Races in MMOs

Racial Profiling? Noooo...



One of the first decisions you'll make when playing any MMO is what race you'll be. Some people have an affinity for a certain race, while others are more flexible. Mercurie takes a look at how races in MMOs got their start with Dungeons & Dragons, which took its races from Tolkien, who took some of his races from mythology. He also asks the question: does Vanguard have too many races? What do you want to be when Vanguard: Saga of Heroes launches this winter?

Of course, the character races in MMOs are usually drawn from folklore and mythology. Elves and dwarves did not originate with Tolkien. In German mythology the elves were beings below the gods, but worshipped nonetheless. Also from German mythology, dwarves were beings who were short in stature, but skilled in working metal. While they weren't worshipped like the elves, they were still beings more powerful than mere mortals. Other character races seen in many MMOs (ogres, giants, et al) are also drawn from mythology, folklore, and fairy tales.