Before we actually get to the question for episode 25, I want to let you all know that we’re hard at work on the new show, as well as bringing some new segments to MER to keep things lively after the con season. And keep in mind there’s a suggestion thread stickied on the forums, and we would love to hear ideas from everyone on how we can continue to improve the show to be exactly what the community is looking for.

Now, the past couple of weeks have given us some fantastic updates: Corellia has been announced as the 15th playable planet, looks at the Jedi classes with the “Designing the Light Side” developer video, and especially the EPIC Smuggler video posted by Machinima.com. We recommend every check these out, as well as the detailed break-downs from Darth Hater and others, before the next show. We’re incredibly excited to discuss what these will mean for the TOR community. However, for this week’s community discussion topic, we want to tackle a subject that we have been sitting on for a while now: Racial benefits, also known as Racials.

Bioware has previously approached this topic from, no surprise, a story-based standpoint in the form of player backgrounds. In Mass Effect, you could have been the sole survivor of a battle or a ruthless soldier, and overall these had little impact on your game. In Dragon Age, your origin story played a much stronger role in your progression as a Warden. However, rarely has Bioware ever incorporated these backgrounds into specific in-game abilities. There are a number of MMOs who have used racials as a way to differentiate between the races or species beyond cosmetics. For example, in LOTRO, each race has an ability to quickly to return to their race’s home city. In WoW, humans have a special ability to escape all movement impairment effects. So our question to you is, how should The Old Republic implement racials? Would you like Bioware to build upon the biography model as a way to incorporate special abilities, or should they include the systems already in place in other MMOs?

We want you guys to be as detailed as you want on this one: everything from general ideas to which racial abilities a Chiss should have and why. As always, when it comes time to record the episode, we will pull some of your comments and use them as a basis for discussion on the show. Get detailed guys!!

I thought that BioWare confirmed that they were not having racial benefits for species because they wanted people to choose a race based off of what felt like them, and not what would give them +5 to lightsaber skill?

I dunno, correct me if I'm wrong.

Honestly I don't want them implemented at all: I want the focus to be on the classes, not the races, so I'd be quite pleased if BioWare chose to ignore racial benefits.

Can't wait for the episode!

I wouldn't mind it going either way (with or without racial benefits). I only hope that if benefits are included, they aren't game-changing, and that they provide a small bonus, statistically or some minor ability. As long as it fits with the species.

Hey guys, great podcast so far, and I this is my first post here.

Since I played the first two KOTOR games, and specifically talking about The Sith Lords (second kotor game), there was some stuff that some could do based on their race.

Visas Marr (Miraluka): http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Visas_Marr
I remember talking a lot with the Miraluka (Visas Marr), who is of course blind and has a strong connection with the force, and I built up my influence with here. At one point she taught me a new skill (which I'm guessing contradicts the whole racial thing but I'll get to that in a moment) which helped me see the world in a different POV. It allowed me to differentiate between those who are light sided vs those who are dark sided. I searched it up on wookipedia and it was called Force Sight. Even though I was able to learn it, in SWTOR I think only the Miraluka race will be the only ones who could use it. It very well be different in SWTOR but I'm very sure that they will implement something like this in the game.

Hanharr (Wookiee): http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Hanharr
Once you get to Nar Shaddaa, you'll either get to play with Mira or Hanharr. Since I played the game countless times, I had Hanharr a few time. He was a Wookiee. He had this ability that allowed him to be more powerful every time he'd kill an enemy for set amount of time. (I'm not sure if it had more to it, or was something different, I haven't played in a long time.) I believe it was called Rage or something like that. And so far the Wookiee race has not been announced so I not sure if something like this will be in the game, but it very well could be a Wookiee only ability.

I hope that Bioware implements Racial ability because I know very well that they will make it amazing. I haven't played galaxies and a lot of other Star Wars games, but I'm in love with Bioware and the Classic KOTOR series, and have been waiting on this game for along time.

LOVE YOUR PODCAST, PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thanks
Mixtrate

Theres a thread over here -> viewtopic.php?f=5&t=253 that was talking about racials.

Also I don't feel like bioware is going to implement racials either even though the possibility is still there. They haven't straight out told us "No racials" i mean remember when we all thought space combat was going to be open world. Just because bioware hasn't told us something dosent mean we should just fill in the blanks. Unless they tell us so i think there is some hope for racials.

On the other hand, bioware not having racials to keep the story the level sounds right, i just kind of hope that we do get some kind of racials or something like it.

Love the podcast keep up the good work. (IMO you should have alot more fans than you do)
-Lightnight14

I really do not think we are going to see Racials in this game. The racials from other games that meant anything were really badly done. I vote no to racials.

I am in the "hope that they don't have racials" camp as well. Having said that, I think there are other options available that might bridge the gap.

1. Perhaps there can be racials that are attached to your companions. Assuming players generally have access to several races as companions, this would be a way of implementing the concept without inspiring a player to choose a race based on racial alone.

2. Perhaps they could put "racial" type things on specific gear. So a Chiss made Bounty Hunter item has a different "racial" based on the fact that it was Chiss made (please don't make fun of me if the Chiss would never make armour -- I am a Lore N00b)

I dont think this is very likely sadly =/ im sure companions are just going to have skills specific to them and for the armor idea that leads to the same problem of "Your armor(class) is better because you have a different race"

Great ideas anyways but I still want something for racials but something minor like if your playing Miraluka have black and white vision that you can toggle for effect. Im not sure how this would work with other races but it would be nice to see bioware implement something like that.

I remember in WoW that the troll and tauren were the 'best' for warriors because of their racial abilities.

I *edited* hated that.

If they give racial abilities, it better not sway towards which is race/species is better for class 'x'.

So, when SWG came out, every non-human race had some type of racial bonus and penalty. Now it has been almost 10 years, so I may be off a bit but if I remember Rodians and Mon Calamari were given bonuses to crafting and penalties to toughness or something along that line. Zabrak had combat and endurance, as well as Wookies. After Jump To Lightspeed was introduced, Mon Cals and Sullustans were given starship crafting bonuses. All in all, I just don't remember it working that well. In fact i think it may have been abandoned at some point. While there still were a lot of humans, it was more typical to see Zabrak Teras Kasi masters and Rodian Weaponsmiths. Now playing as a human Weaponsmith, I never had the success as my non-human competition. I constantly had to lower prices because my merchandise just wasn't as good, and never could be because I was human.

For every bonus, there was a penalty. For every pro, a con. While it would make sense that non-humans would have different racial abilities, I think it just isn't worth it. If you give the Zabraks a bonus to ranged weapons, then you will see more Zabrak Troopers than human ones. Give a Mirakula an extra force power, then all the JK's will be Mirakula. Even if you give the humans a bonus in some way, i just think it would be an overly complicated character creation process trying to decide what type of character to play.

While this is a MMO, remember that it is an MMO"RPG" I am looking more forward to playing 8 different story lines than calculating my to hit bonus with dual pistols if I play a Chiss, or my Force Lightning damage bonus if I play a Gungan Inquisitor (you know you would if they let you!).