Poll: Anyone else hate the Skyrim animal races?

[FatalFox]

I think they look waaay better than oblivion, that's for sure, but then again, what doesn't?
I'm playing a Kajiit on both my saves, even though it's not the optimal race for one of my play-styles, but I honestly like how they look in this, they seem a lot more well crafted than the retarded looking lionfaces in oblivion, and I just love playing as one (my avatar may give a few hints, lol)
I do agree they could've made more effort to differentiate them from the rest, but I feel that about a lot of fantasy races in other games, take elves for example, they're just deformed humans in skyrim, and in many other things they're just humans with pointy ears, dwarwes are basically short and stouty people, the asari in the mass effect series are just women with skin-hair and a weird mating ritual, at least they made garrus look like a cockroach-dog or something (I really like their designs btw)
so yea, I can see where you're coming from

 

[Windcaler]

I like the argonian and Khajit races. Mostly because theyre something very different in what would otherwise be a pretty uninspired race selection at face value (although with depth on your side race differences are anything but uninspired). If you didnt have them as choices you would have 3 different elves and 4 different kinds of humans. In the standard fantasy genre you would only have human, elf, and dwarf

As far as evolutionary advantages, can you explain the evolutionary advantage of growing facial hair? What is the advantage to normally having 5 toes on one foot? Why not 4 or 6. Probably not. Neither can anyone say whether these are evolutionary or created characteristics that have a purpose.

 

[Creator002]

I don't mind the Argonians. They remind me of Dr. Conners from Spider-Man, but not as aggressive. However, the Kahjiit, I hate them. I don't know why. My family, with whom I live, own a cat, and I adore it, but I just have a random, undying hatred for the Kahjiit.

 

[Gatx]

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!"

In Morrowind they did have a different style of legs and feet, which consequently meant couldn't wear shoes/boots and armored leggings.

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.

Design wise they have way more work put into them than, say, splitting "humans" into four separate races. Even the classic fantasy elves are just humans with pointy ears, so I don't know what you mean about "laziness."

 

[Harlief]

I feel you have missed the point, The Elder Scrolls universe contains magic, ghosts, and mythical creatures of all different kinds, as well as creatures created by the will of the Daedric gods. The fundamental laws of our universe don't necessarily apply.

And to answer your question "Who else hates the animal races in Skyrim?"
The Nords, that's who.

[EDIT] Just as our universe's laws of physics don't seem to apply to the dragons in Skyrim.

 

[David Bjur]

Note to self: Do not run a google image search for "argonian" with safesearch turned off. Yeesh.

Oh my god, why did you make me do it.

OT: I kind of like the argonians, but I don't like the Khatshits though. The khajiits just look like hairy people with big noses but the argonians on the other hand looks abit different from the humans.
And I will probably try to stay out of this thread 'cause I can't just take how some fans try to justify sloppy design.

 

[Grouchy Imp_v1legacy]

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?

Err,

Spoiler: Morrowind Khajiit

Spoiler: Morrowind Argonian

Their joints used to be reversed. And they were thinner than more humanoid models. Blame the whiny brats on TES forums who cried like babbies because Argonians and Khajiit couldn't wear boots due to their reversed (elongated actually) joints - "Wahh! Khajiit are crappy 'cause I can't equip by +12 boots of toeyboff!" God forbid these people actually let roleplaying get in the way of their min-maxing...

As for evolutionary problems, Nirn was created by divine beings and thus her races did not evolve from simpler life-forms. Not the best explanation I know, but all the Elder Scrolls races were divinely created.

 

[Nunny]

Khajiit have a huge range of different types from basic cats to pretty much people whome have to tattoo themselves in order to be different, what you see in skyrim just happened to be the type they decided to go with.

You should see the daggerfall ones, basicaly humans but with some fuzz and a tail.
They were somewhat creepy at times.

 

[Gerishnakov]

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.

I think we all need to remember a few things:

1. Elder Scrolls are a series of computer games, and thus are not real.

2. These games are set in a fantasy world where nothing has to make sense outside of that world.

3. Plenty of other fantasty series have races that don't really make sense. What evolutionary advantage do halflings or goblins have after all?

 

[Arqus_Zed]

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.

 

[Some_weirdGuy]

[HEADING=1]GODS DID IT[/HEADING]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-QlcrSRY4&feature=player_detailpage#t=17.5s


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cats and lizards are alright, though i wish they had more to them. Make the lizards more like Lizard-man from the soul calibur series for example.

 

[New Frontiersman]

I like the Lizard dudes I'm probably going to play as one. Not necessarily because I like them, but because if my character is supposed to be Dragonborn I want to make my character at least look like there's some relation lol

That's actually one of the reasons I picked an Argonian as my first character in Skyrim, I thought it fit.

On topic though, I like them. It's a fantasy game, it doesn't have to make evolutionary sense why there are cat and lizard people around nor does it have to make sense why there are pointy eared people around.

 

[lRookiel]

Khajiits fucking win! :3

I do hope they do an Elder scrolls Elsweyr :3

 

[Sun Flash]

Not a fan of Argonians, but I like the Khajiits. The only thing I hate is that the tail clips through my Nightingale cloak.

My favourite character is M'aiq the Liar.

"Nords are so serious about beards. So many beards. M'aiq thinks they wish they had glorious manes like Khajiit."

 

[Muspelheim]

I like them. Because humans are boring.

Of course, Elder Scrolls elves are one of the very few elves out there that doesn't put me to sleep, so I suppose they work fine, too.

The Kahjiit... The biggest hypocrites in the world.

"Everyone thinks we're thieves and skooma dealers, but we're really just honest folk."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Can I buy something?"

"Sure."

*They have skooma in their inventory.*

All I'm saying is, mixing the signal a bit here guys.

They're just being morally flexible, like cats tend to do. Trust me, it's quite useful in roleplay, with all the graverobbing and the profitable Dark Brotherhood and all.

 

[Scrustle]

I think the OP is over thinking it a bit. Yeah, they don't make sense scientifically, but why should they? You're playing a fantasy game. It's full of magical stuff that doesn't make sense. But I'll agree with you they don't look good. I don't think I would go as far as you did but I generally don't like how they look. It looks so weird having a human body with a cat or lizard head. But I think you should know that they actually did have more animalistic legs in previous Elder Scrolls games. They did in Morrowind, which I much preferred to the way they look now.

But generally, I don't really care much about them. I don't really like how they look and don't intend to ever play as one, but I guess I've gotten used to seeing them in the games. I don't object to them, they're just part of what gives the Elder Scrolls world unique.

 

[Double A]

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.

 

[fletch_talon]

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.

 

[Misho-]

I love them!! I personally didn't make the furry connection up until now but they bring more diversity to the game. Too bad their joints don't change like when you turn into a Werewolf but... I think you are overthinking it a bit there.

It's a fantasy game. But anyhow, if you don't like them don't play them and/or murder them in sight. You can do that in Skyrim