Why does GW2 need races?

I know I am probably the minority but I think the addition of non-human races to GW is totally lame. Obviously they are doing this as part of their program to destroy GW and make it just like every other MMORPG on the market, all of which are nothing more than glorified EQ mods by the way. So why are new races a bad idea? Well first of all they destroy one of the unique aspects of the game that set apart from the ocean of clones but there are some other reasons.

With the addition of new races they will need to make armor models for not just male and female of every class, but all that for every race as well. So we will end up with fewer armors.

With races come fewer character models for Humans.

With races come lame stat bonuses. This usually ends up forcing you to chose a race that is best for your class if you want to be competitive.

Finally races are just plain lame. Why does a game need dwarves? What is the difference between a dwarf and a short human with a beard. Why Elves? Elves are basically just slender nimble humans who love nature and magic. What is the point? Just give us more varied character models for Humans. And why do we need monster races like Tengu, Asura, Centaurs etc..? Most people don't want to play an ugly monster. I know I dont.

********Below is my response to the first 4 or so pages in this thread which I also posted on page 5 I think. I wanted to copy it to the first page because I thought it summed up my feelings better espically after hearing other peoples responses **************

Couple things that I would like to address. People have said that there is no point in whining, and that a lot of this is based on guesswork. I would beg to differ on both accounts.

First of all, if there is a time to whine, it's now. Before the game is goes gold and the damage is done. At that point no matter how hard you whine things wont change. Besides, I'm not whining I'm complaining.

Secondly although I do admit that I am making some guesses, they are educated guesses based on logic and past experience. Someone in this thread admitted that they could be a "Possible scenario" but I would argue that they are more along the lines of a "Quite likely scenario"

So anyway here are my issues.

Races with stat bonuses? This is something we see in pretty much every other MMORPG and RPG, so it's quite likely that ANET is considering it if they haven't just taken it for granted and put in already. This is something I really don't want to see becuase, I don't want to HAVE to play a Charr to make a competitive Warrior. Even amongst the people who disagree with me and want races, I don't recall anyone saying they like stat bonuses yet. If you agree/disagree lets talk about it now, and let them know how we feel before the game code is written and can't be changed.

Second. Races mean fewer options for Humans. The way I see it the Art team has X amount of time to work on armor and character models. You put in 6 races and it's pretty logical to assume 1/6 the time can be spent on humans. It's pretty realistic to assume they aren't going to spend 6 times as long making armors and character models. It's not like they have unlimited funds or no deadlines.This means that Humans will be much less diverse so that we can have a bunch of wierd/ugly races (Asura, Charr, Tengu? Centaur?). Now considering that Humans will probably be the most played race or close to it, just think how many more clones will be running around when you have 1/6 the armor, hair and face options.

Summary: I like to play Humans and I like the diverse number of appearance options I have in GW1. I feel like I'm going to lose a lot of that in GW2 when they add in 6 or more other races. Am I assuming the worst? It's possible. But I would rather have a discussion about it now when ANET can see how people feel about the issue and make a change. So if you like the diversity you have in Human character appearances in GW1 and want to see the same in GW2 speak now before it's too late. Or the next thing you know you will have to make an Asura if you want to look different.

Because people have been asking for them forever.

EoD.

I'd rather have races then new classes tbh.

I want races and if you dont like it, dont buy it, Goodnight.

People just don't want GW to be like every other MMO game out there. GW1 is unique. GW2 is doing nothing but making it another MMO clone.

Of course. Anet's addition of races to GW2 is a conspiracy to make it like ever other MMO! And the scary thing is they are just doing it to make YOU hate it! Anet's business model has always been to destroy GW, after all.

Thank you for speaking for everyone. You sure do know what we all want. I mean, WoW has races, and they only have what, 8 million subscribers? Psh. That obviously means no one wants new races.

(BTW you can still play a human if you want, you aren't forced to make another race)

I actually agree with one of your points. Shocked? I am. This is Anet we're talking about, and though I hate inherit racial skills that make one race better than another at this or that profession, I'm sure they will think of something. Hopefully it will just be something along the lines of 10 unique skills for races or something, not inherit traits (such as Norns have 20% armor penetration).

show me in game (GW2) where it's just like all the other MMO's...
o wait you cant.

YOU ALL JUST NEED SOME LUDES!

GW2 is going to be just what we want. I know because Anet reads what we want all the time, and Anet wants to be successful, and Anet knows that by selling games it will be successful. Anet sells more games if Anet gives people what they want.

I can't show you in game, but I can show you from what ANet has told us. Higher level cap and playable races are 2 additions which makes GW2 just like every other typical MMO, and I'm sure there will be more.

Races worry me, I see a whole new level of unbalanced play.

I'd rather our players look like clones then the game itself be a typical MMO clone.

Same.

OK this much I'll grant you however, my point is that what they say they are planning now... 2 YEARS before the game is even CLOSE to being on the shelves is a bit early to start complaining about something which may be completely different from how you are imagining them wouldn't you agree?

I do agree, and I'm not complaining. I don't like what changes GW2 is brining, but as you said, GW2 won't be out for a few years, so I'm not worrying.

They need to add new baseline character options with each expansion. Races do a better job of this than classes, since there's not a ton of class depth that you have to add immediately. In general I think races are a good idea.

Of course the problem is that they're going to give all the races special abilities that make some races simply better than others, at least at particular classes. I don't like certain race/class combinations being inferior, but what can you do?

Peace,
-CxE

I'm jazzed about the new races. I've been wanting new races since day 1 of playing GW Prophecies. The one thing I was relieved to see was that the Sylvari do NOT look like elves. Dryads possibly, but if it had pointy ears I would've cried.

I don't understand how new races is akin to being lame. Is the only reasoning behind that "because then it'll be like every other MMORPG online"? Because there's only so much "originality" you can have in a game. Everything borrows from everything else.

you say guild wars 2 will be a clone like every other MMO out there because its going to have playable races. tell me how the current guild wars is any different than every MMO right now? there are plenty of MMOs where you can only play humans or one race

I would prefer it if they disable racial abilities or stats in PvP. I'd hate to have to pick a profession based off of race. Other than that, I'm looking forward to it.

diversity = better

I like how your post is full of conjecture, speculation and assumptions. FTW

Single race RPGs are just as original as multi-race ones.

How do you know there will be fewer armors?
How do you know there will be fewer character models?
How do you know there are different stat bonuses?

Oh by the way, are you sure you speak for "most" people?

I think the best solution would be no inherent bonuses for any race at all; the differences should be purely aesthetic.

I think giving a racial attribute line and maybe 5-10 racial skills would be ok. As long as the racial attribute wasn't gain +5 dmg in melee or 5% faster (i.e. inherent). Instead the racial attribute would just make racial skills better. An example could be a Norn skills called "transform into a bear". For 30 seconds, you transform into a bear and gain 10% attack speed and +20 armor. Now this obviously benefits a warrior or ranger or assassin. But a Asura warrior could still run nearly the same build without this one skill, which could be replaced by a skill like frenzy or another attack booster. To limit it maybe each race can only have 1 or 2 racial skills, like elite skills now.

Overall it would give the option to enhance race/class combinations, but not limit them like inherent effects would.