Race Concept

[MysticZarah]

Hello everyone.

This here is my first post on the forums and I come with a concept for a race I had been working on. Originally it was just going to be a race I would be making because I personally wanted to, and might try to transfer into some other creations later, but after I had come to start paying Trials again I thought that they could potentially be an interesting addition to the game. I'm not finished with them but do have a decent amount of them finished, but would very much like some input so I could work on them to be a better race, and possibly share them with people as a part of something else, even if slightly different to fit the game.

The working concept I have is a sentient species, humanoid in structure from environments mostly of arctic and mountain regions. Largely reptilian with some possible insectoid structures in their biology.

• Racial height average total is between 6'6" and 8'4", Males being on the shorter end and females on the taller.
• Natural coloration being various shades of white and grey
• soft, quills which had become a facsimile to hair atop the head and around the neck and shoulders
• long sinewy tail mostly for balance in their natural environments
• digitigrade legs, and claws for grip on icy and rocky terrain
• a lens before the cornea that is translucent and typically shaded as a natural prevention against snow blindness
• Scale covered bodies with chitin plating
• proboscis tongue
• Human-like facial/head structure

Additionally the oldest detail about them I had created was their genital structure, where females have an Ovipositor-dick and males have a vaginal like genital slit where fertilization and growth occurs.

Aside from size difference between the sexes, I havent been able to think up really any sexual diamorphism for them.

Their society is intended to be something similar to feudal fr their government, with lords and vassals, as well as common civilians, and the roles of males and females being reversed of what is considered for humans, though males have not been an uncommon sight in military positions in their society.

I am still working on them so far, but I had been suggested to throw it here and Im looking for some input on details, additions, subtractions, or alterations to take into consideration as I am working on them.

Quick EDIT: Archanid is currently the working name for them. I am considering creating a different name for them as there has been some confusion about the name before. I'll also take some suggestions there. I wanted something spiritual/magic themed for their name and I just made a play on the words Arcana and Archon.

 

[Thebiologist]

While making concepts is ok, don't expect more race codex to get in-game without several NPCs to back them up.

 

[MysticZarah]

of course I understand that. I am trying to work out some things for NPCs too, but i still need some things for the overall race as well

 

[Koshka]

That new race is looks kind of... VERY similar to Myr and Nyrea...

 

[Lord Warlock]

That new race is looks kind of... VERY similar to Myr and Nyrea...

Its insect themed, its similar to Myr in the same way, Aursar and Kaithrit is similar.

 

[Preacher]

That new race is looks kind of... VERY similar to Myr and Nyrea...

I picked up on that as well. There are some differences of course, but if two people and maybe more have already picked up on how they are very similar I think it might benefit from some changes.

 

[MysticZarah]

That new race is looks kind of... VERY similar to Myr and Nyrea...

I picked up on that as well. There are some differences of course, but if two people and maybe more have already picked up on how they are very similar I think it might benefit from some changes.

If you guys dont mind how exactly are they similar? Only detail I can see with Nyrea that are particularly similar is the reproductive organs, which i came up with before even meeting them. As for the Myr i dont see any similarities, however that could possibly be a bias to my own creation so id id l to have them pointed out

 

[Evil]

Nyrea have wispy spine like growths, which one might call quills.
Nyrea and Myr both have chitinous growth on their arms and legs and in the case of the Nyrea, their torso.
Both the Nyrea and Myr are predominately run by the female of the species, with males in more of supporting role.
Nyrea reproduction involves the males carrying the eggs.

 

[Preacher]

If you guys dont mind how exactly are they similar? Only detail I can see with Nyrea that are particularly similar is the reproductive organs, which i came up with before even meeting them. As for the Myr i dont see any similarities, however that could possibly be a bias to my own creation so id id l to have them pointed out

1. Chitin plates + another surface type. Nyrea and zil and in some cases myr.
2. Quill hair. Nyrea.
3. Role reversal of males and females. Nyrea and myr.
4. Proboscis tongue. Zil.
5. Natural coloration of white and grey. Nyrea's skin.
6 And the genitals, as you've said. Nyrea.

Look, it's not like it's bad to have similarities, it's just that they were noticed. They might think they're creative or unique but writers should know that humans think in surprisingly similar patterns. No matter how weird, new or innovative your idea is there's at least one person out there that has something similar. Personally I would've given them chitin scales and a more animalistic face/head while having them have horns +antenna instead of the quill hair, but this does not mean yours lacks credence, it's just an opinion.

This is going to be cheesy but I'd like you to persevere nonetheless. It would actually sadden me if other people noticing similarities caused a writer to quit. Like you said, you're still working on them. There's probably loads of things yet to be revealed that'll define them as unique.

 

[MysticZarah]

Nyrea have wispy spine like growths, which one might call quills.
Nyrea and Myr both have chitinous growth on their arms and legs and in the case of the Nyrea, their torso.
Both the Nyrea and Myr are predominately run by the female of the species, with males in more of supporting role.
Nyrea reproduction involves the males carrying the eggs.

1. Chitin plates + another surface type. Nyrea and zil and in some cases myr.
2. Quill hair. Nyrea.
3. Role reversal of males and females. Nyrea and myr.
4. Proboscis tongue. Zil.
5. Natural coloration of white and grey. Nyrea's skin.
6 And the genitals, as you've said. Nyrea.

Look, it's not like it's bad to have similarities, it's just that they were noticed. They might think they're creative or unique but writers should know that humans think in surprisingly similar patterns. No matter how weird, new or innovative your idea is there's at least one person out there that has something similar. Personally I would've given them chitin scales and a more animalistic face/head while having them have horns +antenna instead of the quill hair, but this does not mean yours lacks credence, it's just an opinion.

This is going to be cheesy but I'd like you to persevere nonetheless. It would actually sadden me if other people noticing similarities caused a writer to quit. Like you said, you're still working on them. There's probably loads of things yet to be revealed that'll define them as unique.

I see. Ill admit i didnt see alot of the similarities mostly from looking at them as a whole. I know we dont make wholely unique ideas and that wont discurage me, after all i asked for input so i could improve them.

Facial structure i actually had struggled with for a while trying to decide on if i wanted something more animalistic or humanoid, eventually settling on humanoid because I felt it could help make them appear more mystical. That's at least where my mindset had gone to. Thank you all for the input so far, and hope to get more.

 

[Zavos]

We're already oversaturated with insectoid species, and this doesn't bring anything particularly unique to the table. So i'll just say "don't".

 

[MysticZarah]

We're already oversaturated with insectoid species, and this doesn't bring anything particularly unique to the table. So i'll just say "don't".

I did mention this is still in the process of being worked on. There can be a large amount of change from this current concept to the next. I didn't put up the original post expecting not to have any changes, or criticism. I am actively working on this and I would more appreciate suggestions on what to change rather than a "just don't" statement.

It's not my intention to be mean or hostile, but telling someone not to do something rather than what could be fixed is typically a drain on a creative process and can make people lose motivation entirely for something they would like to do. and again, I AM open to any suggestions on changes, additions, and anything that should be taken away from them. I just wanted to share a creation I was making and improve it to hopefully share it with even more people

 

[Zavos]

I did mention this is still in the process of being worked on. There can be a large amount of change from this current concept to the next. I didn't put up the original post expecting not to have any changes, or criticism. I am actively working on this and I would more appreciate suggestions on what to change rather than a "just don't" statement.

It's not my intention to be mean or hostile, but telling someone not to do something rather than what could be fixed is typically a drain on a creative process and can make people lose motivation entirely for something they would like to do. and again, I AM open to any suggestions on changes, additions, and anything that should be taken away from them. I just wanted to share a creation I was making and improve it to hopefully share it with even more people

Your rebuttal makes several valid points. I admit bias against insectoid species... If your passion lies within this project, I am confident you will produce something of worth regardless of naysayers such as myself.

 

[Evil]

I wouldn't take offence at what Zevos said, the forum is littered with dozens of threads where people have gotten in over their heads with "just a small project".

The thing is, I think they saw adding something to TiTS like a couple of weekends work and bam, its ready for submission. The truth is that unless it is actually a small addition, its going to be closer to working on a novella or novel. You're not talking about a couple of thousand words, but far more, especially with something like a new race that needs at least one representative of the race.

Look at the races in TiTS. I mean take a couple of hours to read through their codex entries on the wiki, make some notes about them. What Earth species do they resemble, such as Ausar = Dogs, Simii = Apes and so on. Make note of the unique traits the race has, for example Kaithrit possess two tails, the Nyrea has chitinous growths on their limbs and on their torso that resembles a corset. Look at what has already been done, look at what overlaps and then think about what you can create from that.

 

[MysticZarah]

Thank you for the input. and I can understand that some people think it could be somethign quick and easy. When I started building it for myself I new it would take a while to finish. I already planned to be working on it for several months to a year or even more before even coming to the concept of adding them into TiTS. And ill take your advice Evil and take a look at races in game, particularly notable features, and compare that to what I have and see what can be changed or added in. Though from my experience I might do well to try and lean more toward Reptiles than insects for them since I think reptiles are less represented, at least from my experience.

 

[Evil]

You know, reptiles are fun and probable candidates for an aliens species evolving to a civilisation, just understand that there are several reptilian races in the game:
- Daynar
- Gryvain
- Kerokoras
- Leithan (not technically but there are some elements)
- Naleen
- Ovir
- Raskvel
- Saurmorian

While some of those races aren't quite reptilian, they do possess some reptilian traits. You don't need to create the Gorn from Star Trek, but be away that people can spot similarities in ideas.

 

[MysticZarah]

thought the Kerokoras were frogs, which arent reptiles. and the Ovir I feel like I had been lead to believe they were avian in some nature. though now that its mentioned I think I remember Ovir having mentions of repilian. Im not an Anthropologist but I do know alot about biology and like to take that knowledge into strong consideration with creations and try to accurately make things to that. Still since insectoid races seem to have a much larger presence in the game I might do better to lean more toward reptilian, and possibly add in other traits as well that work for them and make them interesting.

Thinking more on it, I havent been able to dive too much into the general classifications of races in TiTS, but would a host of avian features be considered less common? I don't remember any avian races in the game as far as my interaction goes, and im working through options to attempt to keep them as close to original concept without completely disregarding change, most of their design having stemmed largely from my personal interests with some exceptions. Thought process at the moment is maybe making them somewhere between Avian and Reptilian, similar to the Dinosaurs as we now know them irl

 

[MysticZarah]

Alright so far it may not be the most original idea but i had been looking through the wiki on codex and thought maybe something Avian based, which after looking into options i came up with an idea to try and make a race inspired by Japanese Tengu, similar to how the Kui-Tan arr based off Tanuki. Any thoughts and suggestions concerning these crow-folk? Im still working out a majority of general details for them and will take all imput into consideration

 

[Kesil]

The game is Trials in Tainted Space, not Trials in Tainted Japanese Lore. But I take the game could do with more avian characters. That said, the anatae are a thing.

 

[MysticZarah]

The game is Trials in Tainted Space, not Trials in Tainted Japanese Lore. But I take the game could do with more avian characters. That said, the anatae are a thing.

I get your point but just because it's in space doesnt mean we cant use fantasy for inspiration. Raskvel are Kobolds, Gabilani are Goblins and a few others I can't quite name at the moment. I just mentioned something that in one of their variations already is vary much an anthropomorphic bird, which could be tweaked into an alien race. I just saw there werent as many avian races as nearly everything else and I found something that worked as a baseline to alter from.

 

[Kesil]

You're preaching to the choir when it comes to fantasy. I simply wish TiTS races were... you know, more alien-like.

 

[MysticZarah]

which is why I am not looking to rip the design of the Tengu exactly. Im looking for interesting ways to make a humanoid crow-like being into something that looks alien, but can still be seen with the inspiration to them. Things like alternate ways to structure the beak, head and face configuration, things like that. I strongly enjoy very alien creatures in games and I'd like to make this one have basis in something I have a deep interest in (japanese culture) but make it alien and otherworldly enough to not be "fantasy creature but in space"

 

[Koshka]

Don't want to sound like an ass, but somehow it sounds like you just want to write anything, without making it... how to say... interesting gameplay-wise? First you wanted to make an insect race (that doesn't sound much different from several other races that is already in game), now you want to make an avian race (which also doesn't sound like it would have any "standing out" features (gameplay-wise), other that being an avian (and we already have toves). What I'm trying to say is that maybe you should think of a some interesting feature, that would be a "core" for your race (like inflatable balls or cum-cascade for kui-tan, for example), and then create your new race based on that feature.

 

[MysticZarah]

Don't want to sound like an ass, but somehow it sounds like you just want to write anything, without making it... how to say... interesting gameplay-wise? First you wanted to make an insect race (that doesn't sound much different from several other races that is already in game), now you want to make an avian race (which also doesn't sound like it would have any "standing out" features (gameplay-wise), other that being an avian (and we already have toves). What I'm trying to say is that maybe you should think of a some interesting feature, that would be a "core" for your race (like inflatable balls or cum-cascade for kui-tan, for example), and then create your new race based on that feature.

Good advice that ill take to working on actually. Ill admit ive mostly been avoiding that because i dont entirely know what i can do for that, largely for the reason that this is the first time im trying to build something for a game.

I typically like to design things that are interesting visually, and I intended to try and avoid many racial abilities for this because i know Fen doesnt want to force morphs for META builds .

I will make a slight case with the first race being that it was a personal design i thought about transferring into game. The similarities to existing races was mostly coincedental, really i ihink with the only overt thing I drew from the game being the tongue, but i do see the similarities bwing a bit too much.

In the end ill try to take your advice and work on something for that, though im not sure what that could even be right now.

 

[MysticZarah]

Bit of an update. been working on a different concept than the original, made some progress in it, I'll still need to make a lot of work in it but I'll just drop a commentable link here, so long as Ive made the link correctly. A lot is still subject to change but I feel like it's going well. welcoming all feedback and suggestions.

link:https: //docs.google.com/document/d/1xXDzTtChw3EtnSLc6UiSYKmXITj1QSFi7zRKYDbep2M/edit?usp=sharing