Breeding vs adoption

[Okamimaru]

So breeding between races is looked down upon yet adopting children from other races seems to be perfectly acceptable... so is it just a matter of biological sustainability and childbirth issues or is it along the lines of the way some people still view interracial relationships (for some stupid reason)?

[Cilia]

A little of both, I'd wager.

[Belhi]

There is probably a mix of factors. Its worth noting that the more cosmopolitan the society individuals are operating in, the more acceptable interracial relationships seem to be. People didn't seem even slightly bothered and F'lhammin's husband being an Elezen and we see other pairings like a Lalafel and a Miqote in Limsa.

I think it depends a lot on the culture and social standing. In Hilda's case it was probably more of a big deal because of Ishgard's rather conservative culture and the fact it was a noble involved. Nobles tend to be rather uptight about bloodlines in a lot of cultures.

The fact that there aren't more crossbreeds could be a result of biological issues effecting birth rates and/or just physical attractiveness. While some might be excited by the size and strength of a Roe many would find it highly intimidating. For that matter, you would likely have some pretty serious childbirth issues if any woman of a smaller race got pregnant to a male of a larger race.

[Magic-Mal]

The fact that there aren't more crossbreeds could be a result of biological issues effecting birth rates and/or just physical attractiveness.

Or Square Enix

[Belhi]

Or Square Enix

We are talking about lore reasons though. They will often adapt the lore to fit development or business decisions. A lot of lore is created from the writers finding ways to fit gameplay ideas into the existing canon.

If we are honest, it is just impractical to deal with making crossbreed models for every race/age combination. Its far more simple to just give a lore reason to justify it.

[KageTokage]

They've stated that the children of cross-breeds always take after their mothers very strongly, sometimes to the point where distinguishing them from a pureblood can be difficult if not impossible.

Of the three that are seen/mentioned, Arenvald looks like a perfectly normal Highlander, Hilda just has pointy ears, and the Au Ra/Hyur cross-breed mentioned in a tale from Sui-no-Sato was said to have had almost no scales, but was presumably ordinary in every other regard.

I feel like there probably are more cross-breeds around then it seems, it's just that most of them can blend in without issue.

[Magic-Mal]

We are talking about lore reasons though. They will often adapt the lore to fit development or business decisions. A lot of lore is created from the writers finding ways to fit gameplay ideas into the existing canon.

If we are honest, it is just impractical to deal with making crossbreed models for every race/age combination. Its far more simple to just give a lore reason to justify it.

Pretty sure crossbreeds can happen as easy as any normal baby happens. I don't recall reading or hearing anywhere that it's difficult for races to crossbreed. Only that for some cultures(like Ishgard) it's looked down upon. There's even a Hyur guy in a SB side quest who outright mentions how he wants to marry a Miqo'te girl and have children with her.

That's why I'mma chalk it down to "It's SE" because it's been proven time and again that "rare" people who were otherwise never seen before, can be just.. made by SE and well they're real and all over the place now. Like Highlander/Roegadyn females, Miqo'te males, female Miqo'te children(males still don't exist yet ), Hyurezans, and the entire Au Ra race that flooded into Eorzea within a patch with no explanation until Stormblood where they also created Au Ra children.

Soooo... I think it's safe to go along with "It's SE"

[FJerome]

Correct me if I'm wrong but as far as I can remember every formal cross-racial adoption we've seen (as in raising the child as your own rather than just taking them in and mentoring them) has been in Ul Dah? It may be that acceptance varies between the city-states and Ul Dah is more generally accepting of it than others, since there's also some high-profile mixed marriages there, like F'lhaminn's and possibly whatever the heck is going on over in the Amajina family.

[Belhi]

Pretty sure crossbreeds can happen as easy as any normal baby happens. I don't recall reading or hearing anywhere that it's difficult for races to crossbreed. Only that for some cultures(like Ishgard) it's looked down upon. There's even a Hyur guy in a SB side quest who outright mentions how he wants to marry a Miqo'te girl and have children with her.

That's why I'mma chalk it down to "It's SE" because it's been proven time and again that "rare" people who were otherwise never seen before, can be just.. made by SE and well they're real and all over the place now. Like Highlander/Roegadyn females, Miqo'te males, female Miqo'te children(males still don't exist yet ), Hyurezans, and the entire Au Ra race that flooded into Eorzea within a patch with no explanation until Stormblood where they also created Au Ra children.

Soooo... I think it's safe to go along with "It's SE"

We haven't had any conclusive evidence either way. Is what you are saying that they exist but they just aren't shown? Possibly. We really don't have enough information to quantify either way. However I do believe Koji implied crossbreeds were pretty rare, and with the number of cross species relationships we see, it isn't too much to think that might mean that there is a biological cause.

In all truth everything we say here is speculation. Maybe someone can ask Koji at Pax West.

Honestly it sound from the lore book that the case with Pipin was that the adoption was half adoption, half apprentice.

[Enur]

http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...l=1#post490835

Crossbreeding can happen but is just very rare.