Humanoid Avian Race?

[Kosmos992k]

They're always going to be humanoid though, no matter what new race we get. One of the aspects of any new race is that people must want to play them, it's easier to relate to an humanoid than something more different. So we get what we have with Miqo'te and Au'ra. Males that are more physically imposing than females,females are physically smaller and lean towards aesthetically pleasing. For races with larger, more physical females, SE already has data to go on, and I'm not sure that they will spend development effort on a new race that will be used by relatively few players.

[Roegadyn_Bear]

If I could be an Ixal I would be an Ixal. If it has to "human-ish" I would settle for a birdfolk like Amon and Balbaroy from Shining Force.

Don't get me wrong, I love your idea (not to mention those two were very useful if you invested the time and effort into leveling them AND gaining the extra ten levels before promoting them) and I would love the Shining Force birdman model in FFXIV...

This issues, however, is this...

They're always going to be humanoid though, no matter what new race we get. One of the aspects of any new race is that people must want to play them, it's easier to relate to an humanoid than something more different. So we get what we have with Miqo'te and Au'ra. Males that are more physically imposing than females,females are physically smaller and lean towards aesthetically pleasing. For races with larger, more physical females, SE already has data to go on, and I'm not sure that they will spend development effort on a new race that will be used by relatively few players.

We can't have truly bestial races because of this. The game is designed with the Japanese player base in mind, and Miqo'te and Au'ra are more on the mark in regards to their tastes of character aesthetics which means we'll essentially see newer races with that design in mind.

True beastman races just aren't a major thing for them.

[Ayuhra]

There have been playable beasts in Final Fantasy in the past. I know that people might not always want them as an avatar but the idea that something unusual might be playable one day is not THAT out there.

I sincerely hope we can get something like the original Au'ra concept art one day. I don't mind "pretty" races but variety is always nice.

[Roegadyn_Bear]

I sincerely hope we can get something like the original Au'ra concept art one day. I don't mind "pretty" races but variety is always nice.

I was honestly excited about the original Au'ra concept, but I knew that wasn't going to go live.

People wanted Viera a hell of a lot more and all they were are really just humanoids with bunny ears, claws, and strange feet.

[Nestama]

People wanted Viera a hell of a lot more and all they were are really just humanoids with bunny ears, claws, and strange feet.

Of which only one (or two, but most certainly one since you can buy claws from Gold Saucer) of will be put onto the playable model.

[DragonFlyy]

They're always going to be humanoid though, no matter what new race we get. One of the aspects of any new race is that people must want to play them, it's easier to relate to an humanoid than something more different. So we get what we have with Miqo'te and Au'ra. Males that are more physically imposing than females,females are physically smaller and lean towards aesthetically pleasing. For races with larger, more physical females, SE already has data to go on, and I'm not sure that they will spend development effort on a new race that will be used by relatively few players.

That's not the reason they are made more human than animal. It's so the gear is interchangeable and the devs don't have to make more than one of a piece of gear.

[Kosmos992k]

They're always going to be humanoid though, no matter what new race we get. One of the aspects of any new race is that people must want to play them, it's easier to relate to an humanoid than something more different. So we get what we have with Miqo'te and Au'ra. Males that are more physically imposing than females,females are physically smaller and lean towards aesthetically pleasing. For races with larger, more physical females, SE already has data to go on, and I'm not sure that they will spend development effort on a new race that will be used by relatively few players.

Just to add to this and...rain on the parade for those wanting non-humanoid races. They will not add a race that is anything other than a bipedal being with an upright posture and two upper limbs and a head. The simple reason being their gear models. If you added a quadruped, you'd have to completely redo a huge amount of gear. Not only that but there are lore reasons, as at least one poster has mentioned.

However, I'll go back to the reason I was talking about. The ability to relate to a new race in a game such as this is important. There is no question that some players would have no problem identifying with whichever type of playable race takes their fancy, be it beastly, electronic or biomechanical, with 4 legs, 2 legs, wheels or thrusters. However the vast majority of players will not identify with such playable races. If you take into account the significant amount of effort a new race requires along with the marathon task of modifying the gear models, which would be even more for 'different' races, I just don't think it's possible to make a case for such a playable race. The same thing goes for races that do not heavily feature handsome males and pretty females.

Generally speaking heroes are handsome/pretty, charismatic characters. I frequently see people wondering about a new race that would be conventionally speaking, considered unattractive, beastly, and generally speaking unsympathetic. Such races would be so niche as to make even the rarest female Roegadyn look popular.

What we need is not another race (though cute/handsome humanoids with white wings and a noble disposition would not hurt the game IMHO... ), rather we need one or two additional faces (and features) for all current races to give a bit more variety and flexibility to character design.

Glaring needs for existing races....eyebrows for Highlanders, Highlander females need better complexions, both Au'ra and Miqo'te females need a face that looks old enough to vote and drink...