarchy etc. I don't think I could understand Thedas as well without trying each one. At the very least, I'd need a companion to get me emotionally involved if I couldn't play the race. But interacting with Merrill in DA2 didn't make me as invested in the Dalish as playing one did in DAO and DAI.

 

Lots of other things in the game will be coloured by your race choice too. A human Circle mage will have a different opinion on the mage/templar issue than a qunari mage or a Dalish mage. A Dalish will have different feelings about the Well of Sorrows choice than other races. A male Cadash who is a devout Andrastian might have different feelings about it than a human woman. Even things like romances and class choice have a slightly different flavour (for me) depending on race choice.

 

Plus, I won't deny that I like varying the aesthetics from one character to the next.

[Ieldra]

We seem to be polar opposites in a lot of ways (to me that's not a bad thing).  

 

I cannot say that I would love to play a Qunari, but the reason would not be because it is a highly structured social group that puts the needs of the group over that of the individual.  I believe that is how all humanity "should" have chosen to be - but, therein lies the rub.  The Qun is not a choice - and that is why I would not be able to exist within it.  I would follow of my own accord because wisdom dictates to me that a successful society requires order and self-sacrifice - but the minute I saw someone who disagreed getting crushed by the Qun I would have problems with that.  

 

But individuality - I actually find rather deplorable.  Not on a basic level, but I believe on the level of autonomy you are suggesting.  I could never trust a person so intrinsically divorced of any empathy toward others that they are capable of such levels of individuality.  There must, for me, be a social consciousness and responsibility to "other" regardless of personal "want".  I believe all people who are so divorced and self-serving are destined to become people not unlike the Unibomer.  I am not being flippant and no I do not believe everyone will start sending bombs through the mail.  I mean that living in your own world as the sole master creates deviant behavior that is destructive.  I will - of course - point to Solas as the mascot for this.  

 

What I would have liked - is for the Qunari (the race we know as Qunari) - to actually thrive under the Qun.  It would be wrong - because they cannot comprehend that the other races should not be made Qunari - but I would have liked their brain chemistry to have required this near eusocial mindset to achieve a far more alien and "other" appeal.  Right now - I feel like they're simply being paraded about as ignorant humans with a violent mindset - to the detriment of the story.

Polar opposites indeed, in some ways (I'm fine with that, too), but similar in that we both want to choose the type of culture we live in.

 

I agree to some point about the Qunari. Making them more alien would make them more interesting. On the other hand, making the qunari thrive while leaving the rest of the world wracked by conflict would appear as too much of an endorsement I think. 

 

As for a possible non-human autonomy-focused culture, you forget that the weaker connection would be based in a weaker need (or want, if you want, unless it's illusory). As long as I think in human terms, yes, that may be a recipe for disaster, but suppose you really were that autonomous, why the heck would you oppress, kill or enslave a human? There wouldn't be a point. You could even say that enslaving a human would be anathema because it made you more dependent. And among others of your kind, there would be a power balance that would let rules of interaction arise, a different kind of ethics. Where the cultures meet, of course conflict may arise if they compete for resources, but none of them would be necessarily dominant, in spite of individuals of one side having significantly more instrinsic power.

[Solace]

I feel similar. Dragon Age: Inquisition apparently had originally been intended for humans to be the only playable race, but at some point in development, they decided to make it multi racial. I find it hard to immerse myself in a story I know that was intended for a human protagonist, so I cannot get into it unless I'm a human character. I think if the writers intended it to originally be a human's story, they should of just stuck with that idea.

[CardButton]

Long story short ... because I am denied such a choice in so many other games.  While I have no particular issue with Human Characters, being forced to play them in so many other styles of games (especially RPGs) have made them all around pretty boring.  They are the status quo, the mundane, the common.  Playing characters of other races feels a bit more unique, if only on a surface value and if only because now I have a choice.  

 

Though I normally define what race i want to play based off of a planned theme for a character rather than anything else anyway, so if the theme calls for a Human, I'll gladly play a human.

[Aliceeverafter]

This is a question I'd like to put to the community because I don't understand it.

 

What is it about? Well, of course, I, too, like more choices about what kind of character I play, and yes, I, too have availed myself of the multiple-race feature in DAI. It's not that I actively dislike it, or don't understand why people like it.

 

Meanwhile, what I don't understand is why people find it important, because in my view, it is a completely superficial feature! Every character we play, human or not, is, in spite of a non-human label that was attached to them, still human in everything but name and appearance. And that means, human in everything that counts.

 

Dwarves...well, they are short and stocky humans with a somewhat interesting cultural background. Elves....somewhat skinny humans with long pointed ears and their own cultural background. Those cultural backgrounds, however, are nothing that a human culture couldn't have. Asari - lesbian human women with a specific culture. Turians - look like "horrible spiky monsters" but psychologically they're just militaristic humans.

 

I've heard people say playing humans is boring. Well, if that's so, then playing elves or dwarves, or asari or turians in Mass Effect, is just as boring because these races and species are plainly not non-human enough to make the difference to the human standard significant.

 

To add to that, since the foundation on which "non-human" races and species are built is a particular human archetype, playing those is usually much more limiting than playing a human.

 

So really, why are people so obsessed with this feature? Sure, it's nice to have, but the way it's implemented, it's superficial. Cosmetic. I can imagine any number of character templates I'd find it interesting to play in the world of Thedas, but those that would require a *really* non-human species have never had a fitting species implemented.

Well, if you use your imagination you can try to make choices defined by being another race/ culture which adds to the experience. Or you just like the look of an elf butt. Choice is yours

 

I think 'obsessed' is way off. We're a species that love novelty or we'd still be swinging in trees hurling sticks at each other. 

 

You sound kinda disappointed that the experience isn't as profound as you want it to be. It is purely cosmetic but in the same way you (probably) spent a fair time getting your face and hair right at the beginning. Purely cosmetic and even less point to this, i would argue because you mostly see your own butt in this game, except for the odd cut-scene.

[Xerrai]

I don't play non-human races just because they are a different race. I play them because of what their race entails. But I won't deny physical appearance plays a part in who I'll pick (elves are as close as I can get to my body type).

 

But what really draws me in is the culture, background and Religion/Philosophy differences. How the world treats them.

 

In dragon age in particular (well, most fantasy settings actually), race is so much more than what you look like. It can affect your standing in society and how people treat you. It's not just an aesthetic difference.

 

Being an Adaar (qunari) or a Lavellan (elf) gains you -10 approval at the Winter Palace upon arrival because society holds disdain for your race.

Being a Trevelyan (human) or Cadash (dwarf) allows you to gains you +10 approval at the Winter Palace because society holds esteem for your race.

If you are a human mage you lived in the Circle. If you are a mage elf you lived with your clan in the wilderness. An elvhen inquisitor can have elvhen dialogue options while others cannot. A human inquisitor can have human dialogue options that other races cannot access. Etc.

 

Race means something in these settings. They are not "still human in everything but name and appearance". They are the elvhen, the qunari, the dwarves and the humans because the game treats them as such.