Since this is Bethesda, and there were similarities from Oblivion to Fallout 3, it's always a possibility. How would you feel about the ability to choose race, such as human, ghoul, super mutant, or maybe even one of those stupid talking death claws from fallout 2? Yea or Nay?
Choosing Race in FO4
- Thread starter AtomBomb
- Start date
I've always kind of wanted to be able to play as a ghoul, but (and I hate to fit the crochety NMA stereotype here) if BethSoft stayed true to form, I don't think it would add much to the game and would stand a good chance of detracting from it. The only alternate races that would possibly make sense would be Ghouls (which I wouldn't mind at all) and Mutants. Bethesda probably couldn't/wouldn't stop with just three races, though-- they'd probably have to do something like they did in Morrowind, with regional/factional variants of humans and/or with out-of-place additions like Tatics' robots and deathclaws.
Even ghouls and (moreso,) mutants would be a bit of a stretch, though. Beth's people haven't traditionally handled racial differences and prejudices with virtuoso aplomb. They've either glossed over it with a few throwaway lines but left the core experience the exact same for every race, or (in the case of vampires and the like) they've made you into a complete pariah, who, once you manage to cure or conceal your condition, has also had the exact same core experience as every other race.
Even ghouls and (moreso,) mutants would be a bit of a stretch, though. Beth's people haven't traditionally handled racial differences and prejudices with virtuoso aplomb. They've either glossed over it with a few throwaway lines but left the core experience the exact same for every race, or (in the case of vampires and the like) they've made you into a complete pariah, who, once you manage to cure or conceal your condition, has also had the exact same core experience as every other race.
Walpknut
This ghoul has seen it all
A Super Mutant option would require a completely alternate start and would require a complete rebalance of the combat.
In an ideal world, yes. They'd probably just play down the differences and make a marginal adjustment to your starting SPECIAL stats, though, which, given the lopsidedness/insignificance of SPECIAL under the current model, would just amount to allowing you to re-skin your generic run-and-gun wasteland explorer. Another point in the cons column.
Done well, it could add a lot to the game. Arcanum managed to add a lot of depth with racial selection while giving all the races the same jumping-off point. It may not seem "Fallouty," but any depth would be preferable to a pastiche of wasteland tourist traps. (As I've said, though, "done well" is a big "if," and one there's not a lot of reason to bank on.)
Done well, it could add a lot to the game. Arcanum managed to add a lot of depth with racial selection while giving all the races the same jumping-off point. It may not seem "Fallouty," but any depth would be preferable to a pastiche of wasteland tourist traps. (As I've said, though, "done well" is a big "if," and one there's not a lot of reason to bank on.)
Makta
The DICKtator
I usually like a big choice of races but in a Fallout game besides tactics?.. Not so much! Sure Ghouls could fit but thats about it i guess.. Unless you take normal races such as black/asian etc but besides looks it wouldn't change much and we already have that.
I agree. Besides for the occasional comments regarding your race, there isn't much different from choosing to play as a dark elf or khajit in the elder scrolls. I imagine if they did make choosable races, it may end up how Yamu described it, a few slight adjustments to your starting SPECIAL stats, and perhaps a perk or two..other then that it would probably be more for looks.
But imagine choosing to be a super mutant and the beginning for that would be getting pulled from a vat of fev, maybe different places wouldn't accept you because of this, maybe you even have a whole new story line available to you because of this. Then the obvious things like lower intelligence, increased big guns and melee, maybe a low speech skill.
Ghoul would receive a lot of discrimination from humans but you could interact with different ghoul groups that maybe you wouldn't be able to otherwise. Maybe make available a new route for the main quest for them as well. They would have benefits such as being healed by radiation instead of being harmfully affected by it.
But imagine choosing to be a super mutant and the beginning for that would be getting pulled from a vat of fev, maybe different places wouldn't accept you because of this, maybe you even have a whole new story line available to you because of this. Then the obvious things like lower intelligence, increased big guns and melee, maybe a low speech skill.
Ghoul would receive a lot of discrimination from humans but you could interact with different ghoul groups that maybe you wouldn't be able to otherwise. Maybe make available a new route for the main quest for them as well. They would have benefits such as being healed by radiation instead of being harmfully affected by it.
Oppen
FIXT n°1 fan
Some random comments:AtomBomb said:
First, I liked the stupid talking deathclaws
Second, there are only two endings for them, and one involved expanding. I'm pretty sure you'd hear about them in NV if they expanded, so I find it much more likely to have become extinct (the other ending) in the canon ending. Also, it wouldn't make sense to have a deathclaw PC, since most of the gameplay mechanics for a PC are impossible for the deathclaw (it can't use weapons, because of the form of its hands, for example).
According to Fallout 3, feral ghouls doesn't attack another ghoul until it starts attacking them, that might be an extra advantage for the ghoul critter, kind of an animal friend perk but for ghouls instead, and from early game.AtomBomb said:
The super mutant could be smart. But maybe you implied he's not because of probability and game balance (starting as a smart supermutant is a little overpowering the PC, since the only other con to being a mutant is being discriminated). Also, a mutant should have a decreased max CH stat, since it's not only about straightforward charisma then speaking, but about looks too (an example of it is how losing your ear in New Reno lowers charisma one point).
Hey man, I was kidding about the talking death claw thing haha. I didn't mean to offend. I just didn't care for the idea of intelligent death claws, but thats my personal opinion.
Anyways, I wasn't serious about the option of death claw, that's why it wasn't mentioned in my previous comment :p but yeah I just said they would have low INT because thats the most common depiction of a super mutant, however there are exceptions to that. Yeah, i get what you're saying about the lower CH, makes sense.
Anyways, I wasn't serious about the option of death claw, that's why it wasn't mentioned in my previous comment :p but yeah I just said they would have low INT because thats the most common depiction of a super mutant, however there are exceptions to that. Yeah, i get what you're saying about the lower CH, makes sense.
Seasick
First time out of the vault
I don't think different races should be an option right at the start, but I wouldn't mind a quest or something where you become a Ghoul.
CthuluIsSpy
A Smooth-Skin
I would rather start off as human, and have the option to gradually become non-human. I think that would be a more interesting experience.
Seasick said:
CthuluIsSpy said:
Main problem with such option is that it takes allot of time to become a Ghoul. Sure they are faster excaptions (Moira Brown ugh..) or you could become FEV ghoul (like Harold) but it`s not thesame.
I`d rahter see it as standard choice at game begining. Let`s say game begins on NCR roadblock/ border check point and you have too choose your race.
For now on I`d give four choices:
1.Human (Caucasian, African, Asian, Hispanic etc.)
2. Ghoul (FEV or Standard)
3. Beastlord
4. Slags
Every grouo would have their own special set of traits and perks (e.g. Beastlord would begin with "animal friend") and some advantages from the game world (say Beastlord with certain level of animal friend perk could go to Deathclaw nest where he could get additional deathclaw follower unavaliable for others). This is how I see it.
Gaspard
Kasparov
By beastlord you mean psionic? A little more and they'll have pyrokinesis and telekinesis and a teensy bit later you'll be shouting "THOOOM!" at packs of radscorpions.
I think I would prefer to change into a mutant gradually over the course of the game. I don't want to be too front-loaded with special perks at level 1.
It would be neat if player could take an FEV Exposure trait at the beginning of the game; mutations could then be gained and advance in stages when specific conditions apply.
It would be neat if player could take an FEV Exposure trait at the beginning of the game; mutations could then be gained and advance in stages when specific conditions apply.
Gaspard
Kasparov
But for that we have the Witcher games and Bioshock etc. IF they're going to include (although I hope not) various "races" if you can call 'em that, then I think the best way would be to have no gradual mutations. Perks with drawbacks, that's the way to go. Muties are big and strong, high def, good melee, not too fast an not too bright. Ghouls can eat any amount of radiation and poison, but their charisma/loks is way down, but because of... wait. No. That's like dungeons and dragons or something õ_o
Mistrz, I know what you mean by beastlord. They're minor psionics. Master's a psionic aswell, but I don't see what you want to say with that
In the rooms right before Master there are several more psionics. You could say that Hakunin's a psionic as well - astral projection, brother! Melchior is a "beastlord mutant".
Mistrz, I know what you mean by beastlord. They're minor psionics. Master's a psionic aswell, but I don't see what you want to say with that
In the rooms right before Master there are several more psionics. You could say that Hakunin's a psionic as well - astral projection, brother! Melchior is a "beastlord mutant".
Instead of races they could have different starting scenarios.
i.e., caravan trader, tribal, farmer, soldier, etc.
Not saying I like this idea but it would at least make more sense than "races" since really the only two races you could play as in the Fallout universe are human and ghoul.
i.e., caravan trader, tribal, farmer, soldier, etc.
Not saying I like this idea but it would at least make more sense than "races" since really the only two races you could play as in the Fallout universe are human and ghoul.
I wanted to say that psionics are part of Fallout`s lore. That dosen`t neceserily makes them spell casting magicians. Beastlord`s psionics works only on minor creatures like bugs, lizards and smaller mutated mammals. The way I see them as playable race is more of brutish tribal with some special wild life related options. No Fallout druids.
Still IMO every 'race' other then normal human should have it`s fair amount of cons. Playing as SM should be very hard because of lore-related stuff due to balance advantages from mechnics.
It`s entirely possible to fetch 5-6 interesting playable races without stretching existing lore (no talking deathclaws) but doing it would require amount of subtle work not is style of BEth games.
Still IMO every 'race' other then normal human should have it`s fair amount of cons. Playing as SM should be very hard because of lore-related stuff due to balance advantages from mechnics.
It`s entirely possible to fetch 5-6 interesting playable races without stretching existing lore (no talking deathclaws) but doing it would require amount of subtle work not is style of BEth games.