RE: the avians....

here's an idea:
the first playable race is humans, and humans only. as you progress through the game, you discover new races, and if you do a major quest for that race, you unlock them as a playable character.

E.G

visit avian home world
Ordered to enter sacred temple as a "trial of faith".
go through temple, defeat a avian creature (boss or something)
come out, blessing is bestowed upon you.
you can now play as avians and trade/interact with their kind!
(and just for the fun of it)
?????
best seller/PROFIT.

 

nah.. I'd like to be an avian from the start on and name my character "Falco"

 

i would say only some races are like that the "special ones"

 

Yeah variety would be awesome. I like the fact that you don't have to be a human character

 

Nope. Then you would have to start over again to play it.

 

well that would suck

 

Maybe if they give awesome racial abilities to a certain race they could limit use of it by making following your suggestion (for that race/those races alone) but that should not be the case for most races, almost (if not) everyone should be able to start as the race of their choosing