|
|
(13 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown) |
Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| | These guidelines explain how to create and document a '''Minor Race''' in Alathra. All players wishing to use a minor race must follow these standards to ensure balance, consistency, and fairness in the shared world. To view the current major and minor races of Alathra visit [[Alathra:Races| Alathra Races]]. |
|
| |
|
| Each race in Alathra brings a distinct culture, history, and biology to the realm. These are the officially recognized Major Races—foundational peoples supported by lore and integrated into the shared world.
| | '''These guidelines are subject to change!''' |
|
| |
|
| ==Major Races== | | == What is a Minor Race? == |
| ===Human===
| |
| ====Race Attributes====
| |
| Hardy, versatile, and ambitious, Humans stand between Dwarves and Elves in stature and adaptability. They thrive in temperate climates but can survive nearly anywhere with grit and ingenuity.
| |
|
| |
|
| Though lacking innate magical ability, they compensate through innovation—crafting complex machines and tools powered by manpower or carbon fuels. Some Humans do pursue magic through ancient knowledge or pacts with non-human entities, but this often comes at a dire cost.
| | A Minor Race is a custom subrace based on an existing Major Race (e.g., Elves, Dwarves, Humans). It must have meaningful differences in traits, biology, culture, or history. Players creating a Minor Race are responsible for its lore and proper documentation on the Alathra Wiki. |
| ====Biology====
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 70 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.5 – 2.0 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Dwarves===
| | Creating a Minor Race allows for creative freedom, but comes with responsibility: |
| ====Race Attributes====
| | * Players must first open a [https://discord.com/channels/769211588988502047/884673728846376970| Special Request ticket] on the discord before creating a Minor Race. |
| Short, broad, and built for toil, Dwarves are at home in cavernous depths and mountain strongholds. Their characteristic beards and hearty frames are iconic.
| | * The race must be fully documented on the Alathra Wiki. |
| | * The race must have a balance of strengths and weaknesses. |
| | * The race must not violate the lore or established limits of its parent race. |
| | * Once created and approved, the race’s core traits cannot be changed after posting on the wiki. |
| | ** Major traits (e.g., lifespan, elemental resistances, etc) |
| | ** Biological characteristics (e.g., height range, lifespan, etc) |
| | ** Cultural foundations or societal structure |
| | This ensures consistency and protects players who have built characters and narratives around the original race documentation. Minor edits or expansions (e.g., grammar fixes, added lore, cultural subgroups) may be made with discretion, but major revisions that would alter the race’s mechanics or player experience are not allowed once the race is approved and on the wiki. |
|
| |
|
| Dwarves lack magical affinity entirely—many are even psychically deaf—so their societies rely on monumental engineering and steam-powered machinery.
| | If all members of a Minor Race go inactive, the wiki entry will remain, but staff will not maintain or continue its role in broader canonical events. |
| ====Biology====
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 160 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 40 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.2 – 1.53 meters
| |
| ====Subraces====
| |
| '''Gnomes''' are a smaller, more mischievous subrace of Dwarves, and their much closer affinity to overground nature, compared to their standard dwarven counterparts. Gnomes are typically much weaker than standard dwarves, and oftentimes weaker than most other races. As such, they’re known to make burrows and small settlements within thick, dense forests. This has led to a common stereotype amongst other races of gnomes making their homes almost exclusively within large forest mushrooms.
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Elves=== | | == General Requirements == |
| ====Race Attributes====
| |
| Tall, proud, and often authoritative, Elves are the most magically inclined and longest-living race. Like humans, they’re found on the surface and are most at home in dense, temperate forests. Elves are skilled architects, but are typically prone to sacrificing function for form and beauty.
| |
|
| |
|
| Due to their significantly higher than average lifespan, many elves view themselves as the rightful “leaders” of the world, seeing other races as in need of guidance, often against their own desires. Though this authority is often not realised, as their longer lifespans typically lead to elves being more apathetic towards societal development. It’s common to see elvish construction projects take several times longer than those of humans or dwarves.
| | * Minor Races must have a clear and meaningful divergence from their major race. |
| ====Biology====
| | * Cosmetic only changes (e.g., hair color, slight aesthetic differences) are not allowed. |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 400 years | | * Minor Races must be capable of diplomacy, even if withdrawn or reluctant. |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 80 years | | * A Minor Race cannot be used to bypass limitations of the major race. |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.67 – 2.10 meters
| | * Trait stacking (combining all positive traits of the major race + new ones) is not allowed. |
|
| |
|
| ====Subraces==== | | == Balance & Limitations == |
| '''Wood Elves''' are a shorter, typically darker-skinned designation of elves. They’re typically more aligned with human physiology than their High Elf counterparts. They much prefer living in and amongst forested areas than constructing grand cities like other elves. Due to this, their histories are often less well documented than other designations of elves.
| |
|
| |
|
| Since their discovery by human societies, there’s been some debate as to whether or not the “wood” in “Wood Elves” refers to their complexion or their forested habitat.
| | Minor Races must have a fair trade-off between abilities and drawbacks. |
|
| |
|
| | {| class="wikitable" |
| | ! Positive Trait !! Required Drawback (Example) |
| | |- |
| | | Extended lifespan || Infertility, slow reproduction, inability to use magic |
| | |- |
| | | Enhanced strength || Reduced dexterity, brittle bones |
| | |- |
| | | Magical affinity || Chance to kill the host, mana exhaustion, madness, |
| | |- |
| | | Amphibious biology || Higher susceptibility to dehydration, slow land movement |
| | |} |
|
| |
|
| ===Orcs===
| | '''Note:''' A powerful positive must be offset by an equally impactful drawback. Minor flaws like “drinks more water” are not acceptable trade offs for major benefits. |
| ====Race Attributes====
| |
| Broad, brawny, and underestimated, Orcs are often seen as physically dominant but less capable in abstract thinking. In truth, their intelligence lies in instinct and lived experience. Due to this, it’s rare to see orcs in positions of power outside of their own societies, being most commonly found in non-orc societies as foot soldiers and manual labourers. They’re a typically nomadic race, preferring to live their lives migrating with the seasons.
| |
|
| |
|
| Orcs are typically born with light stripes on the back of their bodies, akin to wild boar, stretching from the back of their heads to their lower backs, but lose these stripes upon maturity.
| | === Diplomacy Requirement === |
| | All races must be capable of interaction, negotiation, or reasoning. Races can be reclusive, antisocial, or hostile but they must still be able to engage in diplomacy if the situation calls for it. |
| | * '''Allowed''': A secretive race that distrusts outsiders but can be reasoned with under specific conditions. |
| | * '''Not allowed''': A race bent solely on extermination, with no capacity for communication, empathy, or negotiation. |
|
| |
|
| ====Biology==== | | == Required Wiki Documentation == |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 55 years
| | Before a character using a Minor Race can be approved: |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 14 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.47 – 1.8 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| | * The race must be fully documented on the Alathra Wiki using the template below. |
| | * Staff will verify that the character matches the approved race’s traits and lore. |
| | * If no page exists, create one and wait for another player to create one before submitting your character. |
| | * Players must open a [https://discord.com/channels/769211588988502047/884673728846376970| Special Request ticket] on Discord before submitting a Minor Race for approval. |
|
| |
|
| ===Merfolk === | | == Duplicate or Conflicting Races == |
| ====Race Attributes====
| | If two players have similar race ideas: |
| Amphibious and diverse, Merfolk combine traits from marine creatures like fish, dolphins, and amphibians. Unlike Reptilians and Beastkin, their respiratory and reproductive biology can vary, with some merfolk laying eggs and breathing through gills like fish, while others breathe with lungs and give birth, like dolphins and whales.
| |
|
| |
|
| Merfolk excel in swimming and can stay submerged for days. Adversely, they’re significantly weakened on land, and exhaust their energy significantly quicker than in the water. This stark difference in living environment has led to contact between merfolk and non-merfolk races to be significantly hampered, leading to merfolk being less militaristic and more innately amicable than other races.
| | * Collaboration is encouraged. Players may work together or create cultural subgroups under one page. |
| | * If no agreement is reached, only the first version submitted in the correct format is accepted. |
| | * The second player must either adjust their concept or create a new and distinct race. |
|
| |
|
| ==== Biology ==== | | == Lore Locking After Approval == |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 60 years
| | Once a Minor Race is approved and added to the wiki: |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 15 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.1 – 1.75 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| | * Core traits, biology, and culture cannot be changed, even by the original creator. |
| | * This protects other players who have built characters around the original documentation. |
|
| |
|
| | '''Example''': A player creates a High Elf Minor Race with a 300-year lifespan. Other players build characters with this trait. The creator later wants to remove the long lifespan. This is not allowed, as it would retroactively affect other characters. |
|
| |
|
| ===Reptilians===
| | * Minor edits like grammar, added lore, or cultural expansions may be made with original creator's permission. |
| ====Race Attributes====
| |
| Hardy and territorial, Reptilians never possess human-like skin and retain cold-blooded physiology, including egg-laying reproduction and scaled hides.
| |
|
| |
|
| Fiercely protective of their belongings, Reptilians are often stereotyped as greedy or overly possessive, particularly drawn to “shinies” like rare metals and relics. This image fuels both awe and mistrust among other races.
| | == Mixed-Race Characters == |
|
| |
|
| Reproduction is biologically taxing, with complications arising from their humanoid frame. As a result, maternal mortality is higher than among mammalian races, leading to smaller overall populations.
| | * May only take strengths from '''one''' major race. |
| | * Must inherit weaknesses from '''both''' major races. |
| | * Appearance is flexible, as long as it remains consistent with lore. |
|
| |
|
| ===Biology=== | | === Wiki Page Template === |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 70–250 years
| | Here a template to help with creating minor race wiki page. You're not required to follow this template but you must include the same content. |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20–60 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.6 – 2.45 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| ===Subraces=== | | <pre> |
| ====Lizardfolk==== | | == Race Name == |
| '''Lizardfolk''' are generally regarded to be the most “humanoid” of the Reptilian race, maintaining a physique and build similar to a standard human. They typically resemble common terrestrial lizard species, though unlike Beastfolk, do not directly mirror such species.
| | === Parent Race === |
| | (e.g., Elf, Dwarf, Human) |
|
| |
|
| They’re viewed as the most agreeable and negotiable of the Reptilian race by outsiders, and are typically the easiest to integrate into non-Reptilian societies.
| | === Appearance === |
| | Describe distinctive physical features: height, body type, skin tone, markings, clothing styles, etc. |
|
| |
|
| '''Biology'''<br>
| | === Abilities & Behaviors === |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 70 years
| | List strengths and weaknesses, both must be clearly explained and balanced. |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20 years
| | Include instincts, attitudes, social behavior, etc. |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.6 – 2.45 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| ====Dragonfolk==== | | === Biology === |
| '''Dragonfolk''' are tall, bulky, possessive, and all around not the most model of citizens in most societies. Dragonfolk, more often than not, have an innate desire to lead, rule, and generally have power and authority over things, no matter how adept they are at handling such positions. Additionally, once in such a position, they will fight tooth and nail to keep it.
| | * Average lifespan (Max Lifespan) |
| | * Maturity age |
| | * Height and weight ranges |
|
| |
|
| As such, much like Orcs, they’re generally not trusted in positions of authority in non-Reptilian societies, not entirely without a little resentment.
| | == Culture & Beliefs == |
| | Describe their society, religion, philosophy, language, or traditions. |
|
| |
|
| '''Biology'''<br>
| | == Origin & History == |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 250 years
| | Explain how this race diverged from its parent race. |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 60 years
| | Include major historical events, origin myths, or relevant societal shifts. |
| * '''Height range:''' 3- 7 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| ====Lamia====
| | </pre> |
| Lamia are an anomaly amongst the sapient races, as they’re the only subrace to lack legs, instead having a Snake-like tail that they can slither with. Unlike other reptilian subraces, Lamia more often than not have hair on their head, typically wild and unkempt.
| | '''Note:''' Any section omitted is assumed to be identical to the parent race by default. |
|
| |
|
| Lamia have historically been seen as tricksters, liars, or generally just untrustworthy compared to other subraces, due to their less human appearance. In some cultures, they’re used as quasi-mythological “boogeymen” to frighten children into obedience.
| | == FAQ == |
| | '''Q: Can I create a magic-using Dwarf'''<br> |
| | '''A:''' No. A Minor Race cannot bypass limitations of its major race. |
|
| |
|
| '''Biology'''<br> | | '''Q: Can I later change my race’s biology or remove a core trait?'''<br> |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 70 years
| | '''A:''' No. Once approved, those traits are locked. |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 2 – 5 meters
| |
|
| |
|
| | '''Q: What if someone else has a similar race idea?'''<br> |
| | '''A:''' You can collaborate, make a regional variant, or create a new race with different elements. |
|
| |
|
| ===Beastfolk===
| | '''Q: What if my race goes inactive?'''<br> |
| ====Race Attributes====
| | '''A:''' The wiki page remains, but staff will not maintain the race. |
| Beastfolk, or Beastkin, are humanoid races marked by strong mammalian traits—commonly inspired by felines, canines, rabbits, deer, and rodents. Their forms range from slightly anthropomorphic (ears, tails) to nearly full-animal physiques atop bipedal frames.
| |
|
| |
|
| Though their societal roles and integration vary widely, Beastfolk culture is rich with tradition, instinct, and kinship.
| | '''Note:''' Creating a Minor Race is a creative and collaborative opportunity. Think of it as planting a branch on the tree of Alathra’s lore. If you nurture it well and build connections, your race may grow to become a lasting part of the world. |
| | |
| ====Biology====
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 50–100 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 15–25 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.4 – 1.9 meters
| |
| | |
| ===Subraces===
| |
| ====High Beastfolk====
| |
| '''High Beastfolk''' closely resemble humans, with limited fur and subtle bestial features. Their human-like appearance often makes them more accepted in broader society, though prejudices still linger.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 70 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.4 – 1.9 meters
| |
| | |
| '''Ferals''' are Beastkin whose faces are covered in fur. Most ferals simply look like a humanoid counterpart to the creature they resemble. Due to this resemblance, they’re often regarded in a similar way to said animal. This leads to common stereotyping where they’re regarded as less sapient than their humanesque counterparts. This has led to resentment amongst certain feral societies, with many coming to consider themselves the “true” beastkin.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 50 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 25 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.4 – 1.9 meters
| |
| | |
| '''Lycanthropes''' are beings whose Beastfolk state is conditional—transforming into Ferals under specific triggers (such as full moons, rage, or curses). Long associated with folklore, they often straddle the line between myth and menace.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 50 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.8 – 3.8 meters
| |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| | |
| ===Florans===
| |
| =====Race Attributes=====
| |
| Florans—also known as Plantfolk or Plantkin—are sapient beings whose biology mirrors flora or fungi rather than animals. While most are humanoid in shape, their bodies may be composed of vines, bark, flowers, or mushroom matter depending on region and subrace.
| |
| | |
| Masters of natural magic, Florans flourish in forested or wild areas but weaken in cities where nature is sparse. Though widely romanticized as “guardians of the wild,” this stereotype often overlooks their nuance and variety.
| |
| | |
| Modern scholars discourage lumping Myceloids into the blanket term “Plantfolk,” as it erases critical differences in biology and culture.
| |
| | |
| ====Biology====
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 80–200 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 20–50 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.2 – 2.2 meters
| |
| | |
| ====Subraces====
| |
| ====Phytoids====
| |
| '''Phytoids''', or Plantfolk, are Florans that take on a genetic makeup resembling that of plants. They’re the most common kind of Floran, and are the most palatable to meat-based societies. The stereotypes surrounding their kind and their preference towards natural habitats has created a sort of “noble savage” stereotype within some meat-based societies, seeing them as innocent beings, free from the corruptive influence of contemporary society.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 120 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 40 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.3 – 2.2 meters
| |
| | |
| ====Myceloids====
| |
| '''Myceloids''' or Shroomfolk, are Florans that take on a genetic makeup resembling that of fungi, typically mushrooms. While only a little less common than their Phytoid counterparts, they’re seen significantly less in cities, as their methods of reproduction require spores that are often fatal to meat-based races in high enough quantities.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' 200 years
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' 100 years
| |
| * '''Height range:''' 1.2 – 2 meters
| |
| | |
| '''Parasitians''' are a designation of Myceloids that are sapient, yet lack a humanoid form of their own. As such, a humanoid form is usually stolen from another race to use as a “shell” for the Parasitian to inhabit. They resemble their shell, but typically look more weathered, with fungal markings and appendages often visible. Parasitians are typically viewed with abhorrence by all other races except Myceloids, and are almost always killed on sight in cities. As such, many Parasitians go to great lengths to hide their origins, and masquerade as their shell’s race.
| |
| | |
| '''Biology'''<br>
| |
| * '''Average lifespan:''' Based on host race
| |
| * '''Maturity age:''' Based on host race
| |
| * '''Height range:''' Based on host race
| |