so, for those who have, and haven't, been following Arga, I've placed three "races" in the setting. (the Dura, Arga's version of dwarves. The Anthos, the "human" race. and the Vorr, a bestial, somewhat minotaur-like folk.)
the issue is thus. I like the three races that I have, each one works in the world and fits naturally, especially the Dura and Anthos. However, I feel like in a setting that has multiple species, three doesn't quite cut it. Not that I have anything against the elf-dwarf-orc-halfling troupe (I'm kidding, I actually do) but I want to avoid that.
One option was to make the Anthos the forefathers of the modern "human" race, and have many unique races that have split off from their ancestors. Could work, except the timelines in Arga don't work with base ideas of evolution.
anyhow, just wanted a quick brainstorm on the matter. any thoughts, critiques, and rants would be appreciated.
Hmm, if you base races off the Anthos you just end up with one of the other problems associated with the afore-mentioned trope; instead of getting separate species you just get variations of some "base". pointy-eared humans, short humans, green humans, etc.
Instead, I would extrapolate on your idea of "Greekpunk". Just as you have a minotaur-with-twists, you could make e.g. harpies-with-a-twist. Harpies actually seem like one of the best candidates for twisting. I would probably stay away from centaurs, though...
Basing a race off some unforeseen side effect of some of your magic disciplines might work too. Soulless, possessed, charged, etc.
Quote from: Cataclysmic CrowHmm, if you base races off the Anthos you just end up with one of the other problems associated with the afore-mentioned trope; instead of getting separate species you just get variations of some "base". pointy-eared humans, short humans, green humans, etc.
Instead, I would extrapolate on your idea of "Greekpunk". Just as you have a minotaur-with-twists, you could make e.g. harpies-with-a-twist. Harpies actually seem like one of the best candidates for twisting. I would probably stay away from centaurs, though...
Basing a race off some unforeseen side effect of some of your magic disciplines might work too. Soulless, possessed, charged, etc.
Harpies could be good, or Satyrs, though depending on how you implement them, they might seem similar to the Vorr. You could also think about doing something with Nymphs. You would have your choice of wood nymph, water nymph, etc to work with. If you're thinking of going the water route, you could use some of the siren mythology as well.
Harpies, Satyrs, Hamadryads and other Nymphs, Gorgons, and Merfolk might all fit, but I agree with Crow and Seraphine that harpies are the coolest candidate for twisting. Maybe they're considered pests by other sentients? Harpy flocks might roam from town to town thieving, begging, and eating livestock and the like? Just random thougts. Ghostman has satyrs in his setting which is also decidedly Greek, so if you haven't alredy you should check his out too.
Quote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumYou would have your choice of wood nymph, water nymph, etc to work with.
No need to stick that closely to the source. A "universal" nymph would work just as well, or even one with flavour different from all of the mythical ones.
Quote from: GhostmanQuote from: Seraphine_HarmoniumYou would have your choice of wood nymph, water nymph, etc to work with.
No need to stick that closely to the source. A "universal" nymph would work just as well, or even one with flavour different from all of the mythical ones.
I was merely suggesting that Leetz would have the lore of all the different kinds of nymphs in legend to draw on for possible inspiration. He could use as much or as little of it as desired, and there would be the option of having a "universal" nymph, or one tied to a certain environment. Whatever fits or works best.
a harpy-people could definitely work in the right areas, except I'm having a hard time picturing them fitting into a city-scape well. except than again, most races aside from the Anthos keep to themselves.
In cities they might be confined to ghettos - maybe large eyrie-towers housing many harpy families.
except the only thing I'm hesitant about is being OVERLY influenced by Greek things, where everything is just a punked up Greek troupe.
Good point.
If you want a very different race, the types I would avoid would be either a) the "different breeds of human" type i.e. elves/dwarves/orcs, and b) the mammalian animal-person type, i.e. anthropomorphic wolf-people or whatever.
I notice you have a sktech on the Arga discussion page of a slightly creepy merfolk-looking creature called a Maeren. Atomatoi are also mentioned. Are these still in?
What about a vaguely elemental race based on iron, moss, coral, ash, or some other unusual substance?
A reptillian race that *aren't* yuan-ti or lizardfolk, perhaps taking their name from the drakaina of Greek mythology (not quite as recognizable as harpies or gorgons...)?
Races with multiple forms are cool and, with the exception of werewolves and doppelganger-like creatures, rather underused, and it fits with the Greek thing without being too in-your-face about it (dryads into trees etc).
Maybe a deep sea mollusc/cuttlefish/nautiloid race that aren't all-out slavering lovecraftian monstrosities??
hmmm, I really hadn't thought of the Maeren as a "playable" race, but the could work. They would obviously need legs. but they would fit in well, considering the nautical leanings.
maybe they could be sea-nomads? bouncing around on half-floating ships.
Or primitive techno-magical submersibles???
Fastly concocted ideas (possibly slightly incoherent):
Maybe you could do black-feathered raven-harpies and combine them with a sphinx-ian love for secrets and riddles, which often causes them to seek out forbidden knowledge and arcane lore. Mostly secluded hermits and travelling sages they might take up more common roles as librarians, navigators, travelling merchants and the like in cities.
If you want to go with nymphs or shapechangers you could do a combination by making a race of narcissistic and hedonistic shapechangers who constantly attempt to mold their bodies into living pieces of art; avatars of beauty. For a darker twist you could make them so they are only able to change into visages and shapes the essence of which they have stolen from corpses or living beings. Or you could have other groups of that race who pursue a different aesthetic look (e.g. based on different art styles).
A cursed race could also work nicely. Maybe they suffer from some vile disease or animals attack them or something...
I had a thought last night that in addition to add new races, was to split the Vorr and Dura into somewhat unique groups, like the Anthos are split into different cultures.
I've already mentioned the Moru somewhere a long time ago, but they would be the outcase Dura that have gone into the world looking out for themselves instead of fighting the machines or helping their race out. Maybe a very small group decided to stay in Old Dura. Imagine a bunch of hermits and slightly-crazy Durans waging a guerrilla against the machines still.
I hate to use country mouse/city mouse as a means to split races, but the Vorr could work as those that are from the Vorr lands, and those that live in the outside world, fitting in as mercenaries, drifters, or slaves.