Thoughts and perspective on racial bonuses.

This isn't intended as an attack on classic fantasy/sci fi tropes. It's just a little extra perspective on the roots, why some people are uncomfortable with the idea and possible insight into why some creators want to distance themselves from the ideas.

Racial bonuses as a gameplay element has its roots in tabletop rpgs which got the idea from Tolkien and pulp stories going way back. The idea was that these fantastical races were pre-determined by genetics, bloodline or fate towards certain skills and personalities. We've grown so used to hippy elves with bows and grumpy dwarves with axes that we don't even think that these tropes were firmly based on eugenics and Helen Blavatski's concepts of root races which also inspired the Nazis.

Obviously, most fans consider these tropes evolved enough over the years to no longer be implicitly racist and I'm not trying to argue that they are, but they're still ideas based on very flawed logic from over a century ago. There are also many people turned off to sci fi and fantasy in general because of the origins of these ideas or they really just hit a little too close to home, resembling real racism they've experienced in their personal lives.

I'm not going to speculate on whether or not the Starbound designers want to subvert these concepts for these reasons, but I'd like people to keep in mind that there are people who actually appreciate that racial bonuses aren't there.

 

Man I'm way too high to understand this right now.

 

With out racial bonuses the races are just re-skins and that is very boring to me.

Also I think your just reading into things way to much racial bonuses where there so that your race selection would have an impact on gameplay...

To say that it inspired the Nazi's is going way over board.

 

Godwin would be proud of this topic.

 

I didn't say it was based on Nazism, it's based on Madam Blavatski and eugenics which were such flawed ideas that they also went on to form the basis of Nazi ideology.

 

It would be weird if a race of amphibians had the same habilities and behaviour than a race of space apes.
Plus, different racial habilities give the player an incentive to play different characters

 

Still trying to make a connection between the two, which you are, is way over the top.

Like I said Racial bonuses in games weren't based on anything besides making racial selection meaningful.

 

I think your reading wwwwaaaaayyyy to deeply into it.

And " ideas based on very flawed logic from over a century ago."
Huh? Its sci-fi/fantasy. That isn't restricted to real world logic... so what "flawed logic" are you talking about?


Anyway there should be racial bonuses. Even if its just small things like dealing more damage with specific weapons (like, Novakids could hit harder with pistols, Glitch are better with one handed weapons and spears, etc.)

 

The thing is that the things you mentioned are stereotypes about those races, not any special abilities that they may have. Elves have significantly better manual dexterity, agility, and senses (which is why they make good archers), and dwarves... uh... drink a lot and like to live in caves? Regardless, the only thing you seem to be pointing to is only about how the races are perceived by others, not their actual abilities, and I would like to point out that we already have descriptions on the basic personality of each race in Starbound (like that 99.99% of all florans are murderous canabalistic psychopaths that are literally bush-people), which seems to go against the idea that the Starbound devs are trying to subvert the race dynamic like you seem to think they are.

My point is, bonuses in games such as an extra +2 to spot checks for picking a specific race give the players more incentive to pick certain things over others, and can reward certain gameplay styles. I think it has more of a positive influence on the gaming experience than a negative one.

 

One can also argue that races can have different genetic heterogeneity. It might be that the Apex are less heterogenous than humans because of the VEP for example. It is almost eugenics and it is in their background! In that context a racial bonus makes perfect sense.

 

Why is that boring? The impact on the gameplay comes in the form of the story of each race and the campaign that will be implemented. Why can't you be satisfied with that?

 

Because "story" is limited and gameplay is forever? You're at no point CONSTANTLY immersed in lore, but you ARE constantly playing the game.

 

I don't think it's racist at all. Look at nature. Different species have different traits. It is realistic and to be expected. Amphibian, for example, can live a very long time underwater while a human can't, but a human can deal with cold better. One of the founding aspects of life is variety.

 

I find lore tidbits in every settlement/dungeon I find.

 

I'm all for racials that make sense at least. Hylotls being able to breathe under water Florans regenerating in the sun and what not. Apex being more agile, Glitch mining faster. However it makes little sense for Glitch to need to breathe or be susceptible to poisons/diseases or perhaps even need food as such so *shrug* lots to balance.

Racials DO however make people consider playing a race they normally wouldn't to see if the bonuses are worthy.

 

Maybe it would just be easier to call them "species" and then all of the issues attached to the concept of "race" can just go away…?

If you think about it, calling the options here as a choice between races is a bit crazy. It means you're also arguing that humans and T-Rexes are just two different races, not completely different species. I mean, hey, both walk on two legs, have two eyes, two ears, a mouth with teeth, two arms (though one has pretty short arms)… they're just two different races of the same species!



If you want to assume that all humanoids in this game were originally descended from an archetypical humanoid, you could argue that the differences between your "race" selection here are caused by eugenics — or — you could more reasonably argue that it's caused by evolution, which makes a lot more sense.

 

Then there's a chance that the Species themselves all have different races or HAD and only the strongest/most adaptable ones managed to space travel!

 

As of the Beta the abilites are not in. There was talk that racial abilities would instead come from clothing that is made by certain races (which we can see race specific clothing implemented already, but no abilities) which would allow and encouraging trading.
If this is true, then I welcome it as I encourage anything which makes players come together, no matter how briefly.

"Nazi" and the all the things, that word conjures up are not something that should be thrown around lightly. Someone reading this (topic) is going to find it offensive and your initial post could have gotten its point across even without making the connection. Your point is no less valid, but please try to keep in mind the thoughts and feelings of other people using these forums.

Guess I am the forum police afterall

 

Sadly we're not playing Dragon Age: Origins and thus the storyline doesn't change really anything that happens -in- the game. Everyone plays the game, not everyone follows the story, that's a known fact for every game developed.

 

I don't think I understood your post, op.