Backgrounds versus Racials

Just wanted to put my thoughts out here about the removal of racial abilities/traits and moving them into backgrounds.

I'm all for removing racial stats and features so our character cosmetically can be anything we want and not be relegated to specific subsets of races just to be better at a certain thing or class. However, I don't think these features should be moved to a background selection on character creation. While it solves the cosmetic issue, it still keeps the primary issue I have with that system being involved during character creation.

A player may not know what they will enjoy the most out of the game, and asking them to choose their background (especially if they are specific to occupations / activities) during character creation causes feel bad moments. I can remember instances in other games where I felt forced to recreate my character because I learned I made a sub-optimal decision before I could've learned anything about the choice.

Sure this is solved by doing prior research but that shouldn't be a requirement to begin the game. I'd like to see the features be choices presented to the player later in the game, for instance occupation bonuses for interacting with that occupation more often, or a "preferred" occupation bonus. In my opinion the class choice (and personally I'm a fan of not even locking this down) should be the only unchangeable trait of your character.

Find more posts tagged with

Comments

Freemeta

so weaponor armor should be aesthetic choice? light armot with heavy armor stat? skills too?

insomnia

I have mixed feelings about this. On one side, it does so you just pick the race that you prefer. Be it story or looks. But on the other side, i feel like it takes away something from the races

Roxi

we can just as well say that different crafting abilities are just as unbalanced in the game as racial abilities (economically speaking).

Ace1234

Imo thats exactly why its important to be given an early idea of the types of builds you will eventually be able to make, and how the skills/augments work for your class choice, so that you can make an informed decision early on for the more permanent build choices. I see nothing wrong with giving the player a taste of endgame gameplay to draw them in and steer them in the right direction on what goals they have and how they can achieve them.

insomnia

But now i'm not exited to get to learn about the races (Tulnar). Now they just feel like a cash shop skin to me

Nerror

I am honestly fine with both racial stat/skill differences on top of a background system. Just make them things that can benefit multiple classes and roles, and keep them low impact. Like, a small bonus to frost resistance to Dünir and a small fire resist for Vaelune. Just a couple of percent. It's useful for all as a defensive stat. Racial and Background bonuses can be fluff stuff like emotes and dances and such too.

Dygz

Seems like this would have a major impact on the concept of which race controls the Metro.
No reason to care about that if Racial progression is not a thing.

Depraved

Bakageyama wrote: »

Just wanted to put my thoughts out here about the removal of racial abilities/traits and moving them into backgrounds.

I'm all for removing racial stats and features so our character cosmetically can be anything we want and not be relegated to specific subsets of races just to be better at a certain thing or class. However, I don't think these features should be moved to a background selection on character creation. While it solves the cosmetic issue, it still keeps the primary issue I have with that system being involved during character creation.

A player may not know what they will enjoy the most out of the game, and asking them to choose their background (especially if they are specific to occupations / activities) during character creation causes feel bad moments. I can remember instances in other games where I felt forced to recreate my character because I learned I made a sub-optimal decision before I could've learned anything about the choice.

Sure this is solved by doing prior research but that shouldn't be a requirement to begin the game. I'd like to see the features be choices presented to the player later in the game, for instance occupation bonuses for interacting with that occupation more often, or a "preferred" occupation bonus. In my opinion the class choice (and personally I'm a fan of not even locking this down) should be the only unchangeable trait of your character.

will all the backgrounds be accessible to every race and class?

so a human bard can have "former elven cleric, head of the church" as a background?

or can dwarf have "orc king" as a background?

or are we having generic backgrounds that can be applied to everybody?

Freemeta

good point is more options for character customization, instead of some racials we have access to all of them.
maybe just generic background like: orphan raised by elves.
i really hope to have risky and rewarding background option with consequences. and give and take options.

one of the best background imo was in Arcanum (cRPG), really fun!
Bride of Frankenstein

Available to female humans and female half-orcs.

You were reanimated by a mad scientist to be the bride of his other creation, but somehow you managed to escape before the wedding. You are very well constructed, gaining bonuses to Beauty (+4), Constitution (+4), Electrical Resistance (+20%), and Poison Resistance (+10%), but you have a very slow Dexterity (-4), a damaged brain-larynx connection (you use Dumb Dialogue options), and a susceptibility to fire, Fire Resistance (-10%). You also start out with no money whatsoever.

https://arcanum.fandom.com/wiki/Character_background#Beat_with_an_Ugly_Stick
https://arcanum.fandom.com/wiki/Dumb_Dialogue

i'm a great fan of structural passives abilities.

Depraved

i loved arcanum

insomnia

so should mounts and pets also just be a skin? You get to pick their traits

Child Item