User:Mediggo/Races
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Humans[edit]
Humans are included in pretty much every MMO. The reason for this is obvious. It's pretty easy to create a human character you can like. Most people feel safer the closer their avatar is to an average person of our time. That is why something like Habbo and IMVU exist. But enough on that.
So humans return in GW2. That's a big no-surprise to everyone. Which isn't a bad thing. All MMOs need some sort of "safe" race to play. Unless you're, well, unlike the rest of us, admit it: Human race is the "safest" playable race in any game ever. Of course it'd be somewhat unlikely for a race that has thrived in Tyria for thousands of years to suddenly go extinct. But let's not forget about dwarves.
If, for some reason, humans hadn't returned for GW2, I believe most players would feel rather uncomfortable about that. A humanoid character (norn and sylvari are humanoid) is, unless you're the RP sort, the only race an average gamer can feel truly "safe" and compare themselves to. While many of us are going to play sylvari, asura, norn or charr as our first character, the world would feel out of place if there weren't those do-goody hero types race around to provide something to compare to.
In WoW, the only reason other Alliance races can be considered "good" is because the humans in Azeroth are so do-goody, at least in their own opinion. Most alliance races (werewolves, elves, dwarves, gnomes, aliens) would make for perfect "evil" race with only slighty adjustment. Horde (faction as a whole as well as players) see themselves much more neutral and outright evil. Players on the Horde side are throughout the game pretty much forced to view the world from Horde's point of view. They seem Alliance as their rival faction, and while most players acknowledge that humans (and other races) are a asupposed "good" race, they don't think themselves as evil, regardless what race they play as.
Back to GW2: If humans suddenly disappeared, what would we have left? Conquering and ferocious feline race with war machines, conquering golem-magic cave race, legend-conquering giant barbaric race and nature-harmonic plant babies. If you look at norn and humans, they have very much in common. While all races (well, except sylvari) have had some setbacks, the norn and humans have suffered the most. This brings sort of balance to the game. Humans and norn are the survivor races, whereas asura and charr are conquering. Sylvari seem to be taking the middle ground between them, which is perfectly fine imo.
If there wasn't human race, you'd be left with norn and sylvari against asura and charr. To me this kind of situation would probably end like (if not taking elder dragons into account) charr and asura dominating while norn people either 1) rebuild or 2) lose to charr (regardless of their mutual respect for each other: Charr exist to conquer). Asura will probably be taking advantage of naïve sylvari in GW2 anyways.
Humanity's role has indeed lessened from GW1, but they are still important on grand scale. What I don't really like is how they're shifting more and more to praying, do-goody paladin-like hero humans from WoW, especially compared to norn. For me, playing as human will be just for GW1's sake. In any other MMO's (after WoW) I've been trying I've tried to avoid playing as human. However, thanks to differing social classes (personal storyline) and top-class government issues, it might be interesting to play human with some history, personal background and proper beginnings.
Norn[edit]
The Norn resemble humans very much. They are even hinted to be able to interbreed in GW1. But whether or not that is a fact remains to be seen, but for now, many players/wiki users seem to be going for "half-norn" characters when it comes to their own background stories. I know why that is, it's so that they can truly be descendants of their ancestors from 250 years ago and rightfully claim their legacy in Hall of Monuments. But enuff on that... The Norn culture seems very appealing to me, and I'm very likely making a norn as my first character (unless I go for sylvari, which, well... Sylvari!).
There's quite a few unanswered questions regarding norn lore, however. I'm just going to list a few of them right here. If you know an answer to any of them, or if you have more questions, do let me know on this article's talk page, thank you!
- Norn history and origins
- Relationship with kodan
- Other Spirits of the Wild and their manifestations, aspects and powers
- Can they interbreed with humans or not?
- More on relationship with charr and other races
- The animal forms, their origins, restrictions, how does one learn such form
- What norn think of magic and technology (compared to, say, charr?)
- Why or how do they acknowledge the Human Gods as Spirits of Action?
- What norn think of other races' religions
- How norn care for their children and what is their status in norn culture?
- How far can norn like Grimhilde go when attempting to make a name for oneself?
The Norn indeed are more deep people than it seems at first glance. That's how I feel like, at least. Their culture and physiology is original enough. So if anyone comes telling you that your favorite playable race is just that of giant barbarians, you can always refer them here and show them how many unanswered questions there still are.
Charr[edit]
The Charr are so militaristic people it sometimes bothers me. It's a well known fact that their culture of rampaging conquerors united under a Khan-Ur is entirely drawn from the Mongols of our own history. Their modern society behaves a bit akin to Classical era Roman military doctrine, but they use a lot of United States slash Commonwealth military slang. I don't really mind that. They probably appeal to a lot of different people. Many players simply want to experience of being the former "bad guy" race character, while some are genuinely interested in charr values like military strength and discipline. I guess it's kind of fun that their "racial capital speed boost", which can be received within the Black Citadel, is called "Double Time!"
Compared to certain once-enemy races from other games, such as the Warcraft series and the evolution of orcs of Azeroth, or the undead of Sylvanas, to an independent race and a nation, I think charr are much more deeper and realistic. Their evolution spans not only technological and religious aspects of their culture, which are most visible, but also their domestic government and and foreign relationships as well. Following the recovering of Claw of the Khan-Ur, and the possibly eventual defeat of the Flame Legion will raise even more questions about charr government and possibly reunification... though right now it seems very unlikely that any of the remaining High Legions will claim total leadership, at least without political intrigue and defeating of last remnants of the Flame... Oh, and Kralkatorrik, of course. All those things summed together might have enough to do to justify an actual expansion to the game.
After the charr have dealt with their internal problems, I'd guess that humans might have gotten rid of theirs (bandits, centaur war, weird minister abuse of power, etc.) and their conflict could start anew. Possibly following the defeat of Elder Dragons. Or whatever happens in the main storyline. Perhaps the dragons cannot be defeated. I doubt that they can be destroyed just like that, anyhow.
Just like with the norn, many questions about the charr as a race are still unanswered. There's probably not much to say about their history or origin as a species or race, but many people are interested (or at least, I think they are or would be) about the rest of the charr lands, particularly to the east, as at least some facts about the northern land referred to as "Charr Homelands" will be revealed. The Ash Legion's homeland probably lie there, or in some other region within the vast world of Tyria (though it's completely legit if they have no home region at all, meh).
