Why Do You Play A Lalafell?

[Anienai]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_G-eeaKghg

My thoughts on potatoes.

[MiquSuke]

I'm currently a Lalafell just to change things up, I was originally a miqo'te and switched to lalafell while I wrapped up some ARR stuff, I plan to switch back when I head into Heavensward but I think I'm gonna switch to lala every time I'm wrapping up end game stuff in an expansion.

[NorthernLadMSP]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_G-eeaKghg

My thoughts on potatoes.

Good thing no one asked you.

What I find amazing about your rude, worthless comment, is that you would probably be up-in-arms in anger if someone made a single negative comment about Roes. Yet, here you are in a lala thread spreading your hate.

[Kazrah]

I've always had a preference for smaller characters in games (i.e. gnomes/goblins in WoW, dwarves in Rift, etc.) due to various elements such as movement and their usual trend toward some level of comic relief. One of the only real differences with Lalafell is that playing one provides that "adorability" factor that leads to reducing negative effects of mental and emotional conditions such as stress and anxiety. Also, it's a lot easier to make a cute character look awesome than an awesome character look anything but.

That being said, the other major difference with Lalafell is the heightened level of ridicule compared to smaller races in other games. Playing a gnome or a dwarf or a goblin in any other game, I was never flat-out told I wasn't a person because of what I played, nor that my character was meant to be food for another human being. Sure, there were some jokes here and there, but players in those games were able to tell jokes without having to explain that they were jokes; it was easy to understand. In this game, players opposed to Lalafell don't seem to understand where the line is between mild jokes and genuinely racist comments, or even how to explain that what they say may be in jest. Fortunately this has varying degrees across multiple cultures and servers, but it's why I've completely stopped recommending this game to people.

In short, if you really want to know how toxic the community can be, play a Lalafell.

[Eloah]

I didn't read every post but I'd say my reason is similar to the OP's. I suffer from Depression and often times feel small and insignificant. But, Lalas are small, but far from insignificant. We can do everything, be anything, and that makes me feel like I have a chance.

Real life isn't easy for most people, and it can be harder when you suffer from Depression, but in this game I can help people, I can actually do good, and make money; that's really hard in real life. But I have friends, I have people who want to spend time with me. Most people don't know how a game like this can help so much.

And, while I might have gotten away from the Lala reason, being a Lala is how I truely see myself. Not only because of the empowerment, but I am hella cute. I get comment, pats, hugs, you name it. I'm even told that I am one of the cuter lalas out there because of my general look but keen glamour sense, XD.

[Kacho_Nacho]

Our reason to play as a Lalafell seem to be the same.
I suffer from horrible anxiety, even worse when I'm completely alone at home. When someone's with me, especially my bf, I'm feeling at least a little bit better - but if you close the door behind me, it doesn't take long to make me go crazy.
One of the only things that help me to calm down is FFXIV, because it's one of the things I learned to concentrate on when I'm suffering again. And even though I'm mostly playing as a Roe, which I really, really love, playing as Lalafell makes me automatically happy. I love their emotes, how they run and their funny looking proportions - and of course the cute ways you can dress them up.

Even my boyfriend noticed how much something so little can help me with my mental state, now every time he's off for work for a long time and my family is not at home as well, he spends some money for me for a few phials of fantasia, so I can play around with my character design. At the moment I'll be completely alone for another two weeks now, but being able to play as a "little popoto" helps me a lot.

Your boyfriend sounds like an awesome, caring guy. What you say about the curative powers of playing a lalafell is so true! They make you happy just by playing them. It is something that has to be experienced in order to appreciate it.

Why do I play lalafell? To me, it has a spiritual meaning...

A long time ago, during the Era of the Gamecube, Square Enix released a game for it called 'Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles'. In it, there are 4 races you can play as. Clavats which would be the Hyur; Lilties would be the Lalafell, Selkies would be a Roegadyn physique with the size of a Hyur body, and the Yukes would be like Yugiri/Au Ra who always keep their real selves hidden. I chose the lilties because back then, I liked spears and how the lilties looked. After completing FF:CC, I tried out FF XI and Made a Taru Taru character as a successor to the lilty I made. Over time, though, I learned to like magic more than the lance. Then when I got invited to XIV, I decided to keep the legacy of that lilty alive and made a lalafell Black Mage. I still have my two Fantasia's from the 30 veteran reward and the 3.0 offer to change to Au Ra and will only use them if Viera or hybrid races become available, so that I can make a lalaqo'te or a lala ra.

*nods* I’ve more or less have experienced same thing. Almost all my lalafell characters are based on my WoW characters, who in turn, were mostly based on some D&D characters I played. It’s definitely been a creative, spiritual journey and one I have received a lot of benefits from.

Lalafells have +42 to awesome, which is higher than any other race; kittens coming in at +19 and the rest down in the single digits apart from Hyur which has -5 to awesome and -14 to originality.
So it was an obvious choice!

I do wish Lalafells had more "special" attack moves like the tarutarus had in FFXI (backflipping monk attack, anyone?) to make up for the height a little more. hehe

I think lalafell having special attacks to make up for their lack of height would be awesome! Backflips, belly slides to get under an opponent, climbing up an opponent in a series of jumps, stomps, knees, and elbow strikes, running up a weapon like it was a plank… the sky is the limit.

I've always had a preference for smaller characters in games (i.e. gnomes/goblins in WoW, dwarves in Rift, etc.) due to various elements such as movement and their usual trend toward some level of comic relief. One of the only real differences with Lalafell is that playing one provides that "adorability" factor that leads to reducing negative effects of mental and emotional conditions such as stress and anxiety. Also, it's a lot easier to make a cute character look awesome than an awesome character look anything but.

That being said, the other major difference with Lalafell is the heightened level of ridicule compared to smaller races in other games. Playing a gnome or a dwarf or a goblin in any other game, I was never flat-out told I wasn't a person because of what I played, nor that my character was meant to be food for another human being. Sure, there were some jokes here and there, but players in those games were able to tell jokes without having to explain that they were jokes; it was easy to understand. In this game, players opposed to Lalafell don't seem to understand where the line is between mild jokes and genuinely racist comments, or even how to explain that what they say may be in jest. Fortunately this has varying degrees across multiple cultures and servers, but it's why I've completely stopped recommending this game to people.

In short, if you really want to know how toxic the community can be, play a Lalafell.

Oh, I don’t know. I feel I experienced more ridicule in WoW as a gnome than I do as a lalafell here. Yes, There are jerks and their comments are hateful & unappreciated. But take a look at the majority of this thread. Talking to a lot of players who are into lalafell is like meeting a friend you never knew you had.

There seems to be a huge amount of common ground among us all. Lalafell recognize their own.

[Spiroglyph]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_G-eeaKghg

My thoughts on potatoes.

Lol, is that you crying in the video? Fearful little thing for such a tall avatar, you are!

On topic, though:

I've always been partial to dwarvish races in MMOs, usually for the same reasons.
I like how small they are, and how by comparison they make everything else stand out so tall and imposing - from mobs to buildings to maps, everything is more impressive because it's just so much BIGGER. I've played all races by now, and I don't really appreciate non-lala races because they're so... standard size, thus making everything else also pretty standard. :P
Specially mobs, though. I like fighting stuff when I play lalas because mobs look just so much more threatening!

There's also the fact that in MMOs what attracts me the most is the scenery, story, land and whatnot. Not particularly the PC. And I feel like having a smaller PC to look at helps me focus on the things I like focusing on.
When I'm flying around, I like being able to fully appreciate the maps... as strangely as this sounds, without my avatar in the way, since I'm already centered on it all the damn time.

I also feel like it's much easier to take in fight mechanics as lala, as it allows me to see ground aoes better.

And, well, I can't deny that it's for hilarity as well. I love playing things like BLM and WAR on lalafell, because it just makes me laugh so hard seeing my avatar running around with an axe taller than her or blowing things up with a staff.

EDIT: Okay. Fine. I also can't deny that they're ridiculously cute. That might have been a factor.

EDIT EDIT: I forgot something!
Character movement speed.
Anyone else annoyed at how stupidly sluggish most races' running animations look?! It's like they're about to fall asleep. As lala I just nyoom all over the place, it's the best.

[Squigley]

Because I happened to create a toon I like when I decided to try out my free fantasia. Watching my char do her stuff makes me smile. Based on other people's reactions, it makes other people smile too. Complete strangers have come up to me just to give a /hug or /pet.

I went back to miqo'te some time ago. As soon as my FC-mates noticed, they were like "nooooo, you're not a cat". So maybe I am a lala.

[Kacho_Nacho]

I didn't read every post but I'd say my reason is similar to the OP's. I suffer from Depression and often times feel small and insignificant. But, Lalas are small, but far from insignificant. We can do everything, be anything, and that makes me feel like I have a chance.

Real life isn't easy for most people, and it can be harder when you suffer from Depression, but in this game I can help people, I can actually do good, and make money; that's really hard in real life. But I have friends, I have people who want to spend time with me. Most people don't know how a game like this can help so much.

And, while I might have gotten away from the Lala reason, being a Lala is how I truly see myself. Not only because of the empowerment, but I am hella cute. I get comment, pats, hugs, you name it. I'm even told that I am one of the cuter lalas out there because of my general look but keen glamour sense, XD.

So well said! People love to hug and pet us. Being cute is a form of empowerment.

On topic, though:

I've always been partial to dwarvish races in MMOs, usually for the same reasons.
I like how small they are, and how by comparison they make everything else stand out so tall and imposing - from mobs to buildings to maps, everything is more impressive because it's just so much BIGGER. I've played all races by now, and I don't really appreciate non-lala races because they're so... standard size, thus making everything else also pretty standard. :P

Specially mobs, though. I like fighting stuff when I play lalas because mobs look just so much more threatening!

There's also the fact that in MMOs what attracts me the most is the scenery, story, land and whatnot. Not particularly the PC. And I feel like having a smaller PC to look at helps me focus on the things I like focusing on.
When I'm flying around, I like being able to fully appreciate the maps... as strangely as this sounds, without my avatar in the way, since I'm already centered on it all the damn time.

I also feel like it's much easier to take in fight mechanics as lala, as it allows me to see ground aoes better.

And, well, I can't deny that it's for hilarity as well. I love playing things like BLM and WAR on lalafell, because it just makes me laugh so hard seeing my avatar running around with an axe taller than her or blowing things up with a staff.

EDIT: Okay. Fine. I also can't deny that they're ridiculously cute. That might have been a factor.

EDIT EDIT: I forgot something!
Character movement speed.
Anyone else annoyed at how stupidly sluggish most races' running animations look?! It's like they're about to fall asleep. As lala I just nyoom all over the place, it's the best.

Definitely! Everything is bigger and more threatening. I love the image of a party hiding behind my 3 ft 2 inch, 46 lb lalafell paladin when we are facing a mob the size of a three story building or when I pull out a staff twice my height to cast a heal!

It’s funny as hell!

As far as seeing fight mechanics, it’s a mixed bag for me. Camera does odd things sometimes. But we look so fast don’t we? And when we leap, it’s like we are part grasshopper or something. How do our little legs get us up so high in the air?

Because I happened to create a toon I like when I decided to try out my free fantasia. Watching my char do her stuff makes me smile. Based on other people's reactions, it makes other people smile too. Complete strangers have come up to me just to give a /hug or /pet.

I went back to miqo'te some time ago. As soon as my FC-mates noticed, they were like "nooooo, you're not a cat". So maybe I am a lala.

I love how lalafell make me smile, even doing something as common as fishing. They are just too adorable!

As far as using a fantasia to change races, my FCers just tell me not to dare. In truth, I wouldn’t anyways. It would feel so wrong.

[KfLeX]

I always wondered why the attraction. But reading these help me understand.