Making Characters Popular-- A problem with a Realm full of Races (1 of 4)

News & General Discussion
1

First thing to say: Changing to 3 Realms is NOT an option. I need help making ONE more popular.

I have a game design based on 4 Realms: Undead, Man, Forest Creatures, and Tribes.
The first three are popular and liked, but the Tribes seem to be unpopular in comparison. No one wants to play them. They don’t hate them… they just would rather play another side.

The Tribes are a Prehistoric, Nomadic collection of various civilizations (known as Tribes) who band together to break free from Slavery, conquer better land (because they were given the worst), and get revenge.
The Tribes are all born in the same large egg, which grows. The first creature the egg turns into, is a goblin. If it hatches at this stage, a goblin is created. If not, the egg continues onwards to EVOLVE through the stages, to Ratling → Gnoll → Neanderthal → Darkf Elf → etc. etc. → Troll —> Dinosaur. Evolution is the theme behind this Realm, as they are all actually only ONE creature, born of the same egg. They are just at different stages of Evolution.

The Tribes consist of the following 10 Races:
4 Common Races: Goblin, Ratling, Gnoll, Neanderthal (Human/Caveman)
3 Uncommon Races: Dark Elf, Naga, Lizardman
3 Rare Races: Ettin, Troll, Dinosaur

Additional Races I had to Exclude: Drake (Human with Wyvern Wings and Dragon Eyes), Orc, Terathan (Like a Centaur, but instead of horse, a spider body), Harpy, Dragon, Wyvern.
Drake was one of the most popular, but I wanted to replace it with the most popular of ALL races: the Dragon. But the Lore fits better to have a Wingless Dragon (Dinosaur) especially given the prehistoric, evolution theme.
Dark Elf was one of the most popular, so I took it away from Undead and gave it to the Tribes. It makes more sense that way anyways. I had to replace Orc though.

The thing is… I can’t bare to see any races besides Ettin to disappear for Orc or any other race. And the races to replace the others? Just as unpopular. I can’t have Dragon, Wyvern, Dinosaur, and Drake Human all as 4 races bc that would be way too repetitive.

The popularity is based on Races, as all 4 Realms share the same Skills (Classes) and similar game mechanics for racial abilities and stat adjustments. Each Realm is unique, but primarily by Race. So Race choice, realm theme, and realm lore are the main reasons to pick a realm. And Tribes is everyone’s 2nd choice, but no one’s 1st.

*OLD LONG POST*

I just recently did a survey, which you can find [URL="http://forum.unity3d.com/threads/74073-Research-Survey-MMORPG-Player-Races"]HERE[/URL] at Unity forums.

The Survey was about 9+ races, for 4 realms.
The realms were "Man" with giants, centaurs, minotaurs, humans, etc.
"Undead", with zombies, skeletons, dark elves, vampires, etc.,
"Ancient Forest", elves, faeries, elementals, treants, etc.

The Realm of Man is always popular. People like being humans. People LOVE minotaurs. Centaurs, Giants, Dwarves-- all awesome races people like! Don't like those? The halflings, angels, merfolk, and warforge are unique and pretty cool.
The Realm of Undead sells itself. You don't even need to play it up. People love undead. Vampires, Zombies, Skeletons, Demons... enough said. This is dangerous, verging on being TOO popular bc people just love being the undead.
The Ancient Forest Realm is unique, but people seem to like it. It has a very "nature" feel to it, with all kinds of magical creatures such as gnomes, faeries, elves, treants, elementals. And to add some danger and fun away from mother earth-- werewolves (a very popular race), aliens, and yea... this race is pretty cool.


So what gives? The fourth Realm. The 9+ races involved there. People like them... but they always like another realm more. "Yea the Goblinoid Races are cool...my 2nd choice...but the [insert other realm] is cooler!"
This Realm seems to struggle in the survey, and has before as well. The theme was just Goblinoid, so I changed it to Tribal/Nomad civilization lore. That helped...but not enough. So I made it even better- Prehistoric theme. I added in Cavemen as a race (a very popular choice it seems) and people like the unique Prehistoric theme to it. Yet... it still pales in comparison.

Of those who filled out the entire survey,
36% Man, 32% Undead, 21% Ancient, 11% Tribal.
I can live with a 36/21 difference. Before it was actually 33/33/28 Undead/Ancient/Man, 6% Tribal, so the survey is good for the other three.

The Tribal Realm consists of the following:
Goblins, Orcs, LOTR type Cave Trolls
Lizardmen, Ratlings, Insectoids, Nagas
Two-headed Ogres (Ettins), Gnolls (dog creatures)
Neanderthal Cavemen (Barbarians), Drakes (Human with Wyvern wings/eyes).

Trolls are among the most popular of ALL the survey races. Drakes  Gnolls are as popular as elves (that surprised me... bc elves are VERY popular!)
And all the other races are very well liked, and some partially loved...but no one wants to play this Realm when given the option to play the others.

The LORE is very important to the game, and so is the fact there are 4, NOT 3, realms. So getting rid of the realm is not an option. Especially when some of the most popular choices are in this realm, and the few who DO like this Realm, like it for the very reason that it isn't humanoid at all.

But what can I do? There are very few races that would fit in the Prehistoric/Tribal/Nomad/Goblinoid/Swamp/Cave theme.
I wanted to balance the popularity of the races, by putting the most popular races spread out across the realms. Mission Accomplished! Dark Elves / Vampires in Undead, Trolls / Drake-Humans in this one, Human / Minotaur, Elves / Werewolves. It works.

It's not that the races aren't popular...but that the other realms are always more popular.
2

The point of the thread is to get some help to make this Realm more popular-- by finding out why people would rather play Undead, Man, or Forest creatures.

And what I can do to spice up the Tribal realm to give it that little extra spunk to match the popularity of the other 3, which seem to be stable.

3

Its been done before and they know what to expect.

“Tribal” is a bit vague.

Also you get a very nice balancing effect with 3 factions that does not work with more or less. (as the 2 lower pop realms gang up on the top one)

4

I like the abilty of two smaller realms to “team up” and fight the third.
Of course, the ability for 3 to “team up” to fight the 4th, or 2 to “team up” to fight the 3 and 4th is cool too.
Except there wouldn’t be any teaming up, it would just be a “Let’s try to get the more powerful guys, instead.” for both sides. Such as in Dark Age of Camelot.

The problem is that this goes far beyond Battleground PvP. It extends to a changing world, where player action has a direct influence on the world.

I can’t stop one realm from being the most popular, or for there to be a second and third popular. It’ll just happen. But I want to balance the four as close together as I can.

Out of 36 votes,

The Realm of Man (Humans Dwarfs Giants Centaurs etc.) 14
39%
The Realm of Undead (Skeletons Zombie Vampires etc) 10
28%
The Prehistoric Tribal Realm (Goblins Orcs Creatures etc.) 4
11%
The Ancient Forest Realm (Elf Fae Treant etc.) 8
22%

Undead/Ancients equal, with Man right behind, and Tribal 50% of Man.

Apparently, the Realm of Man is too popular, and needs 11% to go towards the Tribes, and I’ll be set! If I could do that, then that’s really well balanced.

5

My 2 cents. Group humans with the elf realm. Centaurs as well. Giants should be ogre like and in with the goblins and orcs.

So you’de have 3 realms -

Undead, Monster and Manling.

6

The game is about 4 realms. I’m looking for ideas to make the Tribe more popular, not to get rid of it.

If there’s any realm I’ll eliminate, it’s the undead, combining them with all three realms. Of course, I’m not doing that either.

The Ancients believe the world is being destroyed by the Greed of Man, destruction of Unrest, and Barbarianism of the Tribes. The only way to save Mother Earth, is to destroy the other realms.

The Realm of Man are bound by the virtues and sins of Humanity: Generosity Greed, Freedom Consumption, Love Hatred. Profiteers, Explorers, Technologists, and Spiritualists.

The Tribes used to be slaves, bottom-feeders, and were shafted with the worst land of the realms. Each civilization bound together to receive freedom from slavery, conquer better land, and take what is rightfully theres-- Life.

The Realm of Unrest are a collaboration of Souls in Unrest who were unable to move on because of unfinished business, bitter souls lusting for revenge, and ancient kings unable to let go of their power. These souls infest the honorable corpses of the dead, barter deals with the devil for bodies to use, and possess willful, corrupted beings.

Each of the Realms are vital to the Lore, and I’ve invested a lot of time in each (both graphical resources, which are near completion, and a robust game design featuring these 4 realms).

Besides, innovation requires a better take on old mechanics. 3 Realms has been done before in DAoC. I’m taking it to the next level with 4 Realms, which offer even more challenge and fun.

7

Idk, perhaps it’s correct, the popullations. It actually makes sense, according to the Lore.

Man has the most population.
Unrest is a horde, but inhabited by dead spirits, so it has a lot but not as many as the living.
Ancients are immortal, eternally aged creatures, so they are fewer.
Tribes are the underdogs in the Lore, so I guess it’s okay if they’re the underdogs in the game (the only difference between Power of the two sides would be Player Population, since player skill is an individual concept, and the NPC and Base power is to be balanced).

8

Here’s an idea. I like how you have it organized but Man right now seems to cover too many races. Maybe change it so the Man realm only includes all races that closely resemble humans (humans, cavemen, dwarves, elves, etc.). Minotaurs, centaurs, trolls, giants, etc. to me don’t seem like they fit in that category so they should have their own so 4the realm could be Mythological (or something). Races that follow the lines of ancient/mythological/legendary races would be in that realm and it could include minotaurs, trolls, giants, etc.

9

This blows! Now I have a HUGE list of races for the Tribes, but my limit of 10 races per realm is hurting me.

I kicked out one of the most popular Races-- Drake.
I added in DInosaurs. Actual Dinosaurs, lol.
I thought of adding in Dragons or Wyverns-- but decided for Dinosaurs instead, since they are just wingless Dragons. It works. And the theme… it’s perfect.

I want Gnoll in really bad, and it’s not a disliked race. But I had to kick out Orc for it.

I also have some really cool alternatives… Terathans (Spider Bodied Humans, like Centaurs but replace the horse part with a giant spider part), and Harpies.

I added Dark Elf, one of the most popular races, to the Tribes and AWAY from the Unrest. This makes more sense in the Lore. Way more sense. But I had to kick out Orcs because of it.

I thought of getting rid of Ettin, because I need the spot-- but Ogre is so different from Troll in my opinion… I can’t bear to do it!
Okay, so I will. Replace Ettin with Orc, so I can have Orcs. The problem gets WORSE! THere are 4 Comomn Races, 3 Uncommon, and 3 Rare. Ettin was a rare race because it was Giant. Orc is a Common. So I’m replacing a Rare with a Common. The problem? All the other races are Common/Uncommon worthy, but definitely NOT Rare worthy! Naga would have to become the Rare one, and I dont see why it would.

10

Alright! I solved the problem.

I inevitably made this realm SO much cooler, I definitely do not believe I will have any problems anymore! This Realm Concept of Evolution I just created (which goes far beyond what I talked about) will make this realm just as popular as all the others.

Awesome! :slight_smile:

Thanks everyone! And thanks to God for this ingenius idea! It just hit me as I struggled to find a way. Evolution is the answer!!!