Poll: Anyone else hate the Skyrim animal races?

[Ragsnstitches]

In exploring Skyrim this last week, I discovered something. I really, really hate the animal races, or anthropomorphs or whatever you want to call them. Conceptually and aesthetically. First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur? REALLY? What is the evolutionary advantage to that? Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense. It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

Then they're just ugly and wreak of laziness in design. Because once you think about it, the reason their physiology is the same as regular people is obvious. If their bodies are the same, the same animations and scripts can be used to make them move can be the same as well. And then I just feel awkward looking at them. They're like a furry's wet dream come alive.

So please, somebody tell me I'm not the only one who really can't stand these things?

You... you do realise that arguing for logic in a genre primarily dominated by religious fervor. actual gods that actually do stuff, MAGIC and a general dislike towards science (Lord of the Rings Orcs and Goblins are negative representations of an industrialised world) is pretty stupid. Especially in a world with only one race that used science and which consequently vanished due to it.

Seriously, your barking up the wrong tree expecting a logical and scientifically reasoned lore.

Also, Khajiit and Argonians have looked like that in all TES games EXCEPT Morrowind, where they looked retarded. They made the deviation once to make each race different looking and long time fans of Khajiit and Argonians bellowed in dismay over their favourite races getting a rod stuck up their arse.

Spoiler: Early Argonians and Khajiit

Spoiler: Morrowind Argonians and Khakiit

Spoiler: Skyrim Argonians and Khagiit

That's almost 20 years of using that design (and hundreds of years in the lore). So yeah, continuity is a *****.

Also, LOL... What do you think Animal Races are? They are specifically tailored for people who like anthropomorphic characters. Not just your derogatory perception on "Furries", but people who genuinely prefer being an Animal over a human in role play.

Alas, different strokes for different folks. Just remember your never the only one and blah blah blah...

EDIT: Just so it's clear... I'm a Nord in every iteration of TES and I will never play as a beast race. They aren't my thing. But I'm not going to wail on it for my difference in taste.

 

[Smertnik]

Just because the Kahjit and Argonians are incredibly silly imaginary peoples doesn't give you the right to hate them. Stop being so racist. Sheesh.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

...because suspension of disbelief is the foundation upon which fantasy is built up? My big problem with the beast races is that there's only two and yet you have what, four flavors of Elf? (Dunmer, Altmer, Wood and...Doc?) I would have also liked to have seen half-breeds. My Argonian is married to a human so it would be cool to see an Argonian with a human face or, hair instead of spines. Or the more anime-styled Cat Girls which would have probably sold even more copies of Skyrim (well possibly).

 

[Muspelheim]

In this thread, people indirectly ridicule the ancient Egyptian pantheon without even realising.
Seriously though, if Bastet and Sobek can get away with cat and crocodile heads surely a fantasy video game can do cat and lizard people.

Indeed. In addition, I believe that one of their many, many wargods (Sekhmet) had a lion's head, not too different from a Khajiit warrior, no?

Dagnabbit, now I've got to make one...

I've come to a sudden and strange realization...

Whenever the USA uses animal based anthropomorfism, it ends up falling in the category of either Disney movies or the furry subculture. (By the way, who decided that the word "furry" is a noun all of a sudden?)

Whenever Europe does the animal anthropomorfism however, we come up with either the great literary works known as fables or pulitzer winning graphic novels.

But, you know, just to be on topic: no, I don't have anything against the anthro animal races of the Elder Scrolls series. I don't even understand why one would ***** about something like that.

Like I often say, I believe the furry can be a power of good, if you use it right. As webcomics are the usual offender:

http://badwebcomics.wikidot.com/the-furry:can-it-be-used-for-the-forces-of-good

But I believe you could be right. About the only comic I regurally read are Blacksad, which although set in America and using many American detective story tropes, feels very European. All the characters (including the titular Blacksad, private investigator and fabulous cat) are some form of anthropomorphic animal, based on what animal they would resemble were they a real person. A coldblooded, ruthless hitman in one adventure, for instance, is drawn like a snake, to great effect.
Of course, it certainly helps alot that the artist knows what he's doing...

Dude, are you freaking serious? Khajiit have the best unarmed in the game. You build them properly, their damage shames most weapons.

And of course I like the beast races, OP. I wouldn't have a level 38 Khajiit assassain if I didn't.

That's what I like about Skyrim, you aren't forced to play a certain role by what race you choose. You can always fill the gap rather easily. It's certainly much easier to go with the role you're "supposed" to, but you don't have to.

Oh, and Claws are a blessing, I haven't lost a single brawl.

 

[ExileNZ]

I'm actually quite enjoying playing my Khajiit assassin, thank you.

He looks kinda dumb in the Nord iron helmet, but you can't win 'em all.

The rest of the time he looks like fucking Batman, so I really can't complain.

Besides, as someone else said above, culturally the Khajiit and Argonians are just as rich (if not richer) than the humans.

I still remember the story about the Khajiit painter and the corpse-looter. Good stuff.

 

[joshuaayt]

Not in Skyrim, no, Sir. Argonians get the ability to become a prettier Wolverine for 60 seconds a day, and Khajiit can do excellent damage with heavily armoured fisticuffs.

Love the beast!

As a rule, though, I love Khajiit anyway- I get to play as a giant kitty. Come on.

 

[hermes]

It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

I like them because they are the most convincing non-human races in Oblivion.... which isn't saying much unfortunately. I also agree with everything you just said to, so I am kind of on the fence here. You are right, it doesn't make any sense to make them so primate-like (human-like IS primate-like). I would have liked additional effort put into these species by this point.

They're like a furry's wet dream come alive."

Yeah pretty much, which is why I don't like them aesthetically. Typically furrys are very superficial, using cartoon logic in their most prominent designs. That is fine, but I expect MUCH more from a mainstream video game that is trying so hard to be aesthetically realistic in every other area. And before anyone says, "Hurrr how else could they look duuur" I want to say Khajiits should be more blended between 'lions standing upright' and 'people' rather then just fuzzy people with animal heads. Argonian bodies should look like.. well, like the dragon bodies, only smaller, upright and without wings. Very lizard like. I mean, for Christ's sake it doesn't make any sense for either of these species to have a primate shape as their final stage of evolution. That's some 'Super Mario Bros. Movie' logic you have going there. Don't even get me started on Argonian breasts. The very fact that they exist is some epic 'Michael Bay' level pandering.

On the bright side here is a much smaller game that is doing slightly better with their animal races.
I really like the wolves, and while the rabbits look a bit more human then I would like, they make up for it with very rabbit-ish behavior and maneuverability.

I don't have a problem with the animal races, but you brought some good points. Argonians and Khajiits should at least move in matter anatomically closer to their animal counterparts, while now they are just the same body with a different face and textures.

I am sure at one point this was made to save money from animating different ways of walking, running and jumping, but its fairly obvious now Bethesda has the resources to polish that part of the game (considering the amount of effort put in other aspects of the lore).

 

[Emperor Nat]

First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur? REALLY? What is the evolutionary advantage to that?

There isn't one. There is no Evolution within TES lore, most races are direct productions of the gods or the daedra.

Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense.

In Morrowind, the beast races had completely different frames to humans/elves and couldn't even wear shoes. Maiq the Liar makes reference to this in Oblivion, stating "M'aiq thinks his people are beautiful. The Argonian people are beautiful as well. They look better than ever before".

Personally, I did like the uniqueness that the beast races used to have. But considering the fact that using a single mesh/frame allows you to get a higher animation quality because less unique animations are needed, I think it's a fair trade-off.

 

[Darkmantle]

I think the Khajiit are ascetically pleasing _._

 

[etherlance]

If you play the elder scrolls Morrowwind the argonians and the kajit both have reversed leg joints.

But really, picking a game apart over something like this will only end up ruining the game for you so I suggest letting it go.

The Khajit have a reason for why they look the way they do, and other people have commented on this as well (The whole moon cycle determines the physical appearance).

As for the Argonians, they look pretty good already but I'll agree that they should have slightly haunched bodies and maybe reversed leg joints again but other than that there is nothing wrong with those two races IMO.

 

[thedevildancer]

i think you are reading to much in to this

 

[omega 616]

I think until we live in a world where the "holo deck" is real thing, gamers are going to be the most whiny bunch of people in the known universe! Even then people will complain you don't have a controller or something.

Sweet jesus, just look at skyrim, the world is huge (not to mention the other realms hidden below it) and is quite the good looking game. Got all kinds of crazy awesome stuff going on both behind the scenes and in front of you. Could you even imagine a game like this 15 years ago?

Yet all people can do is say "well this minor flaw is annoying me", you have this seriously impressive game in front of you and you complain about something so insignificant as that.

Sure the game isn't perfect but what game is? This is still one hell of a great game and puts 90% of every other AAA game to shame!

More on topic. You are complaining about these things but all the elves look identical, except there skin colour and special abilities.

Well to be fair, if gamers didn't whine about EVERY. LITTLE. THING. then they'd never get changed, and then we'd live in a world where grey and brown are the normal colors for every game forever.

Plus we probably never would've gotten Skyrim from Bethesda. Fans complaining = drive for innovation. Unless you're CA or EA Sports, anyway.

That is only true to an extent, it's not like if gamers were a quite bunch we would still have 8 bit, 2D platformers

It's not like the devs or I think to be more accurate the publishers listen that much to the community, lets take the golden example of last stand in COD games ... there is a video of Robert bowling saying "last stand has been taken out of the game", the crowd roars with cheers, Robert Laughs, MW3 comes out and last stands twin brother is in the game "final stand".

Then there is the opposite effect, the devs and publishers listen to the very vocal and often stupid members of the community. They end up throwing all sense of balance out of whack and ultimately ruin the game.

I am off topic with this rant though. I think gamers should just stop nit picking, especially on a game that makes other AAA games look like indie's and enjoy it!

 

[Terminate421]

I'm personally one for more beast races in games, not because I'm a furry (which I am not), but rather, if options are available, beast races are far more interesting than elves and dwarves.

Besides, I have both an Argonian and Kahjiit character

 

[spartandude]

I dont like argonnians, then again im a Dunmer fan so thats why
im usually indifferent to the khajit (sp?) but in skyrim i thought they looked amazing

 

[Xelt]

There are multiple types of Khajit.
Some are humanoid and could pass as humans, some run on all 4s and look more like tigers than humans.
The type of Khajit in Morrowind had reversed knees.
Argonians also, have a large range of differences; theirs depends on how much Hist they ingest when they're born.

 

[Leadfinger]

In exploring Skyrim this last week, I discovered something. I really, really hate the animal races, or anthropomorphs or whatever you want to call them. Conceptually and aesthetically. First of all, they make little sense as a race. I mean really, people who are EXACTLY like regular people but with animal hides and fur? REALLY? What is the evolutionary advantage to that? Why are the changes in physiology restricted to the head and skin? Why aren't their joints reversed like animals legs? Why aren't they more muscular, or more svelt, or taller or shorter or hunchback? It makes absolutely no sense. It's like they just said "Hurr derp, let's stick some random animal heads on our people and call it a day!"

Then they're just ugly and wreak of laziness in design. Because once you think about it, the reason their physiology is the same as regular people is obvious. If their bodies are the same, the same animations and scripts can be used to make them move can be the same as well. And then I just feel awkward looking at them. They're like a furry's wet dream come alive.

So please, somebody tell me I'm not the only one who really can't stand these things?

The different humanoid races are more due to experimentation with the earth bones than to evolution.

 

[Worgen]

They should get rid of all the hairless apes out there, I mean they are all over and just get in the way.

 

[Minjoltr]

I don't hate them but I am disappointed by them. I liked the beast races in Morrowind, back when they stood differently and walked differently and couldn't wear shoes and they were all pretty flat-chested (what does a lizard need with boobs anyway?) and I could be the dinosaur I've always wanted to be rather than a scaly human but they've gone down hill massively since then.

 

[Jimmy T. Malice]

The Argonians used to look like normal humans, but then they started licking magic trees called the Hist and they became lizard-people (not making this up!).

The same 'magic did it' reasoning also applies to the Dark Elves being grey. They were once yellowish, but then they were cursed for some reason.

 

[scw55]

It annoys me that people assume that the evolutionary ultimate is a Bi-ped but in an RPG it would be a lot of work to design armour to be worn by 2 legged and N Legged beings.

In a world dominated by playable Races of being Human + X
Where X = Spikey Ears/Tattoos/Rainbow Skin/Spikes/What ever, Animal-Like races were welcomed and preferable. You can be disturbed by 'Furries' but pretty much anything can be a fetish. You don't get disturbed by people who are sexually attracted to normal humans.

I would prefer more exotic playble races but animals are a good start. Any ways, it's bad-arse being a kitty sniper Werewolf who will claw your eyes out if you get to melee range. IF.

In Skyrim I find the Argonian's eye terrifying and the Kajhiit's noses odd. That's it. I am also more likely to wank over a Nord/Briton than them respectively as well.