Choosing a race which is not one of the 3 pre-set races in an Alliance ... any reason NOT to ?

Deepfry · May 2014

When choosing a race, players who pre-ordered the game are not obliged to choose one of the 3 pre-set races for that Alliance.

For example, they can play an Orc as part of the Aldmeri Dominion (instead of being confined to High Elf, Wood Elf or Khajiit).

Is there any reason NOT to do this ? I have a vague memory of reading a post about this creating problems (for example, PvP issues and harder to find PvE/PvP groups because the group-making mechanism gives priority to an Alliance's 3 pre-set races).

Thank you

Medwin · May 2014

Nope since you pre ordered you are free to play any race on any faction. Honestly I love DC and I love Breton so I rolled with it. If you have a favorite race you can take comfort in knowing you would be able to play them on any faction.

Deepfry · May 2014

Medwin wrote: »

Nope since you pre ordered you are free to play any race on any faction. Honestly I love DC and I love Breton so I rolled with it. If you have a favorite race you can take comfort in knowing you would be able to play them on any faction.

Thanks for your reply Medwin, but I think you misunderstood my question.

I know I CAN choose any race. I'm asking whether there is any reason why this is a bad idea? I have a vague memory of reading a post about this creating problems (for example, PvP issues and harder to find PvE/PvP groups because the group-making mechanism gives priority to an Alliance's 3 pre-set races).

So yes, I can do it. But will it create issues?

Sarenia · May 2014

Deepfry wrote: »

When choosing a race, players who pre-ordered the game are not obliged to choose one of the 3 pre-set races for that Alliance.

For example, they can play an Orc as part of the Aldmeri Dominion (instead of being confined to High Elf, Wood Elf or Khajiit).

Is there any reason NOT to do this ? I'm just wondering if it will make it harder to find groups, or create problems in PvP, or some other problem I haven't thought of.

Thank you

It doesn't have any mechanical effects as far as I know, that could be detrimental to your ability to group or anything.

I found myself more "at home" in my racial homeland. It gives perspective on the race's true lore and heritage.

If you care about roleplay, it's unlikely somebody would betray their faction to fight for another. But even that isn't unheard of. There are even entire bands of NPCs who left their homeland to join another alliance.

So in a nutshell, you won't face any problems.

mavrwb17_ESO · May 2014

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

Sarenia · May 2014

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

This is a silly reason IMO, and every time I see it I cringe.

FYI, there is a Domion-friendly orc _fortress_ in the AD region of Grahtwood. It has a Shaman and everything.

Tamriel has always had widespread racial diversity. There are racist segments of the world that don't allow, or strongly discourage outsiders, but these aren't the status quo.

Following through on this, not every orc who lived within the borders of the Dominion would have fled the moment war rose up. Leave behind their family, their forge, and their home? Surely not! Others may not agree with the Daggerfall Covenant's dogma, and flee to Dominion demesnes.

In Grahtwood, there is a rather large clan of Argonians who disagree with their cousins joining the Ebonheart Pact alongside their former slave masters. Your intervention can sway them to be freely accepted into and cared for under Dominion rule. There are other examples of this "treachery" throughout the game world as well.

So while it may be _uncommon_ to see people fighting against their own racial homeland, it's certainly not unheard of in any of the TES games, nor in real warfare. Zenimax recognized that this should remain uncommon, and thus restricted it to preordering players. Said players should feel no shame or sense of "breaking lore" by exercising their freedom to play in any faction they wish.

SeñorCinco · May 2014

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

Tamriel is, and has always been, a melting pot of sorts. Every race has family members strewn across its borders.

Eso has several NPCs that are races outside of the alliance and that is lore, my friend.

I have always heavily RPd in TES and ESO is no different. I have a character concept about a Breton that was raised by an old Argonian shadowscale deep within the Black Marsh. She took him in after his parents were killed and he will start out in the EP and make his way back to his homeland.

How is that lore breaking?

mavrwb17_ESO · May 2014

SeñorCinco wrote: »

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

Tamriel is, and has always been, a melting pot of sorts. Every race has family members strewn across its borders.

Eso has several NPCs that are races outside of the alliance and that is lore, my friend.

I have always heavily RPd in TES and ESO is no different. I have a character concept about a Breton that was raised by an old Argonian shadowscale deep within the Black Marsh. She took him in after his parents were killed and he will start out in the EP and make his way back to his homeland.

How is that lore breaking?

Can you seriously think that khajit's working with argonian's would be lore canon considering their history? Lol..

Making up your own history = / = lore.

PBpsy · May 2014

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

SeñorCinco wrote: »

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

Tamriel is, and has always been, a melting pot of sorts. Every race has family members strewn across its borders.

Eso has several NPCs that are races outside of the alliance and that is lore, my friend.

I have always heavily RPd in TES and ESO is no different. I have a character concept about a Breton that was raised by an old Argonian shadowscale deep within the Black Marsh. She took him in after his parents were killed and he will start out in the EP and make his way back to his homeland.

How is that lore breaking?

Can you seriously think that khajit's working with argonian's would be lore canon considering their history? Lol..

Making up your own history = / = lore.

This is a game where Dunmer are supposed to tolerate the presence of stinking argonians walking about in their magnificent presence. Pfft I say pfftt

I do have a big fat perpetually drunken , bearded , perverted ,ginger Nord mercenary in the Dominion. He only fights because he needs money for mead and khajith wenches . I see absolutely no lore breaking problem with that.

Sarenia · May 2014

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

SeñorCinco wrote: »

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

mostly people are against it due to lore issues. Whoever heard of the orcs being part of the AD

Tamriel is, and has always been, a melting pot of sorts. Every race has family members strewn across its borders.

Eso has several NPCs that are races outside of the alliance and that is lore, my friend.

I have always heavily RPd in TES and ESO is no different. I have a character concept about a Breton that was raised by an old Argonian shadowscale deep within the Black Marsh. She took him in after his parents were killed and he will start out in the EP and make his way back to his homeland.

How is that lore breaking?

Can you seriously think that khajit's working with argonian's would be lore canon considering their history? Lol..

Making up your own history = / = lore.

Some Khajiit most certainly DO work with Argonians in TES.

You seem to be confusing racial heritage with allegiance. This is an easily invalidated fallacy, with but a quick glimpse at the game world, or human history.

Black and white may be comforting, but you'll find the reality of war to be shades of grey, be it in reality or in Elder Scrolls.

SeñorCinco · May 2014

Removed to prevent feeding.

... you had me going there for a minute.

MorHawk · May 2014

Wow. Guys, when you're done with your threadjacking lore debate that's been chewed on for two years now, perhaps someone could try and answer the OP's question? Is there any conclusive proof to confirm or deny that grouping tools favour the default races?

Sarenia · May 2014

MorHawk wrote: »

Wow. Guys, when you're done with your threadjacking lore debate that's been chewed on for two years now, perhaps someone could try and answer the OP's question? Is there any conclusive proof to confirm or deny that grouping tools favour the default races?

It's already been answered, multiple times. Check my first post.

The lore discussion is entirely on topic, since the only debatable "downside" to choosing the "wrong" faction is lore-related. Thus the debate.

MorHawk · May 2014

Sarenia wrote: »

It's already been answered, multiple times. Check my first post.

The lore discussion is entirely on topic, since the only debatable "downside" to choosing the "wrong" faction is lore-related. Thus the debate.

What, this one?

Sarenia wrote: »

It doesn't have any mechanical effects as far as I know

"I've never heard of it" isn't an answer. If ignorance is authoritative, then Australia doesn't exist. I've never seen it, after all. I would humbly suggest that comparison of success rates with the group finder might carry a tad more weight. Crazy, I know.

Either way. The OP was quite clear about focusing on actual gameplay impacts. But by all means, continue to quibble about your unresolvable lore debates.

ZOS_MichelleA · May 2014

Hi there, all! We understand that sometimes conversations can get heated, but please remain respectful and constructive when disagreeing with one another. Thanks for your understanding!

Lalai · May 2014

I play an Altmer in the Daggerfall faction, I have never had any problem finding a group using the group tool. I am always partied instantly.

I honestly would probably lean the other way and assume that there are no restrictions until I see an official post from Zenimax saying otherwise. There has not been a post that I have seen by Zenimax saying there's a negative to playing a different faction, and I followed that closely as it was something I was highly interested in.

There have been posts (not by Zenimax) starting rumors that console version is gonna be canceled when it's not, stuff gets confused. So vaguely remembering a post is probably not reliable information to be pulling something from.

Elencha · May 2014

It might just be a bug, but my boyfriend has had issues that seem to be related to this. His Khajit Aldmeri Dominion character was unable to set a home campaign in Cyrodiil after he had set one with his Dunmer Aldmeri Dominion character. The error message he got was that he couldn't have two characters in the same campaign with opposing Alliances.

Edited for grammar.

Azsheyal · May 2014

Well, the only thing I have come across so far is some dialog not being available. For instance, there is a dialog option with Captain Rana in Bleakrock where you can ask for her opinion on the other Pact races that is not available if you are playing a non-pact race character.

*edited for lack of coffee spelling mistakes*

demendred · May 2014

mavrwb17_ESO wrote: »

Can you seriously think that khajit's working with argonian's would be lore canon considering their history? Lol..

[/quote]

Hey, this one would gladly work with his Argonian comrades. Za'der isn't an ignorant racist.

PBpsy · May 2014

demendred wrote: »

Hey, this one would gladly work with his Argonian comrades. Za'der isn't an ignorant racist.

When khajits and argonians try to cooperate hilarious uselessness ensues. An argonian and khajith wouldn't even be able to light a camp fire.You can see that this is true all over Tamriel.

Melian · May 2014

Elencha wrote: »

It might just be a bug, but my boyfriend has had issues that seem to be related to this. His Khajit Aldmeri Dominion character was unable to set a home campaign in Cyrodiil after he had set one with his Dunmer Aldmeri Dominion character. The error message he got was that he couldn't have two characters in the same campaign with opposing Alliances.

Edited for grammar.

That definitely sounds like a bug. Did he report it?

The only difference I ran into is that my EP Breton doesn't get to hear some lines of dialogue my Dunmer did (related to race). Nothing quest-related, though.

And yeah, if Argonians and Khajiit can't work together because of history, I guess I really shouldn't be married to a German...

SeñorCinco · May 2014

MorHawk wrote: »

Wow. Guys, when you're done with your threadjacking lore debate that's been chewed on for two years now, perhaps someone could try and answer the OP's question?

I'm sorry... and you are?

Elencha · May 2014

@Melian‌ Yeah, he did. I don't think they ever sorted it out, though. He got sick of dealing with it after about three days of call backs and bug reports.

mutharex · May 2014

It's just AESTHETICS. There are absolutely no upsides or downside.

Pyatra · May 2014

mutharex wrote: »

It's just AESTHETICS. There are absolutely no upsides or downside.

Beyond minor racial bonuses none of the other things mentioned by the OP are an issue. No PVP issue, no queuing issues (make sure to change your role, that will affect it more than anything for grouping.)