Would you like some Racism?

Obviously...

 

I think a bit of racism in fantasy games adds depth to a culture, because racism, however slight, is inherent in all cultures and people. An ugly fact, to be true, but in this instance it adds depth, showing the bad, alongside the good. Nobody is perfect.

 

All of that would be speciesism though.

 

You must be white. Damn white people..

I MEAN I LOVE ALL EQUALLY HA HA HA.

 

I'm not sure it's actually racism. To me it came across as curious about this strange person/race they were unfamiliar with or had only heard about.

 

There's already been a long discussion on this. You can only call it speciesism when it's between an apex and human, they share the same genus but not species. Otherwise none of the races share a genus, Florans are in another kingdom all together, while Glitch are not even biological. So yeah races keeps it simple.

 

Im a bit of a bird nut and favor things that can fly or glide so avian was a clear choice for me although I do like the floran. I love the designs for all the races and their cultures/buildings. Laughed when I saw the bad wallpaper in the apex flats. Anyway Florans wonder if I taste like chicken.

 

This upsets me greatly...

...because I did not think of searching for it yet...

I didn't want to feed him on the off-chance that he's a troll but... thanks for clarifying that. Always lovely when people actually understand the point I'm making

 

I figured it'd ping you xD Hoping it'd get your attention.

 

Oh man, if they had an insectoid race like the Thri-kreen from Dark Sun then I'd totally play that race. A lizardman race would also be cool, though the Hloxl being amphibians has that semi-covered. An aggressive, warmongering lizardman race would be cool, though.

 

Yep, seemed more or less a real comment, makes sense that the guy would just skip over reading. If he is a troll then that would become pretty obvious if he says anything else.

 

I lolled so hard on your reactions Havoc1337.

 

I'm glad you enjoyed

I'm really happy about the direction this thread took, plenty of interesting responses and reactions, very nice!
Thanks to everyone for participating

 

What's your preference in races in Starbound (or other games)Currently only ever played the Floran and absolutely loving them. For other games.. hmm.. Dragon Age: Origins would be human for male characters, elf as female. (DA2 doesn't count as you're only ever one race ). What gets me is the Floran look so dainty but are supposed to be savages according to the lore? It's seems a bit.. odd to me. I imagine RP servers might change the lore a bit.

EDIT: One good way to spark my ire is if they made fun of Floran being a unisex race. FLORAN WILL GO INTO BLOOD RAGE! Floran cut and sssssmash!

Do you have a specific race you love or hate, and why?Love the florans.. and yes, I hate the Apex as well. Should try and play one, though and see how other villages see me..
THOUGH i'VE YET TO FIND A DANG VILLAGE.

Your general thoughts on racism in fantasy.
Be it fantasy or a fictional story about a real race, I believe it's all fair play in fiction. Racism can and often does make stories more interesting. It's a real problem that never seens to go away, despite progress we make. And until we live in a society where racism is obliterated and we're all assimilated as a brainwashed hivemind, racism will always continue. Anyways, in games like Dragon Age, it gives you the ability to sculpt story.. though it will likely punish you for being a jerk, though... even when I replay it trying to look for different personalities, if it means my companions leaving me, I can't really change my personality. Like the game's City Elf origin.. I can't EVER choose the option to not kill the Arl of Denerim's son because he thinks he can break into a wedding, steal one of the women and have his way... because they are alienage elves. Even telling the Chantry priest wedding them that wedding them is the equivalent of 'dressing up dolls and playing make-believe'.


In short, yes.. racism can make for interesting stories and can be a great way to invoke emotion.
Seems only a few game makers invoke it, though. Either because they think it too risky a subject to put in their game.. or because they think it a cheap plot mechanic... which it can be, if implemented improperly, but I don't mind it in Starbound. Starbound seems to set you in the world and let you imagine the lore for yourself at the current point.. not sure how far they're willing to take it.

 

Funnily enough, I call the Avians Donalds because they look kinda too toony for me.

*Runs like a madman for being racist now!* Muwahahaha Donald Ducks!

 

Most MMORPGs/RPGs I play human, but in StarBound I play Avian.

Hylotl and Apex, I don't like fish or monkeys. But I don't hate them.

I actually like it, sometimes it results to funny lines. Also in RP servers its a fun thing to see.

 

Aggressive and predatorial does not equate to evil. That's the natural order, which is neither good nor evil. In fact, one can argue that the florans lead simpler, "closer to natural" lives having not yet injected pesky ethics and morality into the society.

 

I don't think even this is valid unless the Apex, Avians, Hyotl and Floran developed from Apes, birds, Fish and Plants originating from Earth (Or some other planet with humans developing from Apes from that location as well). Otherwise it's just a freaky coincedence of completely unrelated animals (and plants) developing in similar ways. Apparently developing to look like an ape, bird, fish or plant is just good under the circumstances of other planets as well.

What it comes down to is that, assuming development was entirely seperate, then humans and apex aren't even in the same domain and in fact are further apart than humans and Archaea.

 

I would argue that your statement is only applicable for non intelligent life. If a being with the capacity to understand the ramifications of it's actions performs an act we, as a society, would consider amoral or evil, then what prevents the being from also being classified this way?

If the Florans had no concept of an inclusive society beyond their own species, and simply viewed all non Florans as parts of nature, then I would agree with you. But I think the codex entries suggest otherwise. I'm pretty sure that they just choose to put a low priority on morality, instead choosing to indulge their primal urges.

On a somewhat related note, does anyone have any ideas yet as to who Greenfinger is? He may lead the Florans, but I'm not convinced that he is Floran himself. Based on his conversation with the Apex scientist, maybe he's the result of some past genetic experiment to improve the species? He certainly seems to be significantly more intellectually developed than most Florans, albeit no more ethical.

 

I was playing a floran, when they automatically presumed that I was going to kill them... Wow, rude. Why would I eat a glitch?