Add different playable races

[devout bear]

I really think there is an untapped potential here to add different playable races for the sake of complete immersion. I think it would be pretty cool to see a variety of people playing different races as well.

Some of the races I had in mind were pretty simple to begin with such as Dwarves and Elves. Obviously more would be added later on after seeing how well received the two above are.

I believe a whole quest could be revolved around this for magic to create some race changing spell or potion. There is a lot to go on with this.

[shrewd mulch]

Been requested for over 2 decades.
Best they can offer is a salamander, goblin, or elf ears

Just keep in mind a modern playable human was shelved.
Other races would require as much, if not more work

[devout bear]

They've been taking their sweet time at doing anything and not being transparent at all.

[shrewd mulch]

They've been fairly transparent on how & why
It should still be updated, at some point

[devout bear]

Sorry but I'm really passionate about this game and I find the lack of progress unacceptable.

In the back of my head, I think they should focus on improving the game graphically and mechanically first before adding any new content.

However, as the game ages, certain changes need to be made to keep people interested.

[celest crown]

Instead of a race-changing spell, it would be better to start in the selected race’s homeland to fully experience life as that race.

In order for this to work, it would have to take into account that all current quests are premised on the player character being human. Many, if not the majority, of quests would probably have to be completed by default on a non-human character, so you wouldn’t be able to play them as an elf, gnome, etc.

In order to compensate for this loss of content, new quests and series could be developed specifically for certain races. This would allow players to experience Gielenor from different points of view, which is what your proposal seems to be getting at.

[tulip lake]

Right, this isn't like WoW or anything, where from the get-go you've been able to play other races, nor is this an entirely new game where they can design everything from the outset.

They have to go over every bit of dialogue in the game, go over quests and rewrite them to make their plotlines still comprehensible, many of which were written by developers who are no longer with the compnay-- over 20 years of stuff to go over and redline and an unfathomable amount of spaghetti code from yesteryear to sift through,, for. . . you can play as an elf and unlock Prif day 1 I guess.

You then need to go over every wearable item in the game, and remodel everything, twice to fit the two new body types you're introducing.

You also then need to make sure every single questline that hinges on your player character being human has a rewrite that makes sense, that can still lead into the same quest follow-ups, et cetera--

it's a monumental task. I think OP's implementation of it being cosmetic is probably the only actually realistically accomplishable way of handling this, and even then, it would be a monumental task just to refit every item in the game to a dwarven body type.

and at the end of the day, after a certain point, you have to come to grips with 'how much of the playerbase will care enough to do it'. this isn't a silly game jam level rework or side project, this is the kind of thing that would need all hands on deck to make function, and need to be justified to executives as something that could bring in more money, that this is something players are fine with taking the place of 2-3 major updates that year, or more.

it's a fun thought, but for a 20+ year old mmo, the infrastructure to make it work and backport everything just isn't there, not at the level of funding RS3 is currently allocated.

[steel surge]

Wiki links found:
https://runescape.wiki/w/_over_20_years_of_stuff_to_go_over_and_redline_and_an_unfathomable_amount_of_spaghetti_code_from_yesteryear_to_sift_through%2C%2C_for._._._you_can_play_as_an_elf_and_unlock_Prif_day_1_I_guess.You_then_need_to_go_over_every_wearable_item_in_the_game%2C_and_remodel_*everything%2C_**twice***__to_fit_the_two_new_body_types_you're_introducing.You_also_then_need_to_make_sure_every_single_questline_that_*hinges*_on_your_player_character_being_human_has_a_rewrite_that_makes_sense%2C_that_can_still_lead_into_the_same_quest_follow-ups%2C_et_cetera

[cinder lantern]

Yeah. Redesigning all the gear in-game for races like gnomes or dwarves would be a major pain.

[celest crown]

I don’t think everything would necessarily have to work as it does for human characters. There are certain tradeoffs that could be made. You could get access to new questlines unique to your character’s race at the expense of the World Guardian storyline and some Fifth Age series.

Aside from redesigning equipment models, the main headache for developers would be deciding which of the current quests to include based on which ones require the player to be human, along with redistributing unique rewards like the abilities from The World Wakes, for example.

Along with this, May’s Quest Caravan and other reward systems involving quests (such as the Quest Cape and Completionist Cape variants) would have to be either tweaked or unobtainable. Alternatively, the human-centred quests could be auto-completed at character creation, granting their full Quest Points (though there would probably be pushback from Completionists).

Although it would be a lot of work, I don’t see why something like the above description couldn’t happen if there is enough desire for it.

[ashen coral]

Yeah, maybe for the next Runescape.

[tame osprey]

Most players are totally fine with current graphics. I don't want it to look like all the other modern rpgs

[devout bear]

I'm not asking for the graphics to be hyper realistic. There is still parts of the map that haven't been updated to look like the rest of the map

[tame osprey]

Those are still in works. It's on the docket to get the whole map caught up on graphics. But it can't put other updates on hold because most players would get very upset over graphics updates over new content. They have no patience lol

[devout bear]

I want to attract new players and I beleive new races to play would be beneficial. Whether its a spell or potion or even at the beginning of the game. They are still humanoid/human.

[tame osprey]

That would complicated a ton of questions storyline unfortunately as much as I like the idea

[devout bear]

Do you program or code at all?

[tame osprey]

For jagex? No

[devout bear]

Do you know anything about coding, programming or adjusting scripts ?

[tame osprey]

That's irrelevant to this?

[devout bear]

I have spent 14+ years being a game designer. I assure you with confidence, that adjusting the game to meet the criteria for new races wont be that difficult. Graphically on the other hand, if they want to keep going that route then fine. The game needs it.

[tame osprey]

They would have to delete or completely change dozens of quests. It's not a matter of slight changes. There are several storyline based on you being a human

[devout bear]

Yes a simple fix and a bit of role play wording added. Those who have already completed the quest, it wouldn't affect in the slightest.

[tame osprey]

You clearly haven't done many quests. You can't alter text to change the quests to work. You literally have to change the characters, story, everything. It's a game overhaul

[devout bear]

I don't see the issue.

[haughty stump]

Anti-change. Waste of resources

Just play WoW or find a different game that would allow you to rp different races

[tame osprey]

I said I really like the idea of choosing races in game just that there's no way to make it work without huge overhaul.

[cinder lantern]

Well, we do at least have an override to become an Elf and a few other races. Though we don't Dwarves and Gnomes.

(Technically 3 others for Elves if you include the Elf armour overrides; no ears though)

[devout bear]

Still adamant about it. Even if just a cosmetic override, I would like to see more playable races because variety of playable routes (whether same story or race specific) would be very good for the game. As I said above, there is simple rp ways the NPC can revert one to being human by adding a simple dialogue with animation. Compatibility is not an issue and it's not a waste of resources. Would I like the game to be completed graphically first? Of course, why wouldn't I? However, adding variety is very important to the longevity of the game to keep people engaged. Keeping people engaged with the game either from the beginning or after end-game is a key priority. I'd also like to remind people of the ever-declining playerbase of RuneScape and the damage that the group-thinking of "anti-change" does to the game by preventing content from being added into the game for people to explore.

[tame osprey]

An override would be cool. Then you can still get the looks in game but still appear as intended in npc interactions

[surreal cypress]

would be cool but if the player avatar rework was shelves i dont think they will do this anytime soon. best to hope for is a cosmetic override

[devout bear]

Jagex has to make a decision whether to improve the game so it attracts more players or let it die. As it stands, the graphics updates are well needed. However you cannot update the world and not update the character you play.

As I thought about it for a while. The ability to change your race could be locked behind a series of quest specific requirements that require you to complete all of the quests that "require" you to be a human, as some have mentioned there are. This would enable a high reward for end game player who are questers.

[gilded folio]

I think it would be pretty cool. Play a dwarf or something! Could make fashionscape beyond insane.

[devout bear]

Entirely a new level to fashion scape. I'd love to see what people come up with!

[cinder lantern]

I would find it kinda funny if we could help the makeover mage make an enhanced goblin potion which would allow us to become a goblin for as long as we want and allows for additional customization, including dorgeshuun. It'll be a volatile concoction, so he'll manage it and the potion to revert us to human.

[alpine schooner]

I was actually talking about this with some people a while ago and we came up with a list of races that could be options, including a Mahjarrat based one. It would be so cool to have this and have it so that the races have different quest options and gameplay, but it would be so difficult to program. I would love to see this and hopefully one day the mods will be able to make it possible. But unfortunately it seems out of reach in the near future.