Why are races locked?

[Jaxom]

Are races locked even if you buy the game, or just in the demo?

Seems odd that you would have to unlock races: So you unlock them and then start a new character as the race you want?

[chimerical2]

The advanced races are locked in the full game, until you complete the quest that unlocks them. There are 3 possible starting races Human, Elves, and Rakshasa. You can choose to be any of those, from the start of the game, in the full or demo version. The only unlock-able race in game at the moment is Fairies, with Dwarves and Orcs being added in the future. The Advanced (unlock-able) races have great perks but also huge drawbacks. A new player would likely find the drawbacks too daunting while still trying to learn how to play the game, and would fail to make the most out of the perks also. Playing an advanced race is it own special kind of challenge, you need some understanding of how the game works to get the most out of one. The unlock quest falls outside where demo players can go, but it probably be better to figure out if you like the game using an easier starter race.

[6h0$t942]

Yes, you need to unlock the one unlockable race and start a new character to play as it. remember that this was originally intended as a "back in my day" game...and also that you really don't want to play as a fairy. It's neat, but only until you realize that dying sends you back to the fairy demiplane, and its a major pta.

[Jaxom]

Originally posted by xx:

Yes, you need to unlock the one unlockable race and start a new character to play as it. remember that this was originally intended as a "back in my day" game...and also that you really don't want to play as a fairy. It's neat, but only until you realize that dying sends you back to the fairy demiplane, and its a major pta.

I'm not sure what it being a "back in the day" game has to do with locking races. No MMO I can remember launched with locked races. I get the 'you need to know" about the game, but locking races isn't a good game play loop.

[Zertea]

Originally posted by Jaxom:

Originally posted by xx:

locking races isn't a good game play loop.

That's an opinion. Seems to be working for WoW for 15 years now. You can be annoyed about it, but it isn't some far-out concept unique to this game.

[Azarym]

Also Everquest 1 had that mech for Frogloks at least.
More currently, ESO has it for vampires and werewolves.
This game is specifically attempting to reach an audience used to and looking for those types of mechanics. Ones where you had to play to unlock certain things as a sense of achievement. It's a specific crowd they are aiming for.

[Jaxom]

Originally posted by Sol Marurem:

Also Everquest 1 had that mech for Frogloks at least.
More currently, ESO has it for vampires and werewolves.
This game is specifically attempting to reach an audience used to and looking for those types of mechanics. Ones where you had to play to unlock certain things as a sense of achievement. It's a specific crowd they are aiming for. :FFXIIImog:

Umm none of those examples are races and neither of those require you to start a new character. Neither of those are actually examples of whats going on here lol.

[notenoughdoggos]

you can't start as a fairy because people like you would just quit after a week of being a fairy and talk ♥♥♥♥ about how hard the game is, while being too ignorant to realise they're playing an advanced race meant for veterans

[Jaxom]

Originally posted by notenoughdoggos:

you can't start as a fairy because people like you would just quit after a week of being a fairy and talk ♥♥♥♥ about how hard the game is, while being too ignorant to realise they're playing an advanced race meant for veterans

Aww are you mad? Someone have an opinion that is different, so you get upset?

Grow up little one.

Takes a lot of make statements you have no idea is true lol

[Inari]

Imo it's an interesting mechanic that fits fits with the rest of the game.

I feel like the advanced jobs in Ragnarok online are somewhat comparable. You level to 99, then reset to lvl 1.

If you're not here for grinding, this is probably the wrong game in my experience.

Like take a random tradeskill:
1) have to grind up relationship points with an NPC to access the area where you learn the skill
2) have to then grind random loot drops in a dungeon to speak the right language to learn the skill
3) then have to grind up friendship with the trainer of that skill
4) congrats you have a skill thats mostly useless until you grind it up

It's grind, to grind, to grind.

Races isn't any different in that.

[Auge]

Originally posted by Jaxom:

Originally posted by notenoughdoggos:

you can't start as a fairy because people like you would just quit after a week of being a fairy and talk ♥♥♥♥ about how hard the game is, while being too ignorant to realise they're playing an advanced race meant for veterans

Aww are you mad? Someone have an opinion that is different, so you get upset?

Grow up little one.

Takes a lot of make statements you have no idea is true lol

ppl really do pick fae, die, and complain that when they die they gotta run quite a ways to get to where they were before. just like ppl wanna play as an animal and then complain theyre unable to sell to the npc's theyre used to. ofc, we can only hope the players stick around to discover the ways to circumvent those problems

[Inari]

Originally posted by Auge:

Originally posted by Jaxom:

Aww are you mad? Someone have an opinion that is different, so you get upset?

Grow up little one.

Takes a lot of make statements you have no idea is true lol

ppl really do pick fae, die, and complain that when they die they gotta run quite a ways to get to where they were before. just like ppl wanna play as an animal and then complain theyre unable to sell to the npc's theyre used to. ofc, we can only hope the players stick around to discover the ways to circumvent those problems :lunar2019piginablanket:

Most people are just used to game design that doesn't have such things and makes everything very convenient to the player.

While I didn't enjoy the grind of this game, I enjoyed it's decisions in how e.g. animal stuff works. It makes it feel more like the world is there and it has it's rules that exist. If you do something, there is some consequence.
A lot of other games make it feel more like the world is a theatre piece revolving around your character.

[Jaxom]

Originally posted by Auge:

Originally posted by Jaxom:

Aww are you mad? Someone have an opinion that is different, so you get upset?

Grow up little one.

Takes a lot of make statements you have no idea is true lol

ppl really do pick fae, die, and complain that when they die they gotta run quite a ways to get to where they were before. just like ppl wanna play as an animal and then complain theyre unable to sell to the npc's theyre used to. ofc, we can only hope the players stick around to discover the ways to circumvent those problems :lunar2019piginablanket:

I get it. My point is he is making that statement about me specifically like he knows what I will do before I do it.

My point is with how much grinding there is in this game, adding races behind a grind wall just adds more grinding. It's not needed. Just put a warning on the label and call it a day.

It's like saying you have to play through casual to get to normal or normal to get to hard. Some players can play just fine starting on hard.

[Demolaye]

Originally posted by Jaxom:

Originally posted by xx:

Yes, you need to unlock the one unlockable race and start a new character to play as it. remember that this was originally intended as a "back in my day" game...and also that you really don't want to play as a fairy. It's neat, but only until you realize that dying sends you back to the fairy demiplane, and its a major pta.

I'm not sure what it being a "back in the day" game has to do with locking races. No MMO I can remember launched with locked races. I get the 'you need to know" about the game, but locking races isn't a good game play loop.

In the original release of Shadowbane (2003) you needed to have a paid account for no less than 90 consecutive days to play: the Minotaur and Ireki (evil-sun-burnt-elves) races.